Boston, here I come!

Today I'm heading up to Boston to spread some recruitment love.

Settled in--can't wait to get to Boston and start recruiting! (@ Megabus M22) 4sq.com/Q9RUOR
— Victorio Milian (@Victorio_M) September 7, 2012

I'm recruiting for not one but TWO shops in the Greater Boston area. That means looking for and recruiting great Team Members to help spread the brands' reach.

I'm excited and a bit nervous, also. Recruitment is never as easy as you would like. In your home market there's always a bit of uncertainty, but at least you (and more importantly, the candidate) are on familiar ground. You (ideally) are within comfortable reach of facilities and resources needed to hire candidates. Equally important, the candidate should be familiar with the brand because it exists within their normal sphere of activities. I'm speaking of course within the context I work from, which is the restaurant/hospitality industry. Having a business with a physical location and product allows for an individual to learn about the brand in a way that other industries may not be able to do.

In this context, when you're looking to hire great people in a brand new market you never quite know what's going to happen. Will you get enough people in the doors? How many of them will be quality candidates? Are they clear on who and what the hiring organization is? Where's the nearest stationary store--we've run out of pens! It never goes as smoothly as you may have liked. However, with the right preparation, foresight, and support, you can overcome obstacles and still deliver a quality candidate experience. Never let them see you sweat!

And recruiting in new markets is a lot of fun. You have an elevated opportunity to be a brand ambassador. Until the location opens you are the face of the company. This means educating and motivating those who may be unfamiliar with your organization. It means reaching out and connecting with local resources--business leaders, media outlets, community institutions--and introducing yourself. It means being a cheerleader--generating ENERGY AND EXCITEMENT so those that you are targeting become even more attracted to the potential opportunities that await them. Being part of a new venture, both as a recruiter and as a candidate, is a unique experience that many don't go through. And in light of the country's current unemployment situation, recruiters and companies can help to revive communities and careers.

So watch out Boston, here I come! If you want to learn more about the recruitment drive I'm leading then click here.

Good luck to all the candidates!