Canada Articles

eHiring in Canada

Page 1 - OVERVIEW

This workshop is designed to demonstrate how the Internet can be used as a hiring tool by Canadian businesses, and to help you evaluate if - and how - eHiring can be used to the benefit of your business.



In this workshop, we will look at the process of using the Internet as a hiring tool, tips for evaluating the value of different online hiring options and different ways you can advertise a position on the Internet. To help you find the best places to post your ads, we have also compiled a list of job boards and a list of phone numbers for many Canadian College and University Career/Employment Centres.



In finding the best online hiring options for your company, your main objective should be to source the right candidate through the right channel - efficiently and inexpensively. Electronic hiring could become the way of the future . . . are you ready to learn all about it?



AN OVERVIEW:

The Survey Says . . .

According to an October 1998 report released by Creative Good*, there is money to be saved from recruiting online. The report cites statistics showing that an online recruitment policy can help a company save an average of US$8,000 in total costs per person hired. As well, the survey says US$2,000 per hire can be conserved in advertising costs and US$6,000 in time spent looking for a new hire can be saved by posting online.



* Creative Good is an Internet strategy consulting firm in New York, N.Y. Keep in mind the statistics were garnered from the details provided by larger firms.



Using the Internet as a hiring tool has the potential to benefit both small and large businesses.



Employers can use the Internet to post job openings, browse through resumes to prescreen applicants and correspond with potential hires to create a short-list of qualified job candidates. If properly executed, this can save employers time and money, while speeding up the hiring process.



The Internet, which was founded around the communication and the free sharing of knowledge, naturally spawned numerous communities based around common interests. Online communities, which today consist of email lists, newsgroups, chat forums and websites related to a particular topic, pull together individuals with similar interests and skills.



For example, a CGI programmer might belong to several email lists, regularly visit specific websites, and occassionally tune in to some of the discussion forums related to CGI programming. A writer might do the same, except that much of their Internet use would focus on writing topics.



For employers looking to hire people with specific skills, reaching out to these online communities is an excellent way to reach a group of targeted hires. In many cases, posting a job ad in a community-based forum is free and highly targeted.



Advertisements in many online communities will be seen by people all over the world, perhaps even by those qualified job candidates residing outside your general vicinity, who are willing to re-locate. Advertising in local community forums, such as a city-specific job board, will ensure that your ad reaches potential hires in your local area.



However, the costs and results of various methods of online advertising will vary significantly, and off-line advertising might still offer more value for the investment depending on specific factors such as industry, location and hiring requirements.



To evaluate if - and how - eHiring can be used to the benefit of your business, continue on to Page 2: The Process.

Career Channels