It’s called social media for a reason: it’s all about people communicating with their preferred, most trusted and reliable contacts via various social platforms.
Much like recruitment, the power and success of social media lie in the people who actively engage in it. And it’s not surprising that for companies looking to hire top talent, their current team members are their best ambassadors – and among their strongest social advocates.
The Proof is in the Numbers
Numerous research findings support the value of social recruiting in general, and in particular, employee involvement in the process. For instance:
- Seventy-nine percent of job applicants use social media in their job searches.
- Job seekers rank social media among their most useful search resources – more so even than job boards, job ads or recruiting events. And, they rank current company employees as their most trusted information source.
Leverage the Power of Your Existing Superstars
Through an employee advocacy program, you can leverage current employees’ contacts and social platforms to share job opportunities, promote your employment brand, and attract more diverse talent. The advantages of such a strategy include:
- Increased exposure and reach: As your best employees share your company culture, values and achievements, you can tap into a larger and more diverse talent pool, including candidates who may not otherwise be aware of or interested in your opportunities.
- An enhanced brand and reputation: Because employees are seen as highly credible information sources, their authentic stories showcase your company in a more relatable way. This helps build your image as an employer of choice.
- Better retention: Candidates who view and read your employee-generated content tend to have a more realistic view of what it’s like to work at your company. This can help reduce the risk of a hiring mismatch and ultimately improve your retention rate.
- More empowered employees: Employee advocates often feel a stronger connection and loyalty to their organization. As such, they’re more engaged and feel a greater sense of belonging and job satisfaction.
- Greater organizational transparency and trust: Advocacy programs require transparency from an organizational side, which in turn fosters greater openness and trust between employees and management.
- Boosted morale: Along with greater trust, advocacy contributes to a more positive work culture as it encourages employees to share their experiences, ideas and achievements. As a company, you’re demonstrating that you value people’s work and contributions, which enhances morale and, in turn, productivity.
- Improved internal communication: The more involved they become in your advocacy program, the better informed your employees tend to be. This improved understanding about business goals, products and services leads to a greater alignment with your company’s mission and vision.
- Increased brand awareness: Utilizing social media naturally generates opportunities to network, which drives leads, as positive employee content is acknowledged by potential new hires.
Employee advocacy on social media is a win for everyone involved. To learn more about this and other successful strategies to boost your recruitment success, contact Haley Marketing today.
