1. Social Media in Recruiting
and Job Search
Tracy Godfrey
Minnesota ASQ
Professional Development Summit
April 2, 2012
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2. Social Media in Recruiting:
Session Goals
• See how employers are using social media and
trends in recruiting
• How you can leverage social media in job search
and build an online presence for your career
• Using social media as a tool to learn about careers,
companies and opportunities, and find connections
• Combining online social networks with your own
personal relationships to help you in both job
search and ongoing professional development
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3. “Social Media”
Relatively new, but now almost ubiquitous
“Works of user-created video, audio, text or
multimedia that are published and shared in a
social environment, such as a blog, podcast,
forum, wiki or video hosting site.”
• Social networking first defined in 2004
• Made possible by Web 2.0
• Not just static access to the internet, but
interactive - create & share online
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4. Social Media have exploded since
“Web 2.0” was coined in 1999
Social Media Started Most recently
• Smartphone 1999 – Term first 85 million in U.S. had
used one (July, 2011)
• Facebook Feb., 2004 – at 800 million active
Harvard users (Jan., 2012)
• LinkedIn May, 2003 Launch 150 million users (Dec.,
2011)
• YouTube April, 2005 – First 4 billion video
video downloads daily
• Twitter July, 2006 Launch 200 million users by
2011
• Pinterest March, 2010 Beta 10.4 million registered
Launch users (Jan., 2012)
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5. Social Media Has Become a
Real Factor in Recruiting
• Used increasingly by both recruiters and
candidates
• Job boards have receded in dominance
• Employers are using social media to post
jobs, push out their message, search for
candidates, and check them out (both
positively and negatively)
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6. Use of Social Media is
Increasing Dramatically
• Career Xroads: 88.5% of companies are
using social media in hiring
• Jobvite: 89% using social media in 2011,
up from 83% in 2010
• SHRM survey: 56% used it in 2010, up
from 34% in 2008
• Only 21% of companies don’t plan to use
social recruiting this year.
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7. Top Social Media Sites
Employers use for recruiting
Jobvite SHRM
• LinkedIn 78% 95%
• Facebook 55% 58%
• Twitter 45% 42%
• Prof. or Assn. sites 23%
• Blogs 19%
• YouTube 14%
• MySpace 5%
• Others: Foursquare, Virtual communities,
Google+(?)
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8. Social Media – New application
of Age-old Phenomena
Social networks have been around a long time:
Figure out who you want to meet, then
go to where they gather to meet them
The internet brought this into a “virtual” realm
• What are some social networks you are a
part of?
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9. A Quick History of
Social Media
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10. Social Media – New application of
Age-old Phenomena
The Watering Hole
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11. Social Media – New application of
Age-old Phenomena
The Rendezvous
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12. Social Media – New application of
Age-old Phenomena
Around the Fire
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13. Social Media – New application of
Age-old Phenomena
The Pub
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14. Social Media – New application of
Age-old Phenomena
Wherever Crowds Gather
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15. Social Media – New application of
Age-old Phenomena
In the Many Ways People Connect
6 degrees of Kevin Bacon: http://www.sixdegrees.org/
“Social Networking with a social conscience”
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16. Social Media in Recruiting Is
Reciprocal
It’s a place to go to see and be seen:
1. Candidates look for employers
2. Employers look for candidates
3. Candidates look at employers – find out
what they are like, dig up dirt
4. Employers look at candidates – find out
what they are like, dig up dirt
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17. • Start by “Googling” yourself – this is your
online persona - make sure it presents you
in a positive light
• It’s likely employers will Google candidates
at some point before they hire them
• Google searches are a great way to learn
about employers. Like you, companies can
control some – but not all, of what’s on
Google – Check “News” to see how others
are covering the company
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18. Linked In – Job Seekers
• Create a professional Profile
• Build your network – Look for connections
• Search – for people, companies, jobs,
industries, career fields
– Use “Advanced Search” to drill down
• Join LinkedIn Groups & participate
• Follow companies
• See how you are connected
• Monitor activity & Views on your Home page
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19. How Companies
Use Linked In
• Company profile – to promote brand, image
• Create and participate in Groups
• Post jobs
• Connect job boards and databases to
LinkedIn – e.g. Taleo,
• Search for candidates
• Size up candidates who have applied
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20. Facebook – Job Seekers
Usually more personal than professional, but
is used in recruiting & job search
• Make sure your privacy settings are set
the way you want them
• Highlight activities that might spark a
common interest with an employer
• Be appropriate on Facebook
• Monitor Tags on photos that may not be
appropriate professionally
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21. How Employers Use
Facebook
• Create company Facebook pages to
promote company brand and image
• Get people to “Like” & follow company
• Sometimes post jobs, links to career sites
• Monitor what’s being said about them
• Search for potential talent
• Check out candidates (positive & negative)
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22. Twitter – Job Seekers
• Set up a Twitter account
• Tweet if you are so inclined
• Follow companies – for news, job
postings, corporate positioning
• Tweet when you have something to say,
but don’t overdo it
• Assume that all you Tweet will be
discovered
• Use www.search.twitter.com
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23. How Employers
Use Twitter
• Push out information about their company
– links to news releases, events, jobs,
products, etc.
