How to select the right Recruitment Solution for you.

Whilst looking at the CIPD Annual Survey Report 2011, it appears that the need for companies to implement the right level of Recruitment Technology is even more paramount now than before.

According to the survey "Changes in resourcing and talent practices in 2011 compared with 2010 reflect a stronger focus on costs and reductions in budgets. More organisations anticipate that they will be focussing on developing talent-in-house, retaining rather than recruiting talent and reducing their reliance on recruitment agencies and external consultants for resourcing and development."

In order to achieve a more cost effective way of recruiting and streamline the process at every stage often requires the use of technology. Depending on the size of your business, your current processes and your objectives, the level of technology required varies significantly - and unsuprisingly so does the level of investment in terms of time and money!

So how DO you select the right level of recruitment technology?   

Often a company's buying criteria for a recruitment management system will become with a quickly compiled list of required features and functionality. Unfortunately through our wealth of experience within this field, this often results in a solution that either has gaps or with irrelevant yet costly functionality.

The key to ensuring you select the right system for you is to understand clearly what you want to achieve. Here are a few tips to help you identify what recruitment technology you and  your bsuiness really require.

Understanding You and Your Processes

Whether you are creating a new structure or simply reviewing existing methods, it is crucial to be clear of your current situation. A good recruitment management system can help provide the foundations for a solid and consistent process. During your analysis, consider the following:

• Candidate Experience
• Recruitment Methods
• Who's Involved
• Internal/ External Communication
• Costs
• The Selection Stages
• Administration Tasks

What Do You Want to Achieve?

Be clear on what you want to achieve. Whether you want to reduce administration, speed up your process, improve candidate experience, understand or control recruitment costs or create consistency, it is important to consider the following:

• Prioritise your requirements - this will make life easier when indentifying relevant features and functions and ultimately the most suitable supplier.
• Consider impact on the business - who will benefit? Identify the needs of individual areas if the business.
• Formulate a solid business case - clearly identifying where a return on investment will come from will crucial for business buy-in.
• Get Help - make use of the free advice offered to help you identify your goals and requirements.

The Right Product and Supplier

• Identify the Right Suppliers - its always worth to discuss your requirements with several suppliers. Does your intended supplier understand your recruitment and appreciate what you are trying to achieve? Who else uses their products? Ask for the opportunity to speak with existing users of the technology who can share their own experiences with you.
• Functionality & Features - providing that they what you are looking to achieve, the best products are intuitive, easy to navigate and flexible. Catering for all your processes, the chosen system should naturally fit with the way you want to recruit.  
• Cost of Development - Will you require it and if so, how much will it cost? What is included as standard? Do you pay for additional modules? Beware; initially low cost systems can end up as expensive ones.
• Implementation - speed and simplicity are crucial to the implementation of a quality solution, but this can only be achieved by minimising workload for you and your internal departments. Quality suppliers will provide accurate timetables and will provide references to demonstrate this.
• Training & Support - is training included? How long will it take? Is it restricted in anyway?, Will you receive  support post implementation and if so what will it encompass?

In Summary

Understanding where improvements can be made will help you identify your exact system requirements. In addition this will help to clearly communicate to your colleagues the benefits a recruitment management system will bring to your entire organisation.

At networx we understand the need for efficient technology more than most. As a result of handling thousands of candidates on behalf of hundreds of HR departments every week, our technology continues to develop on a daily basis. It is these foundations which is combined with and our experience and knowledge which creates the technology our clients use today.
For further information regarding the capabilities of our technology please visit the technology section on our website or contact us.