Sharing jobs on social media (Q2 2026 DRAFT)

Your social networks can be a great source for attracting qualified applicants.

Social media continues to be a great avenue (along with in-person) to recognize staff for performance and impact. This same local content is also a great opportunity to promote your school culture and current/future openings.

In this article:

• What are the benefits of sharing jobs on social media?
• How do I share jobs on integrated social media platforms?
• How do I share jobs on social media platforms that aren't integrated with CareerPlug?
• What are the best practices for sharing jobs on social media?
• How do I track the number of applicants who apply from social media sources?
• How do I see which source an applicant came from?
• How do I filter applicants who found my job through the same source?

What are the benefits of sharing jobs on social media?

Social media is also a massive platform. Literally billions of people use various social media platforms every day, for many different purposes. While it’s unlikely a single post you make will reach a billion people, it does open you to a much larger pool of potential applicants.

Using social media to advertise your hiring is also a great way to capture the attention of a passive job seeker, or someone who isn’t actively looking for a new role but could be interested in your position. Often, social media is the only way to reach passive job seekers, as they do not actively use job boards. Your next best hire might not know they are even interested until you put it right in front of them.

How do I share jobs on integrated social media platforms?

You can share job posts to X, LinkedIn, and Facebook directly from your CareerPlug account.

1. Navigate to your Jobs page.

2. Click the three-dots icon to the right of whichever job you want to share and select Share from the drop-down menu.

3. In the Share Job pop-up window, click the icon for the platform where you'd like to share your job: X, LinkedIn, or Facebook.

4. Sign in to your chosen platform via the pop-up window.

5. Enter a compelling message to include with your job posting.

6. Set who can see your post to ensure you reach the right audience.

• X: You can't control your audience on X. However, you can control who can reply to your post by clicking Everyone can reply (globe icon) and selecting a different option.
• LinkedIn: Click the profile icon drop-down in the top left corner of the post to access Post settings.
• Facebook: Click the button under your name to access the Post audience. The button will display your default audience (e.g. Friends, Public, or Custom).

7. Click the Post or Share button (depending on the platform).

When you share a job on an integrated social media platform, CareerPlug automatically creates a custom link to track applicants from that source.

How do I share jobs on social media platforms that aren't integrated with CareerPlug?

You always have the option to quickly share the link to a job post on social media.

However, if you want to hire more effectively and track which sources are producing the most applicants and best hires, we recommend that you create a custom source for any social media platforms where you regularly share your job posts, share your custom source tracking link, and create a post on the social media platform where you want to share your job.

• How do I create a custom source in CareerPlug?
• How do I share the custom source tracking link for a job?
• How do I create a post on social media to share my job?

How do I create a custom source in CareerPlug?

1. Navigate to Settings > Hiring Tools > Custom Sources.

2. Click the plus (+) icon in the top-left corner of the page.

3. Enter the title of the source (for example: "University of Texas Job Board," "Austin, TX Jobs Facebook Group," etc).

4. Click the Save button at the bottom of the drawer.

Now you're ready to share your jobs using your new custom source! This source will be available for all existing jobs.

How do I share the custom source tracking link for a job?

1. Navigate to your Jobs page.

2. Click the three-dots icon to the right of whichever job you want to share and select Share from the drop-down menu.

3. In the Share Job pop-up window, scroll down and click the Track Custom Sources tile.

4. In the Custom Sources drawer, click the Copy button to the right of the custom source where you want to share your job, then select Copy link from the drop-down menu.

Now you're ready to sign in to the social media platform where you want to share your job and create a post to promote your open role.

How do I create a post on social media to share my job?

When you're ready to share your job via a custom source tracking link, use the following resources to learn about making posts on particular social media platforms and non-traditional job boards.

• Instagram (Post)
• Instagram (Story)
• Instagram (Reel)
• TikTok
• Bluesky
• NextDoor (Standard Post)
• NextDoor (Business Post)
• Handshake
• Craigslist

What are the best practices for sharing jobs on social media?

Each social media platform has its own set of rules for posting behavior. Use the following tips to ensure you're following each platform's guidelines.

• All social media platforms
• X
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Instagram
• TikTok
• Bluesky
• Nextdoor

All social media platforms

You can use these tips for sharing your jobs across all social media platforms.

