[Editor’s Note: The HR Guru is a column from Kalibrr answering all your HR-related questions. For the first release, Kalibrr answers concerns about meeting your recruitment tasks with limited budget.]

Dear HR Guru,

I am a recruiter for a big BPO company but we were told not to spend until the end of the year. I find this unfair, as they still want us to hire the same number of people as if we had the support we need. I get a lot of recs from walk-ins, but this isn’t working anymore. Even though I understand my boss, I still need help. Can you give me tips on how I can possibly do this?

Thank you, 
Walang Pera Pero Lumalaban 

Dear ‘Walang Pera Pero Lumalaban,’

We purposely chose your letter as this is something we at Kalibrr can help you with. 

Before I answer your question, I just want to say that I feel your concerns. During times like these, we really can’t control many factors, except how much we actually spend. Reading between the lines, I sense an employee who is still extremely driven to succeed despite the odds. I find that admirable. I do advise that you be proactive in finding a solution to this to avoid resenting your employer. 

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The good thing is, this lack of resources for your company is clearly temporary. You mentioned that you do come from a big BPO company and that your boss gave a clear timeline of “no recruitment expenses until the end of the year”– this is something you can definitely work with. 

In the next few months, I propose you do two things. The first is to maximize free trials out in the market that allows you to gauge the right solution for your needs. Second is prepare a business case about which platform you want to use moving forward. Ideally, this clearly outlines a cost-benefit analysis of your chosen solution. 

Luckily, there are a number of platforms that offer free trials. This should be enough to get you through the month- if you show management that you can actually find your superstar employees through these channels. I would definitely consider your business case approved – within reasonable budget, of course. 

Here’s a list of platforms offering free trials (and how to maximize your time with them!) 

• Kalibrr’s “New Recruitment for the New Normal” campaign offers companies free unlimited job posts and unlimited access to its platform for 30 days. You get unlimited resume searches, can enroll as many users as you require, and utilize a built-in applicant tracking system. Deadline to sign up is November 30, 2020. (Shameless, but nonetheless helpful, plug) 
• You can post a job for free on LinkedIn. The boosted jobs are either pay-per-click or negotiated rates. Maximize the exposure a free job post provides by sharing this across your social media network. 
• If you have a Facebook Business Page, then it will be easy for you to post a job. While this is free, do not take it for granted as it may reflect badly on your brand if you don’t reply promptly. (Think of your job posts as your company’s first handshake to the jobseeker.)
  Maximize your time on FB Jobs by replying promptly to each one and have a ready message template to ensure your job seekers don’t disengage. 

Hope this helps you! Keep in touch and happy hiring! 
Paul, Your HR Guru

About the Column: Paul Rivera is the co-founder and CEO of Kalibrr, a careers platform for over 4 million young professionals and more than 18,000 of the most innovative companies in Southeast Asia. In the next few weeks, he will be answering any questions and giving advice about employment, getting hired, and getting a hire in the Future of Work. 

PAUL RIVERA. Photo courtesy of Kalibrr.

Need advice as a jobseeker or as an HR professional? Email your questions at hiretalent@kalibrr.com or send them a message on Facebook. – Rappler.com