Recruit or Die: How Any Business Can Beat the Big Guys in the War for Young Talent

by Chris Resto, Ramit Sethi, Ian Ybarra

Book Overview

Recruit or Die is the first practical guide to the entry-level recruiting game--which is very different from other kinds of recruiting and vitally important to every company, large or small. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1591841615
• ISBN13: 9781591841616
• Release Date: August 2007
• Publisher: Portfolio
• Length: 276 Pages
• Weight: 1.07 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.4" x 9.0"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Spot On!

I have been a consultant in the field of college recruiting for many years, and, as part of my professional practice, conduct surveys and focus groups with graduating students on behalf of client companies. The findings presented in Recruit or Die absolutely mirror what I've heard from students on an ongoing and consistent basis. It's well-written, a fun read, and a completely accurate reflection of how employers' recruitment practices impact their image among targeted students -- and that, in reality, "campus brand" is shaped by what students tell each other about their experiences -- the good, the bad, and the ridiculous.

An Excellent Contribution

Recruit or Die is a fantastic read with a fresh perspective on recruiting. In fact, it's the only work I've seen that covers college recruiting so comprehensively. As a student right now, it has also helped me to gain much more clarity in understanding the recruiting arena. Definitely worth every page.

A New Approach to Recruiting!

If you recruit for your company in any capacity, you need this book. It is literally a step-by-step guide to recruit the best talent from universities around the country. Here are few of my favorite parts: 1. "Their Lives are Their Careers" - This section calls out the fact that recent college grads don't draw a bold line between work/life balance; WORK IS LIFE for this new generation, and in order to recruit the best talent, you must embrace this new way of life in your company. The authors suggest rotational programs, special project assignments, and an informal work culture to bring out the best in your new recruits. 2. "Gossip Hounds and Constant Communicators" - Ah, word of mouth! These guys have been doing their reading. The authors accurately assess that with online social networks you can bet that your recruits are talking about their experience with you the second they leave your boardroom. In fact, they may be doing it WHILE THEIR IN YOUR BOARDROOM!!! In order to make sure they're telling their freinds about the good stuff, you have to pay attention to details. It ends up being the most topical stuff that makes a big impression: the money, the perks, powerful people, execution of the recruiting process (call them back on time!) 3. "Improving Your Recruiting Staples" - This truly is a step-by-step, highly detailed section that will allow you to fine-tune your career fair booth, information sessions, and job postings. Some VALUABLE ADVICE from this section: (1) All about location, (2) Have recruits RSVP, (3) Get the RIGHT speaker, (4) Talk up the glamour, (5) Haul in the Alumni, (6) Be clear about next steps. This is just a taste - this section really lays it out for anyone participating in recruiting activities. I have a lot of exposure to recruiting at my company, and everyone that has read this book (about half of our recruiters at this point) seems to "get it". We have changed our approach to campus recruiting in many ways, and I truly recommend that you get this book if you are serious about recruiting the best talent to your company.

Best (only!) book on selling your company to recruits

It just makes so much sense. If you want new customers to buy your product or service, you start by understanding your potential customers. This is the only book I've read on recruiting that start inside the heads of top recruits (1000 of them interviewed for the book). Only knowing their perspective can you sell top talent on working for you. The first part of RECRUIT OR DIE does a great job of telling you exactly what you need to know about today's young people to successfully recruit them. And the authors back up their points with stories straight from the mouths of current students and recent grads. The second part of RECRUIT OR DIE lays out the recruiting process from start to finish--including what to do AFTER THEY ACCEPT YOUR OFFER to make them more productive and happier at work to give you the best chance of keeping them in your company. The best part is that Resto and his co-authors demonstrate how effective recruiting should be as rigorous as sales. In fact, you could probably just replace "recruit" with "customer" and the book becomes a sales management handbook! And a pretty good one at that.

Not Just for Human Resources!

Although I haven't been with my company too long, throughout the whole book I was able to connect what MY COMPANY could do to better attract valuable new hires, not only on campus, but afterwards as well. I believe that a big advantage is having connections with those graduate school programs as you suggest, so that they can feed the company, while the company is promoting its own talent into the front door for a win-win. I'm going to buy two more copies and have lunch with the head of HR at my campus locally, and then ask for the same with the head of HR at our national HQ when I fly out there later this month. I look at this as an opportunity to help my company get the best hires AND spread my personal brand wider in house.