Advertising in the newspaper is a good way to target a large number of applicants efficiently and at a relatively low cost. There are many disadvantages to advertising in the newspaper also. For one, the advertisement is basically restricted to those in a certain geographic area. Another downfall is that the company will typically receive many applications from undesireable candidates. This will hinder the screening process and may delay the time it takes to choose the right candidate.
Employee referrals are the second most popular method of locating job candidates.
Employees from within the company have a vested interest. Therefore, they take caution when recommending someone to join the company. Employees typically have a good idea of what skills are necessary to fulfill the obligations of the vacant position and therefore are able to make good judgements as to who is qualified for the job. Finding candidates this way will also decrease the screening time and is very inexpensive. It also allows the company to reach individuals over a large geographic area.