Looking for a new way to market your company or search services? Trying to differentiate
yourself from your competitors? Need a new way to get your ideas or information in front of the right people (prospective clients, candidates etc.)?
Why not hit him with an iPod Shuffle?
Apple announced this week that they are dropping the price for their wee bitty shuffle to $49 for the 1GB version and rolling out a 2GB version for $69. These price points suddenly make this an incredible recruiting tool.
Your options for use as a recruiter are endless but the first that comes to my mind is that of creating an exceptional and hip candidate experience. For those super hard to get talented passive candidates or candidates in hard to fill or mission critical positions you can offer them an iPod shuffle after they have interviewed with your organization. I am not suggesting you use it to bribe them into interviewing with your company but, rather, offer it as a surprise thank you for your time gift after the interview. You can pre-load it with a personal thank you message from the CEO or senior most leader of the division they have a chance to work in. The message should be directed specifically to them by name and their needs as uncovered by the recruiter during the needs analysis phase of the recruiting call. The message can include all the nice warm fuzzies you might imagine but also share some insight into important projects they would work on, touch on the major decision making criteria the candidate would use to decide, share personal insight about the future of the business etc.
Reaching out to college students just easier, more hip and more fun for both you and the candidates. Once you have identified the best talent in a specific major or industry space hit them with an iPod Shuffle with a message from a recent college graduate about why they joined your company. Load another message with the value proposition for choosing your company over others. Even pre-load some music from Billboard's top ten or give them an iTunes gift card so they can load their own favorites.
Reaching that hard to get passive talent can be enhanced with this now cost effective tool. Do you think that an iPod Shuffle doesn't go right to the top of the pile of mess someone gets on their desk every day? Sent with a card that says play me this tool might just get opened before it even gets to the desk. Send along an iPod shuffle with a pre-loaded audio message personalized for the person you are trying to recruit. I am confident that "message" gets a return phone call.
I think the options for use in recruiting are extensive and I could draw up a list of 10-15 more ideas right now. What do you think? Share some other creative uses you can think of in the comments section below. We would love to hear from you!
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