The verdict in three sentences
A 900-employee food manufacturer, whether in Dakar or Singapore, hiring 120 people a year often spends over 15 million FCFA a year on paid job ads, at 50,000 to 150,000 FCFA each (about 75 to 230 EUR), without building any talent pool. A careers site with job listings, online applications and a CV database falls within Kolonell's Growth tier (1,200,000 to 2,000,000 FCFA, or 1,830 to 3,050 EUR) or Premium tier (2,000,000 to 3,500,000 FCFA, or 3,050 to 5,340 EUR), delivered in 4 to 8 weeks. The right decision metric is cost per usable application, which can be halved in the first year.
What hiring costs today
The amounts below are 2026 market estimates observed in Dakar for a manufacturer's usual hiring channels. They vary by profile (production operator, maintenance technician, sales manager) and posting duration. In Singapore, the same channels typically cost 3 to 5 times more.
| Channel | Unit cost (FCFA, 2026 estimate) | Typical applications per job | Suitable profiles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local job board, standard ad | 50,000 to 90,000 | 20 to 60 | Technicians, staff |
| Job board, premium or featured ad | 100,000 to 150,000 | 40 to 120 | Managers, sales |
| Sponsored LinkedIn job | 75,000 to 200,000 per campaign | 15 to 50 | Managers, engineers |
| Recruitment agency | 15 to 25% of annual gross salary | Shortlist of 3 to 5 | Executive roles |
| Print press | 150,000 to 400,000 | Variable, hard to track | Public or regulated roles |
| Referrals and word of mouth | Bonus of 25,000 to 100,000 | Low volume, good quality | Production, logistics |
The problem is not the price of one ad but losing the talent pool: the 3,000 to 4,000 applications received each year sit in mailboxes, unsorted and never reused. For seasonal or production hiring, a well-kept pool lets you call back already-qualified candidates within days.
Which careers site for your volume
The grid below shows Kolonell's packages for an employer brand site. The choice depends mainly on hiring volume and the need to integrate an applicant tracking system (ATS).
| Item | Kolonell Growth | Kolonell Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Price (FCFA) | 1,200,000 to 2,000,000 | 2,000,000 to 3,500,000 |
| EUR equivalent | 1,830 to 3,050 | 3,050 to 5,340 |
| Employer brand pages | Jobs, values, testimonials, production sites | Same + videos, career paths by function, pages per plant |
| Job listings | Publishing back office, filters by job and site | Same + multiple recruiters, statuses, job templates |
| Application | Mobile form with PDF CV | Adaptive form, screening questions |
| Talent pool and export | Excel export of applications | ATS integration or searchable CV database |
| Delivery time | 4 to 6 weeks | 6 to 8 weeks |
| Recommended maintenance | 75,000 FCFA a month (Standard) | 120,000 FCFA a month (Premium) |
For 120 hires a year across production, maintenance and sales, the Growth package is enough if HR works in Excel. Premium is justified from 3 recruiters upward or if the group already uses an ATS.
Features that actually cut costs
Three choices matter more than design. First, mobile applications in under 2 minutes: in Dakar, over 80% of candidates apply from a smartphone, often without a computer to format a CV. Second, screening questions (driving licence, availability, food industry experience, HACCP certification) that filter out off-target applications before anyone reads them. Third, WhatsApp sharing for every job, which fuels referrals at no ad cost.
Mini case study
Moussa, HR director of a 900-employee food group in Dakar (hypothetical persona), currently posts 1.5 ads per role at 90,000 FCFA on average, for 120 hires a year, and receives 3,600 applications.
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- Current cost: 120 × 1.5 × 90,000 = 16,200,000 FCFA a year, or 4,500 FCFA per application.
- With a Growth site at 1,800,000 FCFA and maintenance at 75,000 FCFA a month (900,000 FCFA a year), he keeps 40% of paid ads for visibility: 6,480,000 FCFA.
- Total first-year cost: 1,800,000 + 900,000 + 6,480,000 = 9,180,000 FCFA. If he receives 5,000 applications thanks to sharing and the talent pool, the cost drops to 1,836 FCFA per application.
Estimated savings exceed 7,000,000 FCFA in the first year, provided the careers page is shared by staff and relayed on the group's social channels.
FAQ
How much does a careers site cost in Dakar in 2026?
At Kolonell, between 1,200,000 and 2,000,000 FCFA for Growth and between 2,000,000 and 3,500,000 FCFA for Premium. Maintenance ranges from 35,000 to 120,000 FCFA a month depending on service level.
Should we integrate an ATS from the start?
Not if you hire fewer than 150 people a year with 1 or 2 recruiters: Excel export is enough. Beyond that, ATS integration avoids double entry and belongs in the Premium package.
How long until the site goes live?
Between 4 and 8 weeks depending on the package, provided job descriptions and production site photos are supplied in the first 2 weeks.
How do we protect candidate data?
Senegal's law 2008-12 governs personal data and requires a declaration to the CDP; Singapore applies the PDPA. The site must show a privacy notice and limit CV retention, often to 2 years.
Can we keep posting on job boards?
Yes, and it is advisable for rare profiles. The goal is to send every ad back to your own site to build your talent pool, cutting paid ad volume by 40 to 60%.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your hiring volume, key roles and current HR tools: we will recommend the right Growth or Premium package, with budget and timeline. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
