Advertise and recruit
This guide is intended for anyone involved in the search. There are a wide variety of advertising sources and recruitment methods you may utilize to “cast a wide net” and recruit candidates.
Print, electronic ads, or social media
- Effective January 2019, VCU is running a year-long Central Advertising Plan (CAP) pilot in which all VCU vacancies (except internal searches or direct appointments/ waivers) are posted automatically in the online job boards of ChronicleVitae, HigherEd jobs, and DiverseJobs. These sources satisfy the required ad placements with no cost or effort on the part of the hiring unit.
- Any unit-initiated advertisements should complement and not replicate any advertising provided by the university. Hiring units are encouraged to purchase additional advertising as appropriate to the position and specific recruiting strategy. Consider media such as LinkedIn, Indeed, or other discipline specific publications such as journals, publications, or job boards
- You might also try mailing or emailing vacancy notices to graduate departments, professional journals, web recruitment boards, professional associations, electronic newsletters, and newsgroups.
Utilize standard descriptive language to include in advertising or a position profile; it can help to have this information to share with candidates about VCU and Richmond. You can also visit Inside HR for a full list of advertising resources.
Conduct outreach and recruitment
- Personal contacts you know through professional organizations and colleagues at other institutions are effective networking resources. Please take note that, while referrals are excellent resources, additional recruitment efforts should still be made.
- Look at websites at other institutions to find individuals in similar positions (or a step down) to which you are recruiting. Reach out to those individuals to ask about their interest or to receive referrals.
- You are encouraged to contact professional organizations in your field to request that position announcements be shared with members. Making personal contacts with these organizations is most likely to result in applicants for your position.
- Contact colleagues at other institutions to seek nominations of students nearing graduation, recipients of fellowships and awards, or others interested in moving laterally.
When making personal contacts, share information with them about VCU and Richmond. Review this list of links and videos.
Advertising sources
Advertising and recruiting are essential elements of a thoughtful and effective hiring process. By actively promoting your job posting beyond internal channels, you create greater visibility and open the door to a broader range of talented individuals - some of whom may not be actively searching, but are the right fit and ready for the right opportunity. Strategic advertising ensures you're not only reaching more candidates, but also creating space for a variety of experiences and perspectives to be considered, ultimately strengthening your applicant pool and the future of your team.
The VCU HR Sourcing Resource Guide is designed to support hiring managers and HR teams by providing a curated list of external recruiting sites and publications. These resources help broaden outreach and connect with qualified candidates across a wide range of industries, ensuring that recruitment efforts remain thoughtful, strategic, and aligned with best practices.