Guest Article
Job fairs and job search websites are great, but the key to successful recruitment of top talent today lies in leveraging social media networks. It is one of the best ways to tell people who you know that you have a job opportunity. By leveraging social platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, you can greatly amplify your search for qualified candidates. Practically every working adult has a profile on at least one social media platform. Small business owners can use these connections to reach more candidates, as well as attract better talent. Here are some ways to leverage social media to recruit top talent into you small business:
- Build An Online Presence – Today’s employees want more than just higher salaries. They want a good place to work with the right ethics, culture and corporate values, so they feel a connection. In addition to engaging with customers, use social media to portray your company brand, establish your reputation online. once you have a pool of candidate you can check them out to see if they would be a good fit for your company.
- Create a Strong Network – You can use social media to build relationships with industry leaders as well as experienced professionals. Engaging with the right people can help you build strong network, and they can become referral sources for you. When reach out to top level people, be authentic and personalize your message instead of sending generic communications.
- Connect with Employees – Being active on social media allows you to interact with job seekers, but you can also involve existing employees in the recruitment process. Encourage employees to share posts about the company’s latest news, content and job openings. Also check what your people are saying about the organization, and work on any issues that need to be resolved.
Recruiting on Different Social Platforms
Every social media network has its own features and benefits, so learn how to use these for the highest impact. Start with one platform and move on to others after you have mastered social media recruitment on the first.
Here are some tips for recruiting on:
- Facebook – Leading the social media game, Facebook is a powerful recruitment tool. Use Facebook ads to reach the right people, and create a separate careers page where candidates and employees can discuss job openings, company culture and more. You can also use live streaming to announce opening and connect with potential job seekers.
- LinkedIn – This niche social media platform for professionals can help you find and connect with top talent. Make sure your company profile is up-to-date. You can reach potential candidates with targeted ads, and explore LinkedIn groups to find people with specialized skills or experience. Consider using LinkedIn Recruiter and Pulse too.
- Twitter – Use the right hashtags to help users find your job posting. Ask your followers to tweet about openings as well. There are plenty of online tools to help you pick hashtags, as well as colloquial language that users might be using for specific industries. Make sure to share other relevant content as well, not just your job ads!
- Instagram – Yes, the popular photo-sharing site can also be a great way to connect with quality job seekers too. For instance, posting pictures of the workplace and your team or corporate events helps you promote the company culture visually. All you need is a call to action come join our team. You can also explore a potential candidate’s photostream to learn about their interests and passions.
Advantages of Social Media Recruitment
here are some more benefits to consider with social media recruiting:
- Reach out to passive candidates who may be willing to explore a job change
- Find people with creative ideas, niche talents and a passion for their work
- Explore a potential candidate’s work history, education and experience
- Discover people who will be a good fit, as well as filter out those who won’t
- Cut down on the costs of advertisement, recruiting and talent acquisition
You may also want to consider an applicant tracking system to help maximize the impact of your social recruitment efforts, since it automates a majority of the steps. Social media integrated can take away much of the guesswork, manual effort and time that would otherwise be spent on manual social media hiring. Using applicant tracking software can post job openings across various channels, including traditional job boards and social media sites. Your talent pool also becomes centralized, with applicants from every platform consolidated in one place.
Consider social media recruiting the next time you have a job opening.
About the Author:
Kelly Barcelos is a progressive digital marketing manager specializing in HR and is responsible for leading Jobsoid’s content and social media team. The firm offers applicant tracking systems and other HR search services. Kelly started with Jobsoid as a social media strategist and eventually took over the entire digital marketing team with her innovative approach and technical expertise.
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