Over the years, recruitment trends have come and gone. Social media recruitment is one trend that stands the test of time. Millennial and Gen Z candidates spend most of their time on social media, and the job search process is no exception. It’s essential to tap into social media recruiting to get the most out of your recruitment strategy and reach more tech-savvy recent graduates.
Check out this Employee Recruitment Strategies blog post to learn more about other effective recruitment methods.
What is social media recruitment?
Social media recruitment is a tool to create awareness about job openings, specifically targeted to social media users. Billions of people use social media daily. Taking advantage of those numbers makes a significant impact on recruitment. Platforms like LinkedIn, YouTube, and Facebook are great places to build brand awareness and connect with larger audiences.
Recent data shows that 90% or brands use social media to find and engage with job seekers. Because social media recruitment saves time and provides meaningful connections, the number of companies using social media for hiring is likely to keep increasing.
Keep reading to explore which social media platforms will improve your employee recruitment process the most.
What social platforms are used for recruitment?
Each platform has its unique audiences and capabilities. You must use the right platforms for your current job openings and overall company culture to get the most out of your recruitment efforts. Depending on the nature of the opening, some platforms will leverage better results- leading to higher retention.
LinkedIn is the most popular and most effective platform for social media recruiting. Most professionals have LinkedIn accounts for networking, celebrating career updates, sharing work-related photos, and learning new skills. It’s the perfect place to connect with like-minded people- and a lot of them.
Here are some tips to make the most of your organization’s LinkedIn profile:
- Participate in LinkedIn groups
- Use LinkedIn Recruiter
- Communicate company culture within your profile
- Link profile to the company careers page
- Make personalized connections
- Engage in thought leadership
- Send direct messages to top talent
YouTube
YouTube and other video sharing platforms, like TikTok, are great for showcasing your employer brand to a large audience. Posting creative videos about shared achievements, employee appreciation, and career development opportunities speaks volumes about company culture in an authentic and relatable way.
Video platforms are also helpful for learning more about candidates’ media experience and portfolios. If your organization is looking for individuals with content, media, and video experience, YouTube is a great resource to explore.
Facebook, Instagram, and X
Unlike LinkedIn and YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and X are more casual recruiting platforms. They are perfect for inbound recruiting, a more organic approach to employer branding and talent recruitment. Use tools within the platforms to promote company culture, boost targeted posts to specific demographics, and learn more about your candidates’ interests.
Effective social media recruitment strategies
An effective social media recruitment strategy attracts top talent and keeps them employed at your organization longer. Follow these steps to find the right people for your culture and goals:
- Set clear goals to track progress and keep teams aligned
- Use the right platforms for your goals and hiring demographics
- Make the application process as easy as possible so interested candidates are more likely to submit an application
- Use consistent employer branding messaging across all social media platforms and employer branding tools
- Get current employees involved as brand advocates to build trust with candidates
How to measure the success of social recruiting
Another benefit of social media recruitment is the ability to track success metrics. Most platforms have helpful tools for monitoring things like engagement and clicks. Companies need to set clear goals and track progress regularly to get the most out of their recruitment efforts. That way, they can focus on what’s working and skip what isn’t.
Here are the best metrics to track:
- Traffic to careers pages
- Engagement
- Applications (finished and unfinished)
Advantages of social media recruiting
Companies often turn to social media recruiting because it produces great results. If you aren’t seeing these results, it’s time to adjust your strategy:
- Ability to find targeted candidates for ultra-specific roles
- Reduced cost-per-hire
- Stronger brand reputation
- Reduced screening time
- Improved organic inbound recruitment
- Increased number of quality candidates per job posting
- Higher volume of applications
Social media recruitment mistakes to avoid
To get the best results, companies must stay intentional. Social media recruitment takes off gradually. Leadership, HR, and marketing teams must find alignment, keep each other accountable, and focus on shared goals. Here are some common mistakes for everyone to avoid:
- Forgetting to review metrics
- Reusing content too frequently
- Not engaging in a meaningful way
- Posting only job openings, with no other branded content
- Not connecting the employer brand to the overall brand
- Thinking you need a big budget to be successful
Use Top Workplaces to reinforce social media recruitment
Candidates are more likely to apply to organizations with authentic and credible feedback from current employees. Successful employer brands use third-party validation to reinforce company culture, attract top talent, and cut costs.
Take the first step towards improved social media recruitment; nominate your organization today for Top Workplaces’ industry-leading employer recognition program!
