Making the Most of Job Posting Sites for Recruiting

Making the Most of Job Posting Sites for Recruiting

Gone are the days of a “help wanted” sign in the window to fill an open position. In today’s world, jobseekers rely on virtual resources to find and apply for jobs. Job posting sites are essential for appealing to top talent, and we’re covering how your business can make the most of these valuable tools.

What is a Job Posting Site?

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Also known as a job board, a job posting site is an online resource for sharing open positions and providing information about how to apply. Nearly all are free for jobseekers, and many offer free tools and resources for employers seeking to fill open positions.

Some job posting sites are more generic in terms of industry, with roles for people in all stages of their professional lives. Others cater to specific industries or niches, such as those geared toward graphic designers or tech experts. You can also find sites that are designed to pair freelance or gig workers with companies seeking to complete specific projects.

Applicant tracking systems can integrate with job posting sites, making it easier to push a description to multiple boards at once. If you handle this process manually, you may have to set up an account with each site and upload the information, one by one.

What Job Posting Sites are Best?

Ultimately, the best job posting sites for your organization will depend on its goals and type of applicants that you want to attract. If you want to get in front of a wider audience, a highly utilized option will be the best fit. When you want to appeal to individuals with specific skills or experience, a niche site may offer more benefits.

Among the free job posting sites, LinkedIn and Indeed rank highly. They have a lot of daily visitors, which means open positions are seen by more people. Additionally, LinkedIn company pages can feature job openings and descriptions, allowing potential applicants to learn more about the organization and workforce before submitting an application.

Monster is a well-known paid job posting site with multiple plan options available to employers. Higher-cost plans offer increased exposure to fill roles faster, while the standard plan requires payment whenever a candidate views or applies for a position.

But rather than setting up individual accounts on these job posting sites, it makes more sense to invest in a hiring solution that simplifies the process from start to finish. For example, an applicant tracking system that allows you to post to multiple job boards with a single click saves time while keeping costs under control.

Setting Up Your Recruiting Efforts on Job Posting Sites

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When you need to hire, your company needs to get the job description in front of people who are good fits. Make sure to consider the following steps in the process when preparing to recruit.

  • Brand profile: Think about your company branding and how it sets you apart from competitors. Today’s jobseekers are looking to work for organizations that share their values and help them feel like they’re contributing to something meaningful and fulfilling. Explore how you can incorporate your brand profile into your listings to give applicants a sense of what they could expect when working for your company.
  • Writing and posting job listings: Stay away from job descriptions that read like a lengthy list of requirements and opt for concise and engaging content instead. Consider what you would want to see when applying for a job and adjust your content accordingly. You can also take advantage of templates and other tools built into an ATS.

How to Stand Out on Job Posting Sites

Another challenge faced by employers of all sizes is standing out. In today’s hiring world, it can feel like you’re competing against countless organizations, especially when sharing and filling entry-level roles. But you can take advantage of the following tools to maximize your reach.

Organic tools

One of the best organic tools at your disposal as an employer is your reputation. Building a positive reputation as an appealing place to work can attract talent in droves. Utilizing feedback mechanisms from departing employees is also highly useful, as this information can help your organization identify areas for improvement.

Another beneficial organic tool is relying on existing employees. Ask your engaged and satisfied team members to share open positions and recommend people they know to fill them. Employee referrals don’t have to cost the company anything (although offering a bonus for referring a successful hire can go a long way). Nearly 90 percent of employers report that employee referrals are the most reliable source to generate quality candidates.

Paid/sponsored options

Putting some money behind your job ads will generate more views, and typically results in a higher number of applications. The key advantage to sponsoring a job listing is to boost its visibility. Indeed Sponsored Jobs deliver up to three times as many applications as a non-paid option. Employers can hire quicker and get in front of more people when using this tool.

Job posting site features to utilize

Each job posting site will have its own unique features, but some are shared across most platforms. You may need to create a login as a hiring professional with your organization, as well as establish a profile. Once you have completed these steps, you can begin posting descriptions and reviewing applications as they come through.

You may also search for registered users on job posting sites based on experience level, education, skills, and other factors. When you find someone who has the qualifications you’re looking for, consider sending a brief message with an invitation to apply.

Another tool to consider using is building a pool of qualified individuals. If you come across people who would be good fits with your culture and needs but don’t necessarily align with the current positions available, keep their information on file for future needs that may arise.

