7th September 2018
A Guide to Attracting Talent: Tips for Recruiting Online
5 Reasons to Advertise Job Vacancies Online
Research suggests
that 90% of jobseekers are now turning to the internet for their next role, and
with the introduction of mobile apps by a number of job boards, this doesn’t
look set to change anytime soon. As employers we should be embracing online
recruitment and the benefits it can offer. With the internet constantly
evolving and online recruitment advertising developing so quickly, have you
kept up?
With over
1100 job sites in the UK as well as traditional methods such as print
advertising and recruitment agencies, knowing where to start can be a
minefield.
Why you should be advertising online…
At JVP we
guide and support employers on a daily basis who have never advertised job
vacancies online so if you’ve never tried it before here are five reasons why
you should:
Cost
In
comparison to print advertising and recruitment agencies, online advertising
will reduce your direct costs. It will also prove more effective than ‘free’
methods in relation to indirect costs such as your valuable time. It’s often possible
to negotiate good rates with job boards depending on your planned volume
requirements, and the cost of packages can usually be spread over the year or
paid in a lump sum.
A huge
bonus with online recruitment advertising is that you usually pay per ad, not
per person you hire, which is a real cost saving benefit if you have multiple
vacancies for the same type of role.
Control
Keeping
direct control over your recruitment process will enable you to gain better
insights into the available talent pool. By advertising online you will have
access to all of your applications, not just the few an agency feel ‘fit the
role best’. From one advert you may even discover talent suitable for
additional vacancies without incurring extra costs. You can even control the
application method: downloadable application forms, online application forms,
email covering letters and CVs, the decision is yours!
Exposure
With
89.8% of the UK population being internet users and 90% of jobseekers now
looking online it seems the obvious place to promote your vacancies. People are
accessing the internet more than ever: most of us carry it in the palm of our
hand. Advertising online in the right places not only offers exposure for your
vacancies but also promotes your company brand.
Your advert is posted
on up to 200 leading, specialist and regional job sites.
Speed
Depending
on the job board(s) you decide to use (and the level of your IT skills),
getting your vacancy advertised online is usually a quick process once you have
the details of your advert defined. The pre written forms are relatively
straightforward to complete and with practice can be done in a matter of
minutes. Once your advert is live, due to the nature of online technology,
applications can start coming through within just a few hours.
Measurable
You can
measure the success of campaigns easily and effectively. You get to see the
source of applications, how many people viewed the advert compared to how many
people applied for the role etc. This is all useful information for reviewing
previous and planning future campaigns.
So what to expect…
Although
we fully appreciate the benefits of advertising jobs online, it seems only fair
to warn you of some of the challenges when you do finally take that step. Here
are a few things you will need to bear in mind…
Where to start
This is
the hardest part! With over 1100 UK job
sites to choose from, deciding where to advertise for the best results can
be a real minefield. There are a lot of questions you need to ask yourself
here.
·
Do
you choose one site and if so which one?
·
Do
you choose the specialist site with a smaller reach or the generic site that
reaches thousands?
·
Do
you use multiple sites to maximise vacancy exposure?
·
How
much will it cost?
·
How
much time will it take to upload the adverts on each site?
Then once
you have chosen your job board(s), the one that promises great exposure,
applications galore and at a great price, consider this… has everybody heard of
that site? Is it the most likely place your ideal candidate will look? Bear in
mind 43% of jobseekers only use one job
board. Suddenly you’re back at square one!
SEO, Keyword Searches & Coding Confusion
You may
or may not be familiar with the terms SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) and
keyword searches or even understand what coding means, but these are things
you’ll need to consider. Job boards work in a way that allows jobseekers to
specifically search for roles depending on factors like job title, location,
salary, type of role and keywords to name a few. So you need to ensure your
advert is optimised and coded onto the job boards correctly, otherwise your
advert could sit lost amongst the other 936,596
jobs advertised online each month on average. If you have a marketing team
we suggest buying them some cookies and asking for some advice here, or contact
JVP for help of course!
More applications
Depending
on the job role and other factors you could receive a lot of applications. You
need to be prepared for this as you may find your already full inbox is now
bursting at the seams. There are ways to manage this successfully through
online software, although it can be expensive to implement and may require a
monthly/annual license. The ease of applying for work online also means there
is increased risk that you’ll come across more ‘chancers’ – those who apply
regardless of whether or not they meet the criteria. Keep your advert well
written and you should be able to minimise this; however stopping it altogether
is almost impossible.
This may seem like a lot of work to attract
talent, but is there anything better than finding the right person who fits the
role and organisation perfectly?
If you’re keen to implement a comprehensive
online recruitment strategy but are concerned about the time and cost
investment required, JVP can help – ask us how!
Drop us an email at Services@JVPGroup.co.uk or give us a call on 01745 774955.