4. SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY IN RECRUITING
What
is Social Media Recruiting?
As the evolution of technology emerge, the methods of Recruitment have changed widely. Social media recruiting is the process of utilizing social media
platforms, like LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, to share job
postings, network with professionals, and research potential job candidates.
Reaching the industry specific talented candidates have become so much easier
and informal.
 |
| (Desormes, 2014), The Recruitment Evolution through History |
Social media recruiting statistics
· Almost half of all Millennials and Gen Z workers have applied to
jobs they found through social media.
*According to The Pew Research Center the Gen Z refers to the
people born from 1997 to 2012. (Micheal, 2019)
·
92 percent of employers use social networks to find new talent.
· 21 percent of hiring managers said they would not consider a
candidate without an online presence.
(Reiners, 2022)
Here are the percentages of how much recruiters use the social networks to find talent by Duverge.
 |
| (Duverge, 2024), Social Networks Recruiters use to find Talent |
The Benefits of Social Media Recruitment
· Boosts recruiting marketing
efforts
· Helps modify your recruiting
efforts
· Creates a Variety of
Content
· Promotes your employer brand
· Increases your reach
for the more qualified candidates.
· Helps you get to know
Candidates beyond their Resumes
· Cost per hire is significantly reduced.
· You can screen candidates and fill specific roles.
· Recruiters can find more candidates through referrals, followers, and networking.
The
Drawbacks of using Social Media Recruiting
· You need a specific recruitment and targeting strategy.
· You need to invest a good amount of creativity to stand out from other companies.
· Boosting posts can get expensive.
· Your audience may not be on a certain social media platform.
· It’s hard to escape bias (like seeing a candidate’s picture).
· Candidate profiles may be inconsistent with who they are and how they will perform as an employee.
(Reiners, 2022), (Bamboo HR LLC, 2023) and [(Goldman et.al, 2023) -Table 01)]
How to Create
a Social Media Recruiting Strategy
ü First of all, the
companies have to conduct extensive research about the competitors and
candidates.
ü Then, create specific
candidate personas.
ü Set attainable goals.
You need to establish measurable goals to benchmark and optimize your
recruitment strategy over time.
ü Always track the
recruitment metrics. This enables to make sure which platforms and strategies
help to gain the highest quality candidates during the shortest period of time.
ü According to the
industry and the candidate persons, the social media platforms should be more
niche and thereafter reach the right candidates. The utilization of social
media management tools will help you to reduce the efforts and simplify the
analysis process.
(Reiners,
2022)
The
Top Sites used for Recruitment
· LinkedIn Recruitment
· Facebook Recruitment
· Instagram Recruitment
· Twitter Recruitment
· YouTube Recruitment
· TikTok Recruitment
The Best
Practices of Social Media Recruiting for Employers
This is the most popular form of digital
recruitment in the digital age. Implementing social media recruiting in the
best way that helps you to achieve the desired outcome within a shorter period
of time.
10 best social media recruiting practices that
will help you attract active and passive candidates are given below.
1. Develop
and build a strong online reputation - enhance the brand of the company to
attract the best candidates
2.
Networking
with the right people - always target the top talent.
3.
Live
video streaming and passive candidate engagement
4.
Leverage
the power of hashtags - make sure you use hashtags to attract the niche groups.
5.
Use
LinkedIn groups - this could benefit by reaching the specific industry groups
thereby reaching top talent.
6.
Diversify
your social media platforms
7.
Utilize
your employee network for social media recruiting
8.
Run
paid social media advertising campaigns
9.
Post
quality content on social media - the content matters as it represents the organizations
brand name.
10.
Get
to know your candidates - we could gain knowledge about the real candidates and
the fake ones. We can also conduct a background check using these platforms.
(Mishra,
n.d.)
Conclusion
The recruiting of the top talent is a task that requires so much
effort. Posting a job advertisement on the careers page of an organization may
attract some but the connection with the best people has become much informal
because of the use of social media in the modern emerging world. Social media
recruiting makes it much easier to find top talent and target the niche groups
accordingly. As discussed above, the method of creating the strategy and the
best practices of using social media to recruit, could be taken into
consideration.
