Worqplace Blog

Filling job openings can be a laborious task. Not only does it take a monumental effort to get everyone to agree on the job description, but once it's posted, wading through all the paper cover letters and resumes in search of applicants who meet the minimum requirements can take hours upon hours of staff time.

Here are five ways online job applications can save your small business time and money:

Customize your application
In today's specialized employment world, it's important that you get the right information from the right job applicants. What you need to know about a communications professional is different than what you need to know about an engineer, for example. Having applicants apply online allows you to ask for and receive specific information for each position you have open. Want to know if a communications person has search with social media? Customize your application to ask them.

Search the applicants
Another nice thing about online job applications is that they are searchable. You can quickly find out who has the specific skills and experience you seek by doing an electronic query for key words or phrases. Anyone who has ever had to hire for a highly specialized or technical position can appreciate the time and cost savings of being able to quickly and effectively search applications. 

Access anywhere
One of the most frustrating parts of trying to fill a key position within an organization is waiting for everyone involved--senior leadership, hiring managers, HR--to provide feedback on applicants. Online job applications make it easy to stay on schedule by allowing everyone involved access from anywhere in the world, as long as they have internet. No more waiting for people to get back from vacation or business trips.

Easily sortable
Online job applications can easily be sorted into groups. These groups can then be shared with the hiring committee, and each member can share their thoughts on a message board, meaning the hiring process can keep moving forward without those hard-to-schedule, time-and-money-consuming meetings.

Fast follow up
Once you have your top candidates selected, online job applications allow instant access to them. They applied online, which requires an email address, so they expect to be contacted electronically. They'll be checking their email frequently. No more phone tag or waiting to hear back from them to schedule interviews.

In business, time is money. Online job applications can save your business both.

 Photo: renjith krishnan/FreeDigitalPhotos.net