5 Reasons Your Restaurant Needs To Start Recruiting with Text Messaging

Text messaging isn’t just for making weekend plans and sending emojis – it’s been adopted as one of the most effective recruitment tools, with 70% of applications now being completed on a mobile device.

While some employers have been hesitant about leveraging this new mode of communication, the ones who have embraced it as part of their hiring process get more applicants, less interview no-shows and have hired higher quality candidates.

At HigherMe, we’ve helped employers get 8x better candidates and 67% less interview no-shows with Text-To-Apply. Below are the 5 reasons why you need to start using texting in your recruitment strategy today.

1. Reply to candidates faster

While a good recruitment strategy isn’t a race, 37% of hourly job seekers say being hired quickly is the most important factor in deciding where to work. Mobile phones are an extension of almost everyone, with the average person checking their phone 150 times a day and 91% keeping their phone within an arm’s reach. Text messaging ensures that your candidate is more likely to see your message sooner, which will increase your chances of hiring them before the competition does.

2. Send personalized communications to job candidates

Text messaging hasn’t always been associated with professional networking or job hunting, but times have changed. Sending a quick and personable text message can help you foster a better relationship with your candidate. And with 90% of text messages being read within three minutes (source), you can be sure your message isn't being lost in an email inbox.

Most job seekers – particularly Millennials and Generation Z – have embraced this new form of communication during their job hunt and say that this method often contributes to a positive recruitment experience.

3. Get fewer interview no-shows

Many job seekers you contact won’t even answer the phone, especially on the first call or if the call comes from an unknown number. Phone (or email) tag can be extremely time-consuming for both the employer and the candidate.

Text messaging helps you get in communication with candidates faster, and can even be handy for sending pre-screening questions and interview reminders. To streamline your operations, set up automated interview reminders to ensure that the great candidates don't ghost their interview.

4. Get more applications

If you always have open positions, text message recruiting is ideal. Instead of having a simple "now hiring" poster, a Text-To-Apply poster has a unique phone number and code for your business. Candidates can get started on their application right away with a simple text message, maybe even as they’re waiting for their order.

Our data has show that candidates who apply using Text-To-Apply are 8x more likely to be your next hire compared to other sources. All you have to do is share the poster in store windows, on delivery vehicles, or include it in takeout orders.

5. Reduce employee turnover

Having mobile job applications and paperless onboarding shows candidates that your brand is open to new ideas and adapting with changing trends. Candidates who can easily apply, set up interviews, and get onboarded all from their phone will have a positive recruitment experience will be happier employees from their first day. Once they're hired, text messaging can be useful for communicating with staff and alerting them of their schedule to keep staff engaged and help reduce turnover.