References
Bamboo HR LLC, (2023) Social Media Recruiting [blog]. Available at: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/hr-glossary/social-media-recruiting [Accessed on 26th March 2024].
Desormes. K., (2014) The Recruitment Evolution through History [image]. Available at: https://www.jobboardfinder.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/The-Evolution-of-Recruitments-Methods1.jpg [Accessed on 26th March 2024].
Duverge, G. (2024) Social Networks Recruiters use to find Talent [image] Available at: https://bitrebels.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/social-media-recruitment-middle-statistics-image.png [Accessed on 27th March 2024].
Goldman, Nina & Willem, Theresa & Buyx, Alena & Zimmermann, Bettina. (2023). Practical Benefits, Challenges, and Recommendations on Social Media Recruitment: Multi-Stakeholder Interview Study. Journal of Medical Internet Research. 25. e44587.
Insight Global , (2023) How to Use Social Media for Recruiting [video]. 6 June Available at: https://youtu.be/MtNB9StGtrM?si=VpH_eTqgSVTep4yA [Accessed on 25th March 2024].
Micheal, D., (2019) Defining generations: Where Millennials end and Generation Z begins. Available at: https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2019/01/17/where-millennials-end-and-generation-z-begins/ [Accessed on 24th March 2024].
Mishra, S., (no date) Top 10 Social Recruiting Best Practices to Find Top Talent [blog]. Available at: https://www.ismartrecruit.com/blog-social-media-recruiting-practices [Accessed on 24th March 2024].
Reiners, B., (2022) Social Media Recruiting: A complete Guide (With Examples). Available at: https://builtin.com/recruiting/social-media-recruiting [Accessed on 25th March 2024].
Even though the social media recruiting have many advantages, How you handle online crisis management situations during social media recruitment? What are the strategies that can manage it?
ReplyDeleteYes Chamara, definitely. We have to be ready for social media crisis from negative comments to natural disasters, it's essential to have a proper response plan for your social media channels (Fontanella, 2023). As HRM professionals the take on social media and the recruitment strategies, we must also be prepared to handle the unexpected.
DeleteThese are some tips to manage the social media crisis as mentioned by (Fontanella, 2023)
1. Protect and restrict social media login information.
2. Engaging in social listening can help you do the right thing.
3. Pause any scheduled social media campaigns.
4. Learn from it and add guidelines for future social media usage.
5. Respond quickly, but not too quickly.
6. Prioritize transparency.
7. Be authentic.
8. Don't assign blame elsewhere.
9. Engage with your audience.
10. Communicate internally as well as externally.
Seems these tips are useful in such situations
DeleteSocial media recruitment is a key aspect method used by post pandemic. This was more vole most of the most of the sectors reducing time on recruitment for employer and candidate. A study by SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) found that 84% of organizations used social media for recruitment purposes, and among them, 9 out of 10 reported successfully hiring through social platforms (SHRM, 2020).
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your valuable insights, Sudesh. Highly appreciated. Yes, a higher probability of organizations uses this strategy. Your citation confirms it.
DeleteThis Blog is amazing! Posting a job advertisement on the careers page of an organization may attract some yes! I have had that experience
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment Amesha. Yes, the advertisements on a careers page would not attract the attention of top talent quickly enough.
DeleteIntegrating social media into recruitment strategies has become essential for organizations aiming to attract the best talent in today's dynamic and interconnected world.
ReplyDeleteAgree with you Arundathi, these strategies have become a vital part of recruiting in the digital age.
DeleteThis blog effectively outlines the significance and impact of social media recruiting in today's evolving job market. It provides valuable statistics, benefits, drawbacks, and practical strategies for implementing an effective social media recruiting strategy.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your valuable comment Ruwan.
