In this article, the author argues that taking an aggressive approach in hiring faculty is the only way to avoid a mediocre pool of candidates. Effective recruitment takes many forms and will depend on the context, but it begins with a search committee that has a clear understanding of its role in the process. The committee's first objective is to entice top candidates to apply. That means selling the institution and the job as desirable, and it means undertaking a lot more work than some committee members may be prepared for. Here, some strategies for making the position appear desirable are discussed.