Employers: How to Search Resumes on Craigslist to Find Qualified Candidates

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If you are a small business owner who needs to hire new employees, you may consider posting a “now hiring,” sign in your window or placing a job posting online. This is a good idea, but, with the high rate of unemployment, you are likely to get many applicants. Unfortunately, most of them may be unqualified for the position. This wastes your time. Instead of reviewing hundreds of resumes and applications, use Craigslist.org and their resume section. You can search the resumes online to find the perfect job candidates.

To perform a traditional search on Craigslist, visit the website and select your state and city. You are now on your local page. You can use the search box on the left to search resumes, but you must first change the search’s default settings to resumes. When searching, use relevant phrases. There are a wide range of resumes listed on Craigslist. You don’t want to browse hundreds of them, especially when you are looking for something in particular, such as customer service or sales representatives.

As previously stated, the traditional method of search is to visit your state and city page and then perform a search. When doing so, you search that page only. This is, honestly, the only true flaw of Craigslist.org. With the high rate of unemployment, many Americans are interested in relocating for the right job or one with the potential to grow within the company. If you can offer your employees this, target more than just your local city page. You should search resumes statewide or at least a few nearby cities. Craigslist.org does not allow multi-city searches, but you can download a free Craigslist search tool. These tools allow you to perform nationwide, statewide, or multi-city searches.

Now that you know how to search resumes posted on Craigslist, how can you find the best job candidates? When you search with related keyword phrases, you should get tailored results. If you searched with sales, you will get a list of resumes for men or women who are seeking a sales job or have worked in sales before. Read their resumes. If you find qualified candidates, use their contact information to arrange an interview. Even if you believe you found the perfect candidate on Craigslist.org, keep looking. Schedule a number of job interviews. Always remember that things usually look better on paper, so have a backup plan in place.

As previously stated, you can use Craigslist search tools to expand your resume search and find the perfect employee. Download the free Craigslist Reader at MotionT.com to get started.