What Are the Pluses and Minuses of Recruiting on the Web?

There are many pluses to recruiting on the Web, and not many minuses.

One of the biggest advantages to Web-based recruiting? Speed. If one of your employees resigns or gets promoted on a Tuesday afternoon, you can have that job vacancy on the Web by Wednesday morning. There's no need to

Posting vacancies on the Web also elicits a faster response from job seekers. Most prospective employees who see job openings on the Web will send you their resume electronically, not by mail.

The Web also offers convenience — it can be searched 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Plus, the Web offers something that traditional job advertising venues do not — space. Space to go in-depth about the skills you need for the position, its benefits, and the opportunities to grow within your company.

One major drawback to recruiting on the Web is that not every job candidate is online. And even Web-savvy candidates may not turn to the Web to look for new job opportunities. Another is that you may get flooded with responses from candidates who are not really qualified for the job.

For the best results, employ a multipronged approach: use the Web coupled with another method of recruiting — an employment agency, headhunter, or even good old classified ads.