The Passive Job Seeker is Golden

Especially in today's economic environment,especially those who commute. And guess what?
employers are becoming increasingly "choosy" withThese people are commuting because they are going
regard whom they hire... and rightfully so. With theto work... because they are employed!
unemployment rate reaching highs that we have notAdvertisements in national and regional dailies have
seen in decades, more and more job seekers haveperformed very well at bringing these passive job
resorted to "fabricated enthusiasm" in hopes ofseekers to our clients.
impressing recruiters. These candidates are willing toUsing metropolitan New York City as an example,
settle for a job they are less than passionate about,many of our clients advertise in such prominent dallies
while waiting for a career opportunity for which theyas the NY Times, Post, Daily News, and Newsday on
are truly qualified to come around. This makes for aa steady basis, especially those looking for top-notch
not-so-happy employee, and one with the potentialsalespeople and healthcare workers. Another
to infect his or her coworkers. This becomes costlyexcellent vehicle for reaching the passive seeker is
for the employer who has needlessly wasted time,the daily newspaper, amNewYork. Distributed at no
energy, and money on an employee who is unlikelycost at commuter venues throughout New York City
to remain long enough to justify the investment.and its suburbs, amNewYork enjoys a huge
As a recruitment advertising executive with morecommuter circulation.
than 25 years experience, let me share an importantWhat about younger candidates who appear to be
lesson that I learned though working with some oflosing interest in the print media? Some magazines
the most successful staffing professionals in thealready have interactive editions compatible with such
industry. It is simply this: The best candidates for anyplatforms as smartphones and the new iPad. These
position are ones who are already employed in aturn print advertisements into live videos that are
similar or parallel position, and who are not unhappycertain to attract the younger demographics. And as
with their situation. Just because they are notaugmented reality applications help transform the
actively seeking a new job, however, does not meanprint media into entry portals for web-based
they are not open to opportunity when it knocks.interactivity, they are bound to recapture a
The question is, how do you reach the passive jobsubstantial share of the younger audience. They will
seeker.undoubtedly find ways to dazzle those of us in the
While career websites are a vital tool for recruiters, Iolder demos, retaining our interest as well.
have to believe that someone who takes the timeSo, if your entire recruitment strategy is based on
to go on such a website is actively looking for a job.career websites alone, you may be missing out on a
Does that make such people bad candidates? Ofpool of ideal candidates. Only by integrating your
course not, but it does suggest that career websitesonline efforts with the print, radio, and television are
are unlikely to provide more than a very limitedyou likely to find the golden goose, and not just one
number of the passive seekers described above.of an army of unemployed people eager to double
Daily Newspapers, on the other hand, can be verypark for a while on your dollar!
successful tools for reaching the passive seeker -