ATS Recommendations for a Solo Recruiter.

Optimizing Recruitment Workflow: Recommended ATS Solutions for Solo Recruiters

Starting a recruitment agency is an exciting journey filled with opportunities and challenges. One critical aspect of establishing a successful agency is streamlining your recruitment processes to maximize productivity and efficiency. For solo recruiters or small agency owners, selecting the right Applicant Tracking System (ATS) can significantly impact your ability to manage candidate pipelines, client relations, and business development efforts effectively.

Understanding Your Needs

As you scale your recruitment activities, managing candidate information and client communications manually—such as through spreadsheets—quickly becomes cumbersome. Transitioning to an ATS not only reduces administrative overhead but also enhances your ability to track and analyze recruitment metrics comprehensively.

Recommended ATS Options for Solo Recruiters

1. Sourcewhale

If you’ve previously used Sourcewhale and found it effective, it’s worth considering for your current needs. Sourcewhale offers features tailored to recruiters, including automated outreach, candidate tracking, and integrations that facilitate managing candidate pipelines efficiently. Its user-friendly interface can help maintain high productivity levels, even as your business grows.

1. Ashby

While Ashby has gained popularity among recruitment professionals for its robust features such as advanced analytics, workflow automation, and seamless integration capabilities, it does come at a higher price point. For early-stage agencies with tight budgets, Ashby might pose a financial challenge but remains a strong contender if the budget allows.

1. Alternative, Budget-Friendly ATS Platforms

For recruiters seeking effective yet cost-conscious solutions, several alternatives provide solid features without the hefty price tag:

• Workable: Offers a straightforward interface with essential ATS features suitable for small teams. It includes candidate sourcing, tracking, and collaboration tools.

• Breezy HR: Known for its ease of use and automation capabilities, Breezy HR is a popular choice among solo recruiters and small firms.

• Zethus: Provides essential ATS functionalities with affordable plans, ideal for startups and solo operations seeking efficiency without significant expenditure.

• Freshteam by Freshworks: A versatile platform offering free and paid plans, suitable for startups looking to streamline their recruitment processes.

Evaluating Your Options

When choosing an ATS, consider factors such as:

• Budget constraints and long-term ROI

• Ease of use and learning curve

• Integration with existing tools

• Customer support and community resources

• Features most relevant to your workflow (e.g., automation, email integration)

Conclusion

Selecting the right ATS is a vital step toward ensuring your recruitment agency operates smoothly and scales effectively. While high-end platforms like

Struggling to get through to construction/blue-collar employers — advice?

Effective Strategies for Connecting with Construction and Blue-Collar Employers: Overcoming Outreach Challenges

Reaching out to construction and blue-collar employers for recruitment purposes can often be a complex task. Many recruiters and hiring professionals encounter a recurring obstacle: despite establishing a friendly conversation on the phone, they are informed that there are no current job postings or hiring needs. This situation can be perplexing and may hinder efforts to build relationships and identify potential opportunities.

Understanding the Challenges

One common issue is the perception of the recruiter’s approach. When contacts perceive interactions as overly corporate or transactional, they may become disinterested or skeptical, especially if they are not actively hiring at the moment. This can lead to situations where, after a cordial discussion, the employer dismisses the conversation with the assertion that there are no job openings to discuss.

Optimizing Outreach Strategies

To improve engagement with construction and blue-collar employers, it’s beneficial to tailor outreach methods thoughtfully. Here are some strategies to consider:

1. Shift to Email Outreach First
   Initiate contact via a well-crafted email. This allows the employer to review your message at their convenience and reduces the likelihood of feeling overwhelmed by a direct call. Your email should be concise, personalized, and demonstrate a genuine interest in their company and needs.

2. Follow Up with a Phone Call
   After giving the employer a few days to review your email, follow up with a courteous phone call. When calling, reference your previous email and express your interest in understanding their current hiring needs. This demonstrates respect for their time and provides a more context-rich platform for conversation.

3. Focus on Building Relationships, Not Just Job Openings
   Approach conversations with a mindset of building long-term relationships rather than immediate recruitment. Employers may not have active openings now, but establishing trust and familiarity can lead to future collaboration.

