Imagine receiving a personalized gift directly from the CEO of a growing company, inviting you to join its team of skilled professionals? That's exactly what happened to Scott Youngblood, an employee at Sony Corp.'s Sony Computer Entertainment America, who accepted a position at Red 5 shortly after receiving a package containing an i-pod shuffle. A personalized message was contained in the gadget, talking about the Company and about Youngblood's own work. This recruiting technique benefited this start-up company, creating a stir in the industry about its hiring procedures. President and Chief Executive, Mark Kern, states that one reason for this method is due to his company struggling in the past to nail top talent. Larger, well-known companies have the budget and reputation to grab the top performers and that prompted Red 5 to let their creative juices flow. Don't worry if your budget doesn't allow such lavish gifts for each prospective employee, the article also mentions other ideas that's easier on the wallet.