Look at your existing workforce and see who your “alpha” people are. Your best employees will attract people just like them.

An "Alpha" employee is described as someone who:

• Is good at what they do
  
• Likes what they do
  
• Likes who they work for
  
• Has good interpersonal communication skills

These people can do much of your "leg work". However, make sure that they want to do it, plus the managers must still make and deal with the final decisions. You should be able to identify a diverse group of individuals within your organization as "alpha" employees. By expanding your recruiting net to reach a wider range of your employees’ contacts, you should have a better chance of attracting a goldmine of highly-qualified, diverse, passive candidates.

Finding a good workforce is no longer a personnel issue; it’s a business issue. It affects your budget and group performance. Strong networking abilities must be encouraged and rewarded.

Does your organization utilize gatekeepers or qualifiers? There is a difference; gatekeepers keep people out; qualifiers help you find and select talented professionals within their networks.

Utilize these qualifiers and alpha employees to help you on all levels of the hiring process. By revitalizing your procedures you will open the door to a more diverse candidate pool.