Free Job Posting for employers can be a great way for employers to find qualified candidates without breaking the bank. As hiring managers look to fill open roles in a competitive job market, free job boards provide an affordable option to get their openings in front of a wide range of potential applicants.
In this blog post, I’ll explore some of the most frequently asked questions about posting jobs for free as an employer, including the benefits and drawbacks of using free boards, how to maximize your free listings, and some of the top sites to consider.
The Main Benefits of Posting Jobs for Free as an Employer
Some of the biggest advantages of free job boards for employers include:
- Cost savings – Avoiding fees to post jobs can save companies significant money, especially when hiring for multiple positions. This allows more room in the recruiting budget for other initiatives.
- Exposure – Free boards still give employers exposure to a large pool of passive and active job seekers. Some sites bring in millions of visitors per month.
- Quick and easy – Most free sites allow employers to get job ads posted almost instantly through user-friendly dashboards or forms.
- Targeted reach – Many free boards focus on specific locations, industries, job types, and candidate demographics.
- Application management – Employers often get access to applicant tracking system features to organize, screen, and communicate with applicants.
What are some potential drawbacks of free job postings?
While very advantageous in many ways, there are a few potential disadvantages employers should keep in mind:
- Limited features/options – Paid packages often include more robust tools, branding, distribution, duration, etc. Free posts have more basic options.
- Applicant overload – Popular free sites mean more applicants to sort through. May get less serious applicants.
- Lack of screening – Unlike paid sites, free boards typically don’t vet or screen applicants’ qualifications.
- Repeat/irrelevant applicants – Applicants often blanket apply without reading the full listing details.
- Less branding visibility – Employer branding and reputation may not stand out as much next to competing listings.
How Employers Maximize Free Job Posting
To get the most out of free job listings, employers should:
- Optimize with relevant keywords – Helps applicants find the posting in searches. Include critical skills, duties, etc.
- Highlight company/culture – Share details on the company, culture, benefits, etc. to attract the right fit.
- Include thorough screening questions – Weed out less qualified applicants through customized questions.
- Cross-post strategically – Post on multiple boards but tailor the approach to each site and audience.
- Refresh post regularly – Bump listing back to top with minor edits to keep position prominent.
- Leverage social sharing – Encourage employees to share on social media to increase visibility.
What are some of the best free job sites for employers?
Top free boards include:
- LinkedIn – Massive reach including active and passive job seekers. Customizable listings.
- Indeed – One of the most popular aggregator sites. Wide visibility for postings.
- ZipRecruiter – Allows posting to 100+ job sites with one listing. Good candidate matching.
- Department of Labor Boards – Target jobs for veterans, people with disabilities, etc.
- Craigslist – Best for local/regional jobs. Can post easily and anonymously.
- Industry Associations – Post to niche sites targeting specific vocations/fields.
- Jooble – Aggregator site pulling jobs from employer sites and job boards.
- Idealist – Focuses on nonprofit, public service, sustainability, and social justice.
- CareerBuilder – Longstanding job board with strong brand recognition.
- Glassdoor – In addition to listings, gives an inside look at companies/culture.
Key Takeaways
- Free job boards provide a budget-friendly way for employers to reach a large pool of relevant applicants.
- While lacking some features of paid posts, free listings still offer exposure, ease of posting, and targeting.
- Employers should optimize free postings with keywords, screening questions, cross-posting, and social sharing.
- Leading free sites like LinkedIn, Indeed, and ZipRecruiter are good options, along with industry niche boards.
Conclusion
- Free job postings require more effort to stand out but offer an affordable way for employers to promote openings.
- Choosing the right niche boards and optimizing listings can surface qualified, interested candidates.
- Employers should weigh the benefits and drawbacks of paid vs free when developing their recruitment strategy.
- With the right approach, free job boards can be an invaluable hiring resource for many types of positions and companies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some pros and cons of free job posting for employers?
Pros: Cost savings, broad exposure, quick posting, niche targeting, and applicant tracking features.
Cons: Limited customization, high applicant volume, lack of screening, redundant applicants, less branding visibility.
What are some tips to improve results from free job listings?
Use relevant keywords, highlight company culture, include screening questions, post strategically across multiple boards, refresh regularly, and leverage social sharing.
What free job sites are best for startups and small businesses?
LinkedIn, Indeed, ZipRecruiter, industry associations, Craigslist, Jooble, Idealist, CareerBuilder, and Glassdoor.
Is it worth paying to post jobs?
It depends on the position(s), budget, and other recruiting efforts. Paid posts allow more customization and tools but aren’t always necessary.
How can I tell if I’m getting good applicants from free listings?
Review applicant quality – are they submitting customized, relevant applications? Monitor the source of applicants and hiring outcomes by source.