HR focusing less on job boards, more on Facebook
July 6, 2009 by StaffPosted in: In this week's e-newsletter - Tech
Despite smaller budgets, many companies are still hiring. How are they searching for employees?
Most are spending more time on social networking sites and less money on job boards like CareerBuilder and Monster, according to a recent survey by Jobvite, a recruiting software provider.
Of the 440 HR pros who responded, 72% said their company will invest more in recruiting through social networks this year. Meanwhile, more than half expect to spend less on job boards.
What online tools are getting the most use? The most popular social networks for recruiters and HR pros:
- Linkedin (used by 80% of those who responded)
- Twitter (42%)
- Facebook (36%)
- Jobster (17%)
- Myspace (13%).
Other traditional, low-cost methods are getting more attention in this economy as well — for example, 68% of companies said they plan to increase the use of employee referrals.
July 7th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
I am an HR Specialist and I keep hearing that companies are using Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc. to recruit people but I am a little confused on how companies are posting their job openings. Could someone please advise.
Thanks!
July 7th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
Just like Danielle, I am also confused on how companies are posting their job openings. I am very interested in learning more.
Thank you!
July 8th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
If your company has a facebook account with “friends” or a group that is followed, you can post your job opening and those openings will go out to the people that follow. The idea is that they will pass the information on the thier “friends” that may meet the qualifications of the job. This creates a recruitment through network referrals and it is pretty cool.
July 8th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Susane, thanks for the explanation — I had the same question. This method will send your job openings around the country (and the world) which could lead to some interesting resumes!
July 14th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
I have actually posted on LinkedIn, but am having trouble believing that it is really any different than more traditional posting locations – other than the fact it may get to a different, POTENTIALLY larger audience (since lots of folks DON’T check out Careerbuilder, Monster, etc. but may belong to LinkedIn, Facebook, etc….
I got candidates through LinkedIn, but
1 – I did NOT like the format of how I had to post with LinkedIn (the method for receiving resumes was clunky to find and print)
2 – I got a lot of candidates that were really completely unrelated to the position experience or industry – because they happened on it, (vs really looking in a relevant “search”)
3 – Just because someone has “great” references on their LinkedIn site doesn’t mean any of it is real. I can get anyone I want to write anything I want about my on my LinkedIn site – but it could all be made up….of course, I know a resume can be the same thing….but there is some implication that a resume is accurate – and if I found out that the info in a resume was not true, I would have some better recourse to claim fraud…..I’m just a little concerned that LinkedIn references are more PR than truth…..
I am still investigating the social network systems for recruiting and will be using them, but it’s like recruiting has been for 20 years; you have to be expert in knowing what you are looking for, ferreting out the real thing from the brass, and doing the rigor necessary to get the best candidates possible. If it was easy, it wouldn’t be something folks get paid for!
The social networks are just the newest form of “billboards” – won’t be long we’ll look at Monster, etc., as the “old” way. How the next generation will find jobs will be very different from how I found my first ones! It’s just fun to keep experimenting and learning how to mine the real gems we all want!
July 14th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Could this lead to an increase in discrimination cases if it is being passed to friends and specific groups?
July 14th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
I have been using craigslist to post help wanted ads. I have received more response than with the local newspaper, and it’s free.
July 14th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
I ask the same question about discrimination. Aren’t there pictures of these people you are contacting? Big liability in my opinion? What do you think?