Recruiting via Text Message: Five Ways SMS Can Help You Hire

The rise of mobile recruitment technology over the last 10 years dramatically shifted the traditional recruitment processes.  Gone are the days when candidates would type up their CV and post it off to recruiters or potential employers and patiently wait for responses. Thankfully, with various technological advances, recruitment and candidate communication has become easier and more efficient — specifically, with the adoption of text messaging as the preferred mode of communication.

There are a number of benefits that come with using text messaging to recruit new hires, such as automatic messaging, faster response rates, and reducing cycle times. Below, we take a closer look at five of the most important benefits that come with text recruiting.

1. It Helps You Reach Candidates Quickly

Did you know that the average person is 5 times more likely to open a text message than an email? One thing’s for sure, is that most people are on their phones fairly regularly throughout the day. Therefore, sending a message to a mobile phone means you are likely to connect and engage potential leads more quickly. We know recruiting can be time-sensitive, so quick responses are crucial when it comes to nabbing the right candidate.

2. Your Response Rates Will Be Higher

Generally, people have to put aside a few minutes to check their emails, but text messages are likely to be opened as soon as they pop up on the recipient’s phone. What’s more is that an email could get lost, or buried under a pile of emails and never actually opened. Generally, in today’s fast-paced society, text messages warrant a quicker response than emails.

3. Automatically Informs Candidates of New Job Openings

As new job openings become available, text recruiting allows you to notify candidates with a single message including a link to review the specific job listings that match their experience and skill set. On top of this, message templates can be configured and personalized based on your candidate’s individual preferences.

4. Increases Efficiency and Reduces Cycle Time

Once an interview has been scheduled, you can configure automated text messages that include a 24-hour message prior to the interview, and a same-day interview message too. This system also allows candidates to communicate with your team if they are running late or need to cancel or reschedule. Text recruiting also offers a simple trail of communication, making it easier to find information, dates, and timings.

5. Helps To Keep Your Candidates in The Loop

Text recruitment allows you to provide candidates with regular, automated updates throughout the entire application process. You can let them know once their application has been received, if they have made it to the next round, or if they need to complete a project or test to move forward with their application.

A Note On Text Message Etiquette

It’s important to note that text messages may seem slightly more informal than an email or phone call. So it is therefore important to keep a friendly yet professional tone when sending a message to a potential candidate. Always use the recipient’s name and remember to keep it short and to the point, and yet still personable.

Request a Free Text Recruiting Demo

There you have it, using mobile recruitment is a great way to reach out to and connect with prospective employees. If you would like to learn more about recruiting via text message, you can try it with our free demo here.