Around the world, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated digital transformation across all industries and allowed companies to be fully operational with a remote workforce. As a result, this has affected the state of recruitment too — with HR departments quickly adopting remote platforms and digital processes. But the pandemic isn't the only reason why it's important to have strong digital recruitment strategies.

According to statistics on We Are Social, approximately 4.4 billion people use the internet for day-to-day activities — from staying updated on the news, to shopping and connecting with friends. Unsurprisingly, many individuals go online to look for jobs too.

With that in mind, today's recruiters need to ensure that their strategies are in line with modern job hunters. This way, you have a better chance of attracting the right people while strengthening your company image online.

Here are some digital strategies to help with recruiting remotely.

Create an employee referral program

This program can connect you to job seekers who have given up on actively looking for jobs. Plus, it can also be considered digital recruitment, as referrals can be done through social media and online networks. But what exactly makes employee referral programs so effective? Well, employees who are happy in your company will also want to see it succeed. So you can expect them to engage with people they already trust and think would be a great fit for the company. However, an article on The Balance Careers warns that your program can fail if your company culture and workspace isn't referral-worthy in the first place. As such, make sure to work on these crucial foundations first.

Strengthen your digital marketing campaigns

Boosting your organization's virtual presence can not only generate better business, but it also makes your organization more attractive to competent applicants. However, Ayima points out that many startups struggle with digital marketing — mainly due to limited development resources. In order to overcome these barriers and master the virtual space, your organization should have quality content backed by technical SEO to generate targeted, organic traffic to your site. This is also very important in terms of putting your brand center stage, and projecting your company’s values so that potential employees can see them.

Of course, social media will also strengthen your virtual presence. And depending on your target candidates, social media may make it easier for you to reach them. For instance, if you're looking to fill in creative positions, advertising on Instagram and The Dots may be a good idea — as many remote designers and artists use these platforms to network. On the other hand, LinkedIn is always a good place for people to learn more about companies and reach out to them. Make sure that your accounts are up to date and responsive to queries you get.

Have an engaging “About Us” webpage

An “About Us” webpage introduces your company to everyone who lands on your website. You only have a limited amount of time to convince candidates that you’re the right company for them. Business.com explains that those who visit your “About” page want to know your story and why you’re doing what you’re doing. So use this space to talk about your company culture and what makes you stand out from your competitors. Feel free to inject a more authentic and human feel by including photos, profiles, and short staff bios.

Sometimes, there are industries that require more specific strategies to gather candidates more effectively. For example, a previous article by Daria Andrea discussed ways to hire remote tech talent. So it's also important to keep in mind that properly applying the right digital strategies can help ease the online recruitment process greatly.

Written for 'Make it in Ukraine' by Gillian Rios