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15 January 2024

Budgeting for New Staff: A Step-by-Step Guide

Are you gearing up to bring new talent on board? Don’t let the complexity of budgeting for new hires overwhelm you. We’ve got your back with a straightforward guide to crafting a recruitment budget that makes sense. From identifying costs to making strategic decisions, we’re here to help you navigate the financial side of hiring.

Step 1: Understand your recruitment budget

A recruitment budget isn’t a solo mission; it’s a team effort that involves your company and HR experts. It’s like your financial roadmap for the hiring journey. What’s on the checklist? It includes expenses like tech tools for tracking applicants, service purchases, job ads, and even video interviews. The HR team sets the budget, and the hiring manager leads, ensuring every pound is spent wisely.

Step 2: Understand the categories of the hiring budget

Meet your two main budget players: fixed and variable costs. Fixed costs are the steady companions – predictable expenses like annual subscriptions and regular salaries. On the flip side, variable costs change with each hiring phase. Thanks to cost-effective strategies, they can go up due to market competition or down. It’s all about staying flexible and responsive to the hiring environment.

Step 3: Calculate recruitment costs

Let’s start with the basics: advertising expenses to promote your job openings and background checks to ensure top-notch talent. If you´re investing in external tools, don´t forget to include these costs too! Recruitment agencies come with a fee but often lead you to the best candidates, and digital tools will make the process smoother, faster, and smarter. It’s about making every penny count.

Step 4: Review regularly and adjust

Think of your recruitment budget as a living, breathing entity; it thrives on regular check-ups and a good amount of data. This budget needs a workout through frequent reviews and the agility to flex and adapt. Why? Because today’s perfect budget could be tomorrow’s loose change. It’s all about balance—weighing the costs of hiring against the sparkling potential of new talent. Are you getting the bang for your buck with each recruit?

Step 5: Prepare for the unexpected

Sometimes, during hiring, surprises can pop up like unexpected resignations or sudden spikes in salary expectations. Budgeting isn’t just about managing known expenses; it’s like having a safety net for these unexpected twists, helping keep the company steady when things get unpredictable in the hiring process. Our advice? Set aside some funds for the unexpected.

Navigate hiring with ease

A well-thought-out budget isn’t just a financial tool; it’s your strategic compass for hiring success. As you move forward in your recruitment journey, let these budgeting insights guide you toward smoother seas and brighter talent prospects. 

Need more help? Get in touch with us today. We can ensure that your hiring goals are financially sound and aligned with your business´s overall strategy.

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