Unemployment clings to record lows (4.6% and sinking) and the labor supply is increasingly tight. Organizations in every industry are struggling to keep productivity growth ahead of growing labor costs, requiring more productivity per employee. Skill requirements are increasing across the board. Recruiting the best of the labor pool is serious business in today's economy. However, "the best" may look very different today than they did in the workplace of the past.

THE BEST WORKERS FOR TODAY'S ECONOMY
Organizations today need flexible, technoliterate, information-savvy workers who think like entrepreneurs, take charge of their own careers, and stand ready to adapt themselves to ever changing roles and responsibilities. (Sounds like Generation X.)

ATTRACTING THE BEST
Plan a full scale recruiting campaign, complete with a budget, dedicated staff, and deadlines for each of the following steps: (1) Develop a clear and concise recruiting message emphasizing the key selling points of the positions you are seeking to fill. (2) Consider paid advertising and direct mail. (3) Utilize web-based recruiting services such as Tripod, JobDirect, CollegeCentral, and CareerPath. (4) Create newsworthy angles in your campaign and pitch stories to journalists to generate publicity. (5) Build personal relationships with career counselors and placement professionals in schools and companies alike.

SELECTING THE BEST
Once you have many applicants to choose from, select the people best suited to add value in your organization: (1) Ask applicants to submit written proposals outlining exactly how they intend to match their skills to meet your needs. (2) Focus interviews on key skills and ability to perform the tasks at hand, instead of dwelling on obsolete criteria. (3) In addition to checking references, collect "free samples" of tangible results achieved by applicants in the past. (4) Instead of risking a bad fit, insist on providing finalists realistic job previews.