WORKFORCE WIRE – Stop Paying to Post Jobs – There’s a Better Way

Stop Paying to Post Jobs — There’s a Better Way

For too many employers, one of the biggest headaches is paying for job postings that don’t deliver the candidates you need. You invest in ads, you wait . . . and you often end up with low-quality applicants, or none at all. It’s costly. It’s frustrating. Turns out, it doesn’t have to be this way.

What if you could get the same (or better) visibility and better candidates, without spending a dime? Here’s how leveraging AJC (America’s Job Center / your local workforce system) plus its integrations and networks gives you a smarter, more effective route.

1. AJC’s No-Cost Job Posting: What You Get

When you post your open positions through your local AJC:

• Zero posting fees. No paywalls, no premium upgrades, no hidden costs.
• Access to job-seekers already plugged into workforce services – people who are actively looking, often with support services (training, resume help) provided by AJC.
• Support & expertise: from helping you write clearer, more appealing job descriptions to optimizing them for the candidates you want.

If your ads haven’t been producing, using AJC means you aren’t just buying exposure, you’re tapping into a system geared towards matching you with better-fitting applicants.

2. Integration with Job Boards (IllinoisJobLink and Similar)

A major factor that makes AJC so effective is its integration with local and statewide job boards. In Illinois, for example, there’s IllinoisJobLink.com, but many states have analogous platforms. Here’s how that helps:

• One post, multiple outlets: When you post through AJC, your job listing often gets syndicated to broader job-board networks. That means you’re not paying separately to post on each board, you get expanded reach without multiplying your cost (or effort).
• Locality and relevance: Because workforce boards and state job links serve local populations first, your listing reaches people who are geographically close (fewer commute concerns, better cultural fit, higher likelihood they can start sooner).
• Searchability & filtering: Job-seekers often filter by “posted through my state board / workforce center” etc., so postings via AJC or state systems tend to get visibility for serious job-seekers.

3. Local Job Lead Lists & Direct Candidate Referrals

If you’re paying to post jobs via job boards or ads, you’re often one step removed from good candidates. AJC gives you access to:

• Curated local lead lists: Employers often get “lists” of people in the local talent pool whose skills match your posted job. These lead lists come from the pool of people registered with AJC or similar workforce agencies.
• Direct referrals: Staff at the AJC often do more than just post jobs, they can match you with qualified candidates, forward resumes, or even arrange interviews. They’re part of the ecosystem and want your hiring to succeed.
• Social / community network effects: Because AJC works locally, there tends to be overlap among community colleges, training programs, veteran services, etc. That means you might get referrals from people who aren’t yet applying but are planning to, and you can tap into them early.

Why This Approach Often Outperforms Paid Job Ads

How to Get Started: Action Steps

1. Reach out to your local AJC or workforce center
   Find who handles employer relationships and job posting in your area.
2. Prepare a job description that’s clear, inclusive, actionable
   AJC staff can often help you polish this so it attracts better candidates.
3. Ask about any local programs or trainings
   Sometimes, AJC partners with training programs whose graduates are ready; you may also access referral pools you didn’t know existed.
4. Monitor & follow up
   Even though there’s no cost, it’s not zero effort. Track how many good candidates you receive, refine your job descrioptions over time, and give feedback to AJC staff about what works/doesn’t.

The Bottom Line

Paying for job postings seems like a standard cost of doing business, but it doesn’t have to be. When you use no-cost posting through the AJC (and its integrated job-boards), tap into local job lead lists, and accept direct referrals, you can see:

• improved candidate quality
• lower cost per hire
• stronger connections to your community’s workforce resources
• ultimately, a more sustainable hiring pipeline

If your hiring budget feels more like a job-ad drain, this is your pivot: stop paying to post jobs. There is a better, smarter way, one already at your fingertips.

Let’s make hiring work for you.