Your company needs talented employees in order to grow, but attracting them can be difficult, especially when you don't have the same name recognition as your larger competitors. Is there anything you can do to draw the best and brightest young minds into your business?

Local business schools might be the secret weapon you need to level the playing field.

Many business owners search far and wide for gifted employees, but overlook business schools even though they may be in their own back yard.

By creating relationships with a business school near you, you can into a talent pool that is eager to explore new opportunities in business and won't snub their noses at your company because it isn't as big as the competition.

If business schools sound like a good idea for your company, you should know that there are a variety of ways to connect.

Job Fairs

Throughout the year, business schools provide job fairs for their students. These events are targeted primarily toward graduating seniors - people who will shortly be leaving the academic world to get their hands dirty in the world of business. Although larger companies will probably also be represented at job fairs, you can blow them out of the water by emphasizing the fact that your company offers new employees a greater level of responsibility than they would likely be given at a big corporation.

Internships

Most business schools require their students to participate in an internship program at some point in the educational process. Internships provide students with valuable real world experience and give them a context for the things they are learning in the classroom. Although there are guidelines for businesses that receive interns, business schools are always looking for new companies in which to place their students. The upside is that interns frequently develop relationships with the companies they work for and are usually open to the idea of coming onboard full-time after they graduate.

Freelance Work

If you need a little extra help around the office but don't require any more full-time employees, business schools may offer opportunities to hire students on a freelance or contract basis. Projects need to be well-defined and specified, but under the right circumstances you might be able to find talented individuals who are willing to work at a highly competitive rate.

Consulting

Students aren't the only resource business schools have to offer. Business schools also have faculty members who are experts in their fields and are sometimes open to doing consulting work on the side. If your project is interesting enough, they may even use it as a case study in their classes, raising the profile of your company with a pool of applicants who will soon hit the job market.