What Hiring Channels Actually Work — Our Internal Ranking

When it comes to hiring, there are so many channels it’s easy to drown in them — job boards, social media, referrals, agencies, email blasts… But what really gets results?

We put together our personal ranking based on hundreds of roles filled through Ovde Jobs — with a sprinkle of international best practices.

1. Messenger Groups (an absolute must in Serbia)

🚀 Effectiveness: High

Messaging apps are big in Serbia — especially Viber, where you’ll find tons of active local job-seeking groups.
For the Russian-speaking community? Telegram is the undisputed go-to.

• Super fast response rate (often within hours)
• Viral effect: great jobs spread through chats and friends
• Easy to target by niche (e.g. marketers, developers, medical professionals)

But: if your post isn’t adapted to the format (strong visual, short description, clear terms) — it won’t fly. Tailoring is key.

2. Job Boards (top performers in local markets)

⚙️ Effectiveness: Medium to High (depends on the market)

For international companies, local platforms perform best — especially ones focused on the specific country (like our own Ovde Jobs 😉).

Heads-up: listings with no salary or details get twice as few responses.

3. LinkedIn — non-negotiable for international hiring

🌍 Effectiveness: High (especially for white-collar roles)

Great for B2B, IT, marketing, and finance. But you need:

• A well-built company page
• A solid HR or hiring partner presence
• Clear, realistic job descriptions (no fluff)

In Serbia, LinkedIn works just as well as it does in the US or EU — especially if your audience speaks English.

4. Referral Programs

🧩 Effectiveness: Very high, but not scalable

If you already have a team — that’s your top asset. Especially for tricky roles. A simple bonus (up to €1000 per referral) with clear rules works better than any ad.

But be ready: you’ll have to keep reminding people. Constantly.

5. Instagram & TikTok — powerful when done right

🎯 Effectiveness: High (if you invest in content)

It’s not just about hiring Gen Z. Reels and Stories are perfect for showing your company vibe, people, and values — which naturally attracts the right candidates.

Works in the US, EU, and Serbia — especially if your brand feels alive, not like a corporate robot.

6. External Recruiters & Agencies

🤝 Effectiveness: Depends on the partner

Outsourcing recruitment? Totally normal — if:

• You lack time or in-house expertise
• You need to hire fast
• You want help adapting your job description or communicating with local candidates

It’s standard practice globally, and it works in Serbia too — as long as the agency understands the local mindset and speaks the right language.

Bottom line?
There’s no one-size-fits-all channel. What works depends on:

• The job profile
• Your budget
• How urgent the role is
• Geography

But if you combine multiple channels and tailor your message to the audience — results will come. Fast.