Best practice or recommendation	Why does it matter and how do I do it?
Always post using a business or professional  account	Job seekers will take your posts more seriously if you have a verified business account or page. If you don’t have an existing business account or page on a social media platform, you can usually create one for free.
Use your own branding in social media posts	Apply your company's unique branding (colors, fonts, styles) to any posts you make. Your hiring efforts should look like an extension of your brand.
Proofread your post and use a writing tool to check it for errors before posting	It’s easy to miss a typo or grammatical error when you’re writing a social media post, but these can make your post (and business) look unprofessional. You can find a variety of free spell-checkers available on the web.
Keep up with comments on your social media posts	Engagement helps drive more eyes on your content, and shows job seekers you value their time. Check back in when you make a post, and reply to all comments.
Engage with your company's social media posts	If you are comfortable doing so, consider reposting to your own page. This shows as engagement and can help drive views, and may get a new set of eyes on the post. Include information about why you love working here or where you see the role going.
Ask employees to engage and share with your company's social media posts	Consider requesting your current staff to share your job posts as well. This will help drive engagement, and may attract passive job seekers who could be a good fit. Using an employee referral program could also be a great incentive
Include a CareerPlug tracking link with every job post you share on social media	Using a custom source link will let you track your hiring progress, and help you keep up with what is working - and what isn’t. You can have an unlimited number of custom sources within your account.
Don’t just post jobs on social media, build your brand	Posting on social media is about more than sharing your job posts just to make a hire. Don’t hesitate to share posts about your company culture, values, work-life balance, or what it’s like working there. These give prospective applicants a better sense of the company they're applying to work for. Use social media to showcase your culture, even when you're not hiring, to generate interest in your company and brand.

X

X caters to a wide variety of users, attracting over 100 million daily users. Posts on X are short, to the point, and don’t have a lot of extra fluff. If you already have an established profile and following, share jobs on X to generate interest.

Best practice or recommendation	Why does it matter and how do I do it?
Share jobs directly to X from CareerPlug	As soon as you post a job, a pop-up will prompt you boost your post’s visibility by sharing it on additional sources. You can also share a job by navigating to Jobs, clicking the three-dots icon to the right of a job, and selecting Share from the drop-down menu. Click the X icon in the Share on Social Media tile to start creating your post. Posting directly from CareerPlug allows you to track incoming applicants using the source analysis chart.
Create posts from your professional X account that are short and to the point	Remember that free accounts have a 280-character limit per post. Use the thread function to create a series of associated posts when you have more to share. Keep your tone professional, but not overly formal. Highlight 2-3 must-haves and 2-3 benefits. Use appropriate emojis to convey a lot of intent or information with a single character.
Use hashtags appropriately	X is one of the few remaining social media platforms that still uses hashtags as intended. Include 2-3 hashtags per post. #Hiring, #NowHiring, #Jobs, and #[CompanyName]Jobs are good generic hashtags, but consider industry- or job-specific hashtags like #[Industry]Jobs, #RemoteJobs, and #TechJobs.
Pin the post advertising your open job to the top of your feed	When actively hiring, pin the post that mentions your open job to your feed! This will ensure the first thing users see when they navigate to your feed is that post.
Explore X’s Job Search tool	X also hosts jobs on its own job board. You need a (paid) Premium Business subscription to post jobs on X. If your business already has a Premium Business subscription, you can post your job on this job board as well. If your business doesn’t have a Premium Business subscription, you can still share jobs in a standard post. Users report that the industries with the best results using X this way are tech startups and remote positions, but if you have a strong social media presence, many industries can succeed.

LinkedIn

Even though LinkedIn is one of the job boards where CareerPlug automatically sends your jobs, it's still a good idea to share your job posts and careers page on your LinkedIn company feed. This can get more eyes from your network on the job onto the listing and potentially engage passive job seekers who use LinkedIn regularly for networking.

Best practice or recommendation	Why does it matter and how do I do it?
Share jobs directly to LinkedIn from CareerPlug	As soon as you post a job, a pop-up will prompt you boost your post’s visibility by sharing it on additional sources. You can also share a job by navigating to Jobs, clicking the three-dots icon to the right of a job, and selecting Share from the drop-down menu. Click the LinkedIn icon in the Share on Social Media tile to start creating your post. Posting directly from CareerPlug allows you to track incoming applicants using the source analysis chart.
Create posts using your LinkedIn company account that have a professional tone	LinkedIn is a text-first platform, so a post's message matters a lot more than the image associated with it. Keep your tone professional. Unlike other social media platforms, the more buttoned-up and polished your post is, the better it is likely to perform. Highlight 2-3 must-have skills, 3-5 responsibilities, and 2-3 benefits. Highlight the company culture and unique benefits you offer to help stand out from the crowd. Share job posts from your personal LinkedIn account as well. You never know when someone in your network is looking for an opportunity.
Use hashtags appropriately	X is one of the few remaining social media platforms that still uses hashtags as intended. Include 2-3 hashtags per post, as the algorithm may limit reach to posts with too many. #Hiring, #NowHiring, #Jobs, and #[CompanyName]Jobs are good generic hashtags, but consider industry- or job-specific hashtags like #[Industry]Jobs, #RemoteJobs, and #TechJobs.

