The questions to ask before you begin hiring.

Life for recruiters is unlikely to get any easier in 2023. Thanks to double-digit inflation rates and the rising costs of living, more and more employees will pursue opportunities to grow in their current roles rather than look for a new employer.

This means that attracting passive jobseekers and tempting those not looking for a new job will be more challenging than ever.

To give yourself the best chance of filling your vacancies with the right people, ask yourself the following important questions when you kick off your next recruitment campaign.
 

01 | Are my job ads saying the right things?

Start with your existing ads and ask yourself if they could be improved. Space on ads is always limited so it’s important to convey the key information as concisely as possible, with a leading line to grab the attention. Remember: don’t just grab bits from the job description. The main purpose of the ad is to sell the role and your business by succinctly highlighting the benefits of both. It can help to approach this like you would a product ad, where you create a sense of urgency – and a fear of missing out.
 

02 | Am I advertising in the right places?

There are more advertising options than ever, so make sure you use the right ones for your roles. Review your previous campaigns and see which channels and job boards generated the best results. But at the same time, don’t let what you did in the past prevent you from trying new approaches. Advertising on social media, for example, can be a valuable yet inexpensive way of reaching your ideal candidates. As with any campaign, we’d always recommend a multi-platform approach for the best results.
 

03 | Can I simplify the application process?

Having reached the right people, don’t then deter them with a torturous and unnecessarily lengthy application process. No one has time for that. If you ask candidates to submit their CVs, don’t then send them to a form which asks them to repeat most of the information included on their CVs! If you must capture qualifying information on a form, make sure you review every single field and ask if it is really necessary.
 

04 | Have I mentioned remuneration?

A never-ending annoyance for jobseekers are job ads that don’t include the salary. ‘Dependant on experience’ will not do. Save everyone involved some time by clearly stating the salary. If you can’t commit to that then at least including a ‘starting from’ figure, or a banding showing what candidates could expect to receive.
 

05 | Do I have an interview timeline?

Before you advertise any role, make sure you have planned out the timeline. Starting with the application closing date, carefully plot the next steps on a calendar: screening, shortlisting, the first interview, the follow-up interview(s), the job offer, and so on. The will ensure the recruitment process runs as smoothly and as quickly as possible, for both your business and the applicants.
 

06 | Am I communicating with candidates?

Last and certainly not least, ensure you keep candidates informed and engaged throughout the process. Start by acknowledging their application and promptly reply to any questions they may raise along the way. If they’re unsuccessful then don’t ghost them. Let them know and ideally open up a channel to share feedback. They may has missed out on the role, but if you communicate effectively and the process runs smoothly, they’re much more likely to consider themselves for your roles in the future.
 
 
We can help if you have vacancies to fill. Our multi-platform recruitment solutions will amplify the reach of your job ads and attract the right people.

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