4. Research and Personalize Your Approach
   Spend time understanding each employer’s business, projects, and typical hiring patterns. Personalized communication can make your outreach more relevant and engaging, increasing the chances of a positive response.

5. Leverage Industry Events and Networking Opportunities
   Attend industry-specific events, trade shows, and local meetups. face-to-face interactions often build stronger connections and can open doors that cold calls or emails may not.

Seeking Insights from Industry Peers

If you’re wondering how others in the construction and blue-collar recruitment field navigate these challenges, consider engaging with professional networks or industry groups. Sharing experiences and strategies can provide valuable perspectives and help refine your approach.

Final

How much do recruiters make on commission (UK)?

Understanding Recruiter Commissions in the UK: What Earnings Look Like for Placement Professionals

In the competitive world of recruitment, many professionals and clients alike are curious about the earning potential of recruiters, particularly regarding how commission structures translate into actual income. A common question is: if a recruiter successfully places a candidate into a role with a certain salary, what portion of that fee do they typically take home?

How Do Recruitment Commissions Work?

Generally, recruitment agencies operate on a commission-based model. When a recruiter places a candidate into a role, the agency earns a fee—often a percentage of the candidate’s annual salary. This fee serves as both an incentive and a reward for successfully matching talent with client needs.

Case Study: Placement in a £35,000 Per Year Role

To illustrate, consider a scenario where a recruiter places a candidate into a position with an annual salary of £35,000. How much of this salary would the recruiter typically receive as commission?

• Standard Commission Rates:
  In the UK, recruitment agencies often charge clients a fee ranging from 15% to 25% of the candidate’s first-year salary. The exact percentage can vary depending on the industry, the seniority of the role, and the agency’s policies.

• Estimated Earnings for the Recruiter:
  Applying a typical commission of around 20%, the agency would earn approximately:

[
£35,000 \times 20\% = £7,000
]

However, it’s important to note that this amount is usually split between the agency and the individual recruiter, depending on the agency’s internal commission split structure.

What Does a Recruiter Actually Take Home?

While the total fee the agency generates may be around £7,000, the recruiter’s personal earnings depend on their contractual arrangement with the agency.

• Pay Structures:
  Many recruitment consultants work on a commission split basis—sometimes earning around 10-20% of the fee generated from each placement. For example, if a recruiter earns 10% of the total fee:

[
£7,000 \times 10\% = £700
]

Therefore, the recruiter would take home approximately £700 for that placement.

• Additional Factors:
  Some agencies may have retainer fees or use sliding scales, which can influence individual earnings. Experience, seniority, and the specific agency’s policies also

Tech recruiters – sources of candidates?

Exploring Effective Sourcing Strategies for Hard-to-Fill Tech Roles

Recruiting top-tier talent for technical positions can be a challenging endeavor, especially when candidates with specialized skills are scarce. As talent acquisition professionals, constantly expanding our sourcing toolkit is essential to stay competitive. In this article, we delve into proven methods and explore additional strategies to identify and attract high-quality candidates for complex technical roles across the UK, US, and EU.

Traditional Sourcing Channels

1. LinkedIn Outreach
2. InMail and Premium Recruiter Accounts: Leveraging LinkedIn’s premium tools allows recruiters to directly contact potential candidates. Personalized InMail messages can significantly improve response rates.

3. Candidate Search and Networking: Utilizing LinkedIn’s advanced search filters to identify candidates based on skills, experience, and location enables targeted outreach.

4. Candidate Referrals and Internal Networks

5. Employee Referral Programs: Encouraging current employees to refer qualified contacts often yields high-quality candidates who come pre-vetted and culturally aligned.

6. Internal Talent Pools: Maintaining an internal database of previous applicants or passive candidates can facilitate quick engagement when relevant openings arise.

7. Job Boards and CV Databases

8. Posting on specialized job portals such as Indeed, Reed, or industry-specific sites can attract diverse applicants.

9. Utilizing CV databases from these platforms enables proactive searching.

10. Developer Platforms and Communities

11. Stack Overflow: Engaging with active contributors and posting jobs on Stack Overflow Jobs.

12. GitHub: Reviewing open-source contributions can reveal candidates’ technical capabilities and code quality.

13. Industry Events and Conferences

14. Attending or sponsoring tech meetups, hackathons, and conferences provides opportunities to network with passive candidates and increase brand visibility.

