Yesterday I wrote about the idea of using a portfolio instead of a resume when jobsearching.

That got me to thinking. If I were hiring, how would I approach hiring differently than the norm?

The answer: I would not wait for people to apply. I would continually be on the lookout for talent. There are lots of ways to bump into people and get a sense of what they are about. Blogs, social networks, forums, etc., etc. . . . it can all come into play here.

As I run across people who seem interesting, I would make a note and try to get contact info. (It will help if I am very clear in my notes about why I highlighted this person — in fact, this may be the key.)

Then, when looking to fill a position, I’d look over my collection of people. Is there anyone there I might want to reach out to, before I go posting on Monster and drowning in a flood of dull resumes?

Just a thought.