Before you start any recruiting effort, you should always have a general idea of how you intend to conduct and manage the process. To start, you need some idea of the various candidate sources you’re going to pursue, including those you’re going to focus your efforts on as you move forward in the recruiting process.

Keep in mind that everything you do as a recruiter – from seeking candidates on the Internet to paying a visit to your local community college – is making a statement about your small business, and, in the process, helping to shape your company’s reputation.

To recruit the best talent, you need to represent your small business as professionally as possible. When the time comes to choose the person(s) who will represent your company at a job fair or a local college campus, look to those who have good people skills and consistently generate positive energy. Pay attention, too, to the presence created on your small business's website and what happens when applicants call your company for information or show up for interviews.

Try to impress on everybody who might interact with a candidate how important it is to be warm and courteous. After all, today’s job-seeker may be tomorrow’s desired employee or potential customer.