An Insight a Day

The Best Are Often Already Taken

If you're looking to hire someone, the best employees are often already taken. This shouldn't come as a surprise but the best employees are rarely ever looking for a job. Jobs come looking for them because they're the best at what they do.

So what do you do if you're looking to hire someone? Create a job opening and hope someone good applies? You could. Or you could do the opposite. Scout out a list of potential candidates you would really like to hire and sell yourself to them. Instead of letting people find you, go find them yourself. This is important, especially if you want them more than they want you.

People naturally gravitate towards those they perceive to be of a higher status. So if you want to attract top talent, you'll first have to be a top employer. Otherwise, they will be the ones attracting you. In which case, the only way to get them is by selling yourself.