As 2024 draws to a close, colleges are looking ahead to 2025 as a fresh start to recruit the best talent. Going into the New Year, with growing challenges and a competitive market for top teaching talent, colleges must implement innovative hiring strategies to stay ahead.
To help your college get ahead for the rest of the New Year, here are some actionable strategies to consider that will elevate your recruitment and put you ahead of the rest.
Expand your reach with multi-channel candidate attraction
Broaden your visibility
A diverse pool of candidates starts with widening your scope of visibility. Advertising on multiple job boards – not just one – can significantly boost your chances of finding the right talent. Using specialised platforms – such as FEjobs’ further education-specific job board – will connect you with candidates specifically looking for roles in further education. You can supplement this targeted approach with other general job boards, ensuring an even wider audience.
Harness the power of targeted email campaigns
A strong database is one of the most powerful tools in your recruitment arsenal. Leverage data wisely to send personalised job alerts to your potential candidates, with segmented email lists that ensure precise targeting for relevant roles only.
Want your roles to benefit from the UK’s largest education-specific database, using bespoke email outreach plus more? Eteach Media is your solution to let you tap into an engaged, targeted bank of further education professionals & more. You can find out more about Eteach Media’s recruitment solutions for your college here.
Tap into social media outreach
Social media is an increasingly invaluable tool for recruitment. Utilising social media platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook will let you effectively promote your roles in a whole new way. By also sharing engaging supplemental content, such as testimonials, videos, and photos, you’ll be giving candidates real insight into your college’s brand and values. Plus, paid campaigns can target specific demographics, ensuring your job openings reach the right audience – so, if you’re not already utilising social media for your college, you should be.
Optimise for mobile recruitment
Did you know that over 80% of candidates job search via mobile? This percentage has continued to grow year-on-year, so ensuring your application processes have mobile users in mind is paramount to recruitment success.
Simplify your application processes for smartphones, capture candidates that are on-the-go, and you’ll see your completion rates rocket. For example, a feature such as FEjobs’ mobile-friendly Fast Apply option collects all of the application data that you need, whilst eliminating lengthy downloadable forms that discourage candidates from applying, and can double the amount of applicants your roles receive.
You can also send SMS or WhatsApp reminders to your existing opted-in database, to quickly remind potential candidates of open positions they may not have seen otherwise.
Control costs without compromising on quality
Streamline your recruitment costs
UK trusts and colleges often feel like they have their hands tied with extortionate agency fees or advertising costs with TES to find the best teachers - but the truth is, there are other ways to recruit that give you optimal control over your spending. Platforms like FEjobs offer cost-effective recruitment solutions, no matter your budget, instead of more expensive traditional methods. By optimising your job advertisements to target the right audience, you’ll significantly reduce your time-to-hire, minimise agency & advertising spending, and improve your cost-per-hire as well!
Another cost-effective method of sourcing talent that you may not have considered is your current staff! Encourage staff referrals for prospective talent, tapping into trusted networks while saving on your external recruitment costs.
Take professional development in-house
In-house or externally-funded Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses are a cost-effective and flexible way for current staff to learn and develop their skills, instead of using more expensive external courses. This can even include online webinars and training programmes that staff can complete regardless of location, such as those from the NEU. You can provide pathways for your current staff to upskill into needed roles if suitable; for example, looking internally for department leadership candidates.
Accelerate your hiring with technology
Streamline your job postings
Use automated platforms to streamline job postings across multiple job boards with a single click. FEjobs’ Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is packed full of built-in broadcasting options, letting you effortlessly post across job boards from one central platform.
Pre-scheduling your job advertisement posts can also ensure optimal timing for candidate engagement, saving your team time and effort; did you know, the best day to post your job in terms of candidate traffic is on a Tuesday?
Data-driven recruitment, smarter decisions
Analytics are key to refining your recruitment strategy – if you’re not getting the insights you need, you won’t know how to improve on your processes.
