These days, when recruiting new people to your team of staff, there is a whole host of strategies you can use for getting your job advert out there. So much so, that the number of choices can be overwhelming and it can be difficult to decide which path to take.
This is especially true if you are a startup company or an SME and you haven’t got a large amount of money in the pot to be used for recruitment.
We have written in the past about how smaller companies can recruit on a tight budget, from company branding to establishing an effective social media presence and everything in between..
One of the strategies that can be used to recruit staff to your team is by using job boards.
In today’s dynamic and competitive job market, finding the right talent for your organisation can be a daunting task. Thankfully, the advent of technology has introduced innovative solutions to simplify the recruitment process.
Over the years, job boards have revolutionised the way companies attract and hire candidates. This article will explore the numerous benefits of using job boards for recruitment and highlight why they have become an indispensable tool for employers worldwide.
What is a job board?
First of all, what is a job board? It is the place where you, as an employer, can advertise your vacancies to those who are already in the market, actively seeking jobs. This is a bonus because it means you have an immediate, engaged and targeted audience.
Your audience is targeted because effective job boards will allow job seekers to search for roles in their field and in the location they want to work in.
Let’s take a look at some of the benefits for you as an employer when you make the decision to advertise your roles on a job board like that of e4s.
Wider reach and increased visibility
When you are recruiting staff, you need maximum reach but a reach that is also targeted. Whilst methods such as internal referrals can be hugely valuable, this can limit your pool of candidates.
Investing some of your recruitment budget on job boards can provide you as an employer with a significantly wider reach.
By posting job openings on these platforms, employers can tap into a vast network of job seekers actively searching for opportunities. And, if you are recruiting young school leavers to Apprenticeship programmes or you are recruiting graduates to graduate programmes, for example, then you can use targeted job boards such as e4s and reach a wide range of young job seekers.
Job boards attract candidates from diverse backgrounds and geographical locations, enabling employers to access a broader talent pool.
They offer increased visibility for job postings. Depending on the type of job board you are advertising on, some are visited by millions of job seekers every day, significantly enhancing the chances of attracting top-quality candidates.
Niche job boards, on the other hand, will attract thousands of job seekers – but these are job seekers looking to work in your niche. In the example of e4s, your jobs will be viewed by young people actively seeking work. This could be part time weekend work, seasonal holiday jobs, Apprenticeship programmes, Internships or Graduate programmes, for example.
A chance to sell yourself
As well as advertising your vacancies, job boards give you the opportunity to showcase your company. Through job boards, employers can showcase their company culture, values, and unique selling points, effectively promoting their employer brand.
Job Boards are a perfect opportunity to sell yourself to candidates and attract top talent. If you are looking to attract candidates who are a good culture fit, you can target these people with the ads you build for the job boards.
Save time and save money
If you have recruited staff in the past, you will know that the process can be both time consuming and costly.
If you haven’t managed to nail that job ad wording so that you appeal to a targeted audience, you could also find yourself wasting lots of time sifting through stacks of CVs and application forms from people that are just not the ones you are looking for.
Job boards streamline this process by providing efficient filtering and search options. Employers can specify the desired skills, qualifications, and experience when posting a job, whilst also showcasing the culture of the company.
This gives you a better chance of receiving applications from candidates who meet your requirements. These candidates could also be a good culture fit because they have read your ad and have decided you are the company for them.
This, of course, saves you lots of time.
Utilising job boards also offers cost-effective recruitment solutions. Compared to traditional advertising methods or recruitment agencies, posting your job ads on job boards is generally more affordable.
Many job boards offer flexible pricing plans and this means you can choose the plan you can afford or the plan that is most suited to your current needs. This cost efficiency is particularly beneficial for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with limited resources.
Access to active job seekers
If you are looking to recruit young people to your roles, utilising job boards like e4s will give you access to thousands of young people who are currently actively looking for work. You have access to a pool of motivated candidates.
Job boards like e4s provide a centralised location for young job seekers to explore opportunities, submit applications, and engage with potential employers like you. You gain access to a concentrated group of individuals genuinely interested in finding a new job whether that be a part time student job or the first rung of the ladder of a new career.
Access to ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems)
Many job boards typically offer built-in applicant tracking systems (ATS). This is a tool which simplifies the recruitment process and can save you a lot of time.
ATS tools allow you to manage job postings, track applications, and communicate with candidates seamlessly.
Access to analytics
Another feature of job boards that can be of benefit to employers is access to analytics and reporting features.
If you are paying to place an ad on a job board, naturally, you will want to know how successful that ad has been. Employers can gain insights into the performance of their job postings, including the number of views, clicks, and applications received.
Metrics like this give you the ability to assess the effectiveness of your current recruitment strategies. Does your job ad need refining? Does it need expanding upon? Are you using too much jargon that young people don’t understand or don’t relate to?
Job boards can go a long way in helping you as an employer to optimise your hiring process.
Access to targeted job advertising
There are job boards out there that offer advanced targeting options and this allows you as an employer to tailor your job advertisements to specific demographics or industries.
This feature can help you to ensure that job postings reach the most relevant candidates who already have the relevant skills and qualifications.
By targeting specific demographics or industries, you can attract candidates with specialised knowledge and experience, increasing the likelihood of finding the perfect fit for the position.
Boost diversity and inclusivity within your company
We have written in the past about the importance of promoting diversity and inclusivity within your company. This is certainly something that Gen Z are typically looking for in an organisation before they apply for roles.
Diversity and inclusion have become key priorities for many organisations. Job boards can be used to show evidence of inclusivity and diversity within your company and this in turn can attract applications from people of differing backgrounds and experiences.
Job boards offer the opportunity of reaching a broader range of candidates and this can facilitate a more inclusive hiring process. A win for you as an employer as your company could benefit from the diverse perspectives and ideas that a young, diverse workforce brings.
Easy to use
Perhaps one of the biggest benefits for employers of job boards is the fact that they are easy to use. Not just for you but also for those looking for work. This is a benefit because that ease of use attracts more job seekers to this method of finding the job they are looking for.
With features for job seekers such as being able to sign up for email job alerts, your vacancies are not simply limited to being found on the actual job board.
Jobseekers can be alerted to your vacancies in other ways, meaning you get more chance of attracting the best applicants.
Do you already use job boards in your recruitment?
By embracing job boards, employers can tap into a wealth of opportunities, get access to and connect with top talent..
Whilst they are certainly not the only strategy for employers to use in their recruitment, they are a hugely valuable tool for gaining increased visibility amongst job seekers and for boosting company branding.
At e4s you can advertise your vacancies to a targeted audience of young people who are out there, looking for work. If you want to engage and attract the best student talent in the UK, take a look at what we can offer you when you place your ad with us.
