It’s no secret that Social Media altered the business landscape, but how has it impacted the way staffing agencies and recruiters do their jobs? Many staffing executives agree that while social media is new, it is becoming a more important tool in the search for candidates. Social media sites attract a large number of people. Over 700 million people are on Facebook, 200 million on Twitter and at least 100 million on LinkedIn[1]. These people tend to be tech-savvy, curious, and they enjoy learning, which means that many of them could be excellent recruits[2].

Social media sites give you insight into a candidate’s job history and interests, and LinkedIn can even provide you with detailed information about the candidate’s professional experience and education. It’s not easy to find such detailed information through the traditional recruiting channels. This makes LinkedIn a great source for reaching passives. Users can post a profile without announcing that they are looking for a job, and recruiters can then seek out these candidates as well as actively searching candidates.

A recent Jobvite survey found that 64% of organizations have hired through social networks in 2011, compared to the 58% that hired through social networks in 2010. In addition, 55% will increase their budget for social recruiting, and only 16% will spend more on job boards[3].

In addition to simply posting jobs, companies can engage job-seekers and passive candidates on social media sites through information. Companies can start discussions, provide job-hunting hints, or provide information about a particular industry.

Other components of recruiting will continue to play a role; however a social media program needs to fit with a firm’s overall marketing strategy. Companies need to communicate their goals and message to their specific target audience, and social media provides a perfect platform to do this. For more information and tips about social media recruiting, feel free to contact CWS.

[1] ERE.net http://www.ere.net/2011/07/15/save-your-cold-calls-use-social-media-and-go-where-your-candidates-already-are/
[2] Johnson, Craig. Connect with Candidates. Staffing Industry Review. XVI.8

[3] ERE.net, Jobvite, http://www.ere.net/2011/07/12/more-employers-than-ever-recruit-on-social-networks/