There are many reasons why local employers recruit candidates from outside the Columbus Region. Hospitals and research institutions seek individuals with exceptional reputations to, among other things, elevate their own national and international status. Other businesses source talent from well-known industry locales, such as NYC for the fashion industry, Hartford, CT for actuaries, or Cincinnati for experienced brand managers. Sometimes, employers build pipelines for entry-level talent with universities across the country because specific degree programs are not offered locally.
Consequently, the Columbus Region has a proud history of welcoming people who come from someplace else. The diversity that comes with people who possess different backgrounds, experiences, and ways of approaching the world makes Central Ohio a richer, vibrant, more interesting community in which to live, work and start a business.
The Columbus Chamber has long provided leadership in workforce attraction and retention. When a group of human resource executives from Columbus Partnership companies assembled recently to discuss ways to make it easier to recruit talent from outside the Columbus Region, the Columbus Chamber compiled a list of information and links to resources to help them market Columbus to talent from outside the region to address their hiring needs.
1. “Awesome Relocation Services”
LiveWorkPlayColumbus is a great resource for companies to use to help prospects and their families get a first look at Columbus and recognize they can replicate, if not advance, their lifestyle by moving to Columbus. In addition to the website, recruiters can leverage the “recruiter tool” which allows them to easily create and send customized emails to prospects who may be considering relocating to the Columbus region. Register as a New User here.

At LiveWorkPlayColumbus.com, check out the Best of Everything video. Embed code is provided so companies can post the video to their own Careers webpage.
Other great videos touting Columbus
• Check US Out | see what makes Columbus unique, exciting, unexpected, open & smart
• 2010 National Number 1’s | Columbus is home to the best science museum, the best zoo, the best ice cream...and much, much more!
• Columbus: An Open Look | open for business and open for your life
• YPs declare I Choose Columbus and Columbus is A Vibrant City for Young Professionals
• It Is Here | history resounds and opportunity abounds
• Seeing is Believing | a variety of videos showcasing different parts of Columbus
The Columbus Chamber and Columbus2020 keep a running tally of accolades, rankings and superlatives regarding the Columbus region. Check out the latest (or search by key words for rankings that may resonate with individual recruits): Columbus Region Rankings and Columbus In The News
Other websites
• Transplants to the Columbus region: liveworkplaycolumbus.com
• Columbus from a business perspective: columbus.org and http://columbusregion.com/. And the 2011 Columbus Region Factbook
• Plan a weekend visit via Experience Columbus, the travel and tourism bureau
• Check out the vibrancy of Columbus’ Downtown: downtowncolumbus.com and http://columbushighfive.com/
2. Effectively Selling Columbus
The Columbus Chamber’s manager of young professionals, Robbie Banks (robbie_banks@columbus.org), is available as a resource to companies to conduct trainings or “brown bags” to share the resources that are available to sell Columbus to people considering relocating and to connect people to the community so they’ll be more satisfied—and more likely to stay.
As a regular part of her job, Robbie works very hard to make Columbus famous as a destination where young and talented artists, entrepreneurs and professionals can achieve their career/life aspirations. She has many tools and resources available to help connect people to each other, to non-profit and YP organizations, and to the community. One of those tools is the weekly email promoting Activities and Events for YPs. Sign up for it here.
Learn more about the importance of YPs to our community at the Columbus Chamber's website.
3. What Makes Columbus Cool?
As a part of our on-going research of the young and talented (originally conducted by Rebecca Ryan’s firm in ’06 and ‘07), the Columbus Chamber recently released the report, titled What Makes Columbus “Cool” for the Young and Talented: 2011 State of the Young Professional, which highlights how people feel about Columbus relative to factors like Earning, After Hours, Cost of Lifestyle, etc. based on a survey done over the summer. Columbus is, indeed, a place where creative-types—regardless of age—can feel energized and engaged.

4. Connecting Out-of-Town Recruits to Columbus “Ambassadors”
In the event you have an executive you’d like to introduce to peers in the Columbus Region, we can work with you to help organize a welcome dinner, reception, etc. for that executive. Indeed, the Columbus Partnership can help ensure the right people are in the room.
Sharon Cameron owns Connections, an executive “concierge” service to help executives get connected to the Columbus community (dinner parties, country clubs, private schools, etc.). “Our goal is to assist you in landing the candidate and then transitioning that new hire and their family into the Columbus area.” (Connections is a Chamber member.)
Also, Robbie (robbie_banks@columbus.org) is your contact for the “YP Ambassadors” program. In the event you’d like to connect a recruit with a neutral third-party who can, nonetheless, give an enthusiastic endorsement of living in Columbus, Robbie can help make that happen. By the way, recruits don’t necessarily have to be “YPs.” We match people based on interest and life-stage rather than age, which is more relevant.
Onboarding Columbus, offered through Leadership Columbus, is an unforgettable two days of community orientation and networking where participants learn about and connect with the Columbus community from the inside. Gain access to valuable information about the issues facing our community, as well as meet new people, explore the places and experience the leadership that makes Columbus extraordinary. Program is relevant for recent transplants as well as those who have lived here their entire lives.
5. Trailing Spouse Employment
Sometimes your recruiters are challenged to close the deal because the decision to relocate to the Columbus Region is predicated on finding employment for the trailing spouse. Feel free to email me (andrea_applegate@columbus.org) the resume of the trailing spouse and I will share it with my network of corporate recruiters and staffing agents to uncover potential opportunities. At your request, I can also provide information and links to resources for to assist the trailing spouse when conducting a local job search.
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