Like everything else, the internet has completely transformed how people find jobs. With all the different online job boards – from the industry-specific to any position imaginable – people now have an endless amount of options when looking for a new gig.
Over the past few years, we continue to hear the same thing from our customers – it’s difficult to find employees, especially ones that are qualified and reliable. Now more than ever is a great time to learn the advantages of online job boards. It can be essential to your irrigation business
[DISCLAIMER] This is not to say that age-old tactics (networking, referrals, job fairs) or other online tools (social media, email, industry websites) aren’t worth using. Just like job boards, when used properly these sources can produce qualified candidates. Plus, it’s usually a good idea to have a strategy that combines a few of these so you can reach both offline and online candidates.
Online Job Boards For Irrigation & Landscape Businesses
I decided to focus on three job websites commonly used by irrigation and landscaping businesses. Others like LinkedIn, CareerBuilder, and Glassdoor are great but typically cater more to companies posting white-collar, office jobs. But If there’s any other online source that has worked for your business in the past, let us know in the comment section below.
When it comes to posting a job online for your irrigation and landscaping business, you’ll see the best pay-off if you understand two things:
1. The different characteristics (pricing), features (Pay-Per-Click, Free Posting), and benefits (traffic, audience) each job board offers
2. How to successfully use each platform so your post is seen by as many ideal candidates as possible.
Essentially there are three main ways online job boards are used:
-Applicants browse recent jobs posted by businesses
-Employers browse a database of resumes
-Visitors read company profiles to learn more about the business
Indeed
Features: Free Posting (for certain jobs) | Paid Posting | Pay-Per-Click | Pay Per Job Post
Price: From $5 to $499 for sponsored jobs
Info:
– Hands down the most popular and used job posting site in the world.
– No cost assessments and job skills test to find the right candidates
– 250 million unique visitors per month
– The Google of jobs
– Flexibility to set your own budget – paying only for the length of time needed
Tips:
Stand out from the crowd: To make your job post even more attractive, incorporate unique details about your business in each section.
Filter out unqualified candidates: Use application questions to get rid of people that don’t meet your job requirements.
The power of application questions: Be cautious to only apply the requirements you really need, adding just one wrong requirement can limit how many see and apply to your post.
Put yourself in the shoes of your candidates: Don’t just list what kind of person your business wants, rather think about what your ideal candidates are looking for and include it in the job description.
Craigslist
Features: Paid Posting | Pay Per Job Post
Price: From $10 to $75 per post (Depending on Location)
Info:
– Familiar site that most people have previously used
– Likely the first-place candidates looking for irrigation jobs will look
– Jobs category isn’t a classified – like the rest of the site – but functions as a job board
Tips:
Understand the difference between the ‘job ad’ and ‘job description’: The job ad sells your post. It’s what candidates see as they browse the list of jobs. The job description is what they see after clicking on your post and is where you outline the position’s specifications.
Don’t be spam by:
– Avoiding vague titles and descriptions
– Using maps and images
– Fixing any writing errors
Reduce the flood of applicants to a more manageable leak: One trick is to have the applicants call and leave a voicemail answering a relevant question. This allows you to easily screen and filter out the massive amount of unqualified candidates you’ll get.
Monster:
Features: Free Trial | Paid Posting | Pay Per Job Post
Price: Free to over $649 per month
Info:
– Consistently ranks as one of the most visited job boards
– Allows your own applicant tracking system (ATS) and search its résumé database
– Monster+ lets you post jobs for free, and also has sponsored listing
Tips:
Make your job stand out: Like when using Indeed, focus on wording that both describes the position and makes the reader click on your post to learn more.
Flip the script: Take the perspective of your candidates by performing a search that would generate similar jobs. You’ll notice most of the posts are strikingly similar and boring. Take advantage of this by figuring out how you can differentiate your job from the rest of the pack.
ZipRecruiter:
Features: Free Trial | AI to reach and match candidates | Mobile-Friendly
Price: starts at $299
Info:
– Used by 110 million job seekers and more than 2.8 companies
– Connected with a network of job websites
– Network with 100+ top job sites
Tips:
Use the power of AI: fill your job posts with information that matters to you, so the AI machine can find candidates that match your needs.
Save time with 1-click apply: Once you input the key info of your business and roles to fill, it’s possible to create new job offers with one click.
Each job board has unique features and benefits so it might take some trial and error to find which one is best for you. But you’ve probably realized that no matter the job board, the key is creating a job post that your ideal candidates won’t be able to ignore.
Having a successful and profitable irrigation and landscape business starts with finding and hiring great employees. It takes the pressure off the owner and gives your business the necessary personnel to provide customers with excellent work and superior service.
