The impact of social, mobile and video technologies on recruitment

The manufacturing industry is in the midst of a significant transformation, as those in the field work to change the perception to match the current reality. To find and attract workers, recruiters are turning to technology for two main reasons. First, it allows them to meet Millennials and Generation Z where they live—on their mobile phones and inside the world of social media. Second, manufacturing plant floors today are sophisticated, high-tech environments that require a tech-minded individual. Using a more modern approach helps recruiters zero in on their target audience.

Widening the talent pool with social media

The success of social media as a recruiting channel can vary. What makes it such a great fit for the manufacturing industry is that it allows recruiters to reach and connect with two very important workforce segments: passive candidates and those with a specific skillset. According to a recent survey by SHRM, 80 percent of HR professionals use social media to reach the former, and 71 percent do so for the latter. Finding and attracting these two types of workers allows manufacturers to combat its two biggest issues—industry perception and the talent shortage.

Increasing applicant numbers with a mobile-first experience

Once you have a prospective candidate’s attention, it’s important that you make it easy for them to find and learn about you. A study by Glassdoor found that 9 in 10 job seekers are using their mobile phones to find work, with 45 percent doing so daily. For this reason, having a website that’s optimized for mobile is key, but your online application must be as well. Since optimizing our own application, we’ve seen a 30 percent reduction in our drop-off rate.

The power of showing vs. telling with video

Video makes its way into the recruitment process in several ways. First, it can move a candidate to the next level by helping them learn more about a specific company and the way it operates. Video can go a long way with younger generations in particular, who may have dated perceptions of the industry in general. We often show videos of our clients’ operations while on-site during job fairs and other hiring events from tablets or even mobile phones. For those ultimately hired, videos help streamline and improve the onboarding process, showing workers exactly what their roles entail.

Using these modern approaches to recruiting are crucial for organizations in any industry. But for manufacturers in particular, it’s important to think outside the box as we prepare for the next generations of workers.

To learn more about manufacturing recruiting and talent, check out Solving the Manufacturing Talent Shortage, One Misconception at a Time.