Using Social Media to Hire Employees
For restaurants in Charleston especially, hiring is a huge problem right now. If you own one, I’m not telling you anything new. If you’re running a business in town in another industry - construction, retail - you might also be experiencing this.
First of all, I have no idea why this is such a problem and offer no long-term solutions. Pretty sure addressing the economic repercussions of a rapidly evolving workforce is beyond the scope of marketing, having more to do with accepted labor norms and other big picture things than anything we can snap our fingers here today to fix. I’m also aware you didn’t come here for my not-very-well-versed opinion on all that, either.
What I can offer are some ways to make sure that those looking to work for your restaurant, retail store, construction company, hotel, or other small business know that you’re hiring.
At Creativ, we find that many who ask for our help to put out job listings often forget several tools available to them. Unfortunately, throwing up a post on Indeed just doesn’t work as well anymore, but that doesn’t mean don’t do that, too.
Like anything else you want to communicate about your business, you have to get a little more creative these days to attract the attention of those your message is intended for.
6 Free Ways to Find Employees
1. Use Facebook Jobs
Within the world of Facebook, there’s a whole section dedicated to job posts. People can apply directly through the platform and you can set it up to receive an email notification each time one comes through. You have options to qualify candidates, ask them questions like when they’re able to start, have them include resumes or past experience, and more. It simplifies the process for the candidates by populating most of their info and has the added benefit of them not having to leave a platform you are already active on.
2. Post that you’re hiring!
Have you posted this on your social feeds? Created a job listing from your personal LinkedIn profile? Do this! We don’t always love text on images posted on your Instagram, but this is an exception. Post a graphic that says “We’re Hiring” and use relevant hashtags like #chsjobs to extend your reach.
3. Is there any mention that you’re hiring on your website?
This is a big one. If I went to your website right now, would I know that you’re looking to hire? A good candidate will research companies when they’re looking for a job. Even if they see a social post, most will take a beat to find out more about you. One of the first places they’ll land is your website. Add a hiring page or create a post on your blog. Even if it’s a page you hide from your menu's navigation, candidates can easily get there with a “we’re hiring” link in your footer.
4. Employee Referrals
Do you have an employee referral program? There’s a number of ways to start one, whether you give cash incentives to an employee that brings on a friend that lasts a certain amount of time or employees are rewarded with being able to choose desired shifts for a week or otherwise.
5. Use Facebook Groups
There are several Facebook Groups dedicated to employment opportunities in Charleston. Once you’ve created your Facebook Jobs post, copy that link and paste it into a post to share in any of these relevant groups.
6. Link up with surrounding colleges or organizations relevant to your industry.
Do you have a specific demographic you’re looking for? Maybe you’re looking for college students for part-time work. Reach out to college career centers and ask how they communicate job openings in their town. Reach out to your Chamber of Commerce or local organizations like Lowcountry Local First or one relevant to your industry to see how they can help.
