Analysis of recruiting sources facilitates effective planning. Three types of analyses are typical:
cost per hire, time lapse from candidate identification to hire, and source yield. The most expensive
sources generally are private employment agencies and executive-search firms, since agency
fees may constitute as much as 35 percent of an individual's first-year salary (Maher,2003a).
The next most expensive sources are field trips, for both advertising expenses and recruiters'
travel and living expenses are incurred. Less expensive are advertising responses, Internet
responses, write-ins, and internal transfers and promotions. Employee referrals, direct applications
(mail or Web based), and walk-ins are the cheapest sources of candidates