In the first instalment of our blog series exploring the role of paid media in recruitment, we discussed how a lack of knowledge was having a negative impact. The focus of this piece is on the role paid advertising can play in fulfilling a recruitment requirement.
Businesses currently looking to hire are facing a number of challenges, not least the fact the market is being heavily candidate driven. In the majority of sectors, the number of opportunities available are exceeding the number of candidates qualified to fill them. Unsurprisingly, this is causing problems. However, utilising paid media can have a crucial part to play in alleviating this headache.
Enables a much larger reach
With hiring becoming increasingly difficult, the approach taken when advertising must be considered much more carefully. Organic strategies are now unlikely to be sufficient in bringing in the desired quality applications. Posting a job role on social media without any budget is likely to bring very minimal results. The reason is simple; only 10-20% of your page followers will be directly exposed to your post on their news feed.
A very different outcome is experienced when paid advertising is introduced. The level of investment influences the impact that is felt, but even a small budget is better than none at all. The number of people you can reach is significantly enhanced, which in turn should ensure better results are obtained.
If that ultimately results in a hire being made, the investment was money well spent.
Ability to target passive candidates
Not only does paid advertising enable a company to reach a much larger audience, within that audience will undoubtedly be a number of passive candidates. Even though these individuals are not actively looking for a new role, interest can still be created.
Attracting passive candidates can be extremely valuable when looking to make a quality hire. Typically, these individuals are already employed in a good job, and their current employer usually wants to retain them. Additionally, the absence of needing to find a new role means they are less likely to hide flaws and inflate skills.
To attract such candidates, the campaign must be powerful enough to grab the attention of top talent. Cutting through the noise can be the biggest challenge, and often requires specialist knowledge of the subject area.
Advanced targeting features
One of the biggest question marks around paid media surrounds the accuracy of the targeting. The answer is that it can be as focused as you want it to be, as the algorithms employed are highly sophisticated. The majority of top advertising platforms offer advanced features which enable you to target the specific audiences you’re attempting to reach. This negates the threat of spending money targeting people who are not relevant.
A range of features are available which help to ensure targeting is as focused and relevant as you want it to be. Specific location areas can be selected, with full control over the exact radiuses to be captured. Therefore, transport links in the surrounding areas can be taken into consideration. This is vitally important in recruitment when looking at commute times and distances.
In addition to the location flexibility offered, audiences can also be refined by interest, job title, and field of study. All are essential factors when targeting, especially in recruitment where experience and qualifications play such an integral role. These fields ensure that only those who match the requirements of the role are served the ads. As a consequence, more relevant applications should be received.
Assisting the long-term strategy
The short-term benefits of running paid media campaigns are clear, but they can also have a positive impact in the long-term. Many organisations have a hiring strategy in place, which align with future growth plans. So, even though there might be a recruitment drive taking place at the time of the media campaign running, success is not limited to the present.
One of the primary reasons for this is the boost that can be provided to your employer brand. By investing in paid media to promote available positions, a considerable number of people are exposed to your brand. This is not only beneficial in generating external awareness of your business, but it can assist future recruitment efforts too. Even if someone isn’t looking to apply for one of your roles right now, it doesn’t mean they won’t in future.
Enabling your brand message to be seen by a wider audience can generate intrigue around your business. This can result in individuals taking a keener interest in future developments, as well as any openings which may arise. Ultimately, a pipeline of talent, already familiar with your brand, can be generated well in advance.
Successfully recruiting top talent is far from straightforward. It can be difficult enough to find these individuals, let alone employ them. However, utilising paid media can offer the exposure required to clear this hurdle.
Written by Tom Chapman, Digital Marketing Executive at Talent Works International. For more information, contact tom.chapman@talent-works.com.
