This article originally appeared in the April 2023 issue of Security Business magazine. When sharing, don’t forget to mention Security Business magazine on LinkedIn and @SecBusinessMag on Twitter.
In today's recruiting market, competition is fierce. Sometimes, to combat the competition, companies take the intelligent approach of bringing candidates in who are not from the industry – but that is not always easy to achieve.
In order to attract and retain the best candidates, it is important to get newcomers excited about our industry. Here are five tips to help you showcase the unique benefits and opportunities that our industry has to offer:
1. Highlight the impact: The security industry is crucial to public safety. One way to get candidates excited is to highlight the impact our solutions have. There are many examples out there about how security technology has saved lives and shortened response times. By showcasing the positive impact security equipment has on society, you can attract candidates who are passionate about making a difference.
2. Offer learning and development opportunities: Candidates are typically excited about industries that offer opportunities for growth and development. Make sure to highlight any training, certification or education opportunities that are available. This can include on-the-job training, mentorship programs, and certifications from manufacturers. By showing candidates that there are opportunities to learn and grow, you can attract candidates who are eager to develop their skills and advance their careers.
3. Emphasize the collaborative nature of our industry: Many niche industries require collaboration between different departments, teams and organizations. Emphasize the collaborative nature of our technologies, and how working together can lead to innovative solutions and success. Highlight any product integrations and go to industry events or conferences where your team can come together to share ideas and network. By showcasing the opportunities for collaboration, you can attract candidates who thrive in team-oriented environments or who love brainstorming and sharing ideas.
4. Showcase the vastness of the industry and its possibilities: Every industry has its own specificities. In security, the possibilities are endless. Make sure to highlight career growth opportunities internally, with other manufacturers, or even with distributors where these candidates can progress their career down the line. While you may not want to lose a good employee to another company, there are benefits to them becoming a product rep for you in that region and still being able to work together. You can talk about the opportunities to work remotely or maybe even a casual dress code. You can also talk about travel and accommodations when attending shows. By showcasing the many avenues in our space, you can attract candidates who are excited about career growth and that have a good work ethic.
5. Share success stories: Finally, one of the most effective ways to get candidates excited about security is to share success stories. Highlight the achievements of professionals at the company and how their work has made a positive impact. Share case studies or success stories of installation of technologies that have saved lives or are keeping a group of people safe – for instance, at a local college or hospital. By showcasing these achievements, you can attract candidates who are inspired by the work and eager to make a difference themselves.
By highlighting the positive impact, learning and development opportunities, collaborative nature, unique benefits, and success stories the security industry has, you can get candidates excited about joining your organization. By attracting candidates who are passionate about our space you can build a strong and motivated team that is committed to achieving success, even if they have no prior experience in security integration.
Ryan Joseph is an Executive Recruiter for Recruit Group (https://recruitgrp.com), with a focus on security industry operations, sales, and sales leadership. For help with your security recruiting efforts, contact her at [email protected] or call (954) 278-8286.
