Texting Will Change How You Think About Recruiting
The old way of doing things is not always the best way, especially in the business world. Yet, so often successful professionals get stuck in their own ruts and have trouble seeing the changing tide. If you have been against implementing texting for the recruitment process, then here is a strong case to change your mind. These are the common arguments we hear and why we just don't think they hold up:
“Texting is unprofessional.”
Things are changing. In 2016, CareerBuilder reported that 82 percent of employees are keeping their cellphones where they can see them at work. Far more than half of employees (66%) reported using their cell phone at least two to three times while at work each day. Many nurses have phones to help them better serve their patients on-the-go at hospitals, sales professionals can use their phones to access the cloud or internet during a sales pitch for immediate support of their presentations, and other professionals use them to answer client questions or respond quickly to their boss when something is needed last minute. If professionals are already on their phones at work, texting them is simply using the platform that is easiest for them. Texting will help you be an HR professional that is able to reach younger talent.
“Texting isn’t detailed enough.”
A text message has to be shorter than an email or phone call, but that is the beauty of it – you have to cut down on what you want to say to streamline the process. For anyone that is busy (most professional are) and has a short attention span for time wasters (most professionals do), texting is the perfect medium. Texts are to-the-point and can include links, addresses and directions that can be pulled up right on their phones for use. It’s a seamless process that will help keep your applicants from getting lost in the process.
“Texting will be too time consuming.”
Text messages can be setup to automatically go out when a common action is taken or specific date is coming up. Automated texting allows professionals to avoid the busywork of communicating the redundant points to each new prospect. Instead, your HR director or talent manager can set up texts ahead of time and they will continue to go out for each new lead that starts the application process. From a welcome text to a reminder about an interview, your employees don’t have to worry about sending out individual messages, but communication levels still increase.
“What’s the point of changing over and integrating a new strategy? Sounds expensive.”
Can you afford not to? The younger generations prefer texting and are going to be more likely to respond to texts. If you aren’t appealing to the fresh, new talent, your competition will. You may lose out on a lot of potential because you want to stay on the familiar path of email and phone. Only about 20% of recruiting emails were even found to be opened. Phone calls often lead to a long and irritating game of phone tag. Mass SMS is not hard for your team to implement, track and tweak.
If you still feel strongly against changing over to texting, continue to observe the industry trends and how technology has changed the professional world. Companies are bringing phones into the workplace and using them to appeal to their target audiences. It’s vital that you update your company strategy to include texting as a way to more efficiently recruit top talent.
