According to a report, 84% of organizations use social media for hiring. Social media gives you the information you need to understand a candidate’s suitability for a job role. If you’re not active on social media, it might be time to get active as it offers multiple other benefits for companies trying to grow online. In this post, we’ll make things easier for you by giving you a complete blueprint for using social media for hiring the right candidates. Let’s dive in.
Why Use Social Media for Hiring?
About 67% of recruiters look at social media profiles of candidates to assess them. Social media has an enormous user base, with people from all ages and walks of life. Here are some of the top benefits of recruitment through social media platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook.
Facilitates Networking
You’re a brand or a company owner trying to find the right team. Hiring can be tricky as there’s a good chance you’ll end up with the wrong resource. Networking helps you connect with other business owners and potential candidates and make hiring less risky and more effective.
Allows You to Learn More About the Candidates
Social media profiles may not be a 100% true reflection of someone’s professional life, but they do provide you with the information you need to qualify candidates for a role. For instance, the content they post on their walls and the groups they’re most active can help you decide if they’re the right resource to contact.
May Reduce Hiring Costs
Social media platforms don’t charge anything to build connections and communicate with potential candidates. Job boards, on the other hand, may charge a certain amount of fees if you hire through them. So, using social media to hire directly can help you save costs.
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How to Use Social Media for Hiring?
Here’s a step-by-step guide on hiring through social media.
Become a Resource
Candidates want to make sure they’re hired by a reputable company; a company that they can grow with in the long run. Sharing helpful content and becoming a resource on your topic of expertise can help you build authority in the space and instill a sense of trust in the candidates’ minds.
Identify Your Recruitment Goals
Before you start the hiring procedure on social media, it’s helpful to create clear and trackable goals. This could be reaching a certain number of job applications within a specific time or attracting more traffic to your job listing.
Choose Your Social Media Platforms
When it comes to hiring, not all social media platforms are suitable. For instance, you don’t want to waste your resources trying to hire through Snapchat. You need to understand your target candidates and identify the platforms where they’re active. Each social platform offers unique benefits. For instance, Facebook is generally more personal, allowing you to connect with potential candidates more closely. LinkedIn tends to be on the more professional side. Focusing on multiple platforms initially can help you attract a diverse group of candidates to your job.
Your target platform also depends on the role you’re hiring for. For instance, it’d be more appropriate to look for candidates for a graphic design role on visual platforms like Instagram. And, if you’re hiring a programmer, you may want to interact in discussion boards.
Related Read: How to Hire a Graphic Designer?
Outline the Application Process
Clear guidelines on how candidates can apply to a position eliminate confusion and can speed up the process. For instance, you can share the link to the web page where interested candidates can apply for the role on your profile. You can also send the link to the job listing to potential candidates directly.
Leverage LinkedIn
About 40 million people seek jobs on LinkedIn each week, making it the perfect platform to find jobs and hire the right employees. If you’re in the B2B (business-to-business) niche, LinkedIn should be your top priority.
Tips for Using Social Media for Recruitment
Here are a few additional tips for effectively using social media for hiring.
Use Advanced Tools to Find Candidates
Platforms like LinkedIn let you find professionals with advanced filters. For instance, with skill targeting, you can find the right candidate for any role.
Look for Passive Candidates
Not all candidates are actively job hunting. Some are passively looking for opportunities. Some of them could be a perfect match for your company. Plus, it’s easier to get noticed by a passive candidate as compared to the one who’s interacting with multiple potential employers.
Join Online Communities and Groups Within Your Industry
Networking is an effective way to build connections with other companies and businesses. In addition, it’s also a great way to establish a rapport with potential employees. Join Facebook and LinkedIn groups in your industry and stay active.
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Using Social Media for Hiring: FAQs
Let’s address some frequently asked questions about using social media for hiring.
Is It Legal to Use Social Media in the Hiring Process?
Yes, it’s completely legal to use social media in the hiring process. There’s no general law that prohibits recruitment agencies to hire through social media.
How is Social Media Used in Hiring?
Hiring managers use social media to find relevant candidates, interact with them, and study their profiles to see if they’re fit for a specific role.
What are the Disadvantages of Using Social Media in Recruitment?
Relying solely on social media for hiring can lead to bias and privacy concerns. Plus, a company can’t over rely on online personas while analyzing a candidate for an important role.
Conclusion
Everyone’s using social media these days, including potential candidates who may end up becoming a core part of your team. Using social media for hiring has several benefits. Being able to connect on a personal level is one prominent one. However, while using social media, you need to make sure the information you’re getting is correct and the candidate you’re interested in can help you achieve your growth goals. Screening potential candidates right from the start can help you save time and hire the right resource quickly.
Sources:
- https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbeshumanresourcescouncil/2023/01/12/the-power-of-social-media-in-recruiting/
- https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-use-social-media-for-recruitment
- https://gohire.io/blog/social-media-recruiting-statistics
- https://gohire.io/blog/social-media-recruiting-statistics
- https://goremotely.net/blog/social-media-recruiting-statistics