More Candidates at a Lower Cost. How Applying via SMS Works

The candidate-driven market and the race for talent

A candidate-driven market forces fiercer competition for candidates. Today, securing effective tools for attracting candidates is becoming more urgent than tools for screening them. Among the former, applying via SMS stands out for its effectiveness and simplicity.

The comeback of SMS in recruitment

Text messages, at least in recruitment, are coming back into favour. Across the ocean it is even said that in this industry "SMS is the new e-mail". Letting candidates apply for jobs via SMS means we free them from filling out forms, clicking through websites, and tracking job boards. This solution works especially well where people are needed for entry-level roles, where candidates' familiarity with and access to online tools cannot be taken for granted, and a simple text message can improve penetration of the target group.

Example: applying via SMS

Imagine this situation: a warehouse worker (let's call him Tom) is riding the bus, or any other means of public transport, home after a hard day's work. He is tired – not only from carrying boxes, but also from waiting for a raise and dealing with a difficult manager. He is thinking about a change. And suddenly he sees a poster in the window presenting an offer from a competing company. He sees a brand that inspires trust, the smiling faces of employees, but above all – a short yet tempting message about better pay, work organisation, and a benefits system. And at the bottom there is a simple call to action: "Send a text message to the number below with the word 'Apply'. We will call you and tell you what offer we have for you."

A simple application as the key to success

So, a phone and a text message instead of, say, a website and a Careers page. That suits him. Tom has no smartphone and no mobile internet connection. He does not follow job boards and does not like social media. He does not want to call any hotline either. But sending a text takes him 10 seconds. He immediately receives a notification thanking him for his application and letting him know that the company will contact him soon. The next day, a recruiter calls him during her routine candidate screening. They agree on the terms, working hours, and pay. The following week, Tom starts his new job.

Takeaways for employers

What are the takeaways for employers? Making life easier for the candidate pays off. An SMS system lets them apply spontaneously and without unnecessary formalities. We have their attention for a few seconds – and that is enough.

A simple SMS application process

This means, in turn, that the explanation of the SMS application process must be as simple as the process itself. A poster that could convince Tom to submit an SMS application should look as follows. Although the message should be adapted to the company's marketing standards, its specific identity, and its needs, certain good practices are universal.

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SMS as a way to attract candidates

For comparison, imagine Anna, who works in customer service for a well-known logistics brand. She is happy with her job. But this morning, walking past the headquarters of a competing company, she saw information about development opportunities her current employer will not offer her. She is not sure it is time for a change, but if all it takes is 10 seconds to send a text, she is happy to learn the details of the offer. In this way we gain a recruitment lead to someone on the fence – decided enough to allow contact, but still far from submitting a CV. A well-conducted conversation can convince her to accept our offer.

The benefits of SMS applications

A bundle of text messages and printed posters does not cost much, yet it creates remarkable opportunities to reach candidates. It is worth activating this source of quick applications before your competitors do.

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