Why pay a professional to do something you are more than capable of handling yourself? After all, recruitment isn’t exactly rocket science! It’s tempting to try and cut out the middleman and save a fair bit of money in the process – but what’s this DIY approach to recruitment really costing you?
Here are five ways you can use to go it alone without engaging an experienced consultant when it comes to hiring a new employee…
Utilise People in Your Network
If you recruit only people you know, you’ve already built trust in them and can be sure that they’re going to be reliable. While they may not have the exact skills or experience you’re after, they share your passion for football and will always have something to talk about at work instead of doing what you’re paying them to do. And if your immediate family members or close friends can’t take on the role, maybe your neighbour could do a great job. Why would you use a recruitment agency with thousands of vetted candidates on their database when your mum’s best friend’s sister’s stepson doesn’t have a job (meaning: he hasn’t worked a day in his life) and is available to start immediately?
If you can’t bear thinking about how hard it will be to fire your friends in the unlikely event things go pear-shaped, read on to find out how to widen your search.
Meet Random People Through the Internet
The good thing about the internet is that you have access to everybody. The bad thing about the internet is that you have access to everybody. And if you advertise a job online, everybody will be applying for it – whether they have the skills and experience needed or not.
Do you enjoy precious weekends? Cherish family time? Love your hobbies? Well, as a do-it-yourself recruiter, you can wave goodbye to all of that as you sift through pages of CVs, 95% of which are as relevant as a chocolate teapot. The internet connects you to everyone, which means it also connects you to every unqualified daydreamer who thinks they can do your specialist job.
Enjoy the Sound of Silence
On the other hand, if you’re recruiting for a very specific position, especially in a market with a shortage of candidates, chances are you won’t exactly be bombarded with applicants – suitable or otherwise.
The best and most sought-after candidates are unlikely to apply for jobs via SEEK and social media platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn. They know they are in demand and, just like entertainers and elite athletes, they have professional recruitment agents working to find the best role for them.
This means your social media callout for candidates might very well be met with the online equivalent of crickets and tumbleweeds… But hey, at least you get some of your free time back!
Turn Intuition into Science
So you found someone who seems perfect for the vacant position in your business – at least on paper. Sadly, statistics show that 85% of candidates lie on their CVs.
Good recruiters run their candidates through a range of tests to make sure that they are who they say they are and that they can do what they say they can! They test both technical ability and well as the soft skills needed for a great work environment. They also check references, look at who the candidates are connected with professionally on LinkedIn or socially on Facebook, and do a Google search to see if they have a history they are trying to hide.
But surely you can do all that for the candidates you are considering for an interview!
Dive Into the Thrill of the Auction
Dive Into the Thrill of the AuctionThe thrilling thing about do-it-yourself recruiting is that you get access to all sorts of candidates who are looking for work… or maybe they’re just looking for a pay rise. And not only that – if they applied for your job, then they probably applied for jobs with everyone else, too!
So even if you find a suitable candidate, you’re always competing with other employers offering a higher salary or better working conditions… In that case, let’s get into a “bidding war” and see how much over the market rate you can pay for someone who may not even be the best person for the role.
On the upside, there are plenty more second-rate candidates to choose from when the one you just recruited abruptly leaves you for a better offer.
What’s the alternative? Use Rainy Day Recruitment
Seriously, though – you use a qualified accountant to ensure the smooth financial running of your business, you engage IT specialists for all your computing and network needs, and if your toilets block up or your plumbing stops working, you hire a plumber to fix the problem ASAP. If you want to focus on growing your business, enjoy your precious free time, dislike stress and prefer doing things the right way, you should completely ignore the above advice and find yourself a great recruiter instead!
Book a free consultation to discuss how Rainy Day Recruitment can help you with your recruiting needs.