Today’s guest blogger is Armaan Akbany, CEO and Co-Founder of Shortlyst AI. Shortlyst AI is an all-in-one AI-based outbound multi-channel sourcing platform. Shortlyst AI provides 650+ million professional database, automation and contact finder features to cater to the needs of modern recruitment. In this article, Armaan and the Shortlyst Team discuss how better candidate engagement can improve your sourcing efforts.
The initial phase of the hiring process involves sourcing candidates. The HR department must review all incoming applications and shortlist them accordingly. A variety of techniques have been employed to achieve this, including ATS screening, employee referrals, and internal talent utilization. However, as time progresses, it’s crucial to stay up-to-date with the latest sourcing candidate developments to ensure your company remains competitive in acquiring the desired talent. Companies must realize that applicants have the right to seek out the most suitable workplace for their needs, just as companies have the right to establish their requirements. This has become even more prevalent since the pandemic’s conclusion, with remote work being one of the most preferred options among candidates. A helpful tip for effective sourcing is to make the most of candidate engagement.
Recruiters can boost candidate interest in their company by increasing candidate engagement. Candidate engagement refers to how connected a candidate feels to a company. HR typically communicates with candidates to keep them updated on hiring information and company events, but there are many other ways to maintain candidate interest. Here are some tips for sustaining candidate engagement with your company.
Maximize All the Channels You Have
To begin the hiring process, it’s important to identify your target audience for sourcing candidates. This will determine which media channels to use and the most effective to boost candidate engagement, which can be divided into traditional and social networks.
1. Traditional channels for Candidate Engagement
Recruiters and job seekers commonly utilize LinkedIn, making it the go-to platform for finding potential candidates. If you can easily find candidates who meet your criteria on LinkedIn, it is more practical to use this channel instead of advertising on websites or social media. Furthermore, using traditional channels can help you save money by avoiding the costs of digital promotions and relying on more conventional methods to direct traffic to your page.
2. Social networks
Recruiters can use social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to advertise job openings. However, they must ensure that their target audience is suitable for the job and worth reaching out to. Advertising on social media requires a lot of preparation and costs to ensure that the intended audience is engaged. Companies need to put in the effort to create ads, attract traffic, and produce exciting video content or informational posts to promote their job vacancies creatively. Despite the effort, companies need not worry, because if they have done everything right, it will increase their candidate engagement.
Find Out What Internal Connections You Have
Several types of internal connections that are usually used are:
1. Get your company’s talent pool ready for action.
Reach out to the candidates in your talent pool again to give them personalized details about the job opening at your company. By doing so, you can increase the level of interest shown by the candidates towards your company. Moreover, if you maintain a good relationship with the candidates, they will not think twice before re-applying to your company in the future.
2. Employee referrals.
Despite some people’s belief that employees who come in through referrals receive insider help and have a higher chance of success, having the right skill set is still the most important factor. Increasing candidate engagement through a referral program is more effective as it builds engagement based on employee testimonials. The HR Department utilizes this method to ensure they hire candidates with the necessary qualities and abilities without concerns. If the candidate’s performance falls below expectations, the employee who referred them is held accountable.
Make Job Postings as Creative as Possible
Writing down the requirements that your company creates is indeed essential to increase candidate engagement. Still, the company must also pay attention to points such as writing gender, educational background, and the post model that will be made. The use of bullets, points, lines, and even the color of the poster will influence the candidate’s assessment of the company’s quality.
Try Sourcing Candidates Using AI
Are you looking for a tool to efficiently connect with potential candidates? Consider using Shortlyst. Our Omnichannel outreach allows you to reach out to candidates through their preferred contact methods, such as email and phone. Additionally, you can avoid contacting the same person twice. Manage all your messaging needs within Shortlyst. Give it a try today!