Social media is where people hang out online, express ideas and interact with each other and socialize. Social media recruiting is all about finding quality candidates and making real connections with them. The average internet user has more than 5 social media accounts, usually on websites like Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, etc. These offer modern recruiters a tremendous opportunity to connect with and attract quality candidates. Let’s discuss why social media is better than any conventional recruitment process.
A new generation of workforce
Millennials & Generation Z tend to spend most of their free time using social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Millennials spend so much time on them, in fact, that social media has become the most accessible tool to reach them. The graph below represents the use of social media
This modern workforce is well-acquainted with digital platforms and computers, are versatile and can easily accustom themselves to new technologies.
Slipping in your own personalized advertisements for potential jobs between the articles and posts they typically read is the perfect way to reach them, get their attention and gain their interest in applying to your job offer.
Reaching a larger audience
Facebook is a popular option for companies and advertisers to post their content based on profiles, interests and time of the day. 52% of employers now use social media networking sites as a part of the recruiting process.
It is advisable to set the frequency of your advertisement based on criteria that most match your needs and you can cast a wide and targeted reach, whatever position you are looking to fill.
For example, you can set certain parameters so that all software developers across Europe see your job ad at exactly 10 PM local time when they scroll through their news feed. This is only a fraction of what social media advertising can accomplish for you when it comes to narrowing down your candidate profiles.
Easy Background Checks
There is nothing new about checking your candidates’ social media profiles for more information. Interviewers usually check the professional version of social media i.e., LinkedIn of their candidates to see their professional recommendations, content they share, social circles etc. Social media can also be used to determine if the candidate is a perfect fit, not just for the job role but also the company culture. According to a survey of recruiters and hiring managers by Jobvite, cultural fit, is key for most employers.
It is very common that candidates don’t feel the need to disclose any personal information during an interview and like to keep things to themselves; social media can provide a great insight into who your candidates really are before they even step through the door.
What do employers look for in social profiles?
- 51% say that they’re looking to see if the candidate will be a good fit with the corporate culture.
- 45% are researching potential hires on social media to find out more about that candidate’s qualifications.
- 44% of hiring managers want to see if a candidate is creative.
Source: careers.workopolis
In conclusion, connecting with a younger and more dynamic candidate base on social media and utilizing it effectively as a means of communication & recruitment is a good way to establish trust. Giving the responsibility of social media recruitment to a millennial team of recruiters and letting them interact with their like-minded generation of candidates can also be a great way to insert some friendliness into your recruitment pattern.
It shows that your company can adapt to new technologies and trends, giving the candidate a huge reason to consider working for you.
