Bookstore sourcing
If you are looking for technical superstars to recruit, or superstars in any genre for that matter, you may want to put the resumes down and run over to the bookstore. Consider this, if someone can write a book on a technology chances are they could be someone you would want to hire. It only makes sense right? I discuss this method of finding hidden talent in my e-book - The Art of Shakespeare Recruiting. (Find it here.)
Here is an example of what I’m talking about. Above is a screenshot of http://www.informit.com/, a page that showcases the authors behind technical books published by Pearson Education. I think Pearson Education is doing a very smart thing. They are marketing the expertise of their authors for speaking engagments. (Makes a lot of sense.) Here is a snippet of what their website has to say…
“Pearson Education authors can provide the expertise you need to communicate with your audience of IT professionals. Look no further to find your next expert source on a variety of topic areas including programming, networking, certification, security, and consumer technology. Our stable of authors participates in a wide array of activities including interviews, on-air broadcasts, blogs, podcasts, speaking opportunities, and book signings.”
Now, let’s look a bit closer at their authors/experts in the field of Voice Over IP (Voip). By the scientific process of eenie-meenie-minee-moe, I choose Manoj Bhatia. (see below)
Now, does clicking his name present a well-typed resume? Of course not! Manoj is not an active jobseeker. However, it does give me a lead on how to connect with him. After reading the author’s biography, I surmise that he is a Cisco employee. Hmmm… maybe I will ive him a call the next time I am in the mood to chat with a VOIP expert. See how easy that is?
In case you are not looking for technical people, check out FT Press. They have a lot of HR, Marketing, Finance and Business experts on tap.
Happy hunting!
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Now that is something different! Very interesting approach. Once slant on your approach that has yielded surprising fruit is leaving my business card in magazines and books that my candidates are likely to read. i cannot tell you how many times I have had prospects call me. I leave a different color business cards in different bookstores so I can see where the best return is.