Best Recruiting Gifts to Acquire Awesome Volunteers

For starters, the most effective recruiting gifts aren't just creative, useful, and practical, but are also given unexpectedly - triggering emotions of excitement and surprise at the same time.

Likewise, recruiting gifts could leave an impact on any recruitment campaign. Whether you're planning to gather volunteers for an event or a cause, these giveaways could always be a tangible tool that will engage recipients and motivate them to cooperate. Here are some recruiting gifts that your volunteers would definitely love.

1) Personalized Magnets
If you're on a tight budget, personalized magnets would be great as recruiting gifts. You could get magnets the size of business cards for only $10/25. Just create a fun message with some graphics and adhere it to the magnet. This would be truly appreciated by your volunteers as it'll always remind them how much they were acknowledged.

2) Journals
You could give them away during an event or a cause. To make your journals more customized, design the cover with your brand's logo and don't forget to include a pen with your logo on it. You could also wrap them in cellophane and include a thank you card to make it more personal.

3) BookWear
One of the best recruiting gifts is the BookWear. These are small custom-designed "books" with surprise giveaway inside. Recruiting gifts with BookWear could be sunglasses, compressed t-shirts, backpack, socks, etc. They could be customized with your brand's logo, message, design elements, and a lot more. Likewise, you could mail a BookWear to your recipients since it's like a thick post card.

4) Unique “Thank You” Chocolate Bars
Also great employee thank you gifts, chocolate bars are always a great idea. You just need to buy flat chocolate bars and design the wrappers with your logo and/or design. Also, don't forget to write “thank you.” These chocolate bars could be handed out as individual recognitions or during group events.

Likewise, you could easily change the design so they'll always be unique. Aside from that, there are several software packages that could be used when it comes to designing. Flat bars are the easiest to use and when they're distributed, they instantly generate smiles.

Additional Tip: You could also use an embosser with a logo and a “thank you” message on it. Emboss your seals, envelopes, or wrappers directly. This could cost a lot, but it's definitely worth it. Adding class and making your efforts more recognized.

5) Framed Quotes
This is very simple, yet a very meaningful recruiting gift. Give your volunteers a framed quote relating to volunteerism and it'll capture their hearts. They could put it on their desk or hang it on the wall. Most volunteers would find this gift special, because every time they'll look at it, they'll be reminded of the service they have provided.

6) Placemats
You could take random photos as your volunteers do their work and print them on placemats. The possibilities with these thank you gifts are endless, so get creative and come up with something unique and original.

7) Unique Bookmarks
As ideal recruiting giveaways and gifts, you could make your own drawings or you can use children's drawings to make a bookmark. Just laminate them and include a “thank you” message at the back. Aside from being inexpensive, this could be a meaningful recruiting gift.

8) Totebags
Totebags aren't that expensive, especially if you buy them in bulk. Likewise, if you have more than enough time, you could also make them by your own. Just print your logo on these bags, with the brand name on one side. Don't forget to include a tag that says “thank you.”

9) Mouse Pads
If your event or cause is technology related, this would be a wonderful giveaway gift. Likewise, you could also use this idea even if it isn't. Just print your brand's logo and a thank you message on the mouse pad and you're all done.

Do you have an creative ideas for recruiting gifts? Let us know in the comments section below.

The Value in IT Staffing for Tech-Entrepreneurs

Technology entrepreneurs, especially those who plan to staff a wealth of talented IT specialists to help facilitate growth, can value in IT staffing services.

Unlike IT consulting and support, IT staffing is designed for large, often times corporate level companies that are looking to hire an in-house IT staff to manage technology systems.

Hiring an IT staffing firm is common for technology start-ups that need help recruiting skilled technology experts. Although of value to most companies of this nature, finding reputable and local on-site IT staffing firms is not always easy.

Tips for Choosing the Right IT Staffing Firm

The decision to invest in an IT staffing firm is huge. In essence, you are trusting a major aspect of your business (hiring quality employees) to another company. A high level of consideration and trust is crucial from the beginning.

Before deciding on what staffing firm to hire for your company, below are a few tips to find the ideal IT staffing firm.

• How many recruiters does the IT staffing firm have available and if they are certified b the American Staffing Association or the National Association of Personnel Services. The knowledge and experience of the recruiters will influence how long it will take to fill your positions.
• How many years has the staffing firm been in operation is determinant for their overall experience.
• Research on the reputation of the staffing firm and how reliable are they. You may ask them for references from previous clients and call several of their references to inquire about the company.
• What recruiting techniques they employ and what kind of retention programs they have in place.
• How are their IT specialists screened and tested. Ask them if they offer employment references, whether or not they meet every candidate in person, if they do background criminal checks, if they verify education background, if they do credit checks and drug testing, what skills they evaluate and how they are testing them.
• Track record of technology platform experience, and choose candidates with the right expertise, relevant to your particular IT support needs.
• Inquire what type of insurance does the staffing firm have, whether or not they carry Employment Liability Insurance and adequate workers compensation insurance.
• Ask the staffing firm how they pay their employees.
• Clarify what guarantee they provide and what is your financial commitment in case that you are not satisfied with the employee on the first day of the assignment.

Have you had experience working with IT staffing companies? Or do you have any ideas to share? Please let us know in the comments below!