Mon, Sep 20, 2010
The Coffee Shop Recruiting Model: Get Your Double Shot
Posted by Jessica Miller-Merrell
“Yes, I’ll have a grande chocolate cafe breve please,” I said as I quickly seated myself in a comfortable booth at one of my favorite local coffee shops with my java, computer, and cell phone in hand. In fact, I visit this coffee shop an average of three times a week. I logged onto my computer and took advantage of the wall outlet and free wifi while I leisurely sipped my coffee.
I love my place. And not just because of just the amenities but because of all the action as business professionals, students, and the staff. It feels comfortable, a second home, and a place where I can relax, enjoy and catch up with my friends and colleagues. It’s also a destination a place where I get my fix of both business and pleasure.
It’s also a place I mention and promote frequently. I refer my friends, write about it on Facebook, and my friends do to. In fact, we can’t quit talking about our favorite coffee shop enough. We’re driving business, traffic, and promoting “our place” just because. The Coffee Shop recruiting model is no different.
The 4 Principles of Coffee Shop Recruiting
Coffee Shop Recruiting takes the idea of a coffee shop and focuses on an atmosphere and environment whether online or off. What drives this model isn’t the number of clicks or cappuccinos but the fact that the community can’t stop talking or returning to visit. All guests don’t invest in a $4.00 coffee but see the “coffee shop” or and your job search community point as a destination point and a resource for job seekers of all types, passive and active, of all experience levels and backgrounds.
- Give them what they want. Create a comfortable environment where job seekers both passive and active feel like themselves and get to know you on their own terms whether it’s creating an online candidate forum directly on your website, a job seeker Facebook group, sponsoring an online chat, or a comfortable spot at the local university. A comfortable and non-imposing environment allows your brand and message to be spread organically and with the power of referrals through those you wish to reach.
- Invite those with influence. Hands down the best individuals to fill your pipeline are through engaged employees. Be upfront, invite them to attend, and encourage them to include their friends regardless if those friends are in the job market or not. Because there’s strength in numbers and these friends have friends and those friends know others. It’s the basics of crowdsourcing but in a non-obtrusive and natural sort of way.
- Offer Amenities. Create buzz and be different. Create a community and a family where visitors return on a regular basis. Service everyone regardless if they are a candidate or not. Offer them member benefits like instant access to a recruiter, a free resume critique, or access to job postings instantly via text. Call every candidate who applies to an opening regardless if they are a good fit. Provide them a job search toolkit because amenities matter. It’s the difference between being a four star hotel or a five. And because people remember.
- Change Often. Change up your menu of services and keep them on their toes. Offer a fall promotion encouraging engagement beyond the status quo. Host open houses and special events. Focus on the community in addition to your open requisitions as well as pipeline positions. Your community will return the favor and self-promote your events, openings, and brand without being poked, prodded, and asked. Just because it’s the right thing to do.
The Coffeeshop Recruiting Model is a long-term strategy that requires an open mind and a willingness to be and do different marrying your more traditional recruitment strategies thinking in a global context. Good luck and if you don’t mind I’ll take a refill of my grande cup.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
About the author: Jessica Miller-Merrell, SPHR (@blogging4jobs) is an Internet television host, author, speaker, new mother, and human resources professional with a passion for recruiting, training,and all things social media. Jessica is a leader inthe HR social media community and has over 10 years of experience in human resources andrecruiting. She hosts the first and only Internet webshow for job seekers on Mingle Media TV called Job Search Secrets Weekly.
Her book, Tweet This! Twitter for Business was released inFebruary 2010.Her company, Xceptional HR provides businesses with social media, recruitment strategies, and human resources consulting.
To learn more about Jessica or her company, visit www.jessicamillermerrell.com or www.blogging4jobs.com.
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jessica Merrell, Monster Employers. Monster Employers said: New @ Monsterthinking.com: : The Coffee Shop Recruiting Model: Get Your Double Shot http://mnstr.me/dsP970 [...]
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
[...] blog post has been published at MonsterThinking.com. Be sure to check out their website and their other featured writers [...]
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
[...] the life of a mobile worker look like? Perhaps they are working in an airport lounge, on a train, at a coffee shop, on-site at a prospect or customer location or making multiple stops at branch offices dispersed [...]
Like or Dislike:
0 
0