The Birmingham Business Alliance has launched an online talent recruiting and retention tool.
Organizers say OnBoard Birmingham is geared to out-of-market talent, talent managers, recruiters, human resources leaders, and colleges and universities across the state. It aims to not only attract and retain talent, but also promote the benefits of living and working in Birmingham.
“In working with human resources executives and recruiters across the region, we hear all the time that companies need a tool to sell the benefits of living in Birmingham,” Karla Khodanian, the BBA’s manager of talent and higher education partnerships, said. “OnBoard Birmingham is that tool. This will provide a consistent message about Birmingham and the opportunities here, while highlighting our greatest asset – our people.”
Shipt and Regions Bank offered support for OnBoard Birmingham and will be its first Featured Employers, with company profiles and an opportunity for enhanced job listings. That feature is also open to other interested companies.
“It became clear that human resources professionals in Birmingham needed help meeting their hiring goals, and the BBA knew it could help in that effort,” BBA CEO Kenny Coleman said. “Also, we found that many perceptions of Birmingham appear to be driven by a general lack of knowledge. Through OnBoard Birmingham, we hope to show those who don’t live here why it is a great place to live, and those who do live here why it is a great place to stay.”
Call up OnBoard Birmingham and you can browse through more than 28,000 jobs in the area or keyword search through them. There’s a cost of living calculator, allowing users to compare prices with other metro areas to see how much farther your dollar with go in the Magic City. You can also get a picture of the region’s culture and amenities in neighborhoods. In the future, the site will feature a dynamic recruiting toolkit and profiles of local ambassadors who have built a career here.
The BBA says it will use OnBoard Birmingham as its main workforce development platform to partner with colleges and universities across the state to host virtual events showcasing quality of life in Birmingham and employment opportunities for entry-level graduates.
The BBA took feedback from local HR executives and recruiters to develop the site, as well as the results from an external perception survey that showed roughly half the respondents knew nothing or very little about Birmingham and the opportunities here. A survey of HR leaders indicated that 60 percent said their biggest concern was attracting and retaining talent in Birmingham.
Any companies interested in being featured on the OnBoard Birmingham website or interested in other information about the site can contact Khodanian here.