Five tips for attracting the right candidates among many applicants
An unemployment rate currently sitting at around 4% and forecast to creep upwards over the next year, combined with a reduction in jobs being advertised, means there are currently plenty of jobseekers out there.
That might sound like a good thing because you'll get more applicants if you do have a role to advertise. But if most of those applicants aren’t worth a look, then large numbers could be more of a drawback than a benefit.
So, how do you narrow down your applicant pool and find those high-quality candidates?
Five ways to find the right candidates
#1 Be strategic about where you advertise
You might think that advertising in as many places as possible is the best strategy. After all, the more eyes on your job ad, the better, right? Not necessarily. Advertising on big job boards or places like Facebook can open up your role to unqualified applicants or candidates who won’t fit for other reasons like being overseas. Then you are just spending time sifting them into a not suitable pile. It’s a better idea to narrow your advertising to places where you know higher quality candidates will be - like Do Good Jobs. You’ll have fewer applicants, but the ones you get will be a cut above.
Another reason to be strategic where you advertise is that some good candidates aren’t necessarily scouring all the job boards. They might even have a job right now but be in the market for a move if the right position comes along. In our recent jobseeker survey, 45% of respondents said they were in that position. Those candidates are likely only to be looking in a few places where they know they might easily find the right organisation or role.
#2 Tap your network
Sometimes, it’s not what you know; it’s who you know. Tapping into your network could throw up some names that you could approach or alert people to your ad. Your network is also another place where you might find those people who aren’t actively looking for work but would move for the right position.
#3 Make your job advert super clear
You can’t stop people from applying anyway, but by making your job advert clear from the outset, you can at least try. And it makes it easier to judge whether someone is a suitable candidate. Things to consider include if applicants need to have the right to work in New Zealand, required qualifications or experience and whether your job is on-site or can be hybrid or work from home.
#4 Make your organisation attractive too
Even though job ad numbers are lower, the type of applicants you want might still be selective. They may be able to afford to be patient and only apply for jobs they really like the look of. So to attract those good candidates, you need to make your organisation attractive too. In your job ad, include elements that show why your organisation is a great place to work.
#5 Think about using a recruiter
If you are really struggling to find suitable applicants, consider using a recruitment company. They can do a lot of the heavy lifting, like sifting through initial applications for you, plus they’ll have expert knowledge on the best places and ways to advertise.
Ready to narrow your search to widen your success? Find out more about listing with Do Good Jobs or register for an employer account to start listing roles.