More is More: Managing Listings Across Multiple Job Posting Sites

Now that you understand job posting sites and how to use them, you can maximize your efficiency with ApplicantStack. Our applicant tracking solution is designed for the needs of small businesses, yet comes packed with the features used by the top organizations in the world.

You can create and manage templates, post to job boards and social media sites with a single click, and manage all your listings from a single location. Plus, robust features make it easy to identify top candidates, schedule interviews, keep the communication line open, and bring new hires onboard.

Try ApplicantStack for free and experience the difference for yourself.

A Look Back at the Top Hiring Challenges of 2023

A Look Back at the Top Hiring Challenges of 2023

At the start of 2023, we covered some of the expected hiring trends throughout the year. Now, we’re taking a look back to see which of those trends impacting hiring efforts for employers. Dive into the hiring challenges faced by recruiters and managers in 2023 as we prepare to start a new year.

2023 Hiring Trends

We mentioned internal movement as an expected trend, and that was certainly a thing in 2023. Internal mobility is a significant factor in employee retention and loyalty, so creating and offering opportunities for existing team members to advance are essential in your strategy. Contract or gig work also expanded substantially this year, with approximately 59 million people in the U.S. working in such roles. The demand surged significantly, and by 2027, it’s estimated that over 85 million Americans will perform some type of gig work.

Company culture remains an influential factor in the hiring market. It’s becoming more and more challenging for workplaces with toxic or unsupportive atmospheres to bring on and retain top talent. Investing in culture is a must for a business, regardless of size, to improve hiring efforts. Another trend was identifying ways to allow employees to integrate their personal and professional lives, rather than just separating and balancing them.

Challenges in Hiring This Year

Recruiters and hiring managers faced unique challenges associated with these trends and economic swings in 2023.

Finding top talent

One of the most commonly discussed difficulties was finding quality candidates. Intense competition and low unemployment rates contributed to this challenge, which plagued employers of all sizes. However, small businesses tend to struggle the most with finding top talent, as they may have trouble getting their open positions in front of a wider audience. The right applicant-tracking system can make this easier, with tools to share job descriptions to hundreds of sites with a single click.

Training and skills gaps

It’s hard to keep employees engaged and happy if they don’t feel like their employer is investing in their growth and development. Skills and training gaps are significant issues in workplaces that haven’t made learning and development a priority. When these elements are lacking, people often look elsewhere, resulting in higher employer turnover rates.

Unpredictability in the job market

The economy has played a serious role in hiring and growth efforts among businesses of all sizes and across all industries. Instability and unpredictability have resulted in fewer people looking elsewhere for work, instead choosing to remain where they are to feel more stable. Layoffs in many industries have forced others into the job market, requiring creativity and adaptability among those responsible for filling open positions.

Younger jobseeker preferences

If your hiring tactics are geared toward baby boomers or millennials, you may be having trouble attracting younger jobseekers. Members of Gen Z expect their workplaces to prioritize digital communication and collaboration, and this expectation starts with the hiring process. Without a proven solution in place that simplifies the hiring process, your company likely won’t get in front of Gen Z applicants.

The best tool for overcoming these and other challenges impacting hiring managers and recruiters is an applicant-tracking system. ApplicantStack aligns with your needs while fitting into your small-business budget. Explore how this hiring and recruiting system can help you take your efforts to the next level and build strong teams, despite the difficulties.

What You Need to Know About Pay Transparency

What You Need to Know About Pay Transparency

Pay transparency laws are popping up in states and cities throughout the U.S., forcing employers to take a look at their job listings. Find out what you need to know about pay transparency, including what it means and aims to achieve, how to comply with applicable laws, and the tools built into ApplicantStack that support these needs.

What is Pay Transparency?

Pay transparency is a term referring to the disclosure of compensation standards for employees. It may refer to information being shared internally, as well as externally. In recruiting discussions, the concept often comes up when talking about whether salary ranges should be included in listings. But overall, transparency in compensation is a spectrum, so employers often choose just how open they are with what employees can expect in terms of pay.

Pay Transparency vs. Pay Equity

In conversations around pay transparency, the concept of pay equity may come up. The two differ, as pay equity is the concept that those performing equal work deserve equal pay, regardless of the age, gender (or gender identity), race or religion of the individual in the role.

The Equal Pay Act, which went into effect in 1963, legislated the concept of pay equity, yet organizations may still pay different wages for individuals. Pay transparency can serve as a mitigator to unfair compensation practices, as employees have a better idea of what they can expect to be paid in a specific role.

