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Advantages of online recruitment sites
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Advantages of online recruitment sites

on 10 November 2020

​As part of a broad job search strategy, online recruitment can make looking for a job easier than ever before. As technology and the internet have exploded in popularity, online recruitment has also become extremely popular with job searchers.

Many job searchers love using online recruitment sites because they are so easy to search and find open job positions. There are a wide range of such sites available on the internet, so finding one that is appropriate to your needs is not too difficult. When used as part of an overall job search strategy, online recruitment sites can be very helpful and time-saving.

What are the advantages of online recruitment? Types of online recruitment

Understanding how online recruitment web sites operate will help you to understand the power of online recruitment. Employers may pay a fee to post their open positions on a particular web site, and might also pay additional fees based on the number of CVs they receive and any special handling or processing they want the web site to handle. The web site is responsible for advertising and promoting jobs/vacant positions site to help attract the most qualified candidates possible. Recruiters can promote their vacancies directly to the site’s community of candidates, or search the databases for the people they need.

  1. Job postings / Job Boards / Job Listings - For the job seeker, online recruitment web sites offer access to job postings and the ability to post their CV/profile online, excluding personal identifiable information. Most offer a variety of search functions for finding vacant positions, as well as articles and information on how best to conduct a job search. These services are typically free when the job seeker registers with the web site.

  2. Types of job sites - Job websites usually fall into two groups. Some of them are recruitment sites that list the job vacancies and you apply directly to the company. Such sites collect various website links to different recruitment sites and agencies enabling you to browse general recruitment sites; find holiday work and placements or look at sector-specific recruitment. The second type of site is run by recruitment agencies. They are sales-driven and require job seekers to fill their vacancies. You register your application and/or CV with them and possibly have a chat about the type of work you’re looking for so they in turn can assist you in finding a suitable job. Recruitment agencies work in two ways, firstly by approaching companies and offering candidates from their own files/databases; and then by advertising jobs on behalf of companies and producing a shortlist of candidates for interview.

  3. It’s mostly all good - The advantages of using online recruitment sites are that recruitment consultants are recruitment experts and it’s free to register with them and you benefit from their contacts. The online application saves time when you want to apply for multiple jobs at one time, or apply for several positions throughout the year. You will be able to learn about job openings and apply for positions at any time and from any computer with access to the web. There are clear advantages for those employees that have been made redundant. A candidate using the internet can discover and apply for new positions more regularly than a candidate who waits for the weekly publication of a newspaper or trade magazine. Furthermore, serious recruitment agencies ask for the candidate’s consent prior to forwarding his/her CV to a prospective employer. Furthermore, candidates also have the right to choose whether their CV/application is forwarded to a particular client or not.

  4. Why is online recruitment cost effective? - Other more advanced services on a recruitment web site are available to job seekers for a fee. Examples of these services may include CV writing assistance, information boards and forums for job searchers, and other products or services designed to assist with a job search. These sites have a huge database of job postings and candidate CVs and are excellent sources of information about various professions, industries and career fields. They are a good resource to consult if you are not sure what career field is most attractive to you or if you want to research different professions.

  5. Specialist sites - As online recruitment sites have surged in popularity, more and more specialised web sites have emerged. You can search out online recruitment sites that specialise in a particular profession, geographic region, or even a specific city or community. These sites generally have more detailed job postings and are usually favoured by employers who do not want to deal with the huge quantity of resumes that typically come in from one of the larger sites. Don’t forget, that the market is two-way. Not only do you want to find a job before your peers, but your prospective boss is keen to get hold of the best quickly, too, before their competitors. Online guides are provided to give insights into motivating the most qualified candidates to respond to your company’s job postings and how to prepare compelling job descriptions to target qualified candidates. As a job seeker, finding a specialised recruitment web site is relatively easy. You can search using the name of your profession, or check with one of your industry’s trade or professional organisations. Many of these groups maintain their own postings of job openings and if not they likely can refer you to an appropriate online recruitment site. Also, most online recruitment agencies have their Job search split by category; making it relatively easy for the job seekers to browse specialised sections. Online recruitment has proved particularly successful for IT and web site programming; technical jobs (or IT jobs that require a definable skill-set); contract work; temporary recruitment; graduates and senior positions. All university graduates have internet access through their institutions and, most final-year students seek employment via the internet. However, for very senior placements, face-to-face contact clearly remains an essential part of the recruitment process.

Does online recruitment work?

