College Text-Based Recruiting - Enhance Your Hiring With SMS

Engaging with current university students and newly graduated students can be tricky. As students begin to apply to different work programs, you want to make sure that your company is at the top of their minds. Other companies are trying new, innovative digital marketing tactics to capture the attention of top talent, and you want to be sure that your outreach campaign stands out among the rest. But, how can you do this? The answer is through utilizing text messaging for college recruitment.

SMS messaging is an excellent tool for company recruiters to remind students of upcoming career events, notify students of open job positions, and give them the next steps they need to complete the application process. Turn over a new leaf and enhance your recruiting campaign with these innovative approaches.

Why Recruiters Need to Connect with Students via Text Messaging

Did you know that the average open rate for a text messaging campaign is up to 98%? (On the contrary, the average open rate for an email in an email campaign is 20%.) Instead of focusing your efforts on emails, it’s time to pivot your strategy and shine a spotlight on text.

Even before COVID-19 began to affect schools and universities worldwide, many students chose to conduct their studies using smartphones and tablets . This means running a text-recruiting campaign for college recruitment is the way to go if you want your recruiting outreach message to be seen.

So, what steps can you take to build a conversion-worthy text messaging campaign? Here are some of the top tips and tricks on how you can leverage text messaging to reach out to fresh, new talent.

SMS Text Messaging Tips and Tricks for College Recruiters

SMS Texting has become a standard in the recruiting arena. A majority of students would prefer to use text compared to emails, making building relations with students easier. Let’s dive into these tips to help you communicate more effectively with students and help your brand stand out.

The Do’s When Writing Recruitment Texts

• Simplify Opting-In: Don't make candidates jump through hoops to receive your text updates. Whether through social media or pamphlets at job fairs, provide an easy opt-in process with clear instructions.
• Keep Messages Concise: With only a few seconds to capture attention, keep your texts short and sweet. Craft your message to fit neatly within the preview section of a smartphone, ensuring your main points are conveyed quickly.
• Clear Call to Action: Make it crystal clear what action you want recipients to take. Use actionable language like "attend," "apply," or "visit" to prompt the desired response without any guesswork.
• Include a Link: Boost engagement by including a shortened link for recipients to click. This makes it effortless for them to take specific actions with just one tap while also allowing you to track click-through rates in real time.
• Optimize Website for Mobile: Ensure your website content is mobile-friendly to provide a seamless experience for users navigating from your text messages.
• Timing and Quantity: Be mindful of when and how often you send SMS messages. Avoid bombarding candidates with excessive texts, as it can lead to annoyance and potential spam markings. Consider your target audience and adjust timing and frequency accordingly.
• Track and Adjust: Monitor the performance of your text recruiting campaign closely. Analyze metrics such as open rate, response time, and response rate to gauge effectiveness and make informed adjustments as needed. A/B tests different message variations and timing to optimize results.
• Compliance and Professionalism: Follow TCPA regulations (or any commercial text recruitment laws in your area) and ensure candidates have opted in to receive texts. Introduce yourself, offer opt-out options, and maintain professionalism while injecting personality into your messages.
• Personalization and Responsiveness: Tailor messages to each candidate and respond promptly to inquiries. Show genuine interest and care to keep candidates engaged and foster positive interactions.

The Don’ts When Writing Recruitment Texts

• Respect Candidate Preferences: Only engage with candidates who have explicitly consented to receiving text messages. Respecting their communication preferences must always come first.
• Ensure Opt-Out Compliance: Utilize Text Recruiting Software to safeguard against inadvertently messaging candidates who opted out previously. This ensures compliance with regulations and maintains candidate trust.
• Protect Personal Information: Refrain from using your personal cell phone number for candidate communication unless you have established trust. 
• Don't Assume Familiarity: Avoid adopting an overly casual tone with candidates, especially during initial interactions. Avoid using terms of familiarity like "Hey" or "Buddy" unless you have an established rapport with the candidate.
• Avoid Full Automated Responses: Resist the temptation to rely solely on automated responses for candidate communication. While automation can streamline processes, personalized and humanized interactions are crucial for building rapport and trust.
• Balance Communication Channels: While texting is valuable, recognize the importance of email and phone communication for certain messages requiring detail or context, such as salary negotiations or rejections.
• Mind Your Tone: While using shortcuts or informal language is tempting, avoid excessive abbreviations or slang in your texts. Maintain professionalism by using clear and formal language to convey your message effectively.
• Respect Timing: Avoid sending texts during early mornings, late nights, or weekends unless explicitly permitted by the candidate. Respect their personal time and boundaries.
• Prevent Overwhelming Candidates: Harassing candidates with multiple unanswered texts is counterproductive and can damage your employer's brand. Exercise restraint and respect candidate responsiveness.

