Wild, crazy and creative sourcing ideas…

Posted by Jim Stroud

January 17, 2008

Hat tip to “The Great One” who advised me of this LinkedIn Answers post.

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Wendy A. asks: “What is the most CREATIVE sourcing strategy you have ever used…with success? Describe your most “out-of-the-box” creative sourcing strategy and how it was a success for you…”

Here are some of the answers:

I took a teaching position (part time) at UCLA for 3 semesters and taught interactive design and rapid prototyping. This job garnered my not only good talent…but one of the students worked at Idealab. This student recommended my company pitch one of the first DHTML search interfaces (back in 1998). Not only did we win the pitch…and develop the product…but we were awarded friends and family stock…pre-IPO. It got us about $561,000. Not only is teaching a wonderful thing to do for yourself…and your students…but it’s a wonderful opportunity to grab talent before they hit the streets…just out of school.

Not mine but one of the best I have ever seen. FedEx packag (has to be seen - very nice) containing an iPod with a personalized message from the CEO to the prospective candidate.

1_ Put my business cards in all the software related books at Barnes and Noble.
2) Put my business card on hundreds of cars in the Lockheed Martin parking lot running from security.

I hate to admit this, and it was totally accidental, but I recruited someone off match.com. We didn’t click, but he sure clicked with my hiring manager! I certainly don’t recommend posting a profile under false pretenses, like I said, this was totally accidental!