How to Search and Message Candidates on Facebook Messenger

Posted by Jonathan Kidder on May 1, 2020January 29, 2023

Facebook Messenger is a significant communication tool for many users. It sends messages, phone calls, video calls, SMS (text) messages, and most importantly GIF’s. With over a Billion active users and downloads of Facebook Messengers platform it’s a great tool to communicate with potential candidates and job seekers online. I had the chance to connect with Brian Fink and he was raving about his recent success with this tool.

Facebook Recruiting Stats from Mashable:

85% of internet users have Facebook accounts
84% of job seekers have a Facebook profile
74% of internet users use Facebook daily
57% of Facebook users have 100+ friends
58% of Facebook users have liked a brand

Maybe you didn’t realize this by this platform has a desktop version called: Messenger.com. Once you log into this you will see a large dashboard of all your recent Facebook messages. You search and directly connect with public users on Facebook.

Here’s the unique part of this platform:

1. You can directly search within the search bar and contact users directly.

2. You can search not only user names but cell phone numbers to find active accounts.

3. Messages get directly sent to users and not to the other inbox.

4. Notifications get sent as a text message or pop-up notifications on users phones.

How can you use Messenger in Recruiting

1. Reach out directly to leads that have a public Facebook profile.

2. Be direct and honest with your message right away.

3. Make sure you state the reason for the message.

4. I recommend reaching out to leads AFTER normal business hours.

Shannon Pritchett advises that you use your first message to come clean and confess that Facebook isn’t the most appropriate platform for a professional, work-related conversation, admit to stalking them on LinkedIn and suggest carrying the conversation on via email.

Recruiter Facebook Template example:

Hey (Name), I wanted to take a chance and send you a message. I was reviewing your rep scores within github and I was really impressed by your project at Code42. I’m a local Recruiter in the Minneapolis and wanted to introduce myself. What’s a good way to connect with your further? Email?

Thanks, Jonathan

Bonus, here’s a Boolean string example to find public profiles:

site:facebook.com “software engineer” “to present” -posts “Pittsburgh” (“her” OR “she”)

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Jonathan Kidder

With more than 12 years of recruitment experience, Jonathan has helped startups and small businesses find the talent they need. He runs the blog WizardSourcer, which explores the latest trends in talent sourcing, provides reviews of recruitment tools, and features interviews with prominent figures in the industry.