Can’t find the people you need for your job openings? As one of the leading staffing services firms in Houston, TX, Murray Resources knows there might be one demographic that you’re overlooking when recruiting: Stay-at-home parents.

Once the kids are in school, there is an entire community of parents who either do work part-time or want to work part-time. In fact, according to Pew Research, nearly 50% of moms with children under 18 report that part-time work is their ideal situation. While this includes both moms that work full-time and stay at home, many of the stay-at-home moms are highly skilled and educated – there’s just not willing to take on a full-time job while the kids are at home.

So how do you tap into this untapped pool of talent?

You’re going to have to do some leg work. These potential employees aren’t actively seeking employment because they know there are few high quality part-time jobs out there. But you can connect with them in the same way you find other high value recruits: through networking.

• Talk to parents at school gatherings, or at community volunteer programs – essentially anywhere where parents and kids come together.  Strike up a conversation and conduct your own informal interview with those you meet.
• Advertise part time jobs on websites that stay-at-home moms use.
• Use social networking tools and ads in national parenting magazines and local publications aimed at parents.
• Encourage existing employees to refer you to candidates. Ask them to spread the word through local schools, PTAs, neighborhood associations, and any other type of pertinent organization.
• Be aware of legal pitfalls, though. In most cases, it’s not legal to advertise specifically for a woman or a mother for a particular job. However, you can craft your job description in such a way that’s most appealing to the demographic you’re after.

Recruiting stay-at-home parents for part-time works also makes a lot of business sense for small employers or start-ups that may not be able to afford the cost of a full-time staff member. With a part-time employee, you don’t have to wait to get someone on board with the expertise you need. You can afford to hire a professional by simply offering a more flexible schedule.

Do you need more help recruiting high quality talent? Call the experts at Murray Resources. As one of the leading staffing services firms in Houston, TX, we can assist you with the entire search process – from sourcing and screening to hiring and retaining top talent. Contact us today to get started.