Social Media in Recruitment

New research shows that more than three out of four (78 per cent) Irish workers are now working outside the office using mobile devices, and forty six per cent of workers report using three or more of devices such as smartphones, laptops and iPads in their work every day (Citrix Systems). The Government keeps talking about creating jobs in the Smart Economy, but the reality is we already have one! Companies such as eBay, Google, LinkedIn and others already have offices here, and Ireland is often used as a test-bed for new applications. It is perhaps not surprising then that 97 per cent of office workers say they already use mobile devices for everyday tasks such as banking and restaurant reservations. And we are becoming a technology savvy bunch too. Four out of five of those who use personal devices for work purposes describe themselves as “do it yourself-ers”. This means they take care of their own IT needs rather than relying on the IT department to manage the device or install new apps. including social media. In a recession companies place emphasis on hiring staff with networks of existing connections to knowledgeable people, as opposed to just knowledgeable people. Those who have active accounts on social media sites fit that profile. LinkedIn, for example, can be used to keep in touch with current contacts, former employers, for lead generation, and meeting new people in your business or local area. Social networking is all about sharing information, and contacts, with a large number of people. Tweeting shows an ability to ‘converse’ with your peers. So what is the next step? Skillpages, an Ireland-based internet company, has had thousands of users in more than 50 countries sign up to its social media platform since launch less than a year ago. It enables anyone, anywhere to connect with people who need their skills and also, to find people who have the skills they need. So social networking is no longer just about keeping in touch or even getting in touch, it is about getting that job!
In the early days of these new applications many jobseekers took a very basic approach to using them in their job search, doing activities in much the same way as they always did through other websites, to obtain information and get in contact with potential recruiters. But there is much more to using social and other networking applications than that.
Whether you are looking for a job or in a company people will be ‘googling’ you in order to find out about you: They will be searching on business networking sites such as LinkedIN to see what your profile says about you and find out about your past work experiences. · They will look on sites like Facebook to see who your family and friends are, and what you get up to in your spare time! · They will look at your blog to see what types of attitudes you have and what opinions you are expressing. If you do not have a blog, does that mean you have nothing to say? · They may visit discussion boards to see what your expertise is. · They may even follow you on Twitter to see what you are chatting about – as this is the online equivalent of the water cooler. The default for Twitter and Facebook accounts is now public so potential employers can find out a lot about you apart from what you have on your CV. Before you cry ‘Big Brother’ bear in mind that if you were going to do an interview with an organisation it is likely that you would probably do the same thing to them: You should invest time in obtaining information about the organisation and the person or persons interviewing you. As any good sales rep. knows, it is important to prepare yourself in advance by getting to know the people you are going to meet. Just don’t be surprised if they are doing the same. And remember that jobseekers with private accounts will be competing with other people who want to share their knowledge and expertise with the world.