Pay Transparency Laws

In some areas, pay transparency laws are in effect, requiring eligible organizations to disclose how much an employee will be paid in a specific role. Some states have laws requiring the provision of pay ranges for every position posted, while others require pay ranges to be furnished upon request or by a specific point in the interview process.

Although no federal law is currently in place, multiple states have laws focused on pay transparency.

  • Alabama: An employer may not refuse to interview, promote or hire/employ an applicant based on the individual not providing pay history.
  • California: Private and public employers may not seek candidate pay history, and employers with 15+ employees must include pay ranges in all job postings.
  • Colorado: Employers may not seek candidate pay history or use past information to determine wages. Employers must disclose salary or hourly compensation (or a range) and a general description of benefits and other compensation in all job postings.
  • Connecticut: Employers may not seek candidate pay history and must disclose the pay range for a position upon applicant request or when an offer is extended to an applicant. For internal employees, employers must provide pay ranges upon request or when a change in position occurs.
  • Delaware: Employers may not seek candidate pay history, although they may confirm the information after extending an offer.
  • District of Columbia: Government agencies may not seek candidate pay history.
  • Georgia: City agencies in Atlanta may not seek candidate salary history on an employment application.
  • Hawaii: Employers may not seek candidate pay history and employers must provide the hourly rate or salary range for advertised positions.
  • Illinois: Employers may not seek candidate pay history, although they may discuss expectations. Employers with 15+ employees must include pay ranges in all job postings. In Chicago, city departments may not request salary history.
  • Kentucky: In Louisville, city agencies may not request salary history. No statewide law is in effect.
  • Louisiana: In New Orleans, city employers may not request salary history or screen applicants based on prior or current pay, benefits or other compensation. No statewide law is in effect.
  • Maine: Employers may not seek candidate pay history until an offer has been extended.
  • Maryland: Employers may not seek candidate pay history but can confirm this information voluntarily provided by an applicant after extending an offer. All employers must also provide a pay range to an applicant. Montgomery County further restricts the county government from relying on salary history as a factor in hiring or establishing the pay rate for an applicant.
  • Massachusetts: Employers may not seek candidate pay history but may confirm the information after an offer has been extended or the applicant provides it voluntarily.
  • Michigan: State departments may not seek pay history until a conditional offer has been extended.
  • Mississippi: In Jackson, city agencies may not seek candidate pay history. No statewide law is in effect.
  • Missouri: In St. Louis, city departments may not seek candidate pay history. In Kansas City, employers with six or more employees may not ask for or rely on salary history when offering employment or determining salary, benefits or other compensation. No statewide law is in effect.
  • Nevada: Employers may not seek candidate pay history and employers must provide the hourly rate or salary range for advertised positions. They must also provide the pay range for those eligible for promotion or transfer within the organization.
  • New Jersey: Employers cannot screen applicants based on pay history. In Jersey City, employers with five or more employees must disclose the salary or hourly range and benefits for all job listings and promotion and transfer opportunities.
  • New York: Employers may not seek candidate pay history, and employers with four or more employees must provide the hourly rate or salary range for advertised positions. Specific counties and cities have additional stipulations in place around these laws.
  • North Carolina: State agencies may not seek candidate pay history.
  • Ohio: Employers with 15+ employees in the cities of Cincinnati, Columbus and Toledo may not seek candidate pay history. Those in Cincinnati and Toledo must also share the pay scale for all open positions.
  • Oregon: Employers may not seek candidate pay history until an offer has been extended.
  • Pennsylvania: Employers may not seek candidate pay history at any stage during the hiring process. All postings must also clearly disclose pay scale and range.
  • Rhode Island: Employers may not seek candidate pay history or rely on this information when considering making an offer or determining pay. Employers must provide the pay rate or range to an applicant upon request, as well as to an employee upon request throughout their employment.
  • South Carolina: In Columbia and Richland County, city and county agencies may not seek candidate pay history. No statewide law is in effect.
  • Utah: City agencies in Salt Lake City may not seek candidate pay history. No statewide law is in effect.
  • Vermont: Employers may not seek candidate pay history.
  • Virginia: State agencies may not seek candidate pay history.
  • Washington: Employers may not seek candidate pay history. Employers with 15+ employees must disclose the salary range or wage scale and a general description of all other compensation and benefits in every job posting.

