These days, when every dollar counts, owners want to make sure every employee pulls their weight. You want to hire someone with a proven track record of success. But so does every other company. While lower-level workers might come as a relative bargain, don't expect high achievers to jump at a bare-bones salary just because they're currently unemployed. As soon as the economy picks up, they'll be the first ones to jump for more money.

Small businesses may not be able to offer the perks or prestige of larger companies, but they've got certain advantages in the current economy. To boost your appeal to highly skilled applicants, emphasize the pluses of working for a small, owner-operated company:

 The personal touch: Many laid-off workers left their employers feeling undervalued and unappreciated. Some watched as executives held on to their bonuses and country-club memberships even as thousands of workers were shown the door.

Value creativity: Small businesses can move faster and more nimbly than massive, global conglomerates. Show potential employees how they can make an immediate impact, and they'll be excited about coming on board.

Offer flexibility: You may not be able to beat large corporations on salary. But quality-of-life benefits may tip the balance in your favor. Generous vacation packages, work-from-home arrangements or flexible schedules show workers that you're willing to accommodate their lives outside of the office. Over the long term, that creates loyalty. In a year or two, large corporations may get back to hiring, but your employees (hopefully) will stay put.