Recruiters are challenged in the current hiring market following COVID shutdowns. Businesses are in need of hiring qualified applicants but are struggling to find candidates in the current pool. A resource that many hiring managers or recruiters might be forgetting about is employee search databases. Unlike job postings where a recruiter might wait for applicants, using an employee search database allows you to look through resumes. This way you can actively seek out the right candidate. If you know the type of candidate that you are looking for, employee search databases might be your best bet.

Employee Search Databases

But where do you find these databases? And what should you be looking for when using a resume database? These are just a few of the most popular employee search databases on the market:

1. ZipRecruiter

ZipRecruiter is well known by both prospective employees, and employers. Regarded as the most popular job search engine in North America, ZipRecruiter hosts millions of job listings. They host a generous amount of resumes for employers to search and find possible candidates.

The ZipRecruiter resume search features include a ton of unique features, such as:

• Smart Search: Find relevant results by using multiple keywords. Modifiers like “and”, “not” and “or” can help you find the exact candidates you are searching for.
• Filters: A plethora of filters can help you hone in on applicants that would fit your listings. Filters include options like location, previous company, job title, recency of resume posting, and more.
• Rating System: Simply rate resumes with a thumbs up or down, and the matching technology will recommend similar candidates to you in the future. The more you rate, the more accurate the system gets.

With all these unique features, an extremely large database of prospective employees, and a simple to use and intuitive system. ZipRecruiter is likely the easiest employee search database to use to find your next candidate.

2. Craigslist

Many job posters are familiar with Craigslist’s connection to the job market. On Craigslist you can easily post job openings for your company in order to market to the local workforce. What many don’t know, is you can actually post and search for resumes on Craigslist. To look at resumes in your order, do the following:

1. Visit Craigslist, and go to the homepage.
2. At the bottom right of the screen, you will see a section titled “resumes”.
3. After clicking here, you will find a large section of resumes for individuals in your area.

The great thing about Craigslist is it’s extremely easy to use and doesn’t require a ton of knowledge. It’s also free to post most ads, and listings are removed after a set period of time. So resumes you see will always be the freshest listings. You can also use filters and keywords to find the right fit for your job opening. This includes availability, level of education, experience and more.

If you’re looking for a really simple and free option for doing an employee search, Craigslist is a great option.

3. LinkedIn

Most professionals are familiar with LinkedIn, and likely have a LinkedIn profile of their own. LinkedIn is a professional social networking platform that connects you to colleagues, companies, clients and more. LinkedIn is an amazing tool for all things networking. It’s also an excellent source for hiring. LinkedIn is special in that it gives you direct access to business professionals. It also allows you to communicate with them without the need for face to face interaction.

When you view a LinkedIn profile, you can see an individual’s experience. That includes the companies they’ve worked at, how long they stayed in each position, their education, endorsed skills, and more. Using LinkedIn is like looking at a portfolio of an individual’s professional work. This works in favor of recruiters who are attempting to search for a candidate to fill a position.

You can use LinkedIn in a myriad of ways to find specific types of candidates. Search keywords for job titles or responsibilities to find individuals currently in that position. Look through specific companies to see if there are employees looking to move. Browse specific groups or interests to see individuals who follow these groups, and would be a good fit.

Proactive Search Resources

All of these options are an excellent way to actively seek out potential candidates for your openings. No longer do you need to sit back and wait on applications to come in for your job listings. You have the power to seek out the perfect candidate to bring into your organization.

If you want to be proactive in your employee search, check out this post about the best way to hire employees!