All vacancies at various levels in an organisation cannot be filled through internal sources of recruitment. Explain any five other sources of recruitment.

When internal sources are insufficient, organisations rely on external sources of recruitment. Five external sources of recruitment are:

1. Advertisements — Advertisements in newspapers and journals are the most widely used method of attracting candidates for all types of jobs. The requirement of the job and terms and conditions of employment are given in the advertisement. Candidates evaluate themselves against job requirements and send applications. This method is convenient and economical, and brings in a large number of applications due to wide circulation.

2. Employment Exchanges — Employment exchanges run by the Government are an external source of recruitment. Anyone seeking employment can register with the employment exchange. Employers notify job vacancies, and the exchange supplies a list of candidates fulfilling the required qualifications. Employment exchanges are useful for recruitment of semi-skilled and unskilled personnel, and no cost is involved.

3. Placement Agencies — Private employment agencies can be engaged for recruiting staff. These agencies advertise vacancies, receive applications, conduct interviews, and short-list candidates on behalf of employers. They charge a fee for their services and have become a popular source for recruiting managerial and technical personnel.

4. Educational Institutions — Companies maintain a close liaison with management and technical institutes and universities. Brilliant students are spotted during the course of their studies and are offered jobs on completion of their studies. This method, known as campus recruitment, is suitable for recruiting engineers, computer experts, and managers. Examples include recruitment from IITs and IIMs.

5. Recommendations — Applicants introduced by friends, relatives, or existing employees can be a source of recruitment. When an existing employee or business friend recommends a person, a sort of preliminary screening takes place. In some firms, candidates recommended by trade unions are given preference.