Although quite a new method, around 90% of employers and recruitment agencies are using various social networks for some aspect of their recruitment.
Searching for Candidates Using Social Media
With so much information about people posted on their Facebook pages or LinkedIn profiles it can be an excellent tactic to check through these social networking sites when searching for candidates.
LinkedIn is used predominately for business as a networking tool and many companies find that this is the perfect social media site for head hunting. With the benefits of being able to search based on skills, connections and location, picking some of the best candidates for the role can become quicker and easier than traditional methods.
Facebook is a giant network and the one where most potential candidates will spend the majority of their time. You will find it slightly more difficult to pinpoint the right talent through Facebook due to privacy settings making it hard to see everything on certain people's profiles. However, creating a company profile is the best way to lure candidates in as opposed to head hunting, such as with LinkedIn.
When you are sourcing candidates using social media it is important to understand what works for each different network. Facebook may not be the best place to learn about a potential employee's credentials but can give you a more personal insight into that person's life, hobbies and interests.
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Sites such as Twitter can be more difficult to use when sourcing potential candidates as the information on each profile is limited. You may find that by searching for keywords related to your business that someone great will crop up, but LinkedIn and Facebook are the main sites to use first.
Advertising Your Roles Using Social Media
Social media has become a perfect place for advertising your job roles, due to the millions of people that visit at least one social network a day. Some websites are more effective than others, but it is always important to build a company profile before you start advertising.
Whether you choose to advertise your job roles using Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn or even Pinterest, you need to create a company profile that will attract potential candidates. Ensure that the information and content you use is informative, in-depth and unique to your business.
Once your profile is ready to go and you have some followers you can then advertise your current job roles. Make sure that the advertisements are catchy and include all of the information such as:
- Role and responsibilities
- Experience or qualifications needed
- Salary and benefits
- How to apply (company website, e-mail, etc...)
- Closing date or interview dates
- Anything else you feel is relevant
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Conclusion
Using social media as a recruitment tool can have an extremely positive impact on your company, as well as providing a pool of experienced talent to choose from.
When searching for candidates using social media remember that you will glean more information about a person using sites such as Facebook, but business orientated sites like LinkedIn will provide an insight into experience.
You can also use social media to advertise your job roles, although you may find that getting it right can take some time. Talk to a recruitment professional about the best ways of using social media for your business if you want to make the best out of this modern recruitment tool.
Nathan GriffithsAbout the Guest Author:
An article by Nathan Griffiths who suggests speaking to a company like SAS London for aspects of Social Media advice.