The secret of my success is that we have gone to exceptional lengths to hire the best people in the world. —Steve Jobs
All of us who own law offices know just how hard it is to find good people. I talk to many lawyers, and whenever I ask them what their biggest challenge is, they almost always say it comes down to finding good people. But there are alternative, creative ways to attract great people to your practice other than posting job ads on Indeed or paying exorbitant fees to headhunters. Here are some very effective opportunities you can leverage to find your next A-player employee.
1. Use Your Current Team to Recruit
Begin by looking inside rather than outside: Ask your team members to recruit for you. One of the easiest ways to find great team members is to ask your existing ones if they know any great people looking for work. I subscribe to the maxim that good people generally know other good people. You can motivate your existing employees to recruit people they think could excel at your office by incentivizing them. You can offer a bonus if you hire someone brought on by a team member, and then offer a greater bonus if the new hire stays on for six months, or one year, etc. Chances are, your employees won’t want to bring on a dud because that would reflect poorly on them, so tap into your existing employees and see if they can bring you someone great. This is, in my mind, the best way to hedge your bet against hiring a team member who turns out poorly for you.
2. Find Talent in the Wild
Your next great hire may be right in front of you. Always be on the lookout whenever you are out and about. Is there a hostess or server at a restaurant you frequent that knocks your socks off with their friendly disposition? Perhaps you go to a store where the sales associate has incredible service skills and is always efficient and happy. Talk with these people and give them your card. Tell them to call you if they want to discuss potential job opportunities at your office. There are many A-players who are unhappy and want to make the switch to a different employer. Always have your eyes and ears open out there.