What recruiter couldn’t use more information and tools at their fingertips? Understanding the latest evolutions, trends, and technologies in the sector is key to being great at what you do, and it’s also critical to growing your career in HR or staffing. That’s why savvy recruiters use online resources for professional development, ensuring that they are always the first to know about the latest news and best practices.
How can you incorporate professional learning and development into your routine?
As a busy professional, you have a lot on your plate. Still, even spending a small amount of time reviewing online resources and connecting with other recruitment professionals virtually can enhance your professional development and improve your performance in your role.
Try dedicating just ten minutes a day to reading, listening, networking, and learning using online resources. To make sure you stick to a routine, you can even block time in your calendar. Committing a few minutes to learning can serve as a much-needed interlude between your regular daily tasks, while also helping you develop.
What are the top online resources for recruiters right now?
Not sure where to begin? We’ve created a list of some of the top online resources for recruiters and staffing professionals to help you get started.
HR Magazine
What it is: Online magazine covering a range of HR topics
Where to find it: hrmagazine.co.uk
Although it’s a UK-based publication, HR Magazine offers news and insights for a global audience. Expect expansive features on timely topics, including AI, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), compensation, benefits, technology, organizational culture, training, and more. The magazine also publishes interviews with leaders in HR, as well as opinion pieces on controversial issues in the sector.
r/recruiting on Reddit
What it is: A subreddit (message board) focused on recruiting issues
Where to find it: reddit.com/r/recruiting
Even if you don’t typically find yourself on Reddit, everyone in staffing and recruiting should give r/recruiting a visit. The subreddit is a vibrant community of industry professionals discussing common dilemmas, timely issues, and the news of the day.
It’s an ideal venue for crowd-sourcing answers to questions and engaging in discussions with others in similar roles. But even if you choose not to participate directly in the conversations, the page is worth checking out to understand what is on the minds of recruiters right now.
Ask a Manager
What it is: An advice blog for HR professionals
Where to find it: askamanager.org
This blog from former non-profit chief of staff Alison Green is a fascinating deep dive into common management and HR topics. Each post answers questions from readers, tackling topics from hiring and job offers to resume writing, interviewing, and even rejecting candidates. Take a peek at the Hiringcategory for answers to questions such as how can I tell if an overqualified applicant is right for the job? and how do I answer when a job candidate asks, ‘how did I do?’
Green talks to her readers like they’re a friend, but her answers reflect the professionality and wisdom of a seasoned industry leader with years of experience.
American Staffing Association
What it is: A website with an extensive resource library for staffing professionals
Where to find it: americanstaffing.net
If you work in staffing in the U.S., take advantage of the resources provided by the American Staffing Association. Their website includes a newsfeed of the latest industry headlines, fact sheets of staffing industry statistics and sector profiles, new research, and articles on a variety of relevant topics. You can also subscribe to their Staffing Today newsletter to get updates delivered to your inbox.
HR Girlfriends
What it is: An online community of women in HR
Where to find it: hrgirlfriends.com
HR Girlfriends offers networking and professional development opportunities for women in the sector. Members get access to events, tools, training, and a virtual support centre stocked with all things HR. Note that there is an annual membership fee to join the community and access their online resources.
Recruitment Consultants and Staffing Professionals LinkedIn group
What it is: The definitive LinkedIn group for people in recruitment and staffing
Where to find it: LinkedIn
With nearly 500,000 members, the Recruitment Consultants and Staffing Professionals LinkedIn group is an online nexus for discussions on staffing and recruitment. Join the community to integrate more recruitment and staffing-specific information to your feed and stay on top of industry news. You can also get involved in the conversation in the comments, meet other staffing professionals, and even scout out employment opportunities.
SHRM
What it is: Online courses, articles, and downloadable tools
Where to find it: shrm.org
You might know the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) as an organization that offers training to HR professionals. But did you know that it also offers an extensive library of tools and information?
Visit the Resources tab for handbooks, how-to guides, presentations, toolkits, and more, all designed especially for people in the industry. Why not take advantage of everything they have to offer?
The bottom line
Although we’ve listed a range of options, remember that there’s no need to read every article or participate in every online community to stay informed. To stay up to date on the latest ideas in recruiting, simply commit to setting aside a little time each day to read, listen, watch, and chat with others in the community. How you do that is up to you.