Using an informative ATS such as FEjobs gives you access to Enhanced Reporting Dashboards, letting you track metrics like time-to-hire, cost-per-hire, and where your candidates are being sourced from. This data can shine some much-needed light on your hiring process, clearly showing areas of strength as well as areas for improvement.
Prioritise your candidates
Simplify the process
When it comes to your application process, take a second to put yourself in your prospective candidates’ shoes. Is it too lengthy? Are there multiple downloadable forms required? Do candidates need to be redirected to a separate website to apply? A smooth application process can make all the difference – many candidates will simply drop off before completing applications that take too long or are too complex.
Other employers, including those outside of the world of education, are in direct competition with you - and the best ones are already using candidate-friendly application methods.
Use clear, minimal steps to collect essential information without overwhelming candidates. You could choose to collect other information that isn’t as pertinent at interview or shortlisting stage, cutting down on application time and resulting in more completions. Opting to use Fast Apply options like the one FEjobs provides also prioritises your candidates’ time during the application process, making it simpler for them to complete by pre-populating their application with their candidate profile data.
Be transparent and proactive
Transparency, as an employer, goes a long way to making a great initial impression upon your prospective candidates. The majority of jobseekers say they are less likely to apply for a job if the advert doesn’t specify a salary – so your job advertisement should clearly outline key details that any prospective employee would want to know, instead of being opaque. These include the role itself, clear responsibilities, salary, and benefits.
Supplement this key information by highlighting your college’s values, cultures, and further opportunities on your website. If your college’s own website isn’t up to scratch, tools such as FEjobs’ Career Site functionality work as an all-in-one showcase for your college, letting you easily convey to candidates why they should want to work for you, alongside listing your current vacancies and more.
Responding manually to every candidate who applies for a role is, of course, not always practical – however, automated tools within education recruitment software such as FEjobs’ ATS will let you acknowledge applications and stay in communication with candidates effortlessly. For example, automated bulk emails let you regularly update candidates on their status whenever they are moved in your pipeline, or if you want to provide them with a timeline for next steps.
Utilising tools for transparency, whether at advertisement stage or application stage, builds trust between you as an employer and your candidates - giving a strong impression and keeping them engaged throughout the process, making the best educators more likely to choose your college.
Plan ahead for future-proof recruitment & retention
Forecast and prepare
Understanding your future staffing needs and trends is crucial to stay one step ahead of your competition. You should be analysing and anticipating any future staff retirements; plan recruitment cycles well in advance to avoid last-minute pressures.
Your recruitment campaigns should coincide with key termly resignation deadlines, capturing transient talent who may be seeking a new role at a crucial point in your hiring cycle.
Capturing candidates and proactively planning for the future with tools such as FEjobs’ Talent Pool functionality gives you an edge above the rest. A Talent Pool connects you with qualified educators who have expressed interest in joining your college; when suitable roles arise, you’ll already have a pre-existing bank of candidates to tap into, giving you a much easier starting point for your outreach and ensuring you’re prepared for whatever recruitment needs may arise.
Retention is key
Keeping your current staff engaged and motivated is as important as hiring new talent. Invest in professional development programs such as aforementioned CPD courses or webinars; prioritise staff well-being, and create a supportive college culture that encourages long-term retention.
Keep a calendar of key events
Planning ahead for your recruitment needs to take into account your entire college operation. If you haven’t already, you should develop a calendar that includes key dates such as term schedules, resignation deadlines, exams, staff meetings, and special events. Share this calendar with your college community as early as possible, ensuring smoother coordination and hiring preparation throughout the year.
By implementing these forward-thinking strategies and utilising the power of ATS technology such as FEjobs, alongside a truly multi-channel approach, it’s never been easier to position your college as a leader in further education recruitment - attracting and retaining top talent while going above and beyond to meet the needs of your students.
Let 2025 be the year your college sets a new standard for success with us. Find out more about how FEjobs can transform your recruitment for next year, today.
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