From online job boards, to print advertisements, to word of mouth referrals – there are many ways to attract and identify potential candidates. However, as more and more organizations are finding out - social media can play a pivotal part.

Take Big 4 professional services firm Deloitte's for example - the Australian School of Business (2011) notes that social media plays a role in attracting up to three-quarters of all Deloitte hires!

Social media recruitment may present a new media platform for some organizations, but it's vital to look carefully and research before delving into this digital world. Don't implement social media just to keep up with the Joneses.

First, understand your recruitment goals, your recruitment drivers and your recruitment objectives.

For instance, is it about engaging in social media for cost-saving purposes? Or will you use it as a marketing tool to increase employer branding? Will you use it to access new talent, and develop relationships with new groups of potential employees, or simply to allow a potential hire to understand their fit with the organization? All drivers potentially offer the organization a competitive advantage, but without an entry plan, results may be confused and messy.

Social media is most effective when used long-term and strategically, rather than in sporadic and disjointed bursts. Here are some of Employment Office’s tips on implementing an effective social media recruitment strategy:

1. Research - Research is fundamental to developing a social media strategy that works, can be measured effectively and provides return on investment. Before you embark on creating a social media strategy that marries against your organizational objectives and what you want to achieve through social media, you should first ask: what is your target market is interested in?; how do they like to consume information?; where do they spend their time?; and, when are they most active?

2. Don’t restrict yourself to one social media outlet - The goal of recruiting is to find the right person at the right time. Logically, that means one source is never enough. You’ll want to tap into diverse mediums to find the best candidates, and social media is no exception. From LinkedIn, to Twitter, to Facebook to YouTube, each platform has its own unique demographic. You’ll want to consider your audience when making the decision about which channel to use for your recruiting efforts.

3. Create a network - Make Facebook and LinkedIn groups, start a Twitter feed and have your current employees and contacts “Like” them, join your organization’s Groups and retweet your posts. If they’re willing, even get them to invite friends, acquaintances and past colleagues. From there, create employee-friendly social media content. By creating a social networking plan and increasing your brand presence, you will begin to attract more and more people following your updates, which will build up a virtual word of mouth.

4. Be relevant - Remember, terms that are too generic will see you with an abundance of results that may not be relevant to your business, so try and be as targeted and specific as you can be. For example, when promoting any new openings, tweet with special hashtags such as #hiring, #startupjobs and whatever industry or trade you’re hiring from to get the attention of the right candidates, and use language that will attract the audience you are after.

5. Engage - As you continue to post articles and great information about your company, you will build up your employer brand and establish an enviable workplace culture in your potential candidates’ eyes, allowing you to sell to them without selling them. Use social media to help build a strong brand and then let the top talent come to you. You can also try things like holding a contest via social media, running polls, or creating a video where you describe your vision, progress and motivations. This helps prospective talent connect with your organization’s story.

If you'd like to find out how Employment Office can help develop and implement your social media strategy for recruitment, please call 1 866 474 3140 to speak with a member of our team today!