Books upon books have been written about personnel practices. How to search the labor market, how to keep them happy when you get them . . . . . and many many more concepts about how to improve your situation in the ever increasing tight labor market. This article will briefly cover only one segment of many . . . . . acquiring employees. Or in other words, how to find them and hire them.

Internet This is a dirty word among many executives, but lets face it, you no longer have a choice. If you are to survive you better familiarize yourself with the inner workings of this latest of technologies. The modern day executive now accesses the many web sites that can assist in acquiring employees. The American Federation of Chefs and the Culinary Institute of America are just a few out there in cyberspace. Numerous groups will let you have access to resumes without a fee, but if you wish to post a job listing you usually have to pay. When it comes to lower echelon executives, the universities are a great source. Log on http://www.bus.msu.edu/shb/sirc/ and key in on "Job Alert Bulletin." On the bulletin page you can pick the management level desired and the State in which you are interested. This Michigan State University web site will also accept (or tell you how to contact the right person/site) listing of job openings you have.

Commercial Firms Everyone knows about search firms, but many don’t realize how sophisticated they have become. Our own firm is a good example of the specialization that has developed in the field. We ONLY ACCEPT search assignments within the private club community and our data bank only accepts candidates with substantial experience in the private club industry. The Internet also has companies that operate as sort of a clearing house for resumes, placement firms, and those looking for qualified employees.

Never Underestimate The Inventive and Adventurous One executive threw a party for the local campus sorority and picked up some sharp intelligent part time wait staff. Another accessed major newspaper classifieds for potential applicants, and for direct advertising in areas where employees could be enticed to leave for warmer climates. Nations Restaurant News reports that one assistant store manager in a bagel restaurant chain developed his own web site, for the sole purpose of acquiring employees. It was recently reported that 60% of college students are using the Internet for job searches . . . part time when still in school and full time upon graduation. One executive sent an employee to a high school principal to explain their employment needs. Real sneaky about it . . . . he showed up right around noon, with a free pizza . . . . hoping the principal would welcome participation in a taste testing program. Of course there is the old time tested and approved methods of internal searches. Some executives gives staff members a blank check for $100.00 during the employee orientation program. They are informed that all they have to do is recruit another employee and the check will be signed, made payable to them, on the spot. We even found one restaurant chain that awards yearly bonuses as high as $1,000.00 to the employee that recruits the highest number in a 12 month period. ²