Core Insights - Job boards remain a significant platform for hiring, with 69% of employers conducting most of their hiring through them and 32% expecting increased reliance in the next year [2][3] - Candidates also favor job boards, with nearly 80% using general job boards and 54% utilizing industry-specific ones [2] Employer Preferences - Employers desire job boards to evolve by offering features such as messaging, prescreening questions, skills assessments, interview scheduling, job ad writing, and applicant tracking system integrations [3] - Other popular recruiting methods include employee referrals (71%), company websites (50%), and professional networking sites like LinkedIn (46%) [4] Candidate Behavior - Job seekers utilize professional networking sites (55%), company websites (45%), search engines (42%), and networking (33%) in their job search [5] - Candidates suggest that employers improve communication by providing hiring timelines, salary ranges, contact information, benefits details, and insights into company culture [5] Communication Challenges - Better employer branding and storytelling can enhance candidate engagement, addressing issues like ghosting and fake job postings, which are significant frustrations for candidates [6] - Communication between candidates and employers is a major concern, with 59% of candidates and 51% of employers citing ghosting as a frustration [6] Impact of AI - AI tools are expected to play a larger role in recruitment, potentially improving communication but necessitating transparency regarding AI usage [7] Application Process Issues - Online recruiting systems need to simplify complex application processes, as nearly 60% of candidates have abandoned applications due to frustration [8] - Candidates report that confusing applications and poor communication are their primary job search challenges [8]