In addition to being one of the 2008 NorthCoast 99 winners and requesting to be considered for this award, all finalists for the Recruitment & Selection Special Category Award must meet the following criteria before being considered for the award:

• They all use ALL of the following to assist in recruiting for open positions:
• Employee referrals
• Networking
• Internal job postings
• Internships
• Colleges/universities
• Organizations that are downsizing
• They all have an Online Career Center (an area of their corporate website dedicated to recruiting)
• They all provide referral bonuses for successful referrals from employees
• They all track/measure the effectiveness of the sources used to advertise and promote open positions
• They all have determined that their methods of selection are accurate predictors of job performance.
• They all promote Northeast Ohio as a great place to work and live
• They all have identified key characteristics that define a top performer in their organizations
• They all track turnover

Winners are chosen based on the company that demonstrates the most unique and innovative practices aimed at attracting, retaining, and motivating top performers.

Recruitment & Selection Winner & Finalist Summaries

Recruitment & Selection Winner: FedEx Custom Critical

Unique to this company: At FedEx Custom Critical, everyone is a recruiter and team members are critical to recruitment and selection. Team members “sell” the organization to referrals, host candidates for job observations, attend job fairs with HR, and get involved in conducting phone and in-person interviews. In addition, the organization maintains favorable relationships with former employees who are eligible for a $200 reward for referrals who are hired and stay with the company at least 90 days. It also leverages community contacts in sourcing other candidates for open positions. During the interview process, candidates are advised of all openings and are encouraged to share the information with others. FedEx maintains contact with its alumni, community contacts, and local colleges and universities through an electronic newsletter called "Friends of FedEx." This is used to share updated information about the company as well as existing job openings. By communicating these openings to current team members, former team members, candidates, key community contacts and college contacts, this organization has a widespread, low-cost network of “mini-recruiters.” FedEx also stays connected with candidates that have accepted job offers, including hiring managers and team members in congratulating, welcoming, and engaging the new hire. FedEx also routinely sends new hires gift baskets including items for their family members.

Recruitment & Selection Finalist: Developers Diversified Realty

Unique to this company: Developers Diversified Reality's Management Training Program is an initiative created, promoted, and fostered by the top management team as a way to promote real estate careers as a career choice for college students. Each year, it brings in 4-5 new trainees to participate in the program. The President actively participates in the selection process, accompanying the recruiting team on campus visits, screening resumes, interviewing candidates, and on-boards candidates. He personally mentors each trainee, applying a unique aspect of personal involvement. Trainees are placed into three 6-month rotational assignments and are evaluated after each rotation. After training, these trainees continue to rise to high levels within the organization.

Recruitment & Selection Finalist: Ligget Stashower

Unique to this company: Ligget Stashower has a nationally recognized internship program among the ranks of programs at Pixar Animation Studios, CareerBuilder and Southwest Airlines, citing that the program provides them a "rich pool of talent from which to hire." Every summer Ligget Stashower hires 6 to 8 candidates out of nearly 300 applicants representing a variety of disciplines at the agency including advertising, account service, public relations, copywriting, graphic design, and financial services, describing the program as a "two month job interview." The program is so widely liked that former interns spread the word to others about their experience and professors encourage their students to apply. The interns are required to be at the organization or on assignment Monday through Friday, during normal business hours, to engage intern with the organization during the duration of their employment. Interns are assigned a mentor to answer any questions, address concerns, and make sure that the objectives of the internship program are carried out. Interns are also engaged in client-related work. As part of the internship program, intern classes are assigned a group project, requiring them to work as a team and pull their own talents together. The interns own and manage this project and then are required to present their work to clients.