From Selfies to Superstars
In today’s digital landscape, social media has revolutionized the way we connect, communicate, and collaborate. It’s not just a medium to see pics of your uncle’s vacation to Graceland or comment on your bestie’s post asking which cat food yields minimal hairballs; it has become a game-changer in the realm of recruitment. From attracting top talent to enhancing employer branding, organizations now recognize the immense value of leveraging social media for hiring. In this blog post, we’ll explore why talent acquisition and social media are BFFs and how that relationship can open doors to endless opportunities to build your team.
In this post:
Unlock the Social Goldmine
Social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and others provide access to billions of active users across diverse demographics, geographies, and industries.
Even back in 2015, Inc.com reported that “79% of job seekers use social media in their job search”1. That jumped to 86% for job seekers who are in the first 10 years of their careers and both of these numbers have certainly continued a healthy increase over the years. With so many potential candidates ripe for the picking, it’s undeniable that social platforms can be a plentiful source for your talent pool.
Crafting engaging content and targeted campaigns allows organizations to expand their reach exponentially, ensuring job postings and employer brand messages reach the right individuals at the right time. Speaking of employer brand…
Fuel Your Talent Magnet With a Strong Brand
A strong employer brand sets organizations apart in the competitive talent landscape. Social media allows companies to showcase their unique culture, values, and employee experiences, creating a compelling employer brand. By sharing authentic stories, testimonials, and glimpses into your work environment, you foster a favorable impression which reinforces your organization’s reputation. With 35% of job hunters finding career opportunities on social networks2, that’s a demographic you can’t ignore when you’re planning your social strategy.
Let’s take a look at GitLab’s Instagram feed where we see a nice mix of employee spotlights, notable corporate events (both remote and on-site). The point is, GitLab is showcasing employee satisfaction just as much as they’re promoting their brand.
Think of how a job seeker might perceive GitLab’s as a viable place for employment. Regardless of the size of your company, when job seekers see posts that leave them with a positive impression, they’re more likely to engage with your job offerings. Strengthening your organization’s brand while attracting talent and increasing your social presence? Not bad!
Targeted Talent Hunt
One of the key advantages of social media platforms is their advanced search functionalities. Recruiters can utilize various search filters, such as location, job titles, education, and experience, to identify candidates who possess specific skills, qualifications, or industry expertise. This targeted approach saves time and effort by narrowing down the pool of potential candidates to those who closely align with the requirements of the position.
The screenshot below for example shows a portion LinkedIn’s search filtering capabilities which allows you to filter search results based on candidates’ interests, location and even their current and past employers.
In addition to search filters, recruiters can leverage hashtags to further refine their candidate search. Hashtags allow you to tap into relevant conversations and topics within specific industries or professional communities. By using industry-specific hashtags in your posts, you can uncover individuals who are actively participating in discussions or sharing insights related to their field. This approach can help you identify candidates who have a genuine interest and passion for the work they do, increasing the likelihood of finding a perfect fit for your organization. #TalentAcquisition #HrLife #Recruiting #Leadline
Real-Time Recruitment Connection
Unlike traditional methods, social media facilitates real-time engagement and two-way communication. Recruiters can promptly respond to candidate inquiries, provide information, and address concerns using comments, direct messages, and live chats. This level of interaction expedites the recruitment process and enhances the candidate experience, leaving a positive impression with job seekers.
Keep in mind that these social platforms are likely tools that your candidates already use, so by leveraging social media’s communication features, you’re simplifying the engagement experience.
Data-Driven Recruitment Success
Social media platforms offer robust analytics and insights, enabling organizations to measure the success of their recruitment strategies. Tracking engagement, click-through rates, and demographic information provides valuable data for refining targeting, personalizing messaging, and identifying trends. Data-driven decisions optimize the overall recruitment strategy, increasing the chances of finding the right fit.
Here we see a high-level view of Meta Business Suite for Facebook and Instagram analytics:
What’s more, if you’re already using Leadline, you can combine analytical data from your social profiles with Leadline’s reporting tools to identify candidates that have made it through the pipeline. This gives you even more insight into your cost-per-hire and ROI metrics.
Level Up Your Recruiting Process
Start your free trial today and see just how Leadline can help you level up your social recruiting strategy.
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