Useful recruitment SMS template

Need to create SMS templates for your communication campaign but need more ideas? Try these tried-and-true templates from Rakuna:

If Your Team Still Use Manual Scheduling

Hello (First Name), This is (Your Name) from (Your Firm). After our last conversation, we’d love to learn more about you in an interview. Does (Time and Date) work for you? Let me know if otherwise. Thank you!

If Your Team Is Using Scheduling Solutions Like Rakuna’s Interview Scheduling

Hi (First Name)! It’s (Your Name) from (Your Firm) here. Congratulations on passing (Your Type of Pre-Employment Testing)! Let's arrange an interview this week or next week. Have a look at our available time slots (Link to your schedule) and pick a time that fits you the best! Thank you!

Recruiting Text Message Templates for Interview Confirmation/Invitation

Some recruiters make the common mistake of not confirming the final interview information, thinking the last message upon the day is enough. Always ensure your candidates are fully aware by sending a confirmation or an invitation.

For In-Person Interviews at the Office

Hi (First Name)! It’s (Your Name) from (Your Firm) here. Congratulations on passing (Your Type of Pre-Employment Testing)! Let's arrange an interview this/next week? Have a look at our available time slots (Link to your schedule) and pick a time that fits you the best! Thank you!

For Video Interviews

Hello (First Name)! This is the invitation to our interview at (Time) on (Date). The interview will take place online using (a meeting link or instructions for your interview software). Please get in touch with this number (Your Phone Number) if you have any concerns. See you soon!

Recruiting Text Message Templates for Interview Reminder

We operate in a busy, constantly moving world, where forgetting one or two appointments is common. Sending a friendly reminder can help avoid regretful situations and ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible.

Hi (First Name)! We are looking forward to meeting you at the interview this afternoon at (Time). Again, here’s how you can get to our office/interview location : (Location Link). Please feel free to reach out by text or call this number if you need any help.

Or try

Hello (First Name)! This is a reminder that our scheduled interview will take place at (Location Link). We hope to see you at (Time) to discuss this further. Let me know if you need any support by texting/calling this number. Thank you, and see you soon!

Recruiting Text Message Templates to Reschedule an Interview

Rescheduling meetings and interviews are common in the world of recruiters. But how can we make the rescheduling feel less like a nuisance? Remember to concisely inform your candidate of the situation and suggest an alternative time slot for another interview.

Hi (First Name)! Our apologies, but we have to reschedule our interview for tomorrow (A Day/Week). Are you available at (New Time) on (New Date)? If you need further information or reschedule your interview, please call/text this number, and we can find a time to chat.

Or try

Hello (First Name)! Due to (Problem), we have to reschedule our interview tomorrow/next (A Day/Week). Here’s our updated availability calendar. Let me know your preferred options. If you need further information, please call/text this number, and we can find a time to chat.

Need more templates? Check out Rakuna's 22 Recruiting Text Message Examples to Reel in Candidates

Get More Students to Apply to Your Company with SMS Text Messaging

Many companies are utilizing text message campaigns to attract new talent. You might miss out on potential top talent if your business isn't.

Now more than ever, it's critical that you meet your target audience on a platform that they are already using. In this instance, your target audience is graduate and undergraduate students. 

Students are constantly on their phones checking for new text messages. Your recruiting messages can readily be displayed to them using an SMS recruiting software that allows you to personalize texts, automate your SMS campaign, and measure the campaign in real-time.

Are you ready to recruit anywhere, anytime? Don't let prospective new hires slip through the cracks. See how Rakuna's Text Recruiting Solution can reach more top student talent for your company!

About Rakuna’s Text Recruiting Software 

Rakuna's Text Recruiting Software empowers you to capture the immediate attention of potential candidates, reaching them wherever they may be.

Streamline the Hiring Process

Effortlessly send mass text messages, significantly elevate engagement rates, and streamline your hiring process for more placements achieved with minimal manual effort and time investment.

Nurture Genuine Connections

Cultivate meaningful relationships with candidates from first interactions to the recruitment conclusion. Tailor your campaigns to stand out by infusing each message with a personalized touch, fostering genuine human connections.

Harness the Power of SMS Analytic

Enhance the performance of your text recruitment endeavors by leveraging real-time, comprehensive data analytics. Rakuna's intuitive data charts provide invaluable insights, enabling you to optimize your campaigns strategically.

✏ Want to see Rakuna’s Text Recruiting Software in action? Book a FREE demo today!