The use of the Internet for recruitment has continued to increase and many companies now offer the ability to apply for jobs on their corporate websites. Like many other online activities, online recruiting has advantages and disadvantages. However, we balance that the numerous advantages of online recruiting significantly outweigh the disadvantages.
The advantages of online recruitment
wider scope
Employers now see online recruiting as an integral part of any recruiting strategy, allowing them to find a much larger number and geographic reach of job seekers and find highly qualified candidates for the positions they seek to fill.
lowest cost
Posting a job online is much cheaper compared to traditional recruitment methods such as advertising in local newspapers. Also, online job sites tend to offer discounted advertising packages to increase the visibility of any online job posting, thus giving the employer more value.
The online recruitment process can also help employers avoid the use of intermediaries, such as recruitment agents, and thus avoid the associated costs. This approach also allows the employer to contact potential candidates directly.
Time saving
The amount of time that needs to be spent finding and hiring a good candidate is also greatly reduced through increased automation within the process. Automated filters can be applied to screen applicants to ensure that only candidates who meet specific criteria can apply for the job. This can save a great deal of time by narrowing down the volume of apps to a select few very quickly.
The Disadvantages of Online Recruitment
Candidate Volume
It is quite possible that an employer will receive a high volume of applications if the selection process is not used effectively or if the criteria are set too loosely. Many people will include details in their profiles where they have only had a small amount of experience, but if these details pass the set criteria, an application could still be submitted.
False information
This is a danger in any recruitment process, but could be considered even more so when recruiting online. What candidates have said about themselves online in their profiles or resumes may not necessarily match the skills they actually possess. The skills they may claim to have cannot be verified until the employer actually knows the candidate, which means time can be wasted meeting with candidates who are not right for the job.