A recent article from JobsDirectUSA suggests that job seekers should not only embrace social media websites, but they should make sure to communicate with any potential new employers that they do so. The reasoning: first, it shows that job seekers are technologically forward thinking and second, it demonstrates transparency. Job seekers who are not afraid of what a future employer may find online about them demonstrate the type of character that employers typically seek.
Add to this the fact that another recent article by CIO magazine indicated that social media is considered a viable option for finding high-quality candidates. In fact, according to this survey by Jobvite, a recruiting software manufacturer, most of the responding companies plan to increase their future social media recruitment activity.
Recruiters Use Social Networks as Recruitment Tools
Anyone who has spent any amount of time on the Internet knows the plethora of information that there is to be had. So deciding where to spend time making the right connections can often be overwhelming.
Well, according to the Jobvite survey over 78 percent of respondents used LinkedIn, nearly 55 percent used Facebook and nearly 50 percent use Twitter. And what do they use them for?
- 73 percent use social networks for recruiting
- 92 percent that plan to hire in 2010 will recruit via social networks
- 33 percent always check out candidates' social media profiles when considering them
- 58 percent have successfully hired candidates through social networking websites
This is just further proof that knowledge of the Internet, social media and technology in general are vital to landing the right employment opportunity.
Facebook Offers Job Seekers Recruitment Tools
As mentioned earlier, more and more employers are embracing social networking and the job seekers who use it. However, it’s a matter of knowing and understanding how to use it.
For job seekers who have a Facebook account, it’s easy to use the search box at the top of their home page to search for careers or jobs. This information then can be narrowed down to include more specifics, such as people, groups or events. Click on one of these words on the left side of the screen, and Facebook will only include career and job Facebook members that fall into each specific category.
With a quick search of Facebook, job seekers can find members such as Infoployment, a job search and information services company; Speed Dating for Jobs, the newest way to connect with local hiring companies through free network events; and Monster.com’s Keep America Working.
SimplyHired, the leading search engine for jobs and recruitment advertising network and winner of the Bay Area News Group’s Top Workplaces Award, even offers this video on how job seekers can use SimplyHired's integration with Facebook to leverage friends and find a job on SimplyHired.com.
The whole idea is that savvy job seekers who understand social media and its impact on job hunting understand that it’s not just employers who have a great recruitment tool. Job seekers have a great career tool at their fingertips as well.
Deborah S. Hildebrand - Deborah S. Hildebrand is a freelance writer & HR consultant with 20+ years in human resources & a Bachelor's degree in Business.
Join the Conversation