Free strategic recruitment plan templates & examples

An iron-clad talent acquisition strategy is a dream come true for budding start-ups. We can’t just snap our fingers to hire employees, now, can we? But we all know that hiring can be expensive.

According to recent data from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the costs can add up quickly. Additionally, providing benefits to a new hire can amount to 40% of their base salary. When you multiply it by the number of new hires you plan to bring on board this year, those costs can skyrocket! 

So, what’s the good news?

Wait for it – you can streamline hiring using a well-designed hiring strategy template. It simplifies the process, making it easier to scale your business across different regions. Keep reading to discover how to create an effective recruitment plan template that suits your needs.

What is a recruitment plan template?

Businesses aiming to scale cannot afford to develop a new recruitment plan or strategy format every time they need to hire more talent. A hiring plan template provides a structured approach to attracting, screening, interviewing, and hiring new employees. A recruitment strategy sample outlines the necessary steps, strategies, and timelines to secure the best candidates.

HR teams can save significant time by developing a well-defined sample for recruitment strategy. Remember, every recruitment plan example should include a clear timeline, budget, and detailed job descriptions.

Also read: How to develop a recruitment plan

5 tips to create a recruitment plan template

Creating an effective recruitment plan template involves five essential steps – identifying your needs, defining your approach, determining candidate sourcing methods, launching your recruitment efforts, and refining your strategy. Let’s explore each in detail.

• Determine your hiring needs
• Who do you need to hire?

Identify the specific roles you need to fill and the ideal candidate profiles. Are you seeking independent contract employees for short-term projects or employees for remote positions abroad? Review your business needs and structure your recruitment plan template on MS Word.

• How many positions are open?

Next, assess the number of roles to be filled. Review and update job descriptions and consider potential internal promotions to finalize your hiring needs.

• Determine your timeline

Set your timelines for recruiting, vetting, and hiring. While timelines can vary based on business needs, the entire process typically takes 3 to 6 weeks. Don’t forget to allocate time for onboarding, as new hires will need to familiarize themselves with company policies & responsibilities, and possibly undergo specific training.

• Develop hiring strategy 

Review previous hiring efforts to identify effective strategies and incorporate them into your recruitment plan template. 

Next, examine the region you’re expanding into, including local employee expectations. Allocate budgets for competitive salaries, benefits, and compensation.

Plan how to advertise your business to attract candidates, ensuring alignment with your company’s values and goals. Use talent assessment tools to predict candidate performance and boost productivity. 90% of organizations are offering learning opportunities to retain their employees. It can be seen as a great strategy for HR to promote L&D while hiring candidates. 

• Learn how to find the best candidates
• Leverage Job Boards 

Job boards are a useful tool for announcing job openings. While they often charge a fee, some cater to various industries, while others focus on specific niches. 

For Example, the Big Four leverage various recruitment channels, including LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and their career site, to reach diverse candidates.

• Outsource your recruiting 

Work with a recruitment platform to identify your ideal candidate profile. The hiring platform should complete the search, screening, and interview process for you. Once you’ve decided on the specific methods in your talent acquisition strategy, you’re ready to start recruiting. 

Recruitment technology, like Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) has recruiting templates on its dashboard to enhance hiring by increasing efficiency and streamlining operations. Try Workable for free today! 

• Begin the recruitment process

As you start recruiting, plan your screening process – review resumes, conduct skills assessments, and perform background checks. You can check out sample hiring plans to learn about initial phone or video interviews, then move to detailed interviews. Decide on interviewers and questions and consider multiple rounds or panels for some roles.

A strong recruitment plan includes onboarding, as the chances of employee retention are 82%  with a company that offers a smooth process. 

•  Frequently revamp your template 

After finalizing your recruiting plan, regularly assess its effectiveness. Use metrics like time-to-fill and acceptance rates to evaluate performance and make necessary adjustments for continuous improvement.

Free recruitment plan template 

Company/Department Name

Date

Prepared by Name], [Job Title]

Objectives

– [List specific recruitment goals]

Positions  

– [List roles, reasons, working hours, salaries]

Candidate Profile  

– [Desired qualities]

Sourcing Methods

– [List sourcing channels]

Evaluation Process

– [Assessment techniques]

Budget  

Projected total: $[Total] for [Number of hires], with $[Cost per employee] for additional hires.  

– [List of estimated expenses]

Here are some additional resources you can refer to: – 

• Recruitment plan template by Pinpoint 
• Recruitment plan template from Vervoe 
• Recruiting toolkit from Washington State University
• Recruiting pipeline template from Trello

Having a robust recruitment process with a recruitment plan template can help organizations hire the best talent. Moreover, AI-powered tools by Workable, including interview questions, job descriptions, personalized emails, screening assistants and resume parsers, will further elevate your hiring process!