Survey proves online recruitment is more effective than print media

A recent survey by academic jobs board, jobs.ac.uk, has revealed that online recruitment is now four times more effective than print media.

The research compared data provided by seven UK universities for 2000 appointments and 50,000 applications made by candidates via online and print media sources. The results showed that online advertising generated a far greater number of applicants than from print. For example, jobs.ac.uk provided 35% of candidates appointed as opposed to just 8% from print media.

These results corroborate what recruiters have long suspected - that the internet is now the best source of quality candidates. However, with online recruitment costing a fraction of print advertising, this research should encourage HR and recruitment professionals to start slashing their print advertising budgets and save themselves thousands of pounds.

Andrew Gordon, Director jobs.ac.uk, says,

ìThis survey demonstrates that print recruitment advertising just isn’t worth the money anymore. It’s clear that online recruitment is now far more effective in sourcing quality candidates. We’ve all suspected this for a while but there’s a little bit of ’The Emperor’s new clothes’ going on with print media. Everyone thinks that it’s over-priced and ineffective but there’s not been enough evidence to give people the confidence to change their behaviour.

We’d encourage other jobs boards to conduct this sort of effectiveness research with their customers. Maybe then the game will finally be up for print recruitment advertising.

For further information about jobs.ac.uk please contact 024 7657 2839 or email: enquiries@jobs.ac.uk.