THE CLEARED RECRUITING CHRONICLES: YOUR WEEKLY DoD RECRUITING TIPS TO OUT COMPETE THE NEXT NATIONAL SECURITY STAFFER.
We’ve been complaining for a decade that we are tasked with sourcing top technical talent in a passive market with terrible rates and a shrinking cleared pool.
So, why would you spend a large amount of your precious recruiting time and efforts on targeting employed talent who aren’t even aggressively seeking a new job? There’s zero evidence that a passive candidate is actually a better employee than someone who is unemployed. The ‘currently happy with their work’ are just the forbidden fruit to recruiters, and unemployment sometimes comes along with a stigma that the candidate is NEVER employable. Some recruiting teams also have the thought that the jobless are actually a riskier hire.
WHY THE UNEMPLOYED SHOULD BE A PART OF YOUR RECRUITMENT SCHEME
While someone’s clearance could be outdated if they haven’t utilized it in the last two years, there are a few reasons why cleared recruiters should be targeting the unemployed, so long as they meet the contract requirements.
1. They are motivated.
Someone who is unemployed can be excited and grateful to utilize their security clearance before it lapses. Whether someone is taking a break after they ETS or has had trouble finding the best role, these candidates will do their best and remain loyal through the hiring process. If they were laid off because of business restructuring or loss of contract they will be an especially hungry, active job seeker.
2. Flexible requirements.
Because unemployed candidates are motivated, grateful, and loyal for a recruiter giving them a chance, these applicants may have the ability to start a new contract quickly with potential flexibility in salary or benefit negotiations.
3. Word of mouth recruiting.
Let’s say you hire an unemployed candidate for one your cleared contracts, everything works out, and they are a total Rockstar. Chances are that this person’s network isn’t unemployed in its entirety. When you take a chance on a candidate or make someone feel valued, it’s hard not to tell your friends, old colleagues or active duty cohorts about it. Being a helpful recruiter, and even to the unemployed, will give yourself a positive reputation where candidates will actually be sourcing you.
Lower Risk Hiring Unemployed Candidates
All in all, every type of candidate can be risky at times. And the unemployed are often not the first choice for defense recruiters. There may be an unfavorable explanation for why someone is unemployed, or it could take longer for them to integrate back to the workforce. However, unemployed candidates are typically low risk (but high hunger) if there are suitable recruitment strategies in place.
Download ClearanceJobs’ most recent white paper: Cleared and Unemployed.
