Strategy developed – all aboard, the implementation can begin! … Part 2

Post 2:

The company is located in a place that is not appreciated by the right candidates.

Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Cologne … some cities have a magical attraction for applicants. But what can you do if you are not based there?

One of my projects was at a company that was located in the idyllic countryside where the seven dwarves live. The company and the municipality felt very much interconnected, which meant that leaving the location was pretty-much out of the question. Nevertheless, the company was planning to really take off, and was looking for innovative thinkers to do so. The description of the preferred candidates brings to mind the people you expect to be working at Google: creative, modern, with a wide range of interests and a circle of friends spread across the globe.

These kinds of employees require a global infrastructure in order to bind them more to a company. However, this company was located in a remote region where the nearest airport (which could not really be described as an international airport) was located more than two hours drive away. And train connections were nothing to write home about either. So these were pretty bad prerequisites for job seekers who wanted to feel the pulse of the city, especially since there are plenty of companies located around international airports …

The response of the company management was unique and groundbreaking: It started looking for candidates that not only had the required skills but were also in the family phase. The location was actually ideal for this phase of life thanks to its daycare facilities, schools, sports clubs and other infrastructure. The company management took a very resolute approach in implementing this idea. Even the descriptions on the website highlighted the family-friendly orientation of the company, which actually managed to attract highly qualified employees with families or a sense of family.

Therefore, my advice is: Be consciously aware of your special features and specifically use them when searching for new employees. It’s worth it!