Additional Strategies for Uncovering Hidden Talent

Beyond the traditional methods, consider integrating the following approaches:

• Talent Mapping and Competitive Intelligence

• Analyzing competitors’ hiring patterns can uncover potential candidates and market trends.

• Social Media and Niche Forums

• Platforms like Twitter, Reddit (tech subreddits), and specialized forums often host discussions where active and passive candidates participate.

• Educational Institutions and Bootcamps

• Building relationships with universities and coding bootcamps can create a pipeline of emerging talent, especially for roles requiring recent graduates or trainees.

• Contract and Freelance Platforms

• Exploring platforms like Upwork or Toptal can identify freelancers who might be

Is now a bad time to start a new job with the Corona Virus?

Assessing the Timing of Career Transitions During the COVID-19 Pandemic

As the world continues to grapple with the profound impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, professionals across various industries are reassessing their career plans and employment strategies. Recently, many individuals in the tech sector have faced questions about whether it’s an appropriate time to accept new job offers, especially as economic uncertainties and public health concerns persist.

The Context for Job Changes During a Global Crisis

The pandemic has introduced unprecedented challenges to the global economy, including widespread disruptions in hiring processes, potential layoffs, and shifts in corporate priorities. Companies, from startups to established corporations, are navigating volatile markets, supply chain issues, and changing consumer behaviors. These factors inevitably influence hiring plans, leading many to wonder whether jumping into a new role amid such instability is a prudent move.

Considerations for Job Seekers and New Hires

For professionals considering new opportunities, particularly in dynamic sectors like technology, it’s crucial to evaluate the current environment carefully:

• Market Stability: How resilient is the prospective employer? Are they financially stable or genuinely at risk of layoffs or delays?

• Company Communications: Have recruiters or hiring managers provided guidance regarding potential hiring freezes or restructuring plans?

• Role Security and Growth: What assurances or information are available about role continuity and professional development during uncertain times?

Insights From Industry Recruiters

Recruiters and hiring managers are often among the first to perceive shifts in organizational priorities during economic downturns. Their insights can be instrumental in understanding whether companies are postponing or modifying their hiring strategies. Engaging in candid conversations with recruiters can shed light on the likelihood of delays, offer rescissions, or potential restructuring plans.

Making Informed Decisions

Ultimately, whether to accept a new position during these times depends on individual circumstances and risk tolerance. If a role offers critical career growth, aligns with long-term goals, and the employer demonstrates stability, it may still be a worthwhile opportunity. Conversely, if there is significant uncertainty, it might be prudent to wait for clearer signs of market recovery.

Conclusion

While accepting a new job during a crisis like COVID-19 may carry certain risks, it also presents opportunities for strategic career advancement. Staying informed through industry channels and maintaining open communication with employers can help prospective hires make the best decision based on their unique situations. As the landscape continues to evolve, adaptability and thorough due diligence remain key to navigating career transitions successfully during these challenging times.

Recruitment needs to change at the moment and potentially for the future

Rethinking Recruitment Strategies: Embracing Value-Driven Approaches for the Future

In the rapidly evolving landscape of talent acquisition, it’s imperative that recruitment professionals adapt their strategies to meet current and future demands. Traditional metrics—such as the number of calls made or applications processed—may no longer suffice as indicators of success. Instead, a shift toward more meaningful, value-driven questions can foster better relationships, enhance reputation, and drive genuine results.

Key Questions for Recruitment Leaders to Ask Their Teams

To cultivate a more impactful recruitment process, managers should consider engaging their consultants with introspective and strategic questions:

• What is the most valuable advice you shared with a candidate or client today?

• Did you receive any positive news today from a candidate or client that you can share with your network?

• What actions did you undertake today that directly add value to your target market?

These questions encourage recruiters to focus on the quality of their interactions and the tangible benefits they deliver, rather than just quantitative outputs. By emphasizing the value created during each engagement, recruitment professionals can better serve their clients and candidates, building trust and long-term relationships.