Yes. It is cost-effective, gives added value and saves time plus it involves a pivotal preparation for a job interview. A past testimonial shows how a diving instructor who is a member of the Professional Association of Diving Instructors recently applied for a job in the Bahamas that was advertised in the association’s email newsletter. He got the job online without even a telephone interview and was off there in a couple of weeks. His experience alone was what got him the job. The online application was so detailed and professionally set up that he knew beforehand exactly what would be expected of him, and what would be coming his way. It was the simplest and most straightforward job search of his life.

This experience is mirrored in a past poll of visitors to the US-based Recruiters Network web site, where 77 per cent of firms said internet job postings had been more effective than other advertising mediums in the past three months.

Online recruitment is extremely good value for money. It works out far cheaper than other forms of advertising. Applicant tracking software can provide detailed information on who applied for your advert, when and where from. You get this information instantly, allowing you to monitor your advertising campaign and make it even more effective.

If your company is not advertising its positions online, or at the very least on its own company web site, they will miss out. When companies advertise in a newspaper they will probably put the advertisement online as well.

Recruitment – it’s all about Relationships

​Recruitment, as in most other businesses, is all about relationships. The success of a recruiter depends very much on the strength of the relationships with both candidates and clients. If you have a strong relationship with a client, it more likely that the client will call you first when a vacancy arises as they need someone they can trust to fill that position.

Besides relationships, there are other areas in which recruiters would need to excel. They would also need to have an insight of their clients’ industries. They don’t need to know the industries inside out but must have an awareness of what is happening in the wider market. Recruiters should participate in sector meetings and relevant workshops to know what is happening within each specific job sector.

Understanding Corporate Culture

Recruiters would need to understand their clients’ corporate culture. Every workplace is unique, and clients are usually very proud of their unique culture. Recruiters should learn how they like to operate: are they a dynamic, fast-moving organisation that thrives on change, or do they take a more considered approach and follow established processes year-on-year? Understanding how an organisation works will help recruiters match the right candidate – in terms of personality – with the right workplace. Staff turnover is a huge concern nowadays and if recruiters can find perfect ‘matches’, candidates are likely to stay longer with the company, thus enhancing the recruiter’s track record with clients.

Show Interest

If recruiters want to build strong relationships with customers they need to be interested in them. They need to take the time to call clients, even when they are not recruiting, to let them know that the are there in case they need assistance. As a recruiter, you should call them to let them know what is happening in their market. Keep them updated and they will do the same for you.

Nowadays everyone is busy but it helps to stay in touch with clients on a regular basis as this would show that recruiters are interested in providing them with a service. Obviously recruiters would need to be courteous and professional and not constantly disrupt busy clients. A call may be an opportunity to learn more about their business culture, even if they do not have an open vacancy at the time of the call.

Someone stated recently that most businesses have changed in the past 10 years more than they had in the past 40 years. Thus one needs to keep abreast on the ever-changing trends of the various sectors. Recruitment is a fast-paced industry because the world of work is constantly changing. Nowadays employers offering flexible work options which they did not five years ago. Recruiters who keep themselves informed about changes in the workplace would come across as professional to their clients and taking an interest in their collaboration.

Clients are professionals and expect to deal with other fellow professionals, thus recruiters must show their professionalism at all times. Recruiters should know the legal requirements of recruitment and employment to be able to advise clients and candidates on issues such as entitlement of sick and vacation leave as well as the notice period. Politeness, listening and providing excellent customer service also go a long way in demonstrating your professionalism.

Social Media – a Necessary Tool

Social media has nowadays become a necessary tool for any business, and in recruitment this is also very useful to help build networks. However there is a real danger of recruiters losing that. The best way towards building relationships is to engage with and listen to potential candidates and what they have to say about their careers aspirations.

Relationships can only grow if they are built on solid ground. If you have extended a good service to candidates and came across as professional as well as honest and credible, they are more likely to refer colleagues or friends if they are looking for new opportunities. Likewise if you delivered good talent to a client who eventually changes jobs, the client is more than likely to contact you again when it comes to hiring personnel. The client may also refer you to other colleagues or friends who might need assistance for some positions that they had been struggling for some time. Building relationships is not always easy as it requires a high degree of emotional intelligence, and not everyone can handle this well.

Recruiters are like business partners to their clients, thus they should know when and how they can add value in areas other than their core business. Cross selling other services your company offers and assisting them with enquiries about payroll, employment law and setting up of companies could make you stand out from other recruiters. Sometimes it may even be putting them in touch with another business you know of who could help them solve particular problems they are facing.

How about recruitment in Malta?

There is an abundance of job opportunities in Malta (full time jobs, part time jobs and remote work) and VacancyCentre (VC) can help you land on your dream job through our latest job vacancies in Malta. For more information, kindly direct your request to [email protected]

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