It’s no secret that social media has changed the recruiting landscape. In fact, 92% of recruiters say that they use social media in their recruiting efforts, according to a survey from Jobvite. And, 59% of those recruiters say that social recruiting has helped them improve the quality of hires.

With numbers like that, it’s clear that social media recruiting is here to stay. But what exactly is social media recruiting? And how can you use social media to find the best candidates for your open positions?

We’ll start by defining social media recruiting and then we’ll give you tips on how to use social media to find and attract candidates.

What is social media recruiting?

Social media recruiting is the process of using social media platforms to identify, attract, and hire candidates for open positions.

Most recruiters use social media to post job openings, but social media can also be used to research candidates, connect with passive candidates, and build relationships with potential candidates.

The most popular social media platforms for recruiting are LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter, but there are a number of other social media platforms that can be used for recruiting, including Instagram, Snapchat, and Pinterest.

Why use social media for recruiting?

There are a number of reasons why recruiters use social media for recruiting.

First, social media recruiting is an efficient way to reach a large number of potential candidates. In fact, 77% of recruiters say that social recruiting has helped them reach a wider talent pool, according to Jobvite.

Second, social media recruiting is cost-effective. Posting a job on social media is usually free or very low cost. And, if you’re using social media to research candidates or connect with passive candidates, you’re not incurring any additional costs.

Third, social media recruiting can help you target specific candidates. For example, if you’re looking for candidates with specific skills or experience, you can use social media to search for those candidates. You can also use social media to target candidates who live in a certain area or who are interested in a certain type of position.

Fourth, social media recruiting can help you build relationships with potential candidates. If you connect with a candidate on social media and interact with them on a regular basis, you’ll be top of mind when they’re ready to make a career move.

Finally, social media recruiting can help you improve the quality of hires. Because social media recruiting allows you to interact with candidates and get to know them before you make a job offer, you’re more likely to hire a candidate who is a good fit for your company.

How to use social media for recruiting

Now that you know the benefits of social media recruiting, let’s take a look at how you can use social media to find and attract candidates.

1. Post job openings on social media

The first step in using social media for recruiting is to post your job openings on social media.

When you post a job on social media, you’ll want to make sure that you include all of the relevant information, such as the job title, job location, job description, and how to apply. You’ll also want to use keywords that candidates are likely to search for when they’re looking for a job.

In addition to posting your job openings on your own social media accounts, you can also post them on job boards and in groups.

2. Research candidates on social media

Another way to use social media for recruiting is to research candidates on social media.

When you’re researching a candidate on social media, you’re looking for information that will help you determine if the candidate is a good fit for the position.

For example, you might look for information about the candidate’s work history, education, and skills. You might also look for information about the candidate’s interests and hobbies.

3. Connect with passive candidates on social media

In addition to researching candidates who have applied for your open positions, you can also use social media to connect with passive candidates.

Passive candidates are candidates who are not actively looking for a job, but who might be open to new opportunities.

When you’re trying to connect with passive candidates on social media, you’ll want to look for people who have the skills and experience that you’re looking for. You can also use social media to find people who are connected to your current employees.

4. Build relationships with potential candidates

Finally, you can use social media to build relationships with potential candidates.

When you’re trying to build a relationship with a potential candidate, you’ll want to interact with them on a regular basis. This can include liking and commenting on their posts, sharing their content, and sending them messages.

You should also try to meet potential candidates in person. If you have the opportunity to attend a conference or meetup that a potential candidate is attending, you should take advantage of it.

5. Use social media to assess cultural fit

In addition to using social media to screen candidates for skills and experience, you can also use social media to assess cultural fit.

When you’re trying to assess cultural fit, you’re looking for information about the candidate’s values, interests, and personality. You can find this information by looking at the candidate’s social media profile, as well as the types of posts that they share.

6. Use social media to stay up-to-date on trends

Finally, you can use social media to stay up-to-date on trends in the recruiting industry.

There are a number of ways to do this, but one of the best ways is to follow thought leaders in the industry. You can also join groups and forums where recruiters share tips and advice.