In today’s digitally advanced era, social media is used for various aspects of a company, including recruitment. In fact, according to a study conducted by Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), about 84% of organizations are currently using social media for their recruitment.
This is probably due to the numerous benefits and opportunities social media can provide to the recruiter. Employers can use social media to reach various candidates, promote their company, and more that is impossible with traditional recruiting efforts.
Thus in this article, we will tackle 7 ways you can use social media for recruitment and some reasons why you should do it.
Why Use Social Media For Recruitment?
Before starting campaign recruitment in social media, it is essential to know the possible outcomes. Although research shows that companies using social media for recruitment received positive results, many believe it comes with various ethical risks.
Here are the pros and cons of using social media for recruitment.
Advantages of using social media for recruitment
- Verify candidates’ information. Many candidates usually share achievements, including new jobs, promotions, and awards. Recruiters can use social media platforms to verify the information they indicated on their resumes.
- Attract passive clients. LinkedIn says 70% of the world’s workforce are passive job seekers. Leveraging social media for recruitment can help your business attract candidates who are not seeking opportunities that could otherwise be overlooked.
- Advertise targeted groups more. Unlike the traditional way of recruiting, social media offers various tools that can help you choose your target demographics, including experiences, education, background, etc.
Disadvantages of using social media for recruitment
- Increases chances of biases. One risk of using social media for recruitment is potential discrimination towards the candidates, including political beliefs, marital status, race, religion, and more. Discrimination when hiring professionals is illegal in most countries and should be avoided.
- Erroneous Candidate Information. Another risk when using social media to hire a candidate is inaccurate information. There are a lot of candidates online who has not updated their profile. This means that some great candidates may be overlooked.
- Attract unqualified candidates. Another danger of using social media for recruitment is that it can attract a high volume of unqualified applicants. While there are social media dedicated to a professional career, most are used for leisure or personal use. Some might put incorrect information on their profile.
7 ways you can use social media for recruitment
There are various methods to maximize results when using social media for recruitment. Here are some of them.
1. Build your company’s online reputation.
In today’s highly competitive job market, potential employees increasingly use search engines to research companies before applying for jobs. Maintaining an excellent online reputation is essential for any company to attract and retain the best talent.
A positive online presence can help companies stand out from their competitors and make them more attractive to potential candidates. A good online reputation can also help companies create a strong employer brand, which is essential for the successful recruitment and retention of the best talent.
Using social media for recruitment can help a company preserve its reputation online. Social media can be used to promote positive reviews and stories about the company. Likewise, companies must ensure that their social media reflects their values, culture and commitment towards employees to attract the right people.
2. Create networking opportunities.
Social media has revolutionized the way companies network. It offers a platform for companies to get in touch with potential clients, build relationships with other businesses, and even find new sources of talent.
With the right strategy, companies can use social media to quickly reach job seekers. They can also create connections leading to future collaborations and discovering new opportunities. Similarly, through the power of social media networks, businesses can easily find the best candidates for their positions. Recruiters can use the platform to engage with potential applicants, allowing employers to build relationships and understand their skills and experience.
3. Provide information to potential candidates.
Social media has become an essential part of the recruitment process for most companies. It allows them to spread the word about job openings quickly and efficiently, reaching a wider audience. This helps them find suitable candidates for their open positions faster and more effectively.
In addition, they can use social media to provide potential candidates with information about their company and other relevant details. They can post job openings on their page, share exciting stories about the company culture and values, or even host virtual Q&A sessions.
This helps create a positive company image and encourages potential candidates to apply for positions.
4. Lower hiring costs.
With the help of social media, businesses can reach a much wider audience than ever before and in a much more cost-effective way. Most social media platforms are free to use. You can simply post a job opening or search for a candidate without paying anything.
In addition, some career-focused social media platforms offer services or recruitment tools for a lower price than traditional methods. Most of these offerings include various tools and features that will make the lives of recruiters easier.
Likewise, social media also enables companies to target specific demographics and job seekers who may not have been exposed to traditional recruitment methods. This helps businesses save time by focusing on people more likely to be interested in job openings.
Social media makes recruitment processes more efficient and cost-effective by enabling employers to reach out to qualified individuals quickly and easily.
5. Shorten hiring times.
By using social media for recruitment, employers can quickly identify potential candidates. They can evaluate their skills and experiences and shorten the time to hire new employees.
In addition, platforms also provide employers with valuable insights into how applicants think and communicate. This helps them make better decisions when hiring new employees. They can see how applicants interact on different platforms and determine whether they fit the job well.
6. Target unique types of the talent pool.
Social media allows employers to find a more diverse pool of talent. With the help of social media, employers can access a much more extensive network of potential candidates than they could with traditional methods.
Through the platform, recruiters can tap into an untapped market of potential candidates that may not be actively looking for job opportunities. They can also identify and assess candidates based on their skills and experience, as well as their interests and values.
7. Have the ability to screen candidates.
Social media has revolutionized recruitment by providing recruiters an easy way to screen potential candidates. Social media allows recruiters to better understand a candidate’s skill set, work ethic, and personality before making a hiring decision.
As a result, they can quickly search through a wide range of profiles and find the right person for the job. This saves them time and money. They can quickly identify candidates that fit their criteria without conducting lengthy interviews or background checks.
Best Social Media for Recruitment
While the internet offers various social media, selecting the right platform for recruiting candidates can be tricky. You must carefully choose based on your requirement, need, and business. Here are some social media platforms that you can choose from:
- Facebook. This platform is generally considered a unique social platform. Recently, however, many companies have been using Facebook to invite candidates to their companies. The platform is popular with all ages. You can find a larger talent pool than on other social networks.
- Instagram. If you are looking for creative people, then Instagram is the one for you. Most designers, artists, or musicians are on Instagram. They also often post their work on the platform, making it easier to see their portfolio.
- LinkedIn. There is no doubt that LinkedIn remains number one on social media regarding recruitment. Many professionals, including government officers or tenured experts, are on LinkedIn, making it the best social network for hiring candidates.
- Twitter. One of the advantages of using Twitter for recruitment is that most platforms offer a more informal and personal space, something you can’t achieve on LinkedIn. As such, it allows you to examine candidates in greater detail to see if they fit your organization.
Power Up Your Hiring Game Through Social Media!
In summary, social media offers a diverse set of advantages and risks. It can help promote job vacancies in your companies, easily find candidates, and screen them in just one platform. However, it comes with potential risks, such as overlooking or discriminating against a candidate.
But that doesn’t mean you should limit your business. You can still use social media for recruitment if you are careful.
So, what are you waiting for? Start your social media recruitment campaign and let Flexi Digital Marketing help you! Consult with us, and we will help you!
