Leverage social media as an essential hiring tool

This is part two of a two-part series on using social media to gain new employees. Read part one here.

Using social media to find new hires is more than simply posting a job listing on your platforms. PHOTO: METAMORWORKS/ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS/GETTY IMAGES

Gone are the days of hammering “Now Hiring” signs at the end of your driveway.

According to a 2017 survey from the Society for Human Resource Management, 84 percent of organizations reported using social media to recruit in 2015.

Now that you’ve established your social media sites, it’s time to delve into the best recruiting strategies. Laura Sage, director of workforce services at Butler Tech, offers a few tips for accomplishing this goal that go beyond simply posting a job listing online.

1. Invite students to tour your pest management office, then use the tour to leverage social media traction. This not only offers an educational viewpoint of your company, but also an opportunity to accrue followers and potential leads. Sage suggests setting up a step-and-repeat banner with your company’s logo and, at an appropriate time, let students take photos with the background to share on social media.

Make sure your company’s social media handles are included so the students can both follow and tag your accounts.

“You now have a list that allows you to get in contact with those students,” Sage says.

2. Use social media to celebrate your employees, milestones and accomplishments. Sage suggests covering 10 percent company news and 90 percent employee news on your social media accounts. Why? Because you want to emphasize your company’s culture, from employee accomplishments to volunteer work to important milestones.

“I’ve noticed students are willing to go for a little bit less pay if the culture is good and what they expect,” Sage says. “The atmosphere is very important to them, and they really want to make sure that it’s going to fit their lifestyle and their values and what they believe in.”

3. Integrate new-age platforms into your social media strategy. While Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn serve as three of the more notable social media platforms used across all generations, Snapchat and Instagram experience heavier usage by younger generations.

A 2019 Pew Research Center survey says 67 percent of 18-29 year olds use Instagram, while 62 percent use Snapchat.

These platforms may not be as ideal for posting a job listing as other platforms, but they’re beneficial for showcasing your company’s culture, sharing behind-the-scenes videos and photos, and reaching younger audiences. It gives insight into what kind of company you run, which is important for today’s job candidates.

“Social media is very effective if businesses use it right,” Sage adds. “It’s the way today’s generation connects.”