A New Twist in Recruiting Techniques

Recruiting  is moving into the mobile network arena with a twist.  An article in SHRM “HR Magazine” (Feb. 2010) highlights the new method of connecting with potential job seekers.  Companies are providing options to the generation that lives on their mobile devices thru SMS (short messaging services).  This lets job seekers opt in to receive information on opportunities within a company, as well as communicate with the potential employer on their mobile device. 
One company that uses SMS finds that email marketing open rates are in the single digits, while their SMS messages are read 92% of the time.  For them this method of communication makes a lot of sense.  Texting options are available on most mobile phones and so the outreach is very successful.
Companies using this method add information to their advertising or career pages to allow the job seeker to sign up for the distribution network.  The recruiter must also provide an opt-out method for the service.  Then they are free to capture mobile numbers and send messages at will. 
To manage the contact information, recruiters can sort by location, or create segmented codes that identify the type of opportunities (SALESJOBS, TECHJOBS).  Then as hiring needs arise there is a ready and interested group of applicants to contact. 
For the company using this service, some effort is required to make their recruiting presence mobile-friendly.  Not all emails designed for desktops will work well in this mobile environment. This is a new opportunity for companies that provide solutions for marketing & recruiting systems.  
Job seekers can stay on top of the latest career news in an organization they want to work for without having to constantly access their website or career center.  They also have another opportunity to reach the recruiters directly and update them on any new developments in their careers. 
Obviously this new recruiting technique is just in the early adopter stage, and won’t replace other media.  Still, it is worth checking out for both employers and applicants.

Tags: applications, candidates, hiring process, hiring talent, job seeker, recruiters