Facebook

REVISED: 

 

[ORIGINAL: Over 3 billion people use Facebook regularly. While this platform may not be the traditional way to find new talent, it can be a great way to identify real applicants in your community. This is an especially great way to reach passive job seekers, or people who aren’t actively looking for a job but could be interested in a new opportunity.

With most social media, Facebook is a visual-first platform. Eye-catching graphics that match your branding are essential for getting users to stop scrolling and engage. If you don’t have existing hiring materials, there are many free tools, such as Canva, a free browser-based design platform with hundreds of templates you can customize. The recommended ratio for a Facebook image post is either 1:1 (1080x1080 pixels) or 4:5 (1440x1800 pixels).] 

Best practice or recommendation	Why does it matter and how do I do it?
Share jobs directly to Facebook  from CareerPlug	As soon as you post a job, a pop-up will prompt you boost your post’s visibility by sharing it on additional sources. You can also share a job by navigating to Jobs, clicking the three-dots icon to the right of a job, and selecting Share from the drop-down menu. Click the Facebook icon in the Share on Social Media tile to start creating your post. Posting directly from CareerPlug allows you to track incoming applicants using the source analysis chart.
Create posts on your Facebook business Page that are short and catchy	Keep Facebook posts short, sweet, and to the point. Highlight a couple of the most important things your potential applicant might care about (e.g., flexible hours, salary, benefits). Don’t make your post too stuffy or formal and don't try a "hard sell." Facebook is a casual platform, and most job seekers are looking for authenticity over polished perfection. Share job posts on your personal Facebook page as well. You never know when someone in your network is looking for an opportunity.
Include a link to your CareerPlug job post (or your careers page URL) in your Facebook posts	Unlike some platforms, you can and should include a link in your Facebook posts. You can include the custom source tracking link for a specific job, your careers page URL, or both.
Boost a post on your Facebook business Page	Boosting a Facebook post can be a good way to get more views, but prices vary, and so do reported results. Don’t discount this as an option, but it isn’t necessary to get great candidates.
Link your Facebook business Page to your careers page	Add your careers page URL to the About section of your Facebook business Page or add it as your page’s Action button. Click the Careers Page button on your Dashboard to open it in another window, then highlight and copy your careers page URL.
Use Facebook Groups to connect with job seekers in your community	Join Facebook Groups relevant to your business, community, and industry to reach a larger audience. Create a custom source in CareerPlug for any groups you join to track incoming applicants. Share your CareerPlug jobs in your groups using a custom source tracking link.

Instagram

REVISED:

 

[ORIGINAL: Instagram is a video and photo-sharing platform with approximately 3 billion users globally. While it’s unlikely that your posts will impact all 3 billion users, Instagram can be a great way to connect with people already invested in your brand, advertise open positions, and find great applicants.

For many industries, Instagram can be the best way to drive organic applicants who are already bought into your brand and culture to your job postings.

Remember that Instagram is a visual-first platform. Eye-catching graphics that match your branding are essential for getting users to stop scrolling and engage. If you don’t have existing hiring materials, there are many free tools, such as Canva, a free browser-based design platform with hundreds of templates you can customize. The recommended ratio for a photo being posted to both the main Instagram feed and Instagram Stories is 1x1 (1080x1080).]

