If you really want to give your business the best chance for success, then you need to hire the most talented, creative candidates available. Creative employees breathe new life into tired ideas and inspire other employees to push the envelope as well.

When it comes to the recruiting process, here are just a few ways you can hire the right creative minds:

It All Starts With a Creative Job Listing

Creative minds respond to imaginative and innovative content, which is exactly why your business should put some creative effort into crafting a job listing that shines. Simply listing off requirements, desirable skills, and job responsibilities won't catch the attention of creative candidates.

If the job you are advertising truly is creative, then crafting an attractive job listing shouldn't be a problem.

However, if you're having trouble coming up with creativity inspiring content, remember that there's nothing holding you back from being honest.

If you're looking for candidates who lose themselves in their work and aren't concerned about the corporate side of things, then say it in the job listing.

Ask for a Working Portfolio

The creative candidates you choose to interview shouldn't just come with a few examples of their work, but rather a working portfolio that showcases their talents.

A working portfolio should have examples of past work as well current projects the candidate is working on - hence the name.

In many cases, a creative working portfolio is more important than the candidate's résumé, so judge wisely.

Give Candidates a Creative Task

As the following article points out, when recruiting, it's important to keep in mind that "Unknown geniuses with the best inventions” usually come up with great ideas on the spot. Apply this knowledge to the interview process and you'll quickly separate raw talent from the rest of the pack.

In other words, if you want to find creative minds that are also able to think on their feet, then try giving them a creative task on-the-spot.

For example, if you're hiring graphic designers, then give candidates a project that involves redesigning a mock page for your business's website. After all, when it comes to creative hires, sometimes the proof is in the pudding.

Ask Questions that are Outside the Box

During interviews, asking questions that are outside the box can give you real insight into the creative minds of your candidates. Instead of asking the standard "where do you see yourself in ten years" question, get creative with your questioning and see what happens.

Creative candidates thrive off situations where their creativity is put to the test, so the more interesting the better.

Replacing that "where do you see yourself" question with "if you could go back in time with the sole purpose of changing history, how would you do it?" will really put your candidates' imaginations to the test.

Stay Open-Minded

The most important thing to remember when working your way through the recruiting process is to stay open-minded. Innovative, creative, imaginative people usually work against the grain of the standard business atmosphere, so don't let the creative mindset surprise you. The more open-minded you are, the faster you'll find the right creative candidates.

When you're ready to hire creative minds for your business, use the pointers above throughout the recruiting process.

Photo credit: Image courtesy of Ambro at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

About the Author: Adam Groff is a freelance writer and creator of content. He writes on a variety of topics including job hunting and interviewing dos and don'ts.