Text Messaging for Recruiting: Best Practices for Using SMS to Attract Top Talent
Should recruiters include text messaging for recruiting?
A recent survey conducted by Software Advice shows as many as 60% are already using text messaging to communicate to job candidates as part of their hiring process. Text messaging has many benefits as a recruiting tool, including the ability to reach out to candidates instantly. In order for recruiters to maximize the success of their texting program, here are some best practices to think about:
Make it easy for job candidates to access job listings by text.
Create an SMS auto-responder that lets job hunters text-for-info to a short code (ie Text GETJOBS to 81411) and get back a link to up to date job listings. Recruiters can add this mobile call to action to print ads, billboards, direct mail pieces, flyers – or any touchpoint where potential candidates will be interacting with your call for talent.
Don’t text in the early morning or evenings.
When asked which times job candidates preferred to be contacted via text, 82% said between 8am and 4pm. Don’t annoy potential candidates with late night text notifications or very early morning wake up calls.
Survey of 371 random job seekers conducted by Software Advice
Respond quickly to job candidates who show interest.
When job seekers text in a keyword, recruiters can be notified immediately by text or email and can respond quickly. In addition to having leads sent to email, recruiters can also generate a lead list of phone numbers through SMS Lead Generation which populates a Google Spreadsheet for you to respond to when ready.
Text sparingly.
70% of job seekers prefer to receive two or less simultaneous texts from a recruiter. When job seekers opt in to receive text messages from recruiters, it is important for them to know in your initial auto-reply how many messages per month they should expect to receive.
Always offer a way out.
Whether a job seeker already found a job or they just don’t want to receive texts anymore, be sure to offer them a way off your SMS subscriber list. Let them know they can always text STOP to unsubscribe from your text messages.
Share!
In the recruiting game, someone always knows someone who knows someone. Use a URL shortener for your links to jobs you want to fill and ask your subscribers to share it by text. According to a study from Radium One, 32% of people globally who share content online only do so through “dark social” channels, which includes text messaging.
Interested in learning how TextMarks can help in your recruitment efforts? Call us at 800-696-1393 or sign up for a free trial.
