Social hiring or recruiting new employees is becoming more commonplace. With 228 million people using Twitter, 300 million using Instagram, and 890 million using Facebook everyday, more and more companies use social media as an effective and efficient recruitment tool. As businesses scramble to get the most talented people on board, they adjust to the shifting trends in the workforce. They are starting to consider alternative recruitment tools, and focusing on the newest trend right now: online job application through social media.
The benefits of online hiring through social media are evident in many levels. First, brands make themselves known and established in the social media sphere to appear attractive and lucrative to job seekers. Second, recruiters can actively find potential job candidates in different social media sites. Third, recruiters and HR personnel can also gauge a prospective employee’s competency and decency by looking at his or her posts on social media. Learn more about how tech-savvy businesses utilize common social media platforms as a valuable human resource management tool.
LinkedIn: The Social Media Résumés
According to an infographic by Staff, a whopping 92 percent of employers use social media for hiring purposes. Additionally, 45 percent of Fortune 500 firms including their social media links in their career page sections. Out of all social media platforms, LinkedIn bags the lead as 93 percent of companies in 2012 preferred using it. Facebook came in second with 66 percent, while Twitter came in third with 54 percent.
What makes LinkedIn effective is its main feature: users put in their skills, qualifications, and work experience, making the site an online database of résumés. With this in mind, businesses can access the CVs of millions of professionals who are on LinkedIn. Moreover, job candidates who access a company’s careers page through LinkedIn can get job opening information that’s relevant to their job profile, which makes the process all the more efficient.
Put On Your Best Gameface in Facebook
Thanks to its plethora of functions, Facebook is the most familiar platform for people all over the world. This fact alone will get businesses further than traditional recruitment. Anyone who “likes” a company’s Facebook page can easily see the information posted about its business and job vacancies and see if it is a company her or she would want to join. Likewise, a company can research an applicant and judge their character by reviewing their page. This leads to a wealth of practical information that both businesses and applicants can use to their advantage when it comes to filling in a job vacancy.
Instant Social Hiring with Instagram
Instagram, a popular photo-hosting social media site, is mainly composed of young people from 18 to 29 years old with college education, as Pew Research Center’s 2014 study found out. With this user base, it is safe to say that companies who use Instagram are on the lookout for tech-savvy college students and recent graduates. Moreover, photos posted on this platform can get greater mileage when used alongside other social networking sites.
Aim for Viral Hiring Videos with YouTube
If a picture paints a thousand words, how about videos? Social networking sites that operate on video-sharing platform like YouTube allow its users to display who they are what they’re about in an engaging manner. Conversely, jobseekers get to introduce themselves, show off their skills and their out-of-the-box creativity.
On the other hand, companies are able to give potential employees a glimpse into their work environment. Using YouTube also makes a lot of difference in terms of its reach as the third most trafficked website next to Google and Facebook. Let these facts push you to create interesting videos that can draw traffic to your channel.
Follow the Lead on Twitter
What could be more concise and fuss-free than a social media site that allows its users to share their thoughts in 140 characters or less? Online, it’s all about quick statements and instant responses. Twitter has become the definitive site (and app) for people who want immediate updates from people and businesses. Companies are already making the most of Twitter to post about their workplace, job openings, and career advice. Some businesses have even launched a separate Twitter account dedicated to job opportunities; just look for Twitter handles/usernames with “job/s” after a company name.
Using and searching for hashtags are also convenient methods in Twitter to find the right topic that is important to you. For example, you can sort through different posts by searching for hashtags like #jobs.
Competitive companies that aim to be innovative would take the potential of Twitter and use it for something else, not just advertising. Organization tweet about job vacancies AND reasons why someone would want to fill up those positions. They would post about their fun activities and the benefits of working for them. It’s up to the user to find those companies and benefit from them.
Google+: A Great Plus in Human Resource Hiring
Almost everyone uses Google Mail, but what about its social media partner site, Google+? As with other forms of social media, it can be maximized for hiring jobs. For example, one feature of this useful site is its organization — you can add people into different circles or categories, making targeted posts much more effective. This makes you more visible to your target users. This is done in two ways. First, when you build up your expertise online by posting relevant content on this medium. Second, your Google account shows you results from people who are in your circles. Moreover, Google+ is not only a powerhouse for finding people, it is also a great online resource for getting up-to-date news and developments within your industry.
The Power of Social Media Hiring
Job seekers and hiring businesses alike tremendously benefit from a working knowledge of recruiting through social media. First, you should explore as many social networking sites as you can in order to find the platforms that will work for your objectives. Know the strengths and weaknesses of each site or app, as well as the user base, so you know where you stand and how you can position yourself.
Next, carve your niche by creating relevant and compelling content and posts that is consistent with what you would like to be known for. Needless to say, you should take care in making sure that your tone is approachable yet professional at all times. Follow this up by adding or following the right people or groups and by posting regularly.
Then, assess how you are doing from time to time. There are plenty of free online resources and tips that you can use. Lastly, adjust your social media strategy based on what works and what doesn’t.
Keeping up with this social media/HR trend should not be hard or intimidating. It becomes easier the more you use each media. And when you do, the possibilities open up. It becomes an effective and necessary tool for both employers and applicants.
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