County Extension staff were committed to providing the level of supervision an intern would need to carry out the essential job functions identified. He immediately called to inform the individual of the opening and attempted to interest her in the position. Although she was not looking for a new position, after several conversations with Cornell Cooperative Extension staff, she decided to apply. After a national search, she was selected from a competitive pool of applicants and participated with several other candidates in the interview process. Subsequently, she was offered and accepted the position.
Effective recruitment utilizes a variety of strategies to inform potential applicants of positions.
Encouraging all CCE staff to recruit applicants with diverse backgrounds for positions and communicating that staff recruitment is everyone's responsibility has been a successful strategy. Involving staff and volunteer board members in actively recruiting and nominating individuals through their network of contacts. Contacting staff from diverse backgrounds already employed in the system, asking them to recruit for the position and provide incentives for them to do it. An individual who learned about a CCE job opening through a personal contact rather than through the usual announcement outlets applied for a nutrition educator position. The interview team was impressed with the applicant's volunteer experience and class projects that demonstrated her initiative and commitment to educating diverse populations.