Social Recruiting: Hype or Solution for Talent Acquisition?

With the growing shortage of skilled workers, social recruiting is becoming increasingly important. Potential employees prefer to be approached informally within their usual environment, as confirmed by a 2019 study from the University of Bamberg. Learn how to establish a successful contact and what to keep in mind when engaging in social recruiting.

Social recruiting involves various methods and processes to acquire talent through social media. This includes ads, personal messages, or employee referrals. Both active and passive approaches are used to engage potential candidates directly or indirectly. According to an Onlyfy report on using social media for recruiting, the most popular platforms in 2019 were XING, LinkedIn, Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter, with TikTok joining the list later. Recruiters also use country-specific networks for international recruitment.

Social media recruiting opens up new avenues to attract workers but also presents challenges. Here’s a brief overview:

Target talents in their personal space.
Connect with professionals who aren’t actively job hunting.
Filter and sort candidates on platforms like LinkedIn and XING.
Build a talent pool for future recruitment.
Improve company image and employer branding with a polished social media presence.
Expand company reach through appealing social media profiles.
Use social media analytics to track activity and success.

Content must be tailored to the platform’s audience.
Creative content and personal engagement are crucial.
Transitioning requires setting up interfaces and adapting application processes.
Expertise is needed to manage professional social media channels.
Adherence to data protection regulations is essential.
Mistakes can harm the company’s image.

Social recruiting can be implemented effectively through several strategies:

Active Sourcing: Actively approach candidates based on their profile data.
Content Marketing: Regularly publish relevant content to engage and attract potential applicants.
Employer Branding: Use engaging content on social media to create a strong, attractive employer brand.
Career Portals: Share job postings from portals like StepStone or Indeed across social media to increase their reach.
Influencer Marketing: Leverage the reach of well-known figures or employees to attract new talent.

Posting haphazardly rarely works. Here are tips for effective social media recruiting:

1. Develop a Strategy

Determine which skills are most needed, then craft a social recruiting strategy with specific KPIs to track success. Focus on platforms that target your audience.

2. Establish Rules and Responsibilities

Integrating new measures requires planning. Decide workload and whether employees need training or a specialist for this area. Consider the use of recruiting software to link social media and internal portals, saving time long-term.

3. Introduce Corporate Wording

Establish a consistent tone. Platforms like LinkedIn suit a formal tone, while TikTok or Instagram favor a casual style.

4. Create a Content Plan

Use a content plan to manage posts and maintain a professional profile.

5. Involve Employees

Employees’ external perceptions impact company image. Encourage staff to positively present the company and reward referrals.

6. Improve Reach

Implement regular campaigns and creative content to boost reach. Consistency is key.

7. Measure Success

Regularly review KPIs such as engagement rates to gauge success. Use social media tools to monitor reach and clicks.

To succeed in social recruiting, companies need standout strategies. This includes investing in quality content, choosing the right platforms, and consistently posting targeted material. When done well, social recruiting is more than a hype—it’s a valuable method in modern recruitment.

Solutions like aiFind’s software simplify processes, integrating multiple channels and facilitating quick applications. For a demo on how our software supports your social recruiting, contact us!

Explore more:

Recruiting Trends 2023: Targeted Talent Pools for Young Professionals
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Opportunities and Challenges of Social Media Recruiting

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Successful Social Recruiting Methods

7 Tips for Implementing Social Media Recruiting

Conclusion: Social Recruiting is Here to Stay