I’ve been in recruiting long enough to remember when online job boards like Indeed first came on the map. You could post a job, come back in a day or two, and find a few messages from interested (and qualified!) applicants in your inbox. It was a recruiter’s dream come true.
Then, like every other online platform that goes mainstream, Indeed became saturated. These days, posting jobs there is a mixed bag that might land you a great candidate but might also net you hundreds of spam applications to sort through. Sadly, the same is true for many popular job listing sites.
If you want to hire the best workers, you need a top-notch pool of candidates to choose from, and to reach those candidates, you need to go above and beyond to get your job in front of them, now more than ever. This doesn’t necessarily mean reaching the largest number of people but rather reaching the right people.
I’ll share why it’s time to rethink where you post jobs and how to decide which outlets are the best fit for the type of candidates you’re trying to reach.
Why Rethinking the Best Places to Post Jobs is Important
In the past, you may have been like younger me, copying and pasting your job listings across a few different online job boards and watching as the applications rolled in. Those days are long gone, so posting the same job description to the same old handful of places won’t get you very far. How people find jobs has changed, and your strategy for attracting candidates needs to change accordingly.
Candidates are increasingly likely to switch fields, so you must think beyond the typical job search sites and LinkedIn groups limited to your industry. Additionally, more job seekers are looking for remote and freelance roles. If a contract worker can fill your role, expanding your search to freelance platforms can bring in a host of new and qualified applicants.
That being said, you’re probably now wondering where to post jobs to get the most qualified eyes on your vacant positions. Here are a few of the best places to post jobs for increased visibility.
Related: How to Write a Job Description to Attract Top Candidates
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Top Job Posting Sites
1. Your website
Posting open jobs on your website isn’t new, but it’s still essential and should be the first place you go when you have a new job to fill. If a candidate is considering applying but can’t find information on your website, they’re likely to assume the position has already been filled or that no openings exist.
A few months back, my agency was in the process of onboarding a new client. When we reviewed their website for background information, we found they didn’t even have a careers page! No wonder recruiting had been a challenge. Job seekers are often aware of specific organizations they’d like to work for or local companies operating in their area of expertise. When they look you up, you want them to be able to find your vacancies immediately.
For example, suppose an individual currently works at a marketing agency and is looking to make a career move. In that case, they are likely already familiar with other nearby marketing agencies they could apply to. Candidates often begin their job search by visiting those companies’ websites directly to check if they have any open positions. Therefore, it is important that your website has a clear “careers” page or section to list any job openings and further contact information.
2. Social media
Wondering how to attract job applicants from younger, tech-savvy generations (like Millennials and Gen Z, who now make up the largest segment of the workforce)? Reach them where they already are: social media. Your social media pages can be a powerful tool to reach consumers and job seekers.
For this reason, if you can incorporate Instagram or TikTok into your recruitment strategy you may find some surprising results. It’s a great way to reach potential candidates who are already loyal followers of your brand and familiar with your business model, culture, and values! Another must: ask your followers to share your job listings. Referrals are consistently one of the top sources for well-qualified candidates.
If you’re looking specifically for local workers, post to social media groups for your city or region. We’ve had success finding strong applicants fast using this method. We once conducted an A/B test posting the same logistics job opening to three platforms: Indeed, Glassdoor, and a local Facebook group. Indeed brought volume, but many applications were irrelevant. Glassdoor brought in more candidates aligned with our needs, but the local group yielded several highly motivated candidates who were familiar with our area, which was a big plus. It was a valuable experiment for us and for our client.
Related: How Facebook Can Enhance Your Recruitment Strategy
3. LinkedIn
With over a billion members in 200 countries, LinkedIn can offer your business a large pool of potential candidates. You can post jobs on LinkedIn, search for profiles matching the skills and experience of your open positions, and message potential candidates directly. You can post your job openings on LinkedIn for free, but the site also offers a paid option with features like the new AI-Assisted Search, which can make tailored suggestions to refine your talent pool and job advertisements.
Paid job postings leverage “smart targeting” to get your ad in front of the right candidates, even if they’re not actively seeking a new position. The cost of this will vary based on your geographic location, so it may be a valuable option depending on your budget and the level of competition for talent in your location.
4. Online job boards
As much as we warn about unqualified applicants resulting from mass posting on job boards, they’re still a useful tool to get your openings out there. After all, the most well-known job board websites like ZipRecruiter and Indeed get millions of monthly searches. They operate like a search engine — a job seeker inputs their skills, industry, and location, and the board pulls up results for the job openings that match. The key is selecting the right boards for your target audience, which we’ll talk more about a little later on.
