Recruiting vs Hiring - Definitions and Differences

Recruiting and hiring are two terms that people often use interchangeably. In this article, we will look at the main differences and fundamentals.

Recruiting vs Hiring Fundamentals

Definitions

So what is the difference between recruiting and hiring?

Recruiting is a long-term, ongoing process to attract, select, and onboard candidates for your company.

In contrast, hiring is seeking, evaluating and onboarding candidates for a specific open role. The efforts for hiring are only made when there are new roles available.

Main Advantages

Most probably, your organization does recruitment and hiring simultaneously, but it is essential to understand each one’s advantages.

Recruitment:

It is a long-term game that allows you to create a pool of potential candidates
It contributes to the Employer Brand visibility

Hiring:

It’s a need-based procedure that saves time through focus
It works well for lower-level employees

Main Drawbacks

The main drawback of recruitment is that it takes time and requires constant effort. Hiring’s main disadvantage is that it is reactive and firefighting without consistency.

Differences between Recruitment and Hiring

Process

One of the main differences between recruitment and hiring is related to the process.

As we previously mentioned, recruitment is a long-term and ongoing process. Hiring is primarily short-term when a vacant job becomes available..

Reactive vs Proactive

Another aspect that differentiates the two is their status. The hiring process is reactive to unforeseen circumstances. Recruitment is on the opposite spectrum, proactive and it implies a set of actions well planned.

Employee Experience

One of the main differentiators is related to the employee experience and talent pool. The recruitment pool comprises people from your network who are already qualified for the opportunities within your company. The hiring pool is mostly formed by people that don’t have a job and might or might not be suitable for what you are looking for.

Why you should start Recruiting

Now that you understand the differences, you should check which is more suitable for your business.

We recommend considering having a recruiting process in place since it has some advantages you can’t afford to miss.

Qualified people

You are constantly in touch with a pool of qualified people that most probably know some things about your company.

Contingency plan

Moreover, recruiting is a great contingency plan since you will always have a backup plan and be prepared.

Recruiting vs Talent Acquisition

Another term that you might have heard is talent acquisition. Talent acquisition is an ongoing strategy that focuses on long-term planning for positions that require a set of unique skills.

Kathleen Quinn Votaw, Founder and CEO of TalenTrust, mentioned that:

“The areas with the greatest skills shortages are those that most need a talent strategy. Overall, we’re seeing the competition for top talent continue to heat up, and skills shortages are part of the fuel. A technology firm seeking developers, for example, may need an overall talent strategy around strong culture, unique benefits, and enhancing and leveraging its employment brand.”

Let us know what your questions are regarding recruitment vs hiring.

Recruiting vs Hiring FAQ

What is the difference between recruitment and selection and hiring?

Recruiting is a long-term, ongoing process to attract, select, and onboard candidates for your company.

In contrast, hiring is seeking, evaluating and onboarding candidates for a specific open role. The efforts for hiring are only made when there are new roles available.