Say hello to Instagram, the newest member of the recruitment team! Yes, you read that correctly: the app that was once only for sharing food photos and cute dog videos has now evolved into a recruitment hub. Who would have guessed that scrolling through your feed could lead to the discovery of top-tier talent? So buckle up, because we're about to take a ride through the world of Instagram recruiting!
Should staffing professionals use Instagram for recruiting?
Consider this: You're a recruiter on the hunt for the ideal candidate for your company. You've tried everything, but nothing seems to be working. When you hear a whisper in the wind, it's "Instagram." Is it possible? Can this photo-sharing app truly assist you in finding the talent you seek? Yes, it is a resounding yes!
Instagram is a goldmine of potential candidates. With over 1 billion monthly active users, there's a good chance your next start candidate is already on the app, waiting to be discovered. With a little know-how, you'll be well on your way to recruiting success.
How does Instagram help you to recruit?
Instagram is a valuable asset for social media recruitment because it is a visually-based platform that allows recruiters to highlight the benefits of applying for a position. Potential job seekers can better understand what working at a position would be like by viewing posts featuring team members, events, and other aspects of daily life in the workplace.
Staffing professionals can reach out to passive candidates by connecting with relevant niche groups or influencers on the platform. Passive candidates are those who are not actively looking for new jobs but could potentially fill certain roles if presented with the right opportunity. Furthermore, Instagram stories provide another way to capture people's attention by quickly sharing updates about open positions or other relevant topics.
Pros & Cons of recruitment on Instagram
Pros:
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Saving costs. Unless you are running ads, the platform is completely free and requires no investment of money to reach your target audience.
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Wide reach. As mentioned above, with over 1 billion active users per month, the channel provides an amazing source for staffing professionals who wish to reach out to a large pool of potential job seekers.
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Targeting niche groups. Through connecting with relevant influencers or communities on Instagram, recruiters may tap into people who are interested in certain industries or roles - making it easier to target potential job seekers.
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Visual storytelling. The visual nature of the platform enables recruiters to share photos and videos that better convey their message in an engaging way.
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Good for branding. Instagram is an excellent platform for branding and marketing. Specifically, recruiters may use it to showcase events, projects, or other aspects of the business in a creative way - thereby attracting top talent to hand in their applications.
Cons:
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Time-consuming process. As Instagram requires regular engagement and content creation, staffing professionals need to be committed to spending time developing interesting posts that resonate with their audience.
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Competition from other recruiters. With various staffing organizations/ individuals already on the platform, there are higher chances that potential job seekers may overlook certain posts - making it difficult to stand out from other players.
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Some functional limitations. As Instagram is a relatively new channel for hiring purposes, there are still certain limitations to the capabilities of setting up job postings on the channel. For example, recruiters cannot currently post ads directly through the app - which means they must rely on other platforms or third-party providers to do so.
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Lack of advanced search features. Although Instagram does offer search capabilities, they are not as comprehensive as those found in job boards or other platforms that are strictly dedicated to recruitment. This means recruiters may have to manually go through profiles in order to find people with the desired skill set or experience.
How to start recruiting on Instagram
1. Set up an account
Before you start recruiting on Instagram, make sure to set up a professional profile - and fill in all the necessary information. Additionally, create an attractive bio featuring details about the benefits candidates may expect from the open positions.
2. Connect with relevant communities
Research which niche groups or influencers could be beneficial when targeting potential applicants - then connect with them on the platform and like their content or comment on their posts in order to build relationships.
3. Post engaging content
Be active by regularly posting content related to the hiring process. Additionally, make sure to use Instagram Stories in order to quickly share updates and keep people engaged.
4. Analyze performance
Monitor how your posts are performing by using metrics such as engagement rate or reach - this will enable you to understand what type of content resonates best with your target audience.
5. Reach out directly
If you come across a potential job candidate through their profile, feel free to contact them directly via Instagram’s messaging feature - and invite them for an interview or further discussion about the role.
Strategies & best practices for recruitment on Instagram
1. Be strategic
It is critical to think strategically when using Instagram for recruiting. Begin by optimizing your profile with relevant keywords and hashtags - this will increase the visibility of your posts or stories and ensure that potential job seekers can find you easily.
When deciding on hashtags and captions to use, keep them simple and relevant. If you're recruiting, use the hashtag #recruiting the hashtags based on what you want to offer if you are advertising an event or offering a job.
