Gone are the days when online recruitment was the exclusive domain of the technologically savvy, the curious or the ultra-sophisticated. Today, this medium has been tried, tested and proven to be indispensable to hiring managers around the world. Online job sites have not only revolutionized the recruitment landscape for both employers and job seekers, but have also largely increased the efficiency with which hiring decisions are made. In fact, the Bayt.com “Modern Job Search in the MENA” poll reveals that it is very common for professionals to research candidates online before making a hiring decision, with 41 percent claiming they 'always' do so. So, what are the benefits of online recruitment that have led to such a rise in its use? The HR experts at Bayt.com, the Middle East's leading job site, give a breakdown on how employers and job seekers can benefit from online recruitment: 1. Reduced time-to-hire Online allows for real-time interaction and 24x7 hiring/job search activity. Employers can post a job in as little as 20 minutes, with no limits to ad size, and start receiving CVs in response immediately. This is in comparison to traditional methods where a newspaper ad may take a week to appear and shows only for a day. Typically, online hiring is 70 percent faster than all other traditional hiring methods, and the recruiting cycle is speed up at every stage; from posting, to receiving CVs, to filtering, to managing the contacts and workflow. 2. Reduced cost-of-hire Costs of posting jobs and searching for candidates on job portals can be up to 90 percent lower than the costs of using traditional search firms and/or advertising methods. Online job postings are substantially more cost-effective than what many traditional recruiters charge or the costs of newspaper/publication ads for the same reach and time period. 3. Wider reach for employers Unlike traditional methods which are usually restricted by career level, geography, industry or other parameters, online recruitment portals typically have current and active talent databases that cover all career levels, industries and regions. 4. Wider reach for job seekers With employers considering it important to research candidates online before hiring them, most professionals appear to be aware of the importance of being found online, with 44 percent claiming that it's essential to have an online profile in order not to miss out on any great career opportunities. Job seekers know that by posting their CVs online, they can be contacted by employers directly for opportunities that may not even be advertised. 5. State-of-the-art filtration tools Leading job sites like Bayt.com offer employers the latest technologies and filtration criteria that help them find potential future candidates in the easiest, most rapid and efficient way. Bayt.com provides its community of employers with a myriad of unique search criteria and state-of-the-art screening and sorting tools to help them quickly and easily target and contact both active and passive professionals without the delay of using a go-between. 6. Branding opportunities for employers Just as employers judge a candidate right from their first interaction, so does a candidate form an impression of the company from its corporate branding. Employers can use their online job ads and career pages to project a consistent brand and company image and values to job seekers. 7. Sophisticated management tools The entire recruitment process is managed from one location which allows the employer to post vacancies, receive CVs, screen, prioritize and contact candidates individually or collectively, and track all activities from the confines of a private and highly functional employer Workspace. Job seekers similarly can track the progress of their application at every stage of the hiring process from their own functional Workspace. This allows for an enhanced user experience for both employer and job seeker. 8. Allows for proactivity The employer, who is in full control of the hiring process with online recruitment, can contact candidates in real-time and directly, and does not require a ‘middleman' to sift through, filter, assess or select the required candidates. By being in the driving seat, the employer gains valuable insight into the nature of the job market and the competitive landscape for the position. The employer is also able to ensure a superior match and a better fit for the long term. — SG
