What Is Digital Recruitment, and How Can It Help Reduce Costs?

Published by:
Joe Caccavale
March 8, 2023
6
min read

The Ultimate ATS Comparison Guide

Like a lot of things, recruitment has evolved as the digital age has taken hold. We’ve gone beyond traditional methods of posting job advertisements in newspapers and reviewing physical resumes. Now, we’re in a new era of hiring, where businesses can leverage technology to streamline their recruitment process, reduce costs, and improve the quality of hires.

The term ‘digital recruitment’ refers to the software-driven approach that so many businesses are taking, enabling them to manage their recruitment process online, from posting the initial job ad to screening candidates and conducting interviews. With digital recruitment software designed specifically for the task, businesses save time, money and also reach a wider pool of candidates - what’s not to like?

With all of this in mind, this blog will cover what digital recruitment is in a little more detail, as well as the many benefits it provides in terms of reducing recruitment costs. Whether you're a business owner or a recruitment professional, you’ll be sure to gain a comprehensive understanding of digital recruitment and how it can be leveraged to improve your recruitment efforts. Let’s get into it!

What is digital recruitment?

Digital recruitment, (sometimes known as ‘online recruitment’ or ‘e-recruitment’), is a modern approach to hiring that uses digital technology to manage the recruitment process. Digital recruitment software, therefore, works by automating many aspects of the hiring process, such as:

  • Job posting
  • Applicant tracking 
  • Resume screening
  • Interview scheduling
  • Feedback and general communications

Unsurprisingly, this makes a huge impact on the efficiency of the recruitment process as a whole, and allows businesses to focus on quality talent acquisition.

But that’s not all! Let’s take a look at some of the top-level benefits of digital recruitment:

Embrace the digital age: Key benefits of digital recruitment

Digital recruitment is an innovative approach that offers numerous benefits to businesses - one of the most important being a reduction in costs. Hiring digitally means businesses can avoid expensive print advertising, reach a global audience, reduce travel expenses for interviews and improve the overall operational productivity of the business. Cost reduction is unsurprisingly a real driver in the decision to automate the process - and we can testify to its credibility.

However, by leveraging the power of technology, businesses can do more than reduce recruitment costs!

Reduce bias associated with hiring

Traditional recruitment can unintentionally lead to bias, leaving businesses with a lack of diversity in candidate pools. The Applied platform is built to ensure qualified candidates are never overlooked due to bias - anonymous application processing is just one of the ways we do this.

Screen and track candidates with ease

Applicant tracking systems (ATS) allow businesses to organise and manage candidate information, ensuring that they stay on top of the recruitment process. This helps to reduce the risk of losing qualified candidates due to disorganisation or miscommunication.

Schedule and conduct online interviews

Video conferencing software has become increasingly popular in recent years, allowing businesses to interview candidates from anywhere in the world. This not only saves on travel expenses but also allows businesses to widen their search for the best candidates.

Improve overall business efficiency

Digital recruitment software automates many aspects of the recruitment process, reducing the amount of time and resources required to manage it. Tasks such as resume screening, candidate communication, and interview scheduling can all be done with the smart software.

Improve candidate experience

By making the hiring process more efficient and convenient for candidates, you’re helping them save time and money, too. This means your business will build a better reputation, encouraging even more talented candidates to apply for your future roles.

Reach more qualified candidates

Digital recruitment software allows businesses to post job advertisements online and reach a global audience. This greatly increases the chances of finding the right candidate for the job, and therefore improves your retention rates.

If you’re looking for all these benefits in one, easy-to-use platform, Applied could be your saving grace. Our all-in-one recruitment automation, recruitment analytics and talent management software can cover all bases and leave you with more time than you’ll know what to do with! Get your free demo

Implementing digital recruitment in your business

Implementing digital recruitment in your business can seem daunting, but with the right tools and software, it can be a straightforward process. Here are some steps that we recommend considering:

  1. Determine your recruitment needs and the roles you need to fill. This will help you select the appropriate digital recruitment tools and software to fit your needs.
  1. Select the right digital recruitment software: There are a wide range of digital recruitment tools available on the market. Conduct plenty of research to make sure you find the one that best meets your needs and budget.
  1. Ensure your recruitment team is familiar with the tools / software you have selected. Provide training to ensure they are comfortable using the software and can effectively manage the recruitment process.
  1. Use your digital recruitment software to create an unbiased job description and accompanying online job posting that includes all relevant details about the role.
  1. Use the resume screening feature of your digital recruitment software to efficiently filter and evaluate candidate resumes.
  1. Schedule and conduct online interviews automatically using your smart software and ensure you provide feedback even to unsuccessful applicants. 

3 common mistakes to avoid when using digital recruitment

While digital recruitment offers numerous benefits, there are also common mistakes businesses can make when implementing this approach. Here are some mistakes to avoid when using digital recruitment:

  1. Relying too heavily on technology: Digital recruitment tools and software are meant to streamline the recruitment process, not replace the human touch entirely. It's important to remember that candidates are still people who want to be treated with respect and consideration throughout the hiring process. Don't rely too heavily on technology to do all the work, and always maintain a personal touch when communicating with candidates.
  1. Not properly training your recruitment team: Digital recruitment tools and software are only effective if your recruitment team knows how to use them. Providing comprehensive training to your recruitment team will ensure they are comfortable with the software and can use it effectively. This will also help to avoid mistakes that can lead to costly recruitment errors.
  1. Failing to evaluate the effectiveness of your digital recruitment process: It's important to regularly evaluate the effectiveness of your digital recruitment process to ensure it is meeting your business needs. This can include monitoring key performance indicators such as time-to-hire and cost-per-hire, as well as regularly gathering feedback from candidates and your recruitment team to identify areas for improvement.

Leading the way in digital recruitment: Applied

With the right tools, software, and training, implementing digital recruitment in your business can be a straightforward and highly rewarding process. Get in touch with our expert team to learn more about how the Applied platform can take your hiring strategy to the next level by allowing for comprehensive management, analytics and automation under one roof.

The primary goal of digital recruitment is to find the best candidates for your business while reducing recruitment costs. By following the best practices outlined in this blog, you can improve your recruitment efforts and achieve success in the digital age!

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Digital Recruitment FAQs

Are there any legal considerations for businesses using digital recruitment methods?

Yes. Businesses using digital recruitment methods must comply with legal requirements related to data protection, equal opportunities, accessibility, anti-spam laws, intellectual property, and employment law. 

Can digital recruitment be used for all types of job positions or industries?

Yes, digital recruitment can be used for all types of job positions and industries, although the extent to which it is used may vary.

For certain industries or positions that require specialised skills or qualifications, in-person interviews or assessments may still be necessary. However, digital recruitment methods can still be used to screen candidates and conduct initial interviews.

Applied is the all-in-one platform for fairer hiring - purpose-built to reduce bias and reliably predict the best talent.

Start transforming your hiring now: book in a demo.