Best practice or recommendation	Why does it matter and how do I do it?
Add your careers page URL to your Instagram bio	Instagram doesn’t support active links in a post's description. Instagram allows only one link in your bio. If you already have a link in your bio but want to include your careers page URL (or other relevant link), we suggest using a LinkTree or similar service. Instagram will automatically add source tracking for any applicants who apply using this link!
Create a custom source for Instagram to track incoming applicants	Share your CareerPlug job post’s using a custom source tracking link.
Create Posts, Stories, and Reels on your Instagram business account that are casual and authentic	Post your hiring efforts as an Instagram Post, Story, and Reel so you triple the chances of the right person finding your job listing. Highlight a couple of the most important things your potential applicant might care about (e.g., flexible hours, salary, benefits). Don’t make your post too stuffy or formal and don't try a "hard sell." Like Facebook, Instagram is a casual platform, and most job seekers are looking for authenticity over polished perfection.
Don’t include links in Instagram posts, but direct viewers to your bio	Links in the description of a Post or Reel are not clickable on Instagram. Instead, include a call-to-action to anyone who views your post to check your bio for the link to your careers page and open positions.
Use hashtags appropriately	Instagram is one of the few remaining social media platforms that still uses hashtags as intended. Include 2-3 hashtags per post. #Hiring, #NowHiring, #Jobs, and #[CompanyName]Jobs are good generic hashtags, but consider industry- or job-specific hashtags as well, like #[Industry]Jobs, #RemoteJobs, and #TechJobs. Don’t use hashtags that don’t apply or are just capitalizing on trends.
Pin a Post or Reel to the top of your Instagram profile	To pin a Post or a Reel, open Instagram via the app on a mobile device or tablet and click on your profile. Hold your finger on a Post from the grid page or a video from the Reel page until a drop-down menu appears; select Pin to main grid or Pin to your reels.
Pin a Story to your Story Highlights	After making your hiring post a Story, pin it to your Story Highlights so anyone coming to your page can find it. Navigate to your profile, tap the plus (+) icon directly under your bio, and give your Story Highlight a relevant name like “We’re Hiring!” Consider pinning Posts and Stories about your company's culture and day-to-day activities to help job seekers who aren't a good fit self-select out of your hiring process, and ensure you're only receiving applications from candidates who are already bought in.

TikTok

Like Instagram, TikTok is a visual-first platform. Your posts need to be eye-catching to stop someone from scrolling past them. Attention spans are short, so keep your posts bright, short, and punchy.

Best practice or recommendation	Why does it matter and how do I do it?
Add your careers page URL to your TikTok bio	TikTok doesn’t support active links in a post's description. If you already have a link in your bio but want to include your careers page URL (or other relevant link), we suggest using a LinkTree or similar service.
Create a custom source for TikTok to track incoming applicants	Share your CareerPlug job posts using a custom source tracking link.
Create posts on your TikTok business Page that are authentic and tap into popular trends	Keep your tone authentic and relatable. We recommend creating "day in the life" content. Highlight a couple of the most important things your potential applicant might care about (e.g., flexible hours, salary, benefits). Tap into trending hashtags, viral sounds, and popular formats to create posts that resonate with users on the platform. While TikTok is a video-first platform, you can still make posts with just text, an image, or a series of images (in the style of a slideshow).
Don’t include links in TikTok posts, but direct viewers to your bio	Links in a post's description are not clickable on TikTok. Instead, include a call-to-action to anyone who views your post to check your bio for the link to your careers page and open positions.
Use hashtags appropriately	TikTok doesn’t use hashtags the same way as other social media platforms, but hashtags do still impact its algorithm. Include 2-3 hashtags per post. #Hiring, #NowHiring, #Jobs, and #[CompanyName]Jobs are good generic hashtags, but consider industry- or job-specific hashtags as well, like #[Industry]Jobs, #RemoteJobs, and #TechJobs.

Bluesky

REVISED:

• In fact, Bluesky tends to offer far higher organic reach per follower compared with similar platforms like X.

[ORIGINAL: Bluesky is the newest social media platform on the market. It was launched in 2023 as invite-only, and opened to the public at the beginning of 2024. It functions much like X does, because it originally started as a research initiative of Twitter. Bluesky has between 1-3 million active monthly users, with over 40 million accounts. It’s a smaller community compared to other social media platforms, but if you have an established account it is absolutely worth sharing your jobs to.]

