There are plenty of blog posts dedicated to recruitment-specific technology tools like ATS products, payroll or back-office applications, electronic document signing and more. Today I’d like to cover three tools that aren’t specifically designed for recruitment professionals, but are still really handy. Even better, all of them offer a free version. These tools save you time and can also shore up areas that may not be your strengths or top priorities. Here’s a summary:
Calendar / Scheduling
Want to easily eliminate the back-and-forth email misery of trying to figure out a common day/time to talk to a candidate or client? Consider using an online scheduling tool like Calendly, Bookafy, or YouCanBook.me. A simple link allows people to select from your available appointment times. While I see these in use from a host of sales professionals, I don’t see a lot of recruiters using them. Your time is worth money – this is an easy way to ensure you aren’t wasting it with endless emails or missed connections. It’s also a great way to ensure you’re not avoiding the phone, which remains one of the best tools for recruiters.
Graphics and Images
You’ve probably heard that social media posts that are accompanied by an image have higher rates of engagement. So how can you get appropriate that look professional, but don’t require the services of a design professional? Check out Canva, a great service for creating fast graphics. Canva’s free version includes hundreds, maybe thousands, of templates that are sized for a variety of needs and are easily customizable. You can download PDF, PNG, or JPG versions of your images. While I still use PhotoShop and Illustrator regularly, there are plenty of times when I just need a nice-looking image, fast, for a one-off situation. Canva is my go-to source.
Spelling and Grammar
I spend a good chunk of my time proofreading and editing other people’s writing. I’m amazed at how many people are intimidated by having to write a professional document. So many people think they are poor writers, when really they just need a little boost with spelling, grammar or style. Enter Grammarly, available on many browsers or with its own editor window. This tool offers automatic corrections and suggestions to help you write with confidence. Whether it’s email correspondence, a report to a client, a job order or something else – Grammarly helps you reduce grammar and spelling errors, and offers tips to improve your writing style and word choice as well.
Do you use any of the above? Any other tools for recruiters you’d like to share? Add a comment below!
As an associate Sr. Executive Recruiter with Pete DeLuke & Assoc., Inc. a new NPA member, the above suggestions all make a lot of sense. Using your appointment scheduling idea will save time and avoid missed calls. Not sure how we’ll use Canva but Grammarly will definitely help. We spend more time than we should helping otherwise, good candidates prepare a presentable resume. Thank you!
Hi Roger, glad you found the article helpful! Grammarly is really terrific for anyone who is not a confident writer OR who just wants to be extra-sure to avoid errors. Much better than a regular spell-checker. If you ever wanted to experiment with making some of your job ads more “visual” as opposed to text-based, Canva would be a great option.