2. Have a detailed and diversified content calendar
Create a content strategy that includes regular updates about open positions, and events, and show off your personal brand; this will help you build an engaging online presence that will resonate with potential candidates.
Instagram stories are an excellent way to connect with job seekers because they can be used to promote job openings, share job updates, and highlight success stories. You can also use polls or quizzes to gauge the interests of your followers.
3. Leverage visuals
When it comes to recruiting on Instagram, visuals are crucial because they help our content stand out and get noticed. Consider posting videos or images of the work environment or recent successes to help viewers understand what types of opportunities are available to them.
It is also recommended to be creative when creating content. Experiment with different visual formats, such as recruiting videos polls, or GIFs, to engage your audience and ensure that your posts stand out.
4. Make use of Instagram Reels
Instagram Reels are extremely useful because they allow you to create short clips that highlight job openings or upcoming events. Recruiters can also use this feature to add music, stickers, or special effects to make your content more engaging.
5. Engage with your followers
Remember to be proactive and engage with other users on Instagram in order to successfully attract qualified talent. Take the time to respond to their questions, like their comments, and express interest in their posts; doing so will help you build relationships and trust.
In addition, consider joining relevant industry groups or communities - this will allow you to find job seekers who are interested in the open positions at your company.
6. Leverage influencers
Influencer marketing has grown in popularity on Instagram; therefore, it is critical to leverage their reach by connecting with relevant influencers in order to target passive candidates who are not actively looking for work.
Reach out to thought leaders or niche communities with a large following if you want to increase the visibility of your posts and stories. Aside from that, we recommend collaborating with those who have access to specific target audiences - this strategy is particularly useful if you are looking for candidates in a specific industry or sector.
7. Take advantage of x-ray and Boolean search
Advanced functions such as X-ray and Boolean search can be used to find potential job candidates on Instagram. The former involves using Google's X-Ray function to target potential applicants who meet specific criteria, whereas the latter is a type of online search that uses specific keywords to find relevant candidates.
8. Use location tags (if necessary)
If needed, you should also mark your posts with location tags - to better target potential applicants from a specific area or region.
9. Check out Instagram Insights
Check out metrics like engagement rate or reach to ensure that your Instagram recruitment efforts are successful. This will allow you to understand what type of content resonates best with your target audience and adjust accordingly. Monitor competitor accounts as well to stay up to date on the latest trends and optimize your efforts accordingly.
10. Consider running ads
Finally, consider running ads in order to attract more qualified applicants. Instagram Ads offer a range of options and targeting capabilities - so you can easily adjust your campaigns depending on the job opening or desired demographics.
FAQs about Instagram recruiting
Can you use Instagram for recruiting?
Yes, Instagram is a powerful tool for recruiters if used correctly. By leveraging the platform’s features and capabilities, you can easily target qualified job seekers and build relationships with them.
How do you make a hiring post on Instagram?
Remember to include the job title, an overview of the role, key responsibilities, qualifications and requirements, and any other relevant details when creating an Instagram staffing post. In order to attract more applicants, include links to your recruitment website or job listing.
As previously stated, pay close attention to the images, captions, and hashtags you use to ensure that your post stands out and reaches the right people.
Read more: 7 things that make candidates apply to your recruitment website
How do I find candidates on Instagram?
To find qualified job seekers on Instagram, use search terms such as specific hashtags related to the industry or niche, as well as location tags if necessary. Additionally, consider leveraging influencers and thought leaders who have access to a certain target audience.
Improve your recruitment efforts with Vincere's staffing software
With Vincere’s staffing software, you can easily boost your recruitment efforts and increase the chance of landing the right candidates for each position. Our all-in-one platform provides a wide range of features such as job boards, applicant tracking, analytic dashboards, video interviewing, and more - enabling users to quickly identify qualified candidates and manage their recruitment operations more efficiently.
Plus, with its intuitive user interface, you can easily monitor performance metrics and track insights in order to optimize your recruitment strategy on Instagram.
Come have a chat with us. Book a demo here.
Final thoughts
Overall, Instagram is a fantastic tool for recruiters to reach out to potential job candidates if they know how to use it strategically. You can quickly increase the visibility of your job postings, attract more qualified applicants, and find the right people for your open positions by following the tips above.
Instagram is just one of the many tools that recruitment agencies have in their arsenal to nurture candidate and client relationships. A recruiter CRM is the core tool that staffing agencies should be utilising. Get a free demo today and see how Vincere can supercharge your agency's growth.