Here’s one way to find a lot of people who may make great employees for your company some day:

Join a professional association related to your companies industry.

The benefits, of course, are a wealth of contacts, as well as a way to know what’s going on within the industry.

If you decide to join a group, here’s how to get the most out of it, according to Monster.com:

• Don’t be a stranger — Showing up to one meeting and getting a bunch of names and phone numbers is a bad idea. You want to be actively involved with the organization and turn it into a long-term resource.
• Get information — In addition to looking for candidates, use your time to gather info that will help you in your overall recruiting effort.
• Build visibility — One good way to get involved: Volunteer to speak at the association’s conferences or meetings.

Tags: candidates, contacts, industry associations, presentations