The states not on this list do not currently have pay transparency laws in place.

The Benefits of Embracing Pay Transparency

Jobseekers are often looking for transparency to avoid wasting their time applying for positions that don’t align with their financial expectations or needs. Additionally, companies can protect themselves and support their team members by demonstrating a commitment to fair pay practices in all positions. Building trust is another advantage, as an employee is more likely to feel like they can trust an employer with honest and open practices around compensation.

According to an article recently published by SHRM, pay transparency may play a role in reducing employee turnover. The article outlined research performed by Payscale, a compensation software firm based out of Seattle, Washington. This information indicated that the intent to quit declines by 30 percent among employees working for companies that offer pay transparency. Open communication around pay and the potential for growth are essential in demonstrating a forward-thinking and supportive atmosphere, making your company one that jobseekers want to work for.

Using ApplicantStack to Ensure Transparency in Open Positions

With the right hiring and onboarding software, maintaining compliance with pay transparency regulations is easier. ApplicantStack is an excellent tool for businesses of all sizes, offering integrations with top job boards. You can even use the Indeed integration to review salary ranges for similar positions and incorporate pay data into your listing templates. Hire faster and better while building trust and transparency as an employer.

Giving Thanks for Improved Onboarding Practices

Giving Thanks for Improved Onboarding Practices

With Thanksgiving coming up, you may be thinking about what you’re thankful for and how those things impact your life. But as a small business owner, it’s worth considering your recruiting process and how it impacts the organization’s ability to grow and succeed. In this article, we’re outlining the benefits of improving how you bring on new hires and why those are worth giving thanks for this holiday season.

Understanding the Onboarding Process

Onboarding is a term that includes all the tasks associated with bringing a new onboard into your organization. It begins when someone accepts an offer, and you start planning for their arrival on the team. Examples of onboarding activities include new-hire orientation, training, support from a mentor, and even a tour of the office or workspace.

Orientation is an important aspect of a new hire’s first day, but it differs from onboarding. When you think about orienting someone to a new role, your mind might imagine stacks of paperwork and an introduction to the company mission and values.

But onboarding goes a step further than orientation, as its purpose is to help a new employee feel comfortable and confident in their new role. This comprehensive process can take up to a year to fully complete, and it should involve many people throughout the company.

Every new hire goes through some type of onboarding process but a more robust experience can have a significant positive impact on retention and satisfaction. Gallup data shows that only 12 percent of employees felt good about their onboarding experience.

Additionally, those in that group were three times more likely to report that they have the best possible job. Less than a third of new hires surveyed felt supported and prepared to excel in a new role. These statistics indicate plenty of room for improvement.

5 Reasons to Give Thanks for Better Onboarding

Now, let’s dive into some of the reasons to give thanks for improved onboarding.

Positive employee experience

In today’s economy, it’s more important than ever to provide a positive experience for your employees. People have more options when it comes to finding work, especially in positions and industries that require fewer skills. Make sure your new hires feel supported and excited about their future with your organization by investing in a positive onboarding process.

Improved engagement

Engagement is one of the most essential aspects of managing a workforce. Engaged employees work harder, are more productive, and contribute significantly to the success of a business. But unfortunately, only 33 percent of American employees report being engaged, and 16 percent report being actively disengaged.

A new hire’s first experience with how your organization engages with them occurs during the recruiting and hiring process. But onboarding also plays a role in the overall experience, which has a direct correlation to engagement.

Enhanced retention

Retaining top talent can be a real challenge but onboarding may be the secret sauce your company is currently not using. Nearly 70 percent of employees are more likely to stick around with an organization if they had a great onboarding experience. When you compare that stat with the overall cost of bringing on a new hire, you can see just how important onboarding is in retention efforts.

Increased productivity

A successful onboarding process can reduce the learning curve for new hires, helping them to feel more confident in their roles. As a result, they can get up and running faster, which means they’re more productive. Great onboarding can also minimize how long it takes to become proficient with different tasks and responsibilities.

Supportive company culture

Regardless of the size of your business, you should recognize the value of building a supportive and positive culture. And employees need to understand the culture and what to expect from the moment they consider working for your organization.

Providing a positive and consistent onboarding process for every new hire goes hand-in-hand with the culture you want to build and cultivate. By contrast, high turnover rates contribute to a toxic culture, making it difficult to get good people to stick around.