Focusing on Impact Over Activity

If I were in recruitment today, my primary concern would shift toward understanding how each interaction contributes to meaningful outcomes. It’s about asking: Have I helped at least one person today? This paradigm prioritizes quality over quantity, fostering a culture of genuine service and impact.

Reflect and Share Your Perspective

What are your thoughts on this approach? How might integrating these questions transform your recruitment practices? Embracing a more value-oriented perspective could be the key to staying relevant and effective in a competitive market.

About the Author

[Your Name] is a recruitment industry expert dedicated to evolving talent acquisition strategies and fostering more meaningful connections between candidates and organizations.

I got insulted by HR during an interview

Experiencing Disrespectful Conduct During a Job Interview: A Personal Reflection

Navigating the interview process can be challenging, especially when discussing past employment experiences that may not be ideal. Recently, I encountered an experience that highlighted the importance of professionalism and respect during such interactions.

During a recent interview, I provided a comprehensive overview of my career journey, which included roles at various startups. I openly shared that I was part of a team where I, along with other engineers, was let go from one particular company. Demonstrating transparency and humility, I discussed the circumstances candidly.

However, I was taken aback when the HR representative, without prompting, questioned whether I had also been terminated from my other roles. Her insinuation felt intrusive and disrespectful, undermining the honesty I was trying to maintain. The manner in which she approached this line of questioning was not only naive but also crossed the boundaries of professional conduct.

Feeling uncomfortable and disrespected, I made the decision to conclude the interview prematurely. It is disheartening to experience such behavior, especially when one expects a respectful exchange of information. Honest communication should be met with professionalism, not suspicion or insinuation.

Has anyone else encountered similar situations where their transparency was met with inappropriate or unprofessional responses? Sharing these experiences can help foster awareness about maintaining respectful dialogue in the recruitment process.

Key Takeaways:

• Maintaining professionalism during interviews is essential, even in uncomfortable situations.
• Employers and HR representatives should foster an environment of respect and understanding.
• Candidates should feel empowered to disengage from interactions that become disrespectful.

Have you experienced similar challenges during interviews? Share your stories and thoughts in the comments.

#HumanResources #StartupCulture #CareerDevelopment #Professionalism

This is recruiting – Expert opinions

Introducing “This is Recruiting”: Insights from Industry Experts on Building Effective Remote Hiring Strategies

In today’s evolving job market, remote work has transitioned from a niche perk to a fundamental component of organizational strategies. Recognizing the importance of mastering remote recruitment, we are excited to introduce a new series: “This is Recruiting.”

This series aims to provide HR professionals, hiring managers, and team leads with practical tips, innovative strategies, and expert insights to enhance their recruiting processes. Whether you’re refining your approach or just beginning to explore remote hiring, this series is designed to inform, inspire, and elevate your talent acquisition efforts.

Kicking Off the Series with Industry-Leading Perspectives

Our inaugural episode features Michelle Yoon from Stack Overflow, a pioneering company that has operated as a remote-first organization since its inception. Michelle shares invaluable insights into how a remote-first company fine-tunes its hiring process to attract and secure top talent from around the globe. Her detailed discussion covers key aspects such as maintaining strong communication, establishing effective hiring workflows, and fostering a remote-friendly workplace culture.

Why Watch This Episode?

If you’re looking to optimize your remote recruitment strategies, this interview offers practical advice and firsthand experiences from a company that has successfully navigated the challenges of remote hiring. Learn how to develop a seamless candidate experience and implement best practices that align with a remote-first philosophy.

Connect with Us to Access the Content

Interested in gaining exclusive insights from Michelle Yoon? Feel free to reach out via direct message or leave a comment below to receive access to this enlightening interview.

Stay tuned for more episodes in the “This is Recruiting” series, where industry experts will continue to share their knowledge, helping you stay ahead in the competitive landscape of talent acquisition.

Does anyone actually think HR add value to the recruitment process?

