The Power of Social Media in Recruitment!

The power of social media in recruitment - September 2014

Social media is everywhere! With Facebook boasting over 1.11 billion users and Twitter over 500 million, there’s no doubt about it, social media is certainly very powerful. Employers everywhere are increasingly using social media to recruit staff. But it’s fast becoming more than just another platform for posting job vacancies. The recruitment landscape is facing significant changes with the rise of social media as a tool to recruit and search for jobs. It is estimated that a third of companies now use social media as a business tool, with many enterprises taking advantage of social platforms to support the recruitment process. When you picture that the recruitment industry in the UK alone for 2012/2013 was worth in the region of ￡26.5 billion that is a lot of people using social media!

So why and how should it be used?

If you are thinking using social media it’s a great way to post new jobs to thousands of potential applicants, you thought right. It is but think beyond that? How about sharing company updates! Why not share information about the industry you are recruiting in? Why? Well quite simply it his shows you actually know what you are talking about and that you have a genuine passion for it. For me I follow people who actually are interested in something I am interested in also!

What’s more, social media is a great way to engage with your audience. It’s a great way to directly engage with your audience on a more informal and personal level. But remember, no one enjoys talking to an automated answering machine and the same applies in the social media world. So, talk to your audience, respond to queries and comments. Be human! When I was a job-seeker there was nothing more frustrating than a recruitment business who treated me like "just another entry" on their black hole of a candidate database. I hated this, and I promise you your job-seekers will hate this also.

Let’s not forget, that word of mouth is the most effective way of promoting your company and products, but using social media take can it one step further...Think about it. With so many people in one place, positive feedback can be instantly shared amongst thousands of people at the simple touch of a button. And remember, if you provide your candidates, clients and suppliers with a great customer experience they will be more than happy to tell others about it. They will also consider recommending your business to family and friends. An important point to remember though, the same applies to negative feedback, so be aware!

Final thoughts, this new online generation may well be your future customer base. So, even if you’re new to the social media world, it’s becoming essential that you have an online presence and embrace this new technology. The power of social media in recruitment is probably stronger than any of us expected, and it will only grow.

Why not look me up on social media and take a look at what both my business and I are talking about. We can be found on twitter via Rickymartin247 and @Hyperec_HRS . On my company page you will see lots of interesting topics on science & technology, not just job posts. And on my page you will find lots of.....ummmm......personality! Enjoy :)