The job boards are full of appealing data points and big promises when it comes to recruiting. It’s easy to get reeled in, but the results you see are often disappointing and require a LOT more work that you originally envisioned. Here are some common job board frustrations and suggestions to help you see better results:
Problem: Job boards are expensive.
Solution: Know who you need to hire and the skills, experience, and education that you require. All job boards are not created equal. Picking the right place to post your job critical and will ensure that you get the most bang for your buck. Hiring a blue collar or entry-level worker? Monster and CareerBuilder are good for that. Hiring someone in IT? Check out Dice or LinkedIn. For mid-level professional and executive roles, it’s LinkedIn all the way—and you’ll need to plan on approaching and recruiting candidates who aren’t actively in the job market.
Problem: Tools are frustrating and difficult to use.
Solution: Ask for a free trial or tutorial on how to use their search tool, source potential candidates, construct something called a “Boolean search,” filter applicants, and refine search parameters. Do this BEFORE you sign a contract or pay big money up front for a posting. Sales Managers at these companies are known for being incredibly responsive during the sales cycle, but once you’ve paid, you’re switched over to an Account Manager and they are notorious for being unresponsive and undereducated. If the sales representative hesitates in the beginning or doesn’t spend time training you before the sale, end the call fast.
Problem: You can’t get people to respond.
Solution: Go back to the basics. Revisit your job title, description, and “hook.” You may need to get creative. Think about why potential employees would want to work for you and how you can entice them. Do you offer great benefits, a generous bonus, or other interesting perks? Sell job seekers on your company in a way that is exciting and genuine. Most job boards also have a resume database and you can use this tool to conduct your own search for candidates. Then you can reach out to the ones you like and try to get them interested in your opportunity.
Problem: You get candidates who aren’t a good match.
Solution: Refine your search parameters and what constitutes a “match.” Be specific about what you require when it comes to required or preferred years of experience, skills, location, and education.
Ask us questions about the job boards via our online chat tool in the lower left corner of your screen. We are passionate about helping companies hire, develop, and retain smart employees and we love to share what we know!
