Devastating storms such as the hurricanes that have been ravaging Florida recently are no laughing matter. Such events take lives, wreak havoc on local economies, and leave residents living in fear. While the storms are relatively short in duration, their impacts leave a lasting impression not only on those who experienced them first hand, but also on those who watched the destruction on television news programs around the world. Like it or not, they impact the recruiting profession as well. If you have been following the news coverage, you know that many Florida residents in areas hit by multiple storms are fed up and are contemplating moving elsewhere. This sentiment creates a recruiting opportunity for firms located elsewhere ó and a retention challenge for firms with locations in areas affected. While it may seem like adding insult to injury to target talent in Florida, failing to recognize and take advantage of the recruiting opportunities Mother Nature has provided makes you oblivious to the competitive factors that drive capitalism. Others will take advantage, and in a war, failing to do so is tantamount to giving up. Leveraging Bad Weather and Natural Disasters Natural disasters are discriminatory, and tend to strike with a rather predictable pattern. Anything in life that has the ability to impact business and can be predicted is fair game when it comes to being competitive. Location has long been something firms have used to distinguish themselves, be it in sales or, in our case, recruitment. Some geographic areas are more prone to disasters, and some disasters are more targeted than others. A world-class recruiting strategy must include components that recognize and take advantage of such disasters, from hurricanes and tornados to snowstorms and earthquakes. Building a natural disaster response into your strategy is actually very simple. All your firm need to do is determine which geographic areas possess relevant talent in volumes significant enough in size to target. When such areas are then struck by disaster, your sourcing systems respond to reach out to the targeted population. Some methods of reaching out include:
- Calls of concern. Contact applicants and candidates in your database who reside in affected areas to ensure that they are doing okay. You may even consider putting together care packages that also include subliminal recruiting materials.
- Onsite support. Showing up in affected areas with items in demand and making your resources available to aid in the recovery provides visibility to your organization that you would not normally get as an out-of-town organization. If your firm owns its own fleet of tractor-trailer trucks (semis) with visible branding, consider volunteering several to transport needed items to the affected areas. Relief organizations are always looking for this type of assistance.
- Advertising. Disasters isolate people and provide a highly concentrated and trusted channel to reach them in news-related media. Placing advertisements on television and radio and in newspapers provides an excellent way to communicate your opportunities to a targeted audience while they are paying attention. Such disasters can knock out power lines, increasing reliance on radio and newspaper as sources for both news and entertainment.
In bad situations it doesn’t take much to look like an angel. If you have the resources and need the talent, nothing should stop you from building a relationship with potential candidates in their time of need. The message you send can be one of desperation ó or one of respect, dedication, and compassion. The difference is in the execution. Other Thoughts Related to Natural-Disaster Recruiting
- Radio is by far the most effective tool for getting the attention of candidates in affected areas, since electricity may not be available to power televisions and transportation of newspapers may be limited.
- Subtlety is key in ensuring that your actions come across in a positive light ó as opposed coming across as a desperate organization feeding off the injured.
- Phone calls drive immediate action. Allowing candidates to talk to others in their role or whom they would work with if they were to join your organization can drive an immediate decision.
- You can also have a huge impact by communication with your target via his or her family. Tapping into the emotions of family members in your advertising and assistance encourages the family to pressure decision makers into considering a move.
- Since relocation is a major undertaking, prior to launching your reaction it is important to have available current information on housing costs and schools in your region. You need to anticipate each of your potential candidates’ “move” concerns and be able to answer all of their questions as they arise.
Conclusion The idea of taking advantage of natural disasters might initially be a problem for some. But the more you think about it, the more comfortable you should get. The damage caused to the local economies of areas affected often results in layoffs and reduced work schedules for non-exempt labor, and potential longer term impacts for professional workers. By absorbing some of the affected workforce, your organization can reduce dependence upon government aid and gain talent at the same time. Consider targeting talent in Florida a social program, one that is good for everyone involved.