Hashtags have become an invaluable tool for recruiters to find and engage talent on social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. With billions of users across these platforms, hashtags enable recruiters to tap into niche communities and networks related to their hiring needs.
In an age where talent attraction and sourcing is increasingly competitive, hashtags allow recruiters to position their employer brand, advertise job openings, and identify potential candidates in a strategic, targeted manner.
Here are some of the key ways recruiters can leverage hashtags to enhance their recruiting efforts:
1. Monitor niche hashtags to identify prospects
One of the biggest advantages of hashtags is that they organize content around specific topics and interests. As such, following and monitoring relevant hashtags provides a constant stream of prospects who are signaling what they care about.
For example, if you’re looking to hire software developers, keeping tabs on hashtags like #softwaredeveloper, #coding, #programming, #techjobs, and related technology hashtags will put Developers who use those hashtags on your radar.
You can search hashtags on each platform to identify ones that align with the roles you are seeking to fill. Take note of popular and recurring hashtags in your industry. Track these hashtags daily to stay on top of relevant conversations and profiles.
With this approach, qualified, passionate candidates who are actively discussing and engaging in topics related to the position effectively announce themselves. The hashtags bring them onto your radar.
2. Promote job openings using targeted hashtags
Hashtags also serve as a way to syndicate your job posts and openings to the right audiences on social media. Including relevant hashtags will get your job ads shown to people monitoring those hashtags.
For example, whenever you post about an open software developer role on Twitter or Instagram, including hashtags like #softwarejobs, #softwaredeveloperjobs, #programmingjobs will promote the opening to interested prospects.
Some additional tips for hashtags when promoting openings:
– Research which hashtags your target talent pool uses when discussing jobs, hiring, and your industry. Use related hashtags in your job ads.
– Include a mix of general and niche job hashtags (e.g. #jobs, #hiring along with #HoustonJobs, #ChicagoJobs) to cast a wider net.
– Use hashtags associated with the skills needed for the role to grab the attention of matches (e.g. #javascript #python for developer roles)
– Include branded hashtags like #CompanyNameJobs to extend reach.
– Post consistently using the hashtags over time to stay visible.
3. Build community and increase reach by creating a branded hashtag
Creating a branded hashtag exclusive to your company and recruiting efforts enables candidates to easily find, participate in, and share your content. It also fosters an online community for your employer brand.
For example, #PandaJobs could be a hashtag for Panda Software Inc. to associate all their job openings and recruiter posts. Candidates interested in opportunities at Panda can follow and contribute to that hashtag.
Tips for creating branded hashtags:
– Make it simple and relevant to your company name, culture or recruiting. E.g. #JobsAtPanda
– Search to ensure your branded hashtag is unique and not already in use.
– Cross-promote your hashtag across your social profiles and job ads.
– Get employees to start using your branded hashtag to develop momentum.
– Interact with candidates and followers using the hashtag to build a community.
– Monitor the hashtag feed to see who engages and respond.
4. Research prospects who use relevant hashtags
Hashtag usage also provides a quick glance at whether a prospect aligns with the role you are seeking to fill. Beyond just finding prospects, hashtags give you instant context.
If you come across a developer frequently using #javascript, #reactjs, and #frontenddeveloper – their expertise and interests are clear.
Analyzing the hashtags and topics a prospect cares about provides a shortcut to assessing culture and skills fit. You gain insights into their passions and capabilities.
Some ways to leverage hashtags to research and evaluate prospects:
– Review their profile and bio hashtags to gauge skills and interests
– Look at which hashtags they frequently post and engage with
– See if they follow hashtags related to your company, culture or industry
– Identify context from the hashtags used in their posts and conversations
– Check if they are contributing value on hashtags associated with the role
5. Connect with prospects by engaging on hashtags
Participating in hashtag conversations is a way to directly interact with prospects and demonstrate your employer brand as well.
For example, searching #coding on Twitter reveals software developers discussing everything from their latest projects, challenges, new languages, code snippets, etc.
By adding value to these conversations with your perspective or expertise, you can organically connect with candidates who may be a potential fit.
