E-asing the way to recruitment

Two-thirds (65%) of FTSE 100 companies using their websites to recruit new staff now ask potential applicants to register and create profiles. This is the biggest change in online recruitment in the past three years, according to research released today (10 August 2005) by IRS Employment Review, published by LexisNexis Butterworths.

In 2002, when IRS Employment Review previously researched online recruitment, registration and profile creation did not even feature. But FTSE 100 companies, which have led the way in online recruitment, have increasingly developed systems that enable them to find the most suitable potential employees.

FTSE 100 companies using use their corporate websites for recruitment either develop a dedicated recruitment site or use their existing corporate website to provide additional information to help potential job applicants. However seven do not appear to use their websites either to recruit online or to advertise positions

Organisations offering online recruitment use three main methods: a mix of application forms and CVs ñ the most popular method; CV submission, often with additional information; or an online application form or process only.

Among FTSE 100 companies, at least one in 10 of the 66 that have recruitment websites use job boards or other online recruitment specialists to manage their online process.

Other key findings include:

Six out of 10 organisations (60%) surveyed offer a job search facility, usually by location and job type.

Most of the FTSE 100 websites carrying recruitment information refer to graduates and 6% of organisations have dedicated graduate recruitment information sites. However, graduates are no longer the sole target of online recruitment.

Some 13% of the organisations include screening questions within the online application process. These could cover GCSE Maths and English qualifications or eligibility for UK residency and employment.

One in four (25%) of the organisationsí websites now include the facility to email job details to a friend.

IRS Employment Review managing editor, Mark Crail said:

Online recruitment is now the third most popular recruitment method in the UK ñ and it is becoming far more practical a proposition for big companies. Companies are increasingly asking candidates to register and develop an online profile on their website, and this can enable them to start screening out inappropriate candidates. But the CV remains the most popular method of gathering information about job applicants.

Although online recruitment was initially used as to attract graduates, it is now increasingly used more widely. And dedicated recruitment websites are also growing in popularity. Employers need to take account of these online developments in job advertising and recruitment. If they donít they could find they are losing out in the battle to attract the best applicants.