You already know the power of social media as it relates to building your company brand and marketing to your customers, but did you realize that it may also help you find your next all-star employee? When used appropriately, social media can play an important role in the recruitment and screen of your overall hiring process.
With that in mind, today we’ll discuss three reasons why you should start recruiting on Twitter, and how to get started.
Top Reasons Why Recruiting on Twitter is a Good Idea
1. Twitter extends your reach
While it’s important to post position openings on online job boards, you are limiting yourself to only one group of people if you only post there (albeit a very large group of people who are definitely looking for a job). When you post a job opportunity on Twitter, you increase your reach to people who are already familiar with your company, which may bring more variety into your candidate pool.
If a potential candidate is following you on Twitter (or any social media platform for that matter), then they likely consider themselves a fan and will be more enthusiastic about coming to work for your company. You’re likely to reach people who may or may not be actively looking for a new job, but the idea of working for a company they love may be quite appealing.
2. Twitter allows you to really leverage your network
If you’ve done a good job of developing your social brand (we’ll talk about that more in a bit), then you can really leverage your brand’s network on Twitter by asking for a re-tweet. For example, you might post the following, “Looking for an office manager in our Denver location. Great opportunity. Please RT!”
Most people like to consider themselves “helpers.” If there is a call for “help,” most times, people will respond in some way, especially if they know someone that might be a good fit for the job. Consider Twitter a modern version of “it’s not what you know, but who you know…” even if that who you know happens to be through a network of millions of people.
By using hashtags and following relevant industry accounts, you can ensure that your job postings are seen by the right people.
3. Recruiting through Twitter gives you a sneak peek into a candidate’s life
If you’re already using social media on a personal note, you know that Facebook is typically used for personal relationships, while LinkedIn is used for professional networking. Instagram and Twitter are often a combination of both but can offer great insight into a candidate’s life, personality, sense of humor, and general attitude. Hence why many recruiters include it in the social media background screening process.
There are no rules against looking at a candidate’s Twitter feed as part of the recruitment process, so go ahead and take a sneak at their profile. What does that person tweet about? Who do they follow? If they’re active, you’ll quickly be able to get a lot of information about their personality and be able to tell if that person is a good fit for your firm.
4. It’s a great way to showcase your company culture and attract top talent who align with your brand values.
Sharing updates about company events, employee achievements, and team culture can give job seekers a better sense of what it’s like to work at your company and attract those who align with your values.
5. It helps build a professional employer brand presence online.
Regularly updating your Twitter with relevant content and job postings can showcase your company as a desirable employer to potential candidates.
How to Recruit on Twitter
So, how do you get started with recruiti