How to turn social media into a powerful recruitment tool

How to Turn your Social Media into a Powerful Recruitment Tool

Recent research by the Open University has found that the current skills shortage is costing UK businesses £6.3 billion a year, with a large proportion of that cost being shouldered by SMEs. The challenge SMEs face is that large employers that pay the highest wages are able to monopolise the best talent, which includes skilled bilingual recruits. But while fierce competition and the lack of talent has driven up the cost of hiring new recruits, particularly in the STEM sector, there is one powerful tool that SMEs have at their disposal that many are not using effectively.

In the right hands, an employer’s social media can be a cost-effective way to find the talent to fill vacant roles. After employee referrals (48 percent) and job boards (46 percent), a recent survey found that social media (40 percent) was third on a list of priorities for HR professionals looking to improve their recruitment strategies in 2018. In this guide, we’re going to explore a few simple ways you can supercharge yours.

1. Get involved in the right conversations

A key part of social media recruitment is to make sure you’re taking part in the conversations that matter. Being active in LinkedIn groups for recent graduates, being visible in industry-specific conversations and using hashtags like #devjobs or #Londonhiring on Twitter can help you cut through the noise and get your openings in front of the right people.

2. Take a soft approach

These days, the saturation of social media means you have to be a little more sophisticated to capture the attention of your intended audience. That means going beyond simply posting your vacant job roles online and expecting to be inundated with applications.

Instead, share posts that promote your business as a great place to work and provide an insight into your company culture. For example, creating employee profiles of individuals in a wide range of roles or sharing posts that detail the environmental or charitable initiatives you are involved in can give your business an identity that candidates can relate to.

3. Appeal to millennials

Millennials are not only today’s largest workforce but they are also the biggest users of social media. That makes it an extremely powerful recruitment tool when used in the right way. However, to appeal to millennials, you have to understand how they approach the job market and what they look for in a prospective job role. Things like environmental issues and job flexibility are more important to millennials than any other demographic, so make sure these are things you showcase whenever you can.

4. Shine a light on your employees

Social media is a great way to shine a light on the people behind the scenes that make the magic happen. Creating ‘employee of the week’ posts or simply taking a few snaps or a candid video at a staff lunch or evening out will give prospective candidates a better idea of who they’ll be working with and the type of projects they could be getting involved in.

Still struggling to find the talent you need?

If you’re still having trouble finding great bilingual candidates for your vacant positions, we can provide the expert assistance you need. Call 02392 987 765 or email info@linguistica-recruitment.com to discuss your requirements today.