DeleteThis blog dives into the various benefits of social media recruiting, such as its ability to reach a wider audience, target specific demographics, and showcase an organization's employer brand. By leveraging platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, recruiters can connect with passive candidates, promote job opportunities, and build relationships with potential hires.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the insightful comment Nilakshi. Yes, social media recruiting is a very effective way to recruit and reach a wider audience.
DeleteGood content. Social recruiting can also save you money because of its efficiency and low time to hire. On social media, you can talk to potential candidates in real time, resulting in faster responses and easier communication. This will help you secure excellent work relationships and hire the right candidate sooner.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment Chethani. Yes, it is way more efficient than traditional methods of recruiting. Time matters when it comes to recruiting because filling a vacant position quickly can definitely benefit the company rather than time consuming recruitment methods than slower the growth of the business. Yes, attracting the right candidate for the right job always helps at all times.
DeleteGood content , out come ,Social media recruiting leverages modern platforms to connect with top talent effectively. While it expands reach and targets niche groups, combining it with strategic planning ensures optimal results and engagement with potential candidates.
ReplyDeleteYes, Agree with you Jagath. The attraction of the niche groups helps to attract the perfect fit for the role which is crucial for optimal results and engagement. Modern social media recruitment methods will be the way to go as everything in this era is becoming digital.
DeleteSocial media recruiting has become an indispensable tool for modern recruitment strategies, revolutionizing the way organizations attract and engage with talent. Leveraging social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, recruiters can reach a vast audience of potential candidates, build employer brand awareness, and streamline the hiring process.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your valuable comment, Nilakshi. Social medial is mostly used by the younger generations. Reiners, (2022) mentions that: 'almost half of all Millennials and Gen Z workers have applied to jobs they found through social media'. This has become the easiest way to reach the Gen Z people. Adopting to this new strategy is the way to attract the potential candidates for a job role presently.
Delete
ReplyDeleteI agree with the points presented in the article.
Social media recruiting is an important component of modern recruitment methods for improving employer brand, attracting more candidates, and reducing hiring costs. However, it requires accurate selection, potential bias, and inconsistent candidate profiles. Implementing a well-thought-out strategy is critical.
Appreciate your comment Minoshi. Yes, creating a well-designed social media strategy is mandatory as there are certain drawbacks to consider. The existence of fake profiles is a growing fact to consider. Maybe the company could request for one or more social media accounts (LinkedIn and Twitter) to confirm the specific candidate's identity to make sure the profile is consistent. LinkedIn profiles are usually considered to be the most effective and many companies globally rely on this platform for recruiting.
DeleteGood article about recruitment using social media. when it comes to government sectors any reason for not investing social media for their recruitment ? Also we have to note that employer brand will have maximum impact of social media recruitment.
ReplyDeleteThank you for you comment Sudesh. Government sectors don't rely on social media recruitment especially in Sri Lanka. This might be due to their certain policies and politics plays a part as far as my knowledge. This is totally different when speaking globally, The governments in other countries also have started to implement this strategy as it is the trend in modern recruiting.
DeleteSocial media has emerged as the primary medium for engagement in this era of information. Platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and others wield the power to effect change – from toppling governments to boosting political campaigns, fostering public protests, facilitating social demonstrations, and catalyzing social campaigns. These platforms also foster communication, discussion, and awareness on public forums, serving as instant sources of news and information (Magro, 2012) cited in (Chavadi et al., 2023).
Yes Sudesh, The Employer Branding has a massive impact on this strategy.
Your article offers valuable insights into social media recruiting, emphasizing its benefits like boosting marketing efforts and expanding reach for qualified candidates. The statistics on its prevalence among Millennials and Gen Z are intriguing. The suggested strategies and best practices provide practical advice for organizations. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your valuable comment Ruchira. The research conducted by 'The Pew Research Center' suggests the specific values. Yes Ruchira, the values mentioned are intriguing.
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ReplyDeleteThis blog post provides a clear overview of social media recruiting, detailing its definition, statistics, benefits, drawbacks, and best practices. It's a comprehensive guide for companies looking to leverage social media platforms for their recruitment efforts. Keep up the great work in sharing valuable insights and strategies for modern recruitment practices!
