Since districts are often competing with each other and other higher-paying professions for new hires, it is imperative to consider ways to better engage and appeal to candidates. For human resource (HR) professionals and administrators to improve their efforts, they need to know how to cultivate effective relationships with potential new hires. Relationship-based recruitment provides for more connection with a candidate than the typical application and interview process of recruiting and hiring. Through this "high-touch" recruitment process, districts build relationships with candidates before a job is posted so candidates can learn more about a district or particular school prior to applying. By establishing a relationship with potential applicants early in the recruitment process, district administrators and teachers also learn about the possible fit of the candidate. This brief was developed in collaboration with the Indiana Department of Education to outline best practices for cultivating relationships with potential new hires. It goes over relationship-based recruitment and what it looks like to have an ongoing relationship-based recruitment with potential new hires for districts.