How Social Media Can Help Attract Strong Job Candidates

Social media isn’t just for catching up with old friends from high school or sharing the latest viral video. Today, we basically live online, and if you aren’t using social media for recruiting then you are missing out on a huge opportunity to reach strong potential job candidates.

So the next time you have an open position, consider posting an ad on social media, including LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. You (or a recruitment agency) can also reach out to qualified individuals directly via social media, and personally invite them to apply. Not convinced? Consider the following ways that social media can help with your job recruitment efforts:

1. Meet Candidates Where They Are Today

How often do you check your social media accounts? If you are like the majority of the U.S. population today, I’d guess pretty often. This means that an individual can encounter your job posting naturally throughout their day, enabling you to reach both active and passive candidates.

2. Target the Right Audience

Social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter all have highly targeted ad placement capabilities to ensure that your intended audience sees your posting. You can select from various demographic, geographic, and psychographic qualities to ensure that you reach those who will be most qualified and interested in your company or position. This means that your time and money is also being well spent.

3. Showcase Your Company’s Personality

One of the greatest advantages of social media sites is that you are able to give potential candidates a strong sense of who your company is, what you care about, and what the workplace environment would be like. Make sure that your profile is up-to-date, and it helps if you actively post on the platform so interested parties can get a broader sense of your company’s work and expertise.

4. Encourage Sharing and Engagement

Many of the most successful hires come from referrals, and social media is—by its very nature—an excellent venue for sharing. While your ad might be seen by someone who is not currently interested in pursuing a new job opportunity, he or she may know someone who is. All they have to do is hit “share” or tag a friend in your post. By using active language or questions, you can encourage dialogue and engagement. Add graphics or imagery to make your post visually appealing, as these posts are more likely to catch someone’s interest and be shared.

5. Reinforce Brand Awareness

There is another benefit of posting job openings on social media: you increase your brand awareness and recognition. This is particularly helpful for businesses that may not yet be household names. By seeing your company and job listing in their social media feeds, someone who may not currently be looking for a job is more likely to think of you down the line when they are open to a new opportunity.

Ready to Get Social?

Social media is a tremendous resource for companies. Not only does it allow you to reach your consumer base and solidify your brand image, it is also a perfect venue for starting the job hiring process. Regardless of whether or not you currently have an open position, social media should be a part of any company’s recruitment strategy.