Why should UK employers look beyond Reed and Totaljobs?

Reed and Totaljobs can be costly, time-consuming, and often produce many irrelevant applications. SMEs hiring entry-level talent need faster, more affordable, and skills-focused alternatives.

What should employers look for in an alternative job board?

Key features include skills-based matching, pre-verified candidates, bias-free profiles, affordable flat fees, and instant results.

How do LinkedIn Recruiter and Indeed compare for entry-level hiring?

LinkedIn Recruiter is expensive and slow for entry-level roles, while Indeed can be pay-per-post and often produces many irrelevant applications requiring manual screening.

Why is Day One a better alternative for entry-level hiring?

Day One offers pre-verified skills assessments, instant candidate matches, bias-free profiles, affordable flat-fee pricing, and access to a diverse pool of entry-level talent.

How does a skills-based platform like Day One improve hiring?

Skills-based platforms show verified abilities and values upfront, reduce bias, speed up hiring, and allow employers to see real candidate potential instead of just CVs.

The top alternative job boards for hiring in the UK

If you’ve ever posted a role on Reed or Totaljobs, you know the drill:

Pay per post.
Wait for applications to trickle in.
Spend hours sifting through irrelevant CVs.

For many UK employers, especially SMEs, this approach is slow, expensive and inefficient. The good news? There are better options. In this guide, we’ll explore the top alternative job boards and platforms for hiring entry-level talent in the UK- and why switching could save you time and money.

Why Look Beyond Reed and Totaljobs?

Reed and Totaljobs are household names, but they’re not always the best fit for entry-level hiring. Here’s why:

Cost: A single job post can cost £150-£250, and premium features add up fast.
Volume over quality: You might get 100 applications, but only a handful are relevant.
Time-consuming: Manual screening slows down your time-to-hire.

If you’re hiring for roles like admin assistants, sales reps, marketing coordinators or data analysts, you need a platform that prioritises speed, quality and affordability.

What to Look for in an Alternative Job Board

Before we dive into the options, here are the key features to prioritise:

Skills-based matching: So you hire on ability, not just CV keywords.
Pre-verified candidates: Saves time and reduces mis-hires.
Bias-free profiles: Improves diversity and fairness.
Affordable pricing: Flat fees beat per-post or per-hire costs.
Instant results: No waiting for applications to trickle in.

Top Alternatives to Reed and Totaljobs

Here’s how the main options stack up for UK employers hiring entry-level talent:

Platform	Cost	Speed to Shortlist	Candidate Quality
LinkedIn Recruiter	£6,000+/year	Slow (manual sourcing)	Good for senior roles
Indeed	£150–£250 per post	7–14 days	Mixed
Day One	£349/month	Instant matches	Skills-verified

1. LinkedIn Recruiter

Best for: Senior and specialist roles.

Why it falls short for entry-level:

High cost (£6,000+ per year).
Many graduates and early-career candidates aren’t active on LinkedIn.
Manual sourcing takes time.

2. Indeed

Best for: High-volume hiring.

Why it falls short:

Pay-per-post model gets expensive for multiple roles.
Lots of irrelevant applications, manual screening required.

3. Day One (The Smarter Alternative)

Best for: UK employers hiring entry-level talent.

Here’s why Day One stands out:

Pre-verified skills: Candidates are assessed for digital and soft skills before you see them.
Instant matches: Post a role and get a shortlist in seconds.
Bias-free profiles: Skills and values only, no names or photos.
Affordable pricing: Unlimited job posts for £349/month, no hidden fees.

Why Skills-Based Platforms Beat Traditional Job Boards

Traditional job boards rely on CVs, which:

Don’t show real ability.
Introduce bias.
Slow down hiring.

Skills-based platforms like Day One flip the script:

Candidates complete role-based assessments upfront.
Employers see verified skills and values, not just job titles.
Matches happen instantly- no waiting, no CV pile.

How Day One Works

Create your free account (no demos, no sales calls).
Post your role be as specific as you like.
Meet your match skills-verified candidates, ready for day one.

Extra Tips for Choosing the Right Platform

Check candidate pools: Does the platform specialise in entry-level roles?
Look for diversity features: Bias-free profiles improve fairness and quality.
Consider scalability: If you plan to hire multiple roles, flat-fee pricing is a game-changer.
Prioritise speed: The best candidates don’t wait, your platform shouldn’t either.

Start hiring now

Stop paying per post. Post unlimited roles and get instant matches for just £349/month

👉 Create your free account

Q: Are Reed and Totaljobs still worth using?

They can work for certain roles, but for entry-level hiring, they’re often slower and more expensive than skills-based platforms

Q: Can I hire for hybrid or remote HR roles?

Yes- Day One supports any office-based role that uses a computer in some capacity.

Q: What roles work best on Day One?

Anything entry-level: admin, sales, marketing, data, HR, and more