Advice for Employers and Recruiters
8 tips for recruiting quality job candidates online
To help you devise a powerful strategy for recruiting quality job candidates online, we’ve gathered eight insightful approaches from professionals in the field. With insights from a Talent Acquisition Specialist, a VP of Strategy and Growth, and others, we cover a range of tactics from engaging with online professional communities to searching for digital portfolios online. Dive in to discover the best practices for online recruitment.
Engage with Online Professional Communities
I also find value in collaborating with online, industry-specific communities and professional associations. Being actively involved in these communities allows me to interact with potential candidates in a more informal and engaging manner. I often participate in webinars, forums, and online discussions, sharing my expertise and learning from others. I believe that this approach helps in building strong relationships with professionals in the industry, making it easier to reach out when there are job openings.
These platforms also often offer opportunities to post job listings, making it possible to directly connect with individuals who are actively looking for opportunities in the field. I think that having a presence in such communities enhances our employer brand, showcasing our commitment to the industry and the professional development of our employees. This, in turn, makes our company more attractive to quality candidates.
Ester Puleo, Talent Acquisition Specialist, Energy Casino
Implement Pre-Employment Assessments
Sifting through applicants online is tough, especially when you need to be efficient to meet targets and be profitable.
I have found that a resume, cover letter, or sometimes an interview doesn’t always give you the full story of a candidate. With digital help online, many resumes and cover letters are of a very similar standard. Then, with interviews (especially online), some people project themselves very well but ultimately fail to deliver on the job.
The only really powerful strategy to leverage to your advantage that I can recommend is pre-employment assessments.
These tests, including cognitive, skills, and personality assessments, provide a non-biased and efficient means of evaluating candidates. We can tailor them to fit the job and company, allowing a more data-driven approach to securing the best candidate.
In my experience, this leads to time and cost savings, along with better quality hires.
Katharine Gallagher, Professional Growth Specialist- Education, Career, Recruitment, Productivity, Business, katharinegallagher.com
Use Logic Problems in Interviews
The online recruitment process, which excludes any in-person communication, poses a challenge in assessing personal qualities and determining whether a candidate is the right fit for the team. Established teams often share crucial qualities, which allows them to operate at their peak capacity.
While team leaders typically define these qualities, some are universally valued, such as advanced logical thinking. During our interviews, regardless of the position in question, we present candidates with a series of logic problems to solve on the spot. This approach isn’t quite common, and usually, candidates are a bit taken aback, but it is just the reaction we expect: it gives us the opportunity to evaluate their wit.
During this process, the focus isn’t solely on the correct answer; we also pay attention to the questions candidates ask as they solve the problems. They highlight their reasoning and enable us to identify individuals who share a similar way of thinking.
Daria Erina, Managing Director, Linked Helper
Conduct Targeted Outreach on LinkedIn
Engage in targeted and well-researched outreach. Instead of waiting for candidates to apply, actively seek out individuals with the right skills and experience.
One approach is to identify potential candidates through professional networking platforms like LinkedIn. Conduct thorough research to understand their background, achievements, and interests. Craft personalized messages that highlight how their skills align with the job opportunity and the value they could bring to the team.
This proactive outreach not only attracts top talent but also demonstrates a genuine interest in individuals who may not be actively looking for a new job. Building relationships through personalized communication can significantly enhance the chances of recruiting quality candidates.
Kimberley Tyler-Smith, VP of Strategy and Growth, Resume Worded
Leverage Social Media for Recruitment
Social media is a powerful tool for connecting with potential job candidates. Platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter allow you to reach a large audience of professionals with just a few clicks. Share your job postings on these platforms, join relevant groups, and engage with potential candidates by commenting on their posts or reaching out directly.
You can also use paid advertising options on these platforms to target specific demographics and reach an even wider pool of candidates.
Zach Shelley, Founder and CEO, A-List Properties
Employ a Content-Driven Branding Strategy
In the evolving digital landscape of our operations, recruiting quality candidates online has become imperative. A standout strategy we employed is content-driven employer branding.
Beyond the standard job postings, we started producing content showcasing our company culture, values, and team stories. For instance, a video series titled “A Day in the Life at Evenskyn” spotlighted different roles, offering a behind-the-scenes look at our work environment, challenges, and successes.
This approach attracted candidates who resonated with our values and felt genuinely excited about joining our mission. It effectively turned passive job seekers into active applicants.
For businesses, remember: recruitment isn’t just about finding talent; it’s about attracting individuals who align with your ethos. Leveraging content helps candidates visualize their fit, making them more eager to be part of your journey.
Promote Employee Referrals
Encourage current employees to refer qualified prospects from their networks. Employee referrals frequently result in higher-quality hires who are more likely to match your company culture because they come with endorsements from trustworthy colleagues.
Paul Phelps, Managing Director, Solent Power
Search for Digital Portfolios Online
Use the right keywords to search for portfolios. Surprisingly, there are many job candidates with digital portfolios. A search on Google will pull an endless list of these portfolios. However, you must use the right keywords to find them. Most of these candidates have contact details on the portfolio website; therefore, you won’t have any issues contacting them.
Write them a personalized message, clearly indicating what caught your attention in their portfolio or accomplishments. This is important in showing that you’ve taken time to understand their qualifications and background, and that you’re looking to build a personal connection and rapport, making them more receptive to your job offer.
Logan Nguyen, Co-Founder, NCHC.org
