3 new ways to scout talent

When it comes to bringing new talent onto your team, job posts and fairs are tried and true. But where can you go beyond the obvious?

1. Market in higher ed

Establishing a relationship with your local college or university can pay dividends when it comes to talent. Krista Neal, nutrition services director at Stillwater Public Schools in Stillwater, Okla., has guest lectured for classes at nearby Oklahoma City University and has hired undergrads for part-time or substitute work. “I have a great student substituting for us right now,” Neal says. “He finished classes and is filling in for one of our employees who resigned.”

2. Look to your own team

Eddie Mitchell, foodservice manager at Southern Foodservice Management for Lenovo’s North American headquarters in Morrisville, N.C., has learned that bringing on someone with industry clout leads to other solid hires. “My executive chef is renowned in this area,” Mitchell says. “He knows all the chefs and people in the industry. He brought in one person that he worked with who was a dishwasher; we brought him in to train on catering, and now he is our kitchen sous chef.”

3. Build buzz online

Though career sites are a good go-to for management-level positions, don’t shy away from less formal sites for hourly workers. “I get a lot of people who have been in the business for a long time,” Mitchell says of sites such as CareerBuilder, Indeed or Monster. But nontraditional sites, such as Craigslist or Reddit, can be a place to find a barista or cashier.