Evaluating the Role of Human Resources in the Recruitment Process: A Professional Perspective

In the evolving landscape of talent acquisition, the role of Human Resources (HR) departments is often a subject of debate amongst recruitment professionals and industry observers. Having amassed over four years of experience in the recruitment field, I have observed a recurring pattern: interactions with HR rarely seem to enhance the efficiency or effectiveness of the recruitment process. Instead, they sometimes introduce additional layers of bureaucracy and, occasionally, a sense of passive-aggressiveness that can hinder rather than help.

This perspective is not intended as a critique of HR professionals per se, but rather an inquiry into the tangible value they bring to recruitment efforts. In many instances, HR representatives are perceived as gatekeepers who implement procedural steps that may not always align with the goal of quickly and effectively placing the right candidate. These steps can often seem redundant or overly bureaucratic, resulting in elongated hiring timelines and increased frustration for recruiters and candidates alike.

Furthermore, interpersonal dynamics between recruiters and HR personnel sometimes present challenges. Despite maintaining professional and friendly communication, some recruiters have reported experiences where HR staff exhibit passive-aggressive behavior or a lack of cooperation, which can further complicate the talent acquisition process.

This raises an important question: are there organizations or situations where HR genuinely adds strategic value to recruitment? Have professionals in the industry encountered positive collaborations that streamline hiring and foster a more constructive environment?

Understanding the diversity of experiences within the industry can shed light on best practices and potential improvements. Some companies have successfully integrated HR functions more closely with recruiting teams, emphasizing collaboration, transparency, and shared objectives. These organizations tend to report more efficient hiring processes and higher satisfaction among recruiters and candidates.

In conclusion, while the current state of HR’s involvement in recruitment varies across organizations, there is an ongoing conversation about how this vital department can better support talent acquisition. Recognizing and cultivating positive, value-adding collaborations between recruiters and HR professionals is essential for creating more effective, transparent, and human-centric hiring practices.

We welcome your insights and experiences—has your organization achieved a harmonious partnership between HR and recruitment, or do challenges persist? Share your perspectives below.

Video Interviews :Top 5 Tips During The Covid-19 Times #WFH

Effective Strategies for Video Interviews During Remote Work: Top 5 Tips for Success in the COVID-19 Era

In today’s increasingly remote work environment, conducting effective video interviews has become a vital component of the hiring process, especially amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. While many professionals in the recruitment and search industry still believe nothing replaces the nuance and depth of face-to-face conversations, video interviews can serve as a reliable alternative—provided they are executed thoughtfully and with the right approach.

Here are five essential tips to help you maximize the effectiveness of your remote interviews, ensuring professionalism and insightful engagement despite physical separation.

1. Prioritize Technical Preparedness

A seamless technical setup is foundational to a successful video interview. Despite technological advancements, issues such as screen freezes, audio delays, or connectivity disruptions remain common. To mitigate these challenges:

• Test your equipment in advance: Ensure your camera, microphone, and internet connection are functioning optimally.
• Download and familiarize yourself with the chosen platform: Whether it’s Zoom, Teams, or another conferencing tool, pre-session testing helps avoid last-minute glitches.
• Communicate clear instructions: Share detailed setup and login instructions with candidates beforehand, encouraging them to conduct a system check prior to the interview.
• Optimize bandwidth: Close unnecessary applications and streaming services on your device, and advise candidates to do the same to prevent interruptions.

By proactively managing technical factors, you set a professional tone and ensure the focus remains on meaningful conversation rather than troubleshooting.

2. Develop a Structured Interview Plan

Preparation is key to overcoming the limitations inherent in virtual conversations. Define clear objectives for each interview, including:

• The purpose and desired outcomes
• The core questions aligned with the candidate profile
• The interview flow from introduction to conclusion

Given the time constraints and potential technical hurdles during remote interviews, having a well-thought-out plan helps maintain discipline and efficiency. Be flexible enough to adapt if issues arise, but always aim to manage the session within the allocated timeframe while covering all essential topics.

3. Enhance Observation of Non-Verbal Cues & Foster Rapport

Building rapport remotely requires extra effort. Since visual cues like body language are less apparent, consider:

• Paying close attention to facial expressions and gestures to gauge mood and engagement.
• Creating a conversational environment by starting with light, friendly topics.
• Finding common ground or shared interests to establish connection and trust.
• **Maintaining