5. College Career Services
Where can you find a lot of people in one place who are looking for a job? A college campus! Thanks to the pandemic, many of the college career fairs that were once a gold mine for young talent have gone online, which is beneficial to employers who want to reach prospective candidates from schools all over the country. You can also post your open positions on college job boards via the student union or career services office. These are effective ways to connect with and expose your brand to young professionals eager to start working and learning.
Related: Tips for Hosting Virtual Hiring Events
6. Professional organizations & associations
If your organization is involved or affiliated with a professional organization or association, that can be a great place to network with professionals in your area and industry. You may want to reach out about your job listings, as they may post them on their website or in their newsletters or emails.
Also, remember that simply being active in professional organizations and representing your company at local networking events can be an incredibly effective recruitment tool. This way, you’re not only getting the word about your open positions out to other professionals in your industry but are actually able to form personal connections that may lead to a filled job position later!
7. Industry Forums
In a super competitive hiring market, sometimes making your search more narrow rather than more broad is the answer. Niche down by posting your listing on industry-specific sites, like GitHub for developers, HCareers for hospitality workers, and eFinancialCareers for financial professionals.
The Best Online Job Boards Bases on Your Target Audience
General
Indeed
One of the largest job boards globally, Indeed aggregates millions of jobs and resumes. It can help you attract candidates across industries, from entry-level to senior roles.
LinkedIn is ideal for targeting skilled professionals with access to a professional network of over a billion users. It’s especially useful when recruiting for mid- to senior-level roles and positions that require niche expertise.
Monster/CareerBuilder
These two leading job boards recently announced a merger. With broad reach and advanced search tools, these two help attract candidates for jobs from tech to healthcare, offering a mix of entry-level and experienced professionals.
Glassdoor
In addition to job postings, Glassdoor gives candidates employer reviews and salary insights, which can help with filtering. It’s a good platform for reaching candidates who value company culture and transparency.
Tech and IT
Dice
Focused on tech jobs, Dice is ideal for finding software developers, engineers, data analysts, and IT specialists.
Stack Overflow Jobs
This platform, tied to the popular programming community with the same name, can help you attract developers and engineers who are actively solving real-world problems with technology.
Creative and marketing
Behance
Behance is a portfolio-based platform perfect for hiring designers, illustrators, and other creative professionals where previewing their work beforehand is a must.
Dribbble
Another creative-focused site, Dribbble connects employers with graphic designers, UI/UX specialists, and visual artists.
Healthcare
Health eCareers
Focused on clinical healthcare roles, Health eCareers is an ideal platform if you’re looking to fire physicians, nurses and other care providers.
Nurse.com
You guessed it–a platform for hiring nurses, who are currently in high demand. You can also use the site to hire other types of care professionals like occupational therapists and med techs.
Remote and freelance workers
Upwork
Leading freelance marketplace Upwork can connect you with freelancers in pretty much any field, but it’s especially useful for hiring writers, designers, and developers.
We Work Remotely
As one of the largest remote job boards, this platform is ideal for finding talent in marketing, customer service, and tech who are seeking a fully remote role.
Remote.co
Specifically catering to remote jobs, remote.co helps companies hire for roles in accounting, HR, project management, and more, catering to candidates who value flexibility and remote-first work environments.
Entry-level and hourly workers
Snagajob
A popular platform for hourly workers, including roles in retail, hospitality, and customer service.
Handshake
Handshake specializes in early-career candidates, helping employers find college students and recent grads seeking internships or entry-level positions.
Still Unable to Find the Right Candidate? Turn to a Professional Staffing Agency
These tips are a great starting point, but it’s probably the right time to turn to professionals if you’re still having difficulties sourcing candidates for your open position. Professional staffing agencies or headhunters offer access to a vast pool of candidates. Recruiters are constantly working on expanding their professional networks and maintaining relationships with active and passive job seekers to connect with these candidates on your behalf.
4 Corner Resources is a nationally recognized recruitment agency headquartered in central Florida and continually ranked among leading Orlando staffing agencies. We work with companies of all sizes across the United States to fill everything from high-volume jobs to specialized positions. We offer a variety of staffing solutions, including direct hire placement, contract staffing, and contract-to-hire recruiting.
We often source hundreds of candidates for a single job opening to find you the ideal fit. Beyond putting your job openings in front of the right people, we screen, interview, and check references as part of our recruiting process. Then, we deliver the best matches straight to you!
Contact one of our recruiting experts today to learn more about how a relationship with 4CR can bring the best candidates to your business.