Tips for engaging on hashtags:
– Provide insights, opinions, tips/advice relevant to the hashtag discussion
– Share useful resources like articles, case studies, blogs, e-books
– Create polls or ask questions to spark dialogue
– Comment on posts and contribute to discussions
– Repost relevant updates using the hashtag & tag the author
– Use branded hashtag or handle to highlight your company
6. Curate user-generated hashtags for employer branding
Beyond using branded hashtags, sourcing prospects, and engaging – you can also curate user-generated hashtags related to your employer brand.
For example, candidates may tweet about their interview experience at your company using hashtags like #MyPandaInterview or #PandaJobInterview.
Prospects could also post about your company culture using something like #PandaOfficeLife.
Identifying and keeping track of such hashtags allows you to:
– Showcase authentic employer brand content from real candidates
– Monitor sentiment around your recruiting process and workplace
– Identify engaged prospects to target
– Highlight your employee value proposition
– Inspire and inform applicants about expectations
7. Conduct proactive candidate outreach using hashtags
In addition to posting your jobs and reacting to hashtag conversations, another proactive way to leverage hashtags is directly contacting potential candidates through @mentioning them.
For example, you could search for developers who frequently post about #python and #django and reach out to them about an opening requiring those skills.
Mentioning them by their handle allows you to get on their radar and gauge interest. If they follow you back or respond, you can further discuss opportunities.
This enables you to:
– Direct message qualified, relevant prospects about openings
– Start relationships with high-potential candidates
– Increase awareness of your employer brand
– Get referrals by mentioning employees to share openings
– Showcase and humanize your company culture
Conclusion
Hashtags unlock a host of recruiting capabilities on social media.
They enable you to:
– Identify and research relevant prospects based on niche interests and skills
– Promote job openings to targeted audiences
– Interact with candidates and build community around your employer brand
– Curate user-generated content for authentic employer branding
– Conduct proactive outreach to qualified candidates
With the powerful targeting and reach of platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, hashtags are a valuable addition to your sourcing, branding and engagement strategy.
Monitoring the right hashtags daily provides a consistent inbound pipeline of prospects who you can then nurture into applicants and hires. Participating in hashtag conversations builds connections with candidates right within the context of their interests and expertise.
Hashtags ultimately allow you to shape and share your employer brand story on the same channels where today’s top talent is spending time. Recruiting with hashtags enables you to be strategic and relevant in reaching potential candidates.
Platform | Hashtag Examples | How to Use for Recruiting |
---|---|---|
#softwarejobs, #marketingjobs, #hiring | Search relevant hashtags to identify and engage developers, marketers etc. Use hashtags in all job posts. | |
#jobsearch, #resumehelp, #nowhiring | Target candidates interested in job search tips and advice. Use location hashtags like #chicagojobs. | |
#accountingcareers, #nursejobs, #bostonjobs | Join and post in local/industry-specific groups using niche hashtags. Engage in comments. | |
#softwaredeveloper, #digitalmarketing, #hiringmanagers | Follow relevant hashtags to discover prospects. Use in posts to broaden reach. |
Here are some additional tips for getting the most out of hashtags for recruiting:
– Leverage hashtag search to identify prospects and eavesdrop on conversations
– Determine the most popular niche hashtags aligned to your open roles
– Mix general hashtags like #jobs, #hiring, #recruiting with niche ones
– Post consistently using relevant hashtags over time
– Engage with followers and prospects using branded hashtags
– Use location-specific hashtags like #BostonJobs, #SeattleJobs to geo-target
– Create hip, fun hashtags that capture your employer brand personality
– Track hashtag performance to identify the most effective ones
– Stay on top of hashtag trends and evolve your strategy accordingly
Key Takeaways
– Monitor niche hashtags aligned to your open roles to identify prospects
– Promote job openings by using targeted, relevant hashtags
– Create branded hashtags to build community around your employer brand
– Research prospects and assess fit based on the hashtags they use
– Engage with candidates and employees by participating in hashtag discussions
– Curate user-generated hashtags to showcase authentic employer brand content
– Conduct proactive outreach to prospects using @mentions and hashtags
Hashtags enable you to execute a data-driven, targeted recruiting strategy on social media. Following relevant hashtags provides a source of qualified candidates while participating in conversations builds engagement.
With the massive reach of platforms like Twitter and Facebook, hashtags give every job opening and employer brand message an opportunity to be discovered organically. They allow you to be strategic and laser-focused in your social recruiting and talent sourcing efforts.