The Great Recession has been hard on recruiters. As many employers have downsized, they have also cut back on their recruiting efforts or brought them to a screeching halt. Some companies like The Container Store, have weathered the recession better than others. Employees at The Container Store are encouraged to make recruiting a priority. The constantly have their eye on customers who would fit the unique culture, frequently approaching a good candidate right on the sales floor. In fact, 34 percent of applicants to The Container Store are referred by employees. And it isnt hard to persuade people to apply. The Container Store has been a fixture on the Fortune Magazine list of top employers for ten years.

The company pays better wages than most retaliers and provides health benefits for part time employees. During the recession they did not layoff any employees, although matching employee 401k contribution were suspended until profits started to climb in 2011. Founder Kip Tindell reports that the company culture was a positive factor in strong employeeacceptance of the cuts. They were happy to help save their fellow coworkers jobs, reported Tindell in an interview on CBS.

It is the responsibility of every employee at The Container Store, from Tindall on down, to recruit employees. These efforts are so effective that advertising for applicants is rarely necessary. Thats because as customers enter the store, a trained sales associate talks up the benefits of working for The Container Store and all that the company offers. If the individual applies and is hired, the sales associate is given a $500 reward for succesful recruiting ($250 if the person is hired on a part-time basis). Not a bad reward for simply enjoying and doing ones job!

The application process might be easy, but getting hired isnt. Applicants got hrough as many as nine interviews and only 3 percent of applicants are hired. Once hired, employees enjoy the job and company culture so much theyjust dont leave. The Container Stor has one of the lowest rates of employee turnover in the industry. Whereas simliar stores have annual turnover upward of 70 prcent, The Container Store has a full-time-turnover just under 10 percent a year and less than 35 percent for part-timers.

Q. Explain how other recruiting sourcs may be effective for The Container Stores efforts to recruit in a way that supports the companys culture.