Two posts about job boards in one week (this is our first)? Mark Cherry, Operations Manager at GoToJobBoard (the only job board for Non-Medical/ Non-Clinical NHS Professionals) talks about the value of using a specialist job board.
When it comes to finding the right job, job seekers have a dilemma on their hands. Which kind of recruiter do they go with? Do they go for the open-net recruiter in a bid to reach the attention of as many employers as possible? Or do they try to wheel it in by going down a more specialist route?
Both the open-net and the specialist have pros and cons. The decision that the candidate makes is entirely based on what they’re looking for and how well known their desired career path might be.
With this in mind, we’ve taken a look at the value in using a specialist job board as opposed to the open-net recruiter.
Understanding the role
As a quick example, if a job seeker was looking for a niche role such as a product sustaining engineer, their best bet may be to go to an engineering specialism board. Without googling the term, how many people outside of the industry could say they know what exactly that job role entails?
The same may be expected in terms of the recruiter. Whilst there may be job listings for such a role, do the other recruiters actually understand what it is they’re advertising? Perhaps not, and this is where the specialist comes into favour with the candidate.
As specialists in their field of work, they instantly come across as experts and knowledgeable about their sector. They know their industry, their clients and more importantly, they know what skills are required from the applicant.
Guiding the role
As highly-regarded voices in their respective industry, the specialist will be able to offer candidates support and guidance that other recruiters might not be able to provide.
Through constantly working within the industry, they know the ins and outs of the entire process from advertising to hiring. The insights that they offer to candidates will be invaluable and they’ll be able to refer to industry benchmarks to help support their claims.
If a candidate doesn’t have the required skills or qualifications needed for the role, the specialist will have a deeper understanding of what the job seeker can do to gain relevant experience.
Relationships
Specialist job boards will not only know the industry inside out, they’ll also have a strong understanding of how their clients work.
The specialist will be able to bring more experienced and skilled talent to the table. As they have a stronger understanding of how their sectors work, they’ll have the opportunity to form longer-lasting relationships with the companies that they work with. They’ll know just what it is that each of their clients wants from an applicant.
What can all recruiters learn from the specialist?
Something that all recruiters can learn from the specialist is to know your clients inside out. If you don’t know much about the job role you’re advertising, do your research. It’s okay to ask your client for a detailed explanation of what the role entails.
Thoroughly understand who you’re representing and find out everything you can about their industry and their needs. Don’t just think of your clients as someone to add to a list, get to know them and what they’re about. This will benefit everyone involved, as you will build a strong relationship with your client and be able to provide advice and insights to the candidate.
With a strong understanding of your clients and the roles you’re advertising, your clients will bring more job ads your way and your candidates will be recommending you next time they know someone is looking for a new role.
