Leave the Recruiting to Generation Y.

People often ask me "How can we do a better job recruiting Generation Y?". My reply "Let them do it."

Not to long ago I was on a Career Panel at a local university. In addition to mine, there were three other Companies represented on the panel. The first recruiter presented a very boring overview of their company's structure, open positions and benefits.

I started to nod off. Luckily, a Gen Yer (and soon-to-be college grad) got my attention when she asked the recruiter a question: "Would you recommend I create a profile on LinkedIn to assist me with my job search?"

The recruiter responded, "Our company is looking into those type of 'online things' now. We're waiting to see how useful they are."

I kicked her under the table. She gave me a mean look. A student sitting to the side of us could see what I did and laughed. I winked at him then did my 'All Hail' Social Media piece.

The next recruiter was just as lame as the first.

The last panelist was brilliant. This recent college grad began her presentation this way: "Alright, I'm not some big Recruiting Executive or President of a company, I'm just an entry-level associate. I was sitting right where you are not too long ago, wondering what in the heck am I going to do next."

She went on to talk about how great her current company is, all the cool places she's been able to travel to and how talented the people are that she's get's to work with. She giddily told us how she had her first lunch with the VP of Marketing who eagerly agreed to be her mentor. Her personal testomony was about people, development and lifestyle.

I was totally into this young professional.... so were the other 180 students in the room. They were ENGAGED.

You see Generation Y doesn’t by your Corporate mumbo jumbo. They don’t trust it and they shouldn’t. What they do trust is their friends and people they feel like can relate to their model of the world. That’s why you should leave Gen Y recruiting up to THEM.

In addition to having your Gen Y’rs be your face at college career fairs and panels, here are a few other ways to leverage Y Talent in Recruiting:

1. In your restaurant or business put together a Recruiting Team of Gen Y’rs. Communicate the desired results and watch them work as a team, jump outside your box and exceed your expectations.

2. Appoint a Gen Y’r on your team run your Social Media sites. Have them start groups, make new friends and communicate through blogs about how cool it is to work for your Company. In exchange for their time offer them mentoring.

3. Host Hospitality Worker Appreciation nights and let your Gen Y team plan and coordinate them. These after hour hook ups with the local restaurant community are taking place somewhere Y not your place? (your turf = fair game recruiting) Network with the local talent and make an impression.

This funky generation has talent. Let them use it. Not only will you get staffed, you'll create an engaged and commited team of employees.

amanda hite
talent rev-o-lu-tion
1. a drastic change in thinking and behaving with talent