Photograph of Exeter Cathedral

5 ways to find new employees in Exeter

In 2022, unemployment in the UK fell to its lowest rate for nearly 40 years. As we look forward to the next 12 months, many businesses are already struggling to find good new team members, including companies in and around the Exeter area.

If you want to win the war for talent in Exeter, you might want to consider these top tips for finding new talented people quickly, as well as building a longer-term pipeline of applicants.

1. Target the university

Exeter has one of the largest and most prestigious universities in the country. Today, Exeter has more than 25,000 students. This is a deep pool of resourceful and qualified talent. Companies cannot only tap into a qualified and talented graduate pool, but current students are also often looking for part-time work along their studies.

Employers in the local area are able to advertise jobs to students via the University of Exeter Career Zone, and you can find more details on the univesrity website. The best jobs are also posted on the univesrity's Instagram accounts, giving employers good visibility among the student community.

2. Advertise online

Today, the vast majority of job searches take place online, and you need to make sure that your jobs are listed on relevant websites and portals. Many of the largest job portals, such as Monster and Indeed, allow you to specify where the job is located. 

Over recent years, Google has also started to show these job ads to people searching in the local area. 

3. Secure coverage in the local media

One of the best places for your company to be seen is in the local media. Local newspapers and local news websites are still very well read by most people, and they're often one of the only sources of news that most people still consume.

If you are kicking off a recruitment campaign, consider turning it into a press release and sharing the news with the local newspaper, who might be interested to run a standalone story about the recruitment drive. You can also consider paying for advertising within the jobs section of the newspaper or its website.

Another additional benefit of securing this type of coverage in local publications is that the news will also be read by other local people who might be interested in buying your products or services. It doubles up as a great way to build brand visible for your company in the local area.

4. Make your CEO well-known

These days people don't only want to want for companies and brands; they also want to work for good people with bold visions that can motivate their workforce. In fact, recent research from thought leadership agency Profile found that nearly 3 in 4 people said that they would prefer for a company led by a recognised and well-known CEO.

So, if you're trying to source new recruits consider getting your CEO out and about in the industry, whether that's through the media, social media, or at events.

5. Use regional recruitment agencies

Finally, there are dedicated recruitment agencies in Exeter whose full-time job it is to build a pipeline of potential recruits and find the right person for you. This can be especially helpful if you need a number of new starters quickly to cope with seasonal or holiday demand.

As well as specialising in finding you new people who want long-term specialised jobs, there are a number of agencies that focus exclusively on filling short-term positions.

As we go into 2023, finding the right teams members could make or break your business. If you are growing your business in Exeter, consider these tips and tricks to give yourself a headstart over your competition.

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