*Almost* invisible admin vacancies

[digitaldoughmad]

I have resigned from my job to move to a bigger role and now my current job is being advertised. The problem is that I work for an organisation that doesn’t advertise anywhere other than their own website, which means that there are hardly any applicants! It’s a family-friendly employer, great public transport connections and a very friendly office. I have loved working here and really hope that lots of good people apply for the job – if they don't get any applicants I’ll feel awful about leaving!

So there are two reasons I’m posting this is:

1. I would like to know what are the main websites you would use to find an admin job (so I can tell our HR people where to advertise)?
   
2. I wish to recommend that if you’re looking for an admin job, you really should look at the websites of... umm… let’s say… large public institutions. There may be more jobs and fewer applicants that you think!

[VioletBam]

I always look at the websites of organisations I find interesting as I've notice they advertise there often.

I don't think you should worry about it.

[digitaldoughmad]

We've previously had vacancies with only 1 applicant, so my fingers will remain crossed!

[flowery]

I don't think you should start telling HR where they should advertise vacancies.
I think you should not worry about it and look forwards instead. Focus on your new role rather than being concerned about how many applicants your manager gets for this vacancy and feeling bad if it's not many. If they don't get enough applicants they will look at casting a wider net.

[digitaldoughmad]

But where should the wider net be cast? I've previously looked for jobs on CV Library and thought it was pretty good, but where else do administrators look for vacancies?

I'm trying to help them because they have asked me for my advice/opinion about why they don't get many applicants and where they should be advertising to improve the response.

[EmpressTomatoKetchup]

I'm trying to help them because they have asked me for my advice/opinion about why they don't get many applicants and where they should be advertising to improve the response.

Seriously? They're not doing thier job on a very basic level. Industry relevant press/mags/websites/ recruitment firms?

[TheWeeBabySeamus1]

I'm looking for admin work ... The sites I usually look at are indeed, total jobs, direct.gov and local sites like Gumtree.

[twirlypoo]

Was just about to suggest indeed - I advertise all sorts of roles on there and always get inundated! Good luck in your new role :)

[Muddlewitch]

Are you sure they haven't already got someone in mind? I know some places that so this - they have someone they really want but have a policy of advertising, so just advertise in a very low key way to 'tick the box.'

If not I agree with PPs, Indeed and sector relevant websites, for example I work for a charity and we use ThirdSectorJobs.

[BeatricePotter]

Indeed or Reed.

Is this the NHS?

[poocatcherchampion]

What company?

[IWasHereBeforeTheHack]

Has anyone has raised concerns directly with you about the lack of quality applicants? Does this impact on your new role?

If you answer 'no' to both of those then I'd keep my nose out, if I were you. If there's a company-wide review of recruitment in the future and they ask your opinion, directly or indirectly, then you can take your ideas to them.

Let your old role go. Focus on your new one.

[ChicRock]

The NHS and our local university do this a lot - only advertise on their own website.

Usually they have someone specific in mind so don't want too many applicants.

When I worked for the NHS I'd say probably only 1 in 10 jobs were genuinely open to be taken by the best candidate on the day.

[Muddlewitch]

That's my experience of quite a few organisations too Chic, many have policies of jobs being advertised externally but the depts already know who they want so just do the absolute minimum needed to not breach the policy.

[digitaldoughmad]

I can absolutely say for sure there is nobody they have in mind for this vacancy. But yes, that happens a lot. But for both NHS and universities you will also find they do this because of budgets. It can be hard to get approval to pay for advertising fees when you can advertise on your own website for free.

Thanks for the suggestions! Indeed does pick up the organisation's vacancies so it has appeared there. That's a bonus! I had been planning on suggesting Gumtree. Cost is an issue, so I think they should be happy to advertise on Gumtree. TotalJobs also looks quite affordable. I'll suggest these and see what happens.

It will have a small impact on my new role in that if they don't find anyone and have to re-advertise, it may delay my start date and/or I may be called back to have handover days with the new starter after I've already started in my new role. It would be much better for everyone if we could just get a nice bunch of quality applicants right from the start. It will make my transition much smoother!

[digitaldoughmad]

When I say they also do this because of budgets, I mean that they may not have anyone in mind but still advertise minimally because they can't get approval to pay for wider advertising.

[digitaldoughmad]

FYI, they had half a dozen applicants, half of those did not have viable applications. Very small pool indeed.

It could be a positive. Low unemployment rate = low number of applicants, perhaps. At least they found someone.