Marketing / Recruitment Strategies

Marketing State Employment Thru Creative Recruitment Bulletins

Recruitment Bulletins are generally dry, straightforward statements of job duties, requirements and minimum qualifications. Surveys of applicants have found that one important recruitment detail that sets apart “most desirable” employers from all the rest is their recruitment announcement.

We do not always have the flexibility to compete on the open employment market for wages in many occupational groups. In order to attract applicants to replace the skilled workers who leave critical jobs, we need to focus on other workplace and lifestyle issues uniquely offered by the Alaskan environment. It is a demonstrated fact that workplace environment and flexibility are highly valued by today's workforce. Consider marketing your vacancy by advertising the creativity you are seeking, the flexibility in your office setting or the growth opportunities your employees enjoy. Most recruitment announcements do not mention working environments, fishing or other recreational opportunities or weather. Can your agency brag about:

• Flexible daily work hours
• Flexible institutional workweeks
• Assigned, covered or paid parking
• Training and/or educational opportunities
• Affiliation with professional organizations
• Access to and use of advanced or specialized technologies
• Opportunity to “certify” in a particular skill or technology
• Travel opportunities
• Qualified support staff
• Innovative projects and assignments
• Casual dress
• Employee testimonials

If you can add any of these items to your Workplace Alaska recruitment announcements you might catch the interest of someone who otherwise might ignore your recruitment. Do not assume that all members of the public are aware of the state's benefit package. Our recruitment bulletins should reference the fact that permanent state employees receive:

• Health benefits package, which includes employer contributions toward medical/vision/dental;
• Employer paid $2000 Basic Life insurance with additional coverage available;
• Optional long and short-term disability plans;
• Optional dependent and health care flexible spending accounts;
• Retirement programs with a wide variety of investment options;
• Vacation leave of 15 hours per month with an accrual rate increase based on time served;
• 11 paid holidays;
• Direct Deposit;
• Savings Bonds;

Include some of the benefits associated with living in Alaska or in a specific community. For example, here are some features for use in recruitments for Juneau-based vacancies:

• Short commute
• Outdoor recreational activities such as boating, fishing, hiking, camping and wildlife
• Mendenhall Glacier
• A community with a low crime rate, friendly neighbors, cultural activities, University system.

Living, working or perhaps relocating to a city in Alaska can be an over-whelming undertaking for some potential applicants. The use of location-specific websites in your recruitment bulletins may assist individuals in reaching a decision to apply or ease the concerns of relocating. It is a way to provide a view of educational institutions, indoor and outdoor activities, access to and use of technology, local government, relocation costs, labor trends, etc.