“It’s a dialogue, not a monologue, and some people don’t understand that. Social media is more like a telephone than a television.” –  Amy Jo Martin

Of course, you use social media to recruit top candidates for your staffing agency. Who doesn’t? But the question is which platforms are you using and, even more important, are you using them effectively?

In today’s COVID-19 skewed job market—where slow-to-recover industries are still posting high unemployment stats while booming sectors are beating the bushes for qualified employees—agencies find themselves scrambling to snatch up the best candidates. This means getting the attention of these coveted candidates before the competition does.

While everyone’s thoughts veer towards LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter when it comes to recruiting via social media, those who haven’t included Instagram in their recruitment strategy are missing out.

The Facebook-owned platform has exploded in popularity, especially among Millennials and Gen Z—the very candidates rising to dominate levels across the workforce. But are we recruiting on a picture-sharing site? Why would we put time and effort into that?

Instagram brims with visual appeal, providing a perfect environment for your employer branding to shine. After all, we humans are a visual lot, with 65% of folks weighing in as visual learners. So, yes, a “picture sharing” site can play a vital role in brand awareness and recruiting strategies.

Let’s take a look at some genuinely noteworthy stats.

Everyone knows that the meat and potatoes of social media are wrapped around two intertwined functions: engaging readers/viewers and interacting with followers. But before you can do that, first, you must zero in on the specifics of how each platform works. What makes each distinctive branch of the social media forest tick, if you will. Translated: Simply repeating on Instagram the same content you post on other sites won’t get you the most effective exposure.

Check out these tips for getting started with or for enhancing your Instagram presence.

1.    Devise an Instagram strategy

As a picture-sharing site, Instagram posts should create a visual concept of what it looks like to work for your agency. A glimpse behind the scenes into the inner workings of your workforce. It’s a stellar opportunity to put to use the adage, “a picture is worth a thousand words.”
Some posting ideas include—

  • An employee feature focused on what he/she does, how long he/she has worked at the company, what he/she likes most
  • Pictures of work events, meetings, team outings, conferences
  • Quotes from happy employees
  • Video interviews of employees sharing about the company
  • Awards and accolades won by the company
  • Pictures of your office and workspace
  • Photos promoting specific open roles

Remember, posting is just the beginning. Be sure to engage with commenters, ask and answer questions, and follow up.

2.    Focus on quality rather than quantity

“Keep your posts simple and high quality, with a clear focus and connection with your brand,” suggests Sophie Deering, Account Executive at Link Humans . “Users don’t want to be bombarded with dozens of poor-quality updates that take up their newsfeed and don’t contribute any value.” 

Exactly. In our hectic, time-crunch world, the search for relevant, quality content is real. Clearly, more is not always better.

3.    Use hashtags effectively

Choosing the right hashtags is critical to being found by both active and passive candidates. Of course, you’ll include your brand hashtag to facilitate brand awareness if you have one. Use strategic hashtags such as #hiring or #joinourteam that candidates will use in a search.

Despite what you may have read or heard, that hashtags are over-and-done-with, Justin Cruz, the founder of Curate, an Instagram growth tool, says otherwise. “I promise hashtags are as valuable as ever.”

Cruz notes hashtag strategies on Instagram have become more complex. He shares the lowdown on unlocking their full potential, and increasing your reach via hashtags may be what takes your brand to the next level.

If you’re actively seeking tech-savvy candidates, Instagram can be a gold mine. Why? Because tech-savvy and all-things-online, including an active presence on social media, tend to go hand-in-hand. Techies do everything online, including searching for job opportunities. And what about lovers of creativity and innovation? Yep, creative types are drawn to the visual aspect of Instagram. Seeking to expand your marketing team? Those with marketing interests understand the value social media represents, so they naturally stay tuned in.

So, why are you waiting? If you’re not utilizing Instagram to its full potential for recruiting candidates, ASJ Partners can help. We understand the power of a solid social media presence for recruiting candidates. We also know that each social media network brings unique customization and branding opportunities. Let us create a customized package that includes a strategized approach to managing your social media pages. Contact our team via our website or drop us a message at weneedhelp@asjpartners.com