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Using Social Media to Recruit Top Talent
January 22, 2021
Recruiting top job candidates has become increasingly more competitive as jobs continue to open without enough talent to fill them. Candidates with strong skill sets are in high demand and often have several employment options. Because of this, more companies are turning to social media to attract and retain new talent. According to Pew Research Center, 70 percent of Americans have an online presence, and 18-29 year-olds top the chart at 90 percent. Companies must now practice excellent social media literacy to target potential job candidates in an expanding, competitive market.
Build Your Organization’s Online Presence
The social media accounts that garner the highest engagement rates are carefully curated with unique content. In order to attract new employees, your organization must use social media to showcase its status as a thought leader in the industry. Young people especially know the value of social media and want to work with organizations who participate in current trends online. On their social media pages, organizations can share quality content like articles, blog posts, videos, and podcasts. The goal is to highlight the company culture to show job applicants why they want to work with you. It comes down to, what sets your company apart from others in the business? This differentiator is often captured in your organization’s employee value proposition.
Join Groups and Follow Hashtags
To find new employees, companies need to look in the right places. On most social media platforms, individuals have formed groups to discuss industry happenings and share what they are looking for in their careers. According to LinkedIn, over two million members belong to their top 11 LinkedIn groups for recruiting new talent. These groups provide organizations with ample opportunity to discover job candidates and build connections. By joining groups relevant to the company’s talent search, employers can hear directly from professionals in the industry and access their job history. Candidates may also use hashtags to discuss their experiences and indicate that they are looking for work. Companies should not be afraid to reach out to potential employees directly to learn more about them and encourage them to apply.
LinkedIn is the obvious platform for recruitment, but these recommendations apply to other platforms as well. There are talented people in all corners of the internet, and with some creativity, they can be found.
Engage Current Employees
Current employees are likely on several social media platforms, so why not use their networks to find job candidates? Make the search company-wide and encourage them to post job openings on their personal social media accounts. They are also invested in the company’s success and want to work with other smart people. The candidates you find through references will join as brand champions with established support systems.
According to a leading marketing research firm, Aberdeen Group, 73 percent of 18-34 year-olds found their last job through social media, indicating that social media recruiting is a trend that is here to stay. By building a strong online presence, companies can better find the best candidates for their job openings. To learn how WBD can help you leverage social media strategy to attract the workforce of tomorrow, check out our communications practice page.
By Alanna Goldman, Strategic Communications Associate