Recruitment Firm Launch Playbook

Who this is for

Recruitment agencies and independent recruiters launching or specialising in a sector.

Before you start

• The sectors and roles you recruit for.
• A clear description of how you work with employers and with candidates.
• Knowledge of the employment and data-protection rules that apply to your work.
• Separate contact routes for candidates and employers.

Step 1

Plan both audiences

Map what candidates and employers each search for.

1. 01List the questions candidates ask about roles, skills and applying in your sector.
2. 02List the questions employers ask about hiring, role design and the recruitment process.
3. 03Decide which role guides and hiring guides to write first.
4. 04Plan separate entry pages for candidates and employers.

Step 2

Create role and hiring guides

Write useful guides for each side.

1. 01Write role guides describing what a role involves, the skills it needs and how people move into it.
2. 02Write hiring guides explaining how to define a role, write an advert and run a fair process.
3. 03Keep guides general and consistent with employment rules where you operate.
4. 04Have a senior recruiter in the sector review each guide.

Step 3

Publish for both sides

Make each audience’s route clear.

1. 01Publish the candidate and employer entry pages with the first guides.
2. 02Link role guides to current vacancies where relevant.
3. 03Link hiring guides to your employer services and contact route.
4. 04Add guides as new roles and questions arise.

Step 4

Measure each side

Track candidates and employers separately.

1. 01Track candidate registrations and employer enquiries by the page they started on.
2. 02Check which guides appear in search in your search console.
3. 03Update role guides as skills and job titles change.
4. 04Remove links to vacancies once they are filled.

Common pitfalls

• Guides that mix candidate and employer advice so neither audience is served.
• Advice on hiring practices that conflicts with employment rules.
• Collecting candidate details without the notices data-protection rules require.

Where Opus Rank helps

Tutorials for the parts of this plan you can do in Opus Rank.

• Build a topical map

  Plan role guides and hiring guides as two clusters.

• Create and use brand voices

  Keep the firm’s voice consistent across both audiences.

• Add internal links

  Link role guides to related hiring guides.

Related playbooks

• Consultancy Launch Playbook
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