Is the economy rebounding? Maybe so, because consumer spending’s on the rise, and unemployment rates are falling. That means if your department wants to bring new talent on board — now’s a good time to act. 

Why?  Almost half (48%) of workers who were laid off in the last quarter have already found new, full-time positions.

Here are four ways to stay connected, find qualified applicants and build  strong departments:

1. Industry associations. Many trade groups or unions offer low- or no-cost memberships. Many offer pamphlets, magazines and journals to help you stay up-to-date on the latest industry news as well as who is making headlines.
2. Conferences. Attending conferences is a great way to stay connected to professionals in education — and keep your skills current to boot. Travel is not always required. Many larger organizations also have local chapters that hold day-long sessions, so don’t automatically rule out conferences.
3. Local interest groups. Get involved with local community organizations, such as the chamber of commerce. Offer to help run committees — you’ll have the opportunity to meet a variety of people in the group as well as various guest speakers.
4. Social networking sites. Of course, the Web is often the go-to source for everything. Join a professional social networking site, and get active in the related groups.

Tags: career advice, hiring, job seekers, networking, new hires, qualified applicants, recruiting