Free and Affordable HR Tools for HR Beginners Part 1

One of the key challenges faced by HR Newbies is the lack of access to practical experience with HR tools, software, and technology. Many of these HR technologies are designed for organisations and come with high subscription costs, making it challenging for individuals to gain hands-on experience before entering the workplace.

However, there are free and affordable HR tools available that aspiring HR professionals can leverage to practice and develop real-world HR skills.

This newsletter aims to bridge the gap between theory and practice, equipping HR newbies with the confidence and skills they need to stand out in the job market.

We have curated a list of free and budget-friendly HR tools that will allow you to learn, practice, and gain practical experience in key HR functions such as:

  1. HRIS (Human Resource Information System).
  2. Recruitment and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
  3. Payroll and Compensation Management.
  4. Performance Management.
  5. Employee Engagement Tools.
  6. HR Analytics and Workforce Management.

Whether you’re looking to explore HRIS, recruitment software, payroll systems, or analytics tools, there are great options out there that won’t cost you a fortune.

In this week’s edition, we will be focusing on two (2) HR functions:

  1. HRIS (Human Resource Information System).
  2. Recruitment and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

HRIS (Human Resource Information System)

  1. OrangeHRM
    • Features: Employee management, leave management, time and attendance tracking, and performance management.
    • Access: Free and open-source; available for cloud use or self-hosting.
    • Link: https://www.orangehrm.com/
  2. Zoho People
    • Features: Employee database management, leave and attendance tracking, performance appraisal, and time tracking.
    • Access: Free for up to 5 users; scalable plans available for large teams.
    • Links: https://www.zoho.com/people/
  3. Bitrix24
    • Features: Employee directory, time tracking, document management, and internal communication.
    • Access: Free plan with limited features; paid plans for advanced options
    • Link: https://www.bitrix24.com/

Recruitment and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

  1. Zoho Recruit
    • Features: Resume parsing, job posting, interview scheduling, and candidate database.
    • Access: Free plan for a single recruiter; paid plans available.
    • Link: https://www.zoho.com/recruit/
  2. JotForm
    • Features: Custom job application forms, applicant tracking, automated responses.
    • Access: Free plan with limited submissions; paid plans for more features.
    • Link: https://www.jotform.com/

Gaining practical experience with these tools will give you an edge when seeking employment and boost your confidence in handling HR tasks.

These platforms offer free plans, trials, or affordable options, so take advantage of them! Try them out, play around with their features, and start building real-world HR skills.

Have you used any of these tools before? Do you have other options? Which of these options are you trying out first?

Stay tuned for our next newsletter, where we will be outlining more HR tools and technology you can subscribe to for free and at affordable prices to gain practical knowledge.