Recruiting for tomorrow today: the importance of the REDP talent attraction campaign
Earlier this year, the Richardson Economic Development Partnership (REDP) launched a new talent attraction campaign and microsite in an effort to, “…better tell the city’s story and attract young professionals already living in the DFW region to live, work and play in Richardson.”
Richardson has a robust business climate that has helped establish plenty of job opportunities. In fact, Richardson’s economic vibrancy is one of the key reasons Richardson was just named the 3rd-best city to live in nationally by 24/7 Wall Street and USA TODAY. But there are currently more technical positions open in Richardson than qualified candidates to fill them.
Of course, attracting and retaining talent is a major focus for most organizations, but the way young professionals search for jobs has changed. Historically, when companies had hiring needs, they would place a newspaper ad, post a job online, visit a career fair or ask for employee referrals, then simply wait for candidates to flow in. In today’s competitive recruiting environment, however, this reactive approach is no longer sufficient.
To help Richardson companies proactively attract badly needed talent, the REDP created RealRichardson.com, a microsite that connects young professionals with job prospects, housing opportunities and a variety of lifestyle amenities in the community—from dining destinations to shopping and entertainment offerings. In so doing, the REDP’s campaign will benefit employers, community leaders, residential communities, employees and prospective employees alike. It will also help convey a key marketing message for our community: Richardson has the ability to meet all of a young professional’s needs, both within work and outside of work, making it a very attractive prospect.
Ultimately, this campaign will build a workforce pipeline that will enable Richardson employers to save overall time and costs associated with hiring. Additionally, it will benefit the community by enticing young professionals to settle down and raise families here. I am proud that Richardson is investing in the future success of this community not only by building today’s workforce, but also laying the groundwork for a long-term pipeline of professionals to enrich our city’s companies and neighborhoods for years to come.
Abbe Montgomery is an HR Team Manager for State Farm and a tri-chair of Tech Titans’ HR Forum