ApplicantStack Can Take Your Efforts to the Next Level

Are you already giving thanks for these benefits of better onboarding? Or, could your company’s process still use some work? With ApplicantStack, a powerful hiring and onboarding solution built for small business, you can maximize your efforts without overspending.

This budget-friendly platform is ideal for creating consistency and providing support to new hires being brought on board. Learn more by taking a brief video-based tour.

7 Team Building Tips to Implement Right Away

7 Team Building Tips to Implement Right Away

As a small business owner, building your team probably took a lot of time and effort. Hiring the right people is vital to the growth and success of your organization, so the last thing you want to worry about is high turnover. Since employee retention rates are linked to overall satisfaction at work, it makes sense that stronger, more cohesive teams tend to have employees who stick around. Explore our seven team-building tips for small business owners, along with the benefits of building stronger teams.

The Importance of Building Strong Teams

Team-building efforts can go a long way toward creating supportive and effective teams. Some of the activities involved in building your team can boost critical functions, including collaboration, communication, productivity, and morale. Additionally, when the people on your team feel like they can trust one another, they often feel more comfortable sharing ideas and making decisions together.

6 Benefits of Stronger Teams

In addition to the benefits outlined above, team-building efforts can deliver the following advantages:

  1. Improved collaboration
  2. Opportunities to learn and build new skills
  3. Enhanced workplace happiness
  4. Reinforced loyalty and commitment to the team
  5. Improved decision-making efforts
  6. Better talent retention

7 Team Building Tips for Any Small Business Owner

Now that you understand the importance of a stronger team, use these seven tips to build up your workforce and reap the benefits.

Consider unique options

Most people working in the corporate world have participated in at least one team-building activity, and they may not look upon it with great fondness. Instead of opting for the same team-building activity that everyone has already done before, try something different.

Sign up for a group fitness class and grab smoothies afterward to chat. Take a tour of a local museum and share insights into what you saw. Thinking outside the box can create a more engaging experience for everyone involved.

Emphasize the interests and strengths of the team

As you consider what activities to offer to build teams, think about what each member is good at and plan accordingly. Indeed data reports that 98 percent of workers perform better when feeling confident, so give them the chance to succeed by playing to their strengths.

If you’re not sure where people thrive, take the time to get to know them and their unique abilities. Assign tasks based on stronger skills and provide coaching and development opportunities in areas where team members may feel they struggle. These efforts will pay off significantly in the long run, making them worthwhile investments into employee retention.

Be a better leader

When you want your team to collaborate and work together as a strong, unified unit, you have to lead by example. If the workforce sees you pitching in when needed or giving feedback on a project, they’re more likely to follow suit. By contrast, if you aren’t leading by acting the way you want employees to act, you may encounter struggles or even experience higher turnover rates.

Address conflicts head-on

Of course, not all teams will function smoothly at all times. Conflicts happen – they’re par for the course when dealing with differing opinions and roles. Do your best to address these issues head-on, rather than waiting for them to fester and become worse.

Scheduling regular team-building activities can strengthen bonds and encourage members to share their feedback in a more positive and constructive way. Keeping up with the needs of every member of the team can also make a big difference, particularly if you can encourage collaboration between individuals who you feel will work well together.

Ask for feedback

No one wants to feel ignored at work (or anywhere else). Make sure your employees know you’re open to their feedback, and ask for it regularly when considering how to improve morale and boost the strength of teams. When people are willing to speak up, acknowledge their comments and speak to how you plan to address their opinions. If you’re having trouble getting feedback, consider implementing anonymous surveys so team members can speak their minds freely without fear of pushback.

Incorporate opportunities for professional development

When you have individuals on your team who aim to climb the corporate ladder, opportunities for professional development are always appealing. After all, these workers tend to look for ways to get ahead and learn new things. By investing in regular development for your teams, you can demonstrate support while building cohesion. Plus, employees get access to the tools they need to succeed, which benefits the entire organization.

Implement continuous opportunities to work together

Team building isn’t a one-and-done situation. Rather, it’s an ongoing process that requires constant check-ins. Look for ways to encourage teams to work together, both in and out of the office. If you don’t feel like things are going well, be open to change. Try new activities and offer opportunities for members of your workforce to collaborate and build trust.

These tips can help you build a foundation for ongoing team-building efforts within your organization. You may find that employee retention rates go up as people feel supported, valued, and needed within the company. Taking advantage of all the tools at your disposal is also valuable.