An intro to Indianapolis. Local companies trying to lure best and brightest must work to overcome recruits’ perception of our city

Paul Knapp’s frustration boiled over in November 2004 when his advertising agency, Young & Laramore, tried to nab two recruits from Atlanta and Southern California.

In spite of the firm’s offer to pay for plane tickets, lodging and other costs, neither one would even come.

So Young & Laramore created a Web site, http://www/thecuriouscity.com , to give prospective candidates a "real" and "gritty" look at life in Indianapolis. It has drawn nearly 4,000 hits a day this year to its photos and commentary on restaurants, pubs, music venues, shops, parks and monuments.

"It’s a tool to introduce a younger talent base to Indianapolis," said Knapp, chief executive at Young & Laramore. "It’s not necessarily that Indianapolis has a bad reputation out there. People just have a blank slate."
Most Indianapolis employers say the same. And many of them have to work harder in their recruiting to overcome those blank or negative images.

By J.K. Wall
[email protected]

Full Story: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060917/BUSINESS/609170356/1003