With widespread talent shortages across many industries, recruiting can drain valuable resources. Many businesses now use tools like Monster for recruiters to reach a large talent pool. But it’s important to review Monster so that you can compare it to other recruiting options.
pros
- Pay-to-post requirement means less competition
- Built-in applicant base
- International reach
cons
- Multiple monthly posts can be pricey
- Limited customer support options
- Users report search is unreliable
When to Use Monster
- You want a wide pool of candidates: Monster has partnerships with other sites, so each job post will go farther.
- You want to reach specific applicants: Monster’s partnerships help it reach specialized groups like veterans and international applicants.
- You’re in a competitive market: The requirement to pay limits job posts, making it less competitive for those hard-to-fill positions.
When to Use Something Else
- You’re on a budget: Monster’s hefty price tag can make it cost prohibitive for many smaller businesses.
- You post a few jobs a month: Monster’s plans bring the best value to those who post either occasionally or very often
- You need full-service recruiting help: Monster is primarily for posting jobs and finding candidates, with limits on how much guidance it provides.
Deciding Factors
| Price | $10-$20 a day or $299 a month, depending on whether you choose pay as you go or monthly pricing. |
| Ease of Use | 4/5: Using the site and posting a job are both easy. Email and job post templates guide you through the process of posting openings and responding to applicants. |
| Support | 3/5: Support is available only through a webform. |
| Scalability | 5/5: Since you can choose to pay as you go or subscribe, you can shift your membership to fit your business needs. |
| Number of Users | 4/5: There are no stated user limits, although the monthly plan is better if a team will be managing your recruiting efforts. |
Monster Pricing and Features
A typical Monster review will mention the high cost, but there is a more affordable option if you’re on a budget. Take a look at Monster’s pay-as-you-go pricing. It works similar to ad bidding, where you set a daily spend and pay for each candidate who views your job posting. You can choose from $10 a day, $15 a day, or $20 a day, but you may find these options limit your reach.
Companies that regularly use Monster for recruiters often go with the Monster+ Pro plan. This plan gives you 299 monthly credits that you can use to post jobs, search candidates and resumes, track applicants, and message candidates. You can also add a team to allow multiple users to help with your recruiting efforts. This plan costs $299 a month, though, and you’ll need to stay on top of things because if you go over, Monster charges you for the overage.
Whether you choose to pay as you go or subscribe, you’ll get the following features:
- Your jobs will be posted on Monster.com.
- Those jobs will be cross posted on Monster’s mobile app and partner websites.
- Candidates who are potential matches will be notified of the job post.
Monster does offer a free trial, but you’ll have to pick a plan and sign up to get it. This free trial lets you post one job and view 25 resumes to see if Monster is bringing the type of candidates you’re hoping to attract.
Job seekers also have access to paid tools to help with their job search. Monster resume reviews is a paid service that offers expert resume creation. You’ll pay for a professional to write your resume for you. This Monster resume service review focuses on the three tiers currently offered:
- Resume only: For $149, a certified resume writer will write a full professional resume for you. The resume will be keyword rich and written by someone familiar with your industry. It will be delivered in five days.
- Resume and cover letter: Add another $48 to have the writer create both a resume and cover letter, for a total of $197. The cover letter only includes one target job title, so you’ll need to tweak it to fit various jobs within your niche. It’s also delivered within five days.
- Resume, cover letter, LinkedIn, and expedited delivery: Monster’s premium option costs $349 and adds a LinkedIn profile to the other options. The writer will ensure your LinkedIn is both keyword rich and fits your individual brand. You’ll also get two-day delivery with this choice.
Monster Advantages & Disadvantages
Pros
- Jobs are posted to partner sites
- Pay-as-you-go option is great for infrequent hirers
- Extensive network of job candidates
Cons
- Plans can get pricey if you post multiple monthly jobs
- Users report being disappointed in paying for views with no applications
- No phone- or chat-based support options
Monster Customer Service
Monster+ customers have access to two options for support. One is a library of helpful training videos that can guide you through using the service. The other provides personalized help with Monster for recruiters. You’ll simply complete a form and wait for a representative to contact you. Help is only available during business hours.
Monster Integrations
One of the biggest benefits of Monster for recruiters is the ability to track applicants. That means you can post a job, gather resumes and applications, and filter through it all. But Monster’s filtering abilities are limited. That’s where a dedicated applicant tracking tool can help.
Monster partners with a variety of existing tools that can help expand its capabilities. So while many critics may review Monster as lacking some tracking features, you can bridge the gap with one of its partner solutions. Those include Zoho, Greenhouse, Bullhorn, and Dynamic ATS.
Is Monster Worth It? The Final Verdict
If you’re using Monster for recruiters in your business, and those recruiters regularly hire, it may be a great deal. However, if you only sporadically hire, you might find one of the many free job boards brings better results. Job seekers should pay close attention to Monster resume writing review writeups, since it can be well worth it if you’re on the hunt for a new position.
FAQs
Is Monster a good recruiting tool?
Monster is a good recruiting tool for those who regularly post jobs or want to reach a specialized market. Finding top talent can be challenging, so having your job listings posted across multiple platforms can make it well worth it.
