How To Use Facebook Employment & Job Ads Targeting For Recruitment

In today's competitive job market, businesses face numerous challenges in attracting the right talent to fill their open positions. Traditional recruitment methods like job boards and career fairs can be time-consuming and expensive, often yielding unsatisfactory results. To overcome these hurdles and stand out among the competition, many companies are turning to social media platforms like Facebook to target potential candidates. However, navigating Facebook Ads can be a daunting task for recruiters, especially when it comes to identifying the right targeting options that will yield the best results.

Facebook offers an unparalleled opportunity to reach a massive audience of potential candidates. But, how can you ensure that your job ads are reaching the right people? How can you make your recruitment campaign stand out and resonate with your target audience?

In this article, we will delve into the world of Facebook Ads for employment and job recruitment, addressing the challenges and pain points that businesses often face. By understanding these powerful tools and techniques, you'll be able to target the perfect candidates for your job openings and make your recruitment efforts on Facebook a success.

Understanding Facebook's Special Ad Category

Before diving into the specifics of Facebook Ads targeting, it's crucial to understand the Special Ad Category. This is a classification that Facebook has implemented for ads related to employment, housing, and credit opportunities. Due to the sensitive nature of these topics, Facebook has imposed certain targeting restrictions to prevent discrimination.

When creating a job ad, be sure to select the "Special Ad Category" checkbox. This will restrict your targeting options, but it's a necessary step to comply with Facebook ad policies.

Define Your Ideal Candidate Profile

Before you start creating your Facebook Ads campaign, take the time to identify the ideal candidate for your open position. Consider the skills, qualifications, and experience required for the job. This information will help you target your ads more effectively and reach the right audience.

Reach Job Professionals with Application for Employment and Job Titles Targeting

Now that you have a clear idea of the perfect candidate, it's time to reach out to them using Facebook's targeting options. Two powerful tools at your disposal are Application for Employment and Job Title targeting.

• Application for Employment: This interest-based targeting option allows you to reach people who have shown interest in finding a job or are actively looking for employment. By choosing this option, you'll be able to target a highly relevant audience of job seekers.
• Employment Opportunities: Similar to the above, this is an alternative to target users who are looking for job opportunities, however with a smaller market size. Feel free to explore other options such as "Job fair", "Job hunting", "Job interview", "Employment website", "Employment agency" or your local online employment marketplaces to expand your reach.
• Job Title: This option allows you to target users based on their current or past job titles. It can be an effective way to reach professionals in a specific industry or with a particular skill set. For example, if you're hiring a software engineer, target users with job titles like "Software Developer" or "Software Engineer" to ensure your ad reaches the right candidates.

Target University Students for Entry-Level Positions

If you're recruiting for entry-level positions or internships, targeting university students can be a great strategy. By doing so, you can reach those who are about to graduate and are likely seeking their first job after completing their undergraduate degree.

To target university students, you can use Facebook's Demographic, Interest, and Behavioral Targeting options:

• Demographic Targeting: Target users based on their education level, such as "College grad", "Associate degree", "Professional degree", "Master's degree" or even "Undergrad years" which you can select their years in tertiary education.
• Interest Targeting: Reach users who have shown interest in topics related to your industry or job opening. For example, if you're hiring a marketing intern, you could target users who have shown interest in marketing, advertising, or digital marketing. You may also combine with job-seeking interests such as "Entry-level job" or "Career development" to narrow down your targeting.

Utilize Custom and Lookalike Audiences

Another powerful way to reach potential candidates is by using Custom and Lookalike Audiences.

• Custom Audiences: This feature allows you to create an audience based on your existing contacts, such as email addresses or phone numbers. You can upload a list of your current employees or past applicants and target them with your job ads. This can be particularly useful if you're looking for candidates with a similar skill set or experience as your current employees.
• Lookalike Audiences: With Lookalike Audiences, you can target users who are similar to your existing contacts or a Custom Audience. Facebook will analyze the characteristics and interests of your source audience and find users with similar profiles. This can help you reach a larger pool of potential candidates who are likely to be interested in your job opening.

Additionally, it's crucial to respond promptly to any questions or comments from potential candidates. Engaging with your audience will not only help you attract more applicants but also create a positive impression of your company as an employer.

By following these steps and leveraging Facebook Ads' powerful targeting options, you can effectively reach and attract the perfect candidates for your job openings and make the most of your recruitment efforts on Meta platforms.

Are you constantly feeling that Facebook Ads is not working anymore? Despite all your efforts and strategies, with each algorithm change, it feels like you're back at square one. The ROI isn't what it used to be, and you're left wondering if Facebook Ads has lost its magic.

After diving deep into the intricacies of audience targeting and the ever-evolving Facebook landscape, I've uncovered strategies that remain effective despite the platform's constant changes. Discover these insights in my latest E-Book - The Ultimate Guide In Mastering Audience Targeting.