Dating isn’t necessarily the easiest thing in the world. Sure, meeting new people and visiting new places has a certain appeal. But, at some point, most people want to stop the revolving door of potential matches and find “the one.” Whether that represents a long-term match or something less substantial, the fact remains that constantly trying to find a person compatible with your quirks, beliefs, and interests is difficult.
Welcome to employee recruitment in the twenty-first century. Regardless of job type and experience level, it is becoming harder than ever to find qualified candidates and get them to sign on the dotted line.
Just like on any dating app, successful recruitment efforts typically mean that your employer brand needs to stand out in a positive way to interested candidates. Here are 3 ways to make your organization stand out.
Find ‘Dates’ in the Right Places
Like potential dates, candidates are drawn to different social media platforms. Just as no job is quite the same, the digital spaces on which employees in particular industries congregate differ based on typical education levels, skill sets, and backgrounds.
In 2021, a survey found that 41% of workers in-market for new positions used online social networks to job hunt. Choosing the right social networks for your need, then, is critical for identifying qualified candidates in the most efficient way.
Some common platforms used for recruiting (and the types of candidates attracted to each) include:
- Facebook. Best for finding technically skilled employees in what are traditionally considered blue-collar industries. Examples include truck drivers, retail managers, manufacturing workers, and automotive service technicians.
- Instagram. Visual artists, graphic designers, and social media influencers are drawn to Instagram’s ability to showcase their creative work to a large audience of followers.
- LinkedIn. The best recruitment social media site for white-collar professionals working in finance, management, marketing, and sales. Networking for these candidates is key, and they are often already primed for recruiters to reach out via direct message.
- Reddit. This platform is extremely popular with developers and software engineers. Identifying sub-threads centered on certain industries or jobs can be a great intro into qualified candidates.
Regardless of platform, it’s always a good idea to create a business social media account and NOT recruit candidates from a personal one. Not only do business accounts give interested applicants more information about your company, but they also appear more legitimate on sites that tend to attract spammers.
Both general and niche job boards like Glassdoor, Indeed, Discord, and GitHub are also great options for getting your job postings in front of more eyeballs.
Lead with Your Good (Employer Brand) Side
The same generations that have turned to popular dating sites to find romantic relationships also rely on social media to find new job opportunities. Nearly half of all Millennials and Gen Z job searchers applied to positions they found on social media. This staggering number is precisely why businesses must actively curate an employer brand image that speaks to their vision of an ideal candidate.
Infusing your social media business profiles with a little personality is a wonderful way to subtly show your company’s working culture and how their day-to-day on the job might look. Sharing pictures of team outings, fun activities, or conferences don’t typically interest prospective customers, but does carry weight for job seekers. Visual representations — which can include static photos and, even better, videos — allow applicants to picture themselves working for your brand. The more you understand your ideal candidate, the better you can highlight the parts of your company that best speak to them.
Another way to lead with your ‘good side’ is to respond quickly to applicant queries on social media. Just like individuals on the dating scene don’t enjoy being ‘ghosted,’ candidates who reach out via social media and never hear back are likely to move on to the next opportunity.
Be Honest from the Get-Go
Finally, dating sites are notorious for users who, whether intentionally or not, fail to portray themselves in an accurate way. Using fake profile pictures or offering false information in a dating app can be a major turn-off for anybody unlucky enough to discover the ruse.
The job market is no different, and businesses should never lie about what the position entails, the qualifications candidates need to have, and the pay range/benefits.
Also, backing up lofty job descriptions that celebrate company culture can appear more genuine if other employees at your business post about their work lives on social media. Of course, directly, or indirectly implying that employees are required to use their personal accounts for work is flirting with a form of highly problematic coercion. However, encouraging employees to post pics and videos if/when they feel comfortable doing so can go a long way towards attracting highly qualified candidates to your brand.
Learn How to Position Your Employer Brand Today
ProIQ is dedicated to finding targeted, cost-effective, and successful marketing solutions for companies looking to recruit. We understand the importance of targeting the right audiences and creating messaging that appeals to the candidate persona.
To find out more about ProIQ (and how we could support your recruitment efforts), contact us here today.