Thank you for your comment Amila. I have discussed the most important aspects to be concerned when using the social media recruiting strategy. Thank you for sharing the valuable feedback!
DeleteThe incorporation of compelling statics such as percentage of how much recruiters use the social media is making easier to understand and interpret. Instead of dealing with raw numbers, viewers can quickly grasp the relative proportions and distributions represented by these percentages. Yes social media platforms have billions of users worldwide, allowing recruiters to reach a vast audience of potential candidates. This expanded reach increases the likelihood of finding qualified candidates, including passive job seekers. And also social media platforms offer sophisticated targeting options, allowing recruiters to tailor job postings and advertisements to specific demographics, interests, and skills. This targeted approach ensures that job opportunities are seen by relevant candidates.
ReplyDeleteAppreciate your valuable feedback, Wasula. Yes, implementation of this strategy can be very useful for companies globally and even in Sri Lanka. Many countries have been using this strategy for more than a decade and this strategy have enabled them to optimize their performance gradually because they have utilized it well enough throughout the years. They are aware how to attract the qualified candidates and even reach out the passive candidates.
DeleteConcerns over the privacy of candidates or the possibility of attracting unqualified applications. That said, by using careful strategizing and employing appropriate evaluation methods, those concerns might be successfully eliminated.
ReplyDeleteThank you Nufail. Your contribution is valued and appreciated.
DeleteConcerns over the privacy of candidates or the possibility of attracting unqualified applications. That said, by using careful strategizing and employing appropriate evaluation methods, those concerns might be successfully eliminated.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the valuable comment, Nufail. Yes, a strategic approach with required evaluation methods could help to eliminate the challenges that social media recruiting may cause.
DeleteThere are advantage and disadvantage of the practicing social media recruitment, but Most target candidates frequently use social networks for entertainment purposes and career prospects. Therefore, a social media recruiting strategy is crucial to building a good employer brand and attracting job seekers.
ReplyDeleteYour valuable contributions to the article are highly appreciated! A good social media recruiting strategy is crucial to building a good employer brand and attracting top talent.
DeleteThe following article provides a complete review of how to use social media for recruiting objectives. Could you elaborate on how various social media platforms may be maximized for different stages of the recruitment process, such as sourcing, engaging prospects, and employer branding?
ReplyDeleteThank you Hasith for the valuable feedback! Please refer the link given in the comment, I found it a very useful source to answer the question you had asked. https://hirebee.ai/blog/candidate-sourcing-online-guide/maximizing-social-media-for-candidate-sourcing-from-linkedin-to-tiktok/
DeleteSuperb article with a lot of information covering all the relevant areas pertaining to the social media strategies in recruitments. This strategies are being used by the leading companies, specially to recruit the employees foe the middle and top management level. Thank you for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the valuable feedback, Himaru! Certainly! This strategy is used mostly by the middle and top-level management level, especially in Sri Lanka. In a global context, social media recruiting has become a trend and is being used by many firms as of my knowledge. According to Micheal, (2019) this is because, 'Almost half of all Millennials and Gen Z workers have applied to jobs they found through social media'.
DeleteWell laid out article Judith. Your examination of social media strategy in hiring skilfully explains its advantages, disadvantages, and best practices, providing insightful information for businesses looking to successfully use this cutting-edge strategy. You emphasise the importance of social media in contemporary recruitment by citing data like the high proportion of Millennials and Gen Z workers applying for jobs through this platform (Reiners, 2022).
ReplyDeleteThank you for the feedback provided on this article! Absolutely! Social media recruiting has been an importance among most recruiters, and they are taking necessary steps to implement this strategy more in the future as the Gen Z workers and Millennials are going to be the future of workplaces.
DeleteTimely valued Concept with good explanation. Social media recruitment is a popular method that Z type candidates are more concerned. As Social media has lots of consumers, it's a success way to to effective and fastest recruitments.
ReplyDeleteYes, abslutely! Your insights on my article are highly appreciated! Thank you, Ranga!
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