5 Cheap Recruitment Tactics to Try

164719145Here’s a recruitment dilemma I’m sure you’ve come across: To create a killer team, you have to utilize innovative sourcing tactics to find the best and the brightest. Many companies launch huge networking events, ask applicants to go through a series of career assessments, or conduct gamification initiatives. While these are all great hiring strategies, they come at a price — and I’m not talking about the metaphorical price, either.

It can cost an arm and a leg to recruit and later hire a stellar professional. While you’re ultimately judged on the performance of a candidate, fancy recruitment tactics aren’t always plausible, which is what stops many hiring leaders from finding those hidden gems. Great workers may not use traditional job search methods. If this is the case, you need to step it up in the same way, regardless of your recruitment piggy bank.

How can still find killer candidates on a budget? Check out these five cheap recruitment tactics you need to try:

Bargain shop your job postings. While there are plenty of free job posting sites, it can be easy for your listings to get lost in the shuffle. However, there are lots of credible sites that not only offer you the same deal, but also with some standout features. For instance, some are tailored for every industry or profession. Others allow you to create more detailed job descriptions. You’ll reach a more targeted audience while getting your message across for little to no cost.

Use virtual hangouts. If you can’t afford to go to a regional career fair, I encourage you to check out virtual hangouts. Designed like a career fair, just with more reach, virtual hangouts allow you to share information with potential candidates in a video-chat format. You can also archive the footage for future use or for those who couldn’t be there in real-time. Plus, professionals from across the country can attend, which opens up the floor to more diverse candidates. Did I mention virtual hangouts are easy to use and and cost you next to nothing? Take advantage of them.

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Take advantage of hackathons. If you really want to see ideas come to life, you need to check out hackathons. Hackathons are basically contests which give you the opportunity to see professionals from all walks of life pitch, program, and present a certain idea or solution to a problem. Hackathons are also beneficial if you’re sourcing interns or entry-level candidates: You can reach them before any of your competitors while they’re still in a developmental phase — all for pretty cheap. While many tech-focused entities use hackathons, other industries such as government and non-profit take advantage of them, as well.

Utilize social recruiting. I’m sure you’ve heard of the benefits of social recruiting by now. However, I encourage you to use alternative social recruiting methods, such as searching by keyword, using job specific hashtags, or even looking through non-obvious platforms, including GitHub, Pinterest, and Instagram. This relatively cheap option will lead you to qualified candidates and can bring you a high return on investment.

Partner with universities. The beauty of university partnerships is that they can spread the word about your organization, as well as any open positions you have. While many partnerships may come with fees, you can avoid them by committing yourself to student mentorship, event attendance, hosting workshops, or by securing speaking opportunities. This gives your recruitment strategy a wider reach, while collaborating with an influential entity that can really push your recruitment efforts to the next level.

Don’t let your recruitment wallet get you down! Using these five recruitment tactics, you’ll not only find great candidates, you also won’t break the bank in the process.

What do you think? What are some other cheap recruitment tactics you need to try?

MORE: Employer branding is the key to recruiting star candidates

Ashley Mosley

Ashley Mosley
Ashley Mosley is community engagement manager of InternMatch, an online platform connecting the best intern candidates and employers. Connect with Ashley and InternMatch on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

Ashley Mosley

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