The Hiring Tree: Laws of Applicant Attraction

By: Steven J. Smith
Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Tundra Lodge

11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

ABOUT THE PROGRAM:

How many companies have struggled with hiring in the last few years? With 2x less applicants in the marketplace, the ability to attract candidates is more important than ever before.

In The Hiring Tree analogy, too many employers rely heavily on one core channel for hiring. The challenge with this is like a tree with one single branch, the tree branch will topple over as it begins to bear fruit due to the weight of the fruit. It creates an awful experience for applicants. 20th century recruiting methodologies are slowly being replaced by new technologies, which means employers need to stay on top of what is happening in the market more than ever before.

The biggest mistake 80% of employers make is the use of a job description as their job ad. New job board rules are being enforced due to Search Engine Optimization practices (SEO), Artificial Intelligence technology, and an influx of scam artists during the pandemic. This is forcing many employers to make changes they are not familiar with. 

In this session we will cover the analogy of the Hiring Tree and discuss one specific branch of the hiring process that will provide immediate results to attracting top talent, regardless of a recession on the loom.

A truly balanced tree has multiple branches, a solid trunk (application process) and firm roots to produce award-winning fruit, which means any hiring strategy must include multiple channels and have the right foundation. From the roots to the trunk, extending out the branches, this presentation will help attendees understand how to develop a sound “Hiring Tree” that will produce fruit (applicant flow) in ANY market, regardless of unemployment rates, recessions, layoffs, pandemics, ghosting, & quiet quitting, which all plague employers today.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 

•  Understand and define key differences between job boards, search engines, aggregators, and social media channels plus how algorithm changes and AI technology have impacted hiring strategies. You will be armed with ideas on how to strategically approach these channels when marketing roles for your organization in an effective way.
  
• Gain a sound understanding of the core elements of a job ad to gain more visibility and attract more qualified job seekers to your roles for active job seekers. Learn the strategic elements of a job ad that need to exist to give applicants a higher chance of finding your jobs.
  
• Know how to effectively develop the 3 core elements of the application process that leads to higher conversions, providing more applications and mitigate drop off rates. Learn the differences between resume parsing and profile parsing, and whether or not resumes will be part of the future of hiring

Steve will be the first to tell you that recruiting is marketing. He earned his Bachelorof Science in Finance at Brigham Young University and started his career in recruiting in Feb 2005. In 2008, he took a risk during a recession to help start a new company with Ryan Kohler, called ApplicantPro, an applicant tracking software platform for small to mid-sized businesses. With 11,000 clients and close to 300 employees, ApplicantPro has made the Inc 5000 list 11 years in a row, a feat accomplished by very few organizations in the country. ApplicantPro was also named an Indeed Platinum Partner in 2023, one of only five companies in the country to receive this designation. Steve is SHRM-CP and PHR certified, and currently volunteers as the Utah SHRM State Director. His book, The Hiring Tree: Laws of Applicant Attraction, was released in early 2023, and has helped thousands of organizations across the country rethink the way they approach hiring. If you need help understanding the principles and role of SEO and marketing when it comes to attracting job seekers, Steve provides a solid framework for hiring.

Meeting Schedule

11:00 AM – 11:30AM                Registration and Lunch Buffet

11:30 AM – 11:45AM                SHRM Business and Announcements

11:45 AM – 1:00PM                  Presentation

Reservation Deadline for this meeting is 

Friday, March 8^th at 5:00 PM. 

$25 – GB SHRM Member*

$35 – Guest of GB SHRM Member/Non-Member*

$10 – SHRM Student Chapter Member

**Books will be available for purchase**