Social Media As a Recruiting Tool
April 19, 2012
Lately, there has been a huge surge in utilizing social media outlets as a serious recruiting tool.
The days of scouring through Monster are ancient history. Most recruiters these days find the idea of using traditional job boards laughable, and can you even remember when jobs were posted in the NEWSPAPER? I can’t.
Whether you want to believe it or not, social media is changing the landscape of recruiting. This is important for recruiters, companies, and candidates, alike, to understand and embrace. I can personally attest to this fact because I myself was recruited into my current job via Linkedin.
When I first started recruiting several years ago, I wasn’t convinced that people actually were getting hired off of any social network. In college, a marketing professor forced us to create a Linkedin account as part of a homework assignment. I obliged for the homework points, never realizing what a crucial role it would play in my professional career and development.
Obviously, as a recruiter, a lot more of my time is dedicated to sourcing for candidates through a variety of different methods – but as a candidate it just as important to realize the vast potential of keeping your social media accounts up to date.
According to this infographic, in 2012, companies are expected to use social media to recruit for over 80% of job openings. The top sites that recruiters use to find candidates are Linkedin, Twitter, and Facebook. However, it seems as though Pinterest is becoming a contender as well.
The main reason recruiters are relying on social media to attract talent is to hone in on candidates who have not applied to specific openings. It is also a great way to save money (most of these sites on the recruiting side are free, as opposed to job boards which can be pricey), and increase a company’s brand recognition. It can show that a company is innovative and able to keep up with current trends.
As a candidate, I can’t stress how important it is to create a Linkedin account if you haven’t already. These days it’s not enough to just create an account; take a few minutes daily to check your messages, and update your profile, as necessary. Add a picture, it helps attract recruiters!
If your HR department is relying on the corporate website and waiting for resumes to slowly drip in, it’s time to improve the recruiting strategy. I have hired several excellent candidates off of Linkedin and was able to land a great job myself! At this point, it’s not just a fad or random idea to use social media as a recruiting tool; it’s a fact that usage of these sites is increasing every year – don’t miss out!