• Communicate with followers
• Do searches to find talent who share
interests or are talking about topics critical
to their company
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24. General rules on social media
• Be professional; Be appropriate – don’t post illegal or
risqué items – Assume all will see–even your Mother
• Stay active in groups and across social media – Up
your Google quotient
• Keep it positive – Don’t slam employers or
competing points of view
• Don’t overdo it – Network, but don’t pester
• Being “overexposed” is not good (especially literally)
• Be careful on frequency & timing
• Ultimately your aim is to connect with People – social
media is a tool to get there
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25. Social Media’s Value:
More than for Job Search
Use it to connect professionally and
develop in your career
• LinkedIn to stay connected with colleagues
• LinkedIn to share ideas & updates on your work
• Virtual communities to contribute, get help, stay
current on trends, stay visible, build your “brand”
• Professional associations to stay current, get
continuing education, connect, learn from leaders
• Twitter to follow companies, interesting people
• All of the above to track job & industry trends,
hot companies, critical issues
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26. Sample Social Media Search:
Jobs in Your Field in MN
1. Google: Minnesota & the name of the profession
(Start broadly and narrow if necessary)
2. Do LinkedIn Search based on Google results to
look for people & connections – Advanced
searches on People, Companies, Industries, Key
Words
3. Do similar Facebook search on Google results &
learn about people identified from LinkedIn
4. Check Twitter, YouTube, other social media sites
to learn more about companies & organizations
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27. Sample Social Media Search:
Your Field in MN
5. Go back to Google to look up news on targeted
companies
6. Look for connections to gain introductions &
connect with people
7. Go back to LinkedIn, Facebook, major job boards,
niche job boards & professional associations to find
jobs & apply
8. Get personal – Connect with key people for
networking & informational interviews to meet and
learn more; connect with those with the power to
hire
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28. The Future of Social Media in
Recruiting
• Social media has created a virtual village square
where people can meet & mingle
• It’s going to get more personal & interactive
• Advances in technology will make connecting even
more accessible and mobile
• Smart companies will target people & skills they
need - to develop a connection & relationship
• Smart candidates can use technology to stand out,
be found & stay close to preferred employers
• It’s going to get more social. Welcome to the party!
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29. Your most important link: From online
back to real-world relationships
School & Alumni
Athletics Work
&
Professional
Informal Recreation
Socializing & Leisure
Interests
Volunteer
Family
&
&
Community
Faith Community Friends
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30. Link to Today’s Presentation
on SlideShare
http://www.slideshare.net/TracyGodfrey/
ASQ-social-media-in-recruiting
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31. About the Presenter
Tracy Godfrey, MBA, SPHR
As head of Godfrey Talent Strategies,
Tracy helps hire the right people the right
way. He is a seasoned HR professional
with more than 25 years experience,
leading teams & consulting on recruiting
and selection for major Twin Cities corporations. Tracy
holds an MBA and Senior Professional, Human Resources
(SPHR) certification. He is a member of the Leadership
Group of the Vital Aging Network (VAN).
http://www.linkedin.com/in/tracygodfreytalentstrategies
Godfrey.Talent@gmail.com
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