Innovative Strategies for Talent Attraction

Most of us would jump at the chance to win a free trip to Hawaii but few people are as eager to live and work there., Being 2,500 miles away from the nearest talent hub, having a higher cost of living, and having a 2% unemployment rate can result in difficulty when searching to fill new positions. The government of Hawaii experienced these hiring challenges for decades. On average, their job postings would get only five or six applications, and it would take up to two years to fill a role. Trouble in Paradise case

This changed with the hiring of Todd Nacapuy as the state’s chief information officer in 2015. He convinced the government to fund a major overhaul of the state’s recruitment process. He started by changing his department’s culture and invested in recruitment marketing and smart candidate targeting. Hawaii reduced its time-to-fill rate to six months and hired sixty new employees in just a few years.

Nacapuy developed several methods to attract new talent. Many people do not find government jobs appealing, so he focused on transforming the employee value proposition (EVP). He collaborated with his HR partner and recruiter-in-chief, Jennifer Pegarido. Together, they created a message highlighting that working for the state of Hawaii allows you to make a meaningful impact and develop a career, not just a job.

Additionally, Nacapuy increased recruitment spending. He utilized platforms like LinkedIn and produced videos that showcase the company culture instead of merely describing it.