Learn how to recruit on Instagram and start conversations that move off the app.
At the beginning of Instagram’s inception, circa 2011, the visual platform had a healthy fanbase of about 10M users. Now, that small fanbase has grown into a legion of 1B+ monthly active users. About 60% of Instagram users login to the app daily, and well over half of users are Millennials and younger.
Those stats alone should make you excited to learn how to recruit on Instagram and find the perfect talent for your open job position. It’s flooded with eager minds ready to discover your recruiting agency or company.
How To Recruit on Instagram and Move Beyond DMs
Half of the equation is the discovery: attracting and sourcing candidates that match your requirements. The real work begins when you finally make a connection and get a bite. What do you do, especially when the bite happens on Instagram? Let’s start from the beginning.
Messaging Candidates via DMs
Let’s say that you have been scouring hashtags and followers of followers to find a potential lead, and you’ve finally found one.
There are two ways to go about reaching out to people on Instagram. The most visible and common way to initiate conversation is to leave a comment on a post. Commenting is a way to show interest, give their post a little love, and break the ice—virtually.
The second way to communicate is via private messaging (aka DMs), but we recommend only reaching into the DMs after leaving a comment and liking a few of their posts. It warms up the lead, so to speak, and allows them to notice you better.
Keep the Conversation Light
You have dropped a few comments and likes, they have been receptive to your conversation, and now it is time to dive in for the real discussion. Send them a DM, addressing them by name and explaining that you’re on the hunt for XYZ.
We won’t go in-depth here about structuring the conversation or sending warm or cold messages, but the one thing we want to stress is the tone of the conversation. Keep it light and casual. Remember, Instagram is not the same as LinkedIn. The average individual (non-business owners or entrepreneurs) is not expecting to be approached by a recruiter. Introduce yourself and what you’re after very lightly, and maybe even throw in an emoji or two in your messages.
Move It Off IG Quickly
Once you’ve got the wheels moving in a forward direction, try to steer the conversation off of Instagram. While IG is a great place to kickstart connections, there are more suitable places to discuss a job opportunity if the candidate is serious. Knowing how to recruit on Instagram also means understanding when it’s time to move your efforts beyond the platform.
The best way to do this is by giving the potential candidate an email address or phone number to contact you. You can even ask for their email to make the first move rather than waiting for them to contact you. You may even consider leaving a link to your website or recruiting agency too.
Are They on LinkedIn?
Piggybacking off the point above, are they on LinkedIn? If your lead has purposefully included a link to their LinkedIn profile in their Instagram bio, you may want to skip DMing them and move directly to LinkedIn.
If they went through the trouble to put their LinkedIn in their bio, they want people to click on it. And as we mentioned, many people may prefer to be approached on a professional networking site anyways. It’s simply a more formal, career-oriented space.
Sales Recruiters Chicago Works with Job Seekers & Recruiters
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