Free Lunch Don't underestimate the value of free food when seeking employees.

In today's economy, free stock options aren't the onlythings luring prospective employees to companies. Free food mayalso whet their appetites.

Edible perks can range from gourmet coffee service and morningmuffins to monthly luncheons. "People are looking for socialcommunity at work. Sitting around and eating together, even ifit's just doughnuts and coffee, creates that," says DianeMcNutt, director of human resources at Minneapolis-based CeridianEmployer Services.

Anything you can do to differentiate yourself from otheremployers helps. Adds McNutt: "It's that casualwalk-down-the-hall conversation when you're showing aprospective employee what your company has to offer that people payattention to."