More than half of today’s job candidates are using some form of social media to search for jobs. So as leading Houston recruiters, Murray Resources can tell you that if your organization doesn’t have a social media recruiting strategy, then you could get left behind in terms of sourcing the best talent.

To help ensure you’re leveraging the power of social media in your recruiting process, here are 5 tips to get you started:

Tip #1: Start with a strategy.

Just as with any new endeavor, having a plan in place will make execution a lot easier. So identify which social media outlets you’re going to use and why you’re going to use them. For instance, if you’re looking for a veteran candidate in accounting, then think LinkedIn rather than Twitter.

Tip #2: Consistency is key.

As Houston recruiters, we often see hiring managers create a LinkedIn profile page or start a Twitter account, only to let it fall by the wayside after a few weeks. Or, they will post one or two job openings, not get a good response, and assume social media is a waste of time.

However, to use social media to your full advantage, consistency is key. You need to be posting informative and interesting content on a regular basis.

Tip #3: Engage, don’t advertise.

Your social media activities shouldn’t revolve simply around blasting out job openings. Instead, they should be focused on building your employer brand – and building relationships with active and passive job candidates. Also, avoid “corporate talk” in your social media posts; have conversations instead.

Tip #4: Monitor results.

Ok, so you’re posting on social media sites and actively seeking to build relationships with candidates. But all those efforts will go to waste if you’re not monitoring and tracking their effectiveness.

In other words, are there certain sites where the best quality candidates are coming from or where you’ve hired the most number of candidates from? Or are there sites that are delivering disappointing results? Whatever the case, you should be tracking results and adjusting your social media recruiting strategy accordingly.

Tip #5: Be patient.

It will take some time to see positive results from your social media activities. Keep in mind that your efforts are about building awareness and relationships; that’s certainly something that doesn’t happen overnight.

Don’t Have Time to Recruit Using Social Media?

If you need to hire, but simply don’t have the time, let Murray Resources know. As leading Houston recruiters, we can take the hassle out of hiring – using both high tech and traditional means – all so you can focus on other priorities while still gaining access to quality talent. Contact us today if you’d like to learn more.