Best practice or recommendation	Why does it matter and how do I do it?
Add your careers page URL to your Bluesky bio	Since it's a text-first platform, Bluesky does support active links in posts, but we  still recommend adding your careers page URL to your bio to catch the attention of any possible job seekers. If you want to include many links in your bio, we suggest using a LinkTree or similar service to have multiple active links.
Create posts from your professional Bluesky account that are short and to the point	Remember that there is a 300-character limit per post. Use the thread function to create a series of associated posts when you have more to share. Highlight 2-3 must-haves and 2-3 benefits. Use appropriate emojis to convey a lot of intent or information with a single character.
Include a link to your CareerPlug job post (or your careers page URL) in your Bluesky posts	Unlike some platforms, you can and should include a link with your post. You can include the custom source tracking link for a specific job, your careers page URL, or both.
Use hashtags appropriately	Bluesky doesn’t use hashtags the same way as other social media platforms, but hashtags do still impact its algorithm. Include 2-3 hashtags per post. #Hiring, #NowHiring, #Jobs, and #[CompanyName]Jobs are good generic hashtags, but consider industry- or job-specific hashtags as well, like #[Industry]Jobs, #RemoteJobs, and #TechJobs.
Create a custom source for Bluesky to track incoming applicants	Share your CareerPlug job post’s using a custom source tracking link.
Use Feeds to connect with job seekers in your industry	Pin Feeds relevant to your business, community, and industry to reach a larger audience. Check a Feed’s description by clicking the three dots icon at the top of the Feed to learn how to get your posts featured. Each has its own requirements (e.g., use a specific hashtag) and some are curated by users, whom you’ll need to contact. In Bluesky, navigate to the #Feeds tab. Explore, or Search using keywords relevant to your job post. Click the Pin feed button on any you want to save. Create a custom source in CareerPlug for any Feeds you join. Create a post that will be featured in a particular Feed that includes the custom source tracking link for your job.

Nextdoor

REVISED:

 

[ORIGINAL: Nextdoor is a non-traditional social media platform that works as a neighborhood network, connecting people to their neighbors and community. Approximately 105 million users across 350,000 Posts are often only suggested to specific areas, which can help when targeting a specific area or community. Using Nextdoor can also help you see what others in your community think about your business, create great brand awareness, and stay up to date on what is happening around your business. 

Hiring managers find the most luck on Nextdoor in hyperlocal, hourly, or contractor-based industries with flexible hours, such as cleaning, home improvement, and home care. It can be a great resource for any local or community-based business. 

Nextdoor is a text-first platform, which means that you can add photographs to a post, but you don’t have to. The way you present your company and the job itself is the most important part, not a flashy graphic.]

Best practice or recommendation	Why does it matter and how do I do it?
Create a custom source for Nextdoor to track incoming applicants	Share your CareerPlug job posts using a custom source tracking link.
Create a free Nextdoor business page	You should always post from a business account, not a personal account, to lend legitimacy to your posts and presence. You can also share the post from your personal account, from the perspective  of an owner or hiring manager. This may help you reach more people if your personal Nextdoor account is in a different neighborhood group.
Create posts on your Nextdoor business account that are casual and informative	Keep your tone informal and informative, as if you were speaking to someone in person. Nextdoor is a casual platform, like a gathering of neighbors discussing their community. Highlight a couple of the most important things that set you apart from the competition (e.g., flexible hours, salary, benefits).
Include a link to your CareerPlug job post (or your careers page URL) in your Nextdoor posts	Unlike some platforms, you can and should include a link in your Nextdoor posts. You can include the custom source tracking link for a specific job, your careers page URL, or both.

How do I track the number of applicants who apply from social media sources?

To see which social media sources produce the most applicants for your jobs, you can look at three different places in CareerPlug:

• The Source Analysis charts on your Hiring Insights page
• The Source Analysis charts in Classic Reports
• The Source Conversion Performance chart on a job profile page

The Source Analysis charts on your Hiring Insights page

The Source Analysis charts show a breakdown of which sources your applicants are coming from, split across two groups: All Applicants and Hired Applicants. The Source Analysis chart can help you learn where you're finding quality applicants.

1. Navigate to Insights.

2. Scroll down to view the Source Analysis charts.

The Source Analysis charts in Classic Reports

The Source Analysis charts in Classic Reports show the same data as the Source Analysis charts in your Hiring Insights.

1. Navigate to Insights.

2. Click the View Classic Reports button in the top-right corner of the page.

3. Click the Source Analysis tab to view the Source Analysis charts.

The Source Conversion Performance chart on a job profile page

The Source Conversion Performance chart shows the number of applicants and job posting clicks per source, allowing you to see which of your sources are producing high numbers of clicks and/or applicants.

1. Navigate to your Jobs page.

2. Click the title of a job on your Jobs page.

3. Scroll down to view the Source Conversion Performance chart.

How do I see which source an applicant came from?

1. Navigate to your Applicants page.

2. Click an applicant's name to open their profile.

You'll find an applicant's source listed near the top of their profile page.

Not every custom source has an obvious name. Here's how you can tell which source an applicant came from:

How do I filter applicants who found my job through the same source?

You can apply filters on your Applicants page to view applicants from only a specific source (or specific sources).

1. Click the Show Filters icon in the top-left corner of the page to open the Filters drawer.

2. Scroll down the Filters drawer, click the Source drop-down menu, and select the source(s) from which you want to see applicants. You can select as many sources as you want.