Social media provides many opportunities for companies to leverage their networks and engage with candidates as part of their recruitment strategy. It allows companies to source candidates, build their employer brand, engage in conversations, and complement their existing careers sites. While social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube can help advertise jobs and research prospects, companies must develop a clear strategy to understand where relevant talent engages online and how to effectively connect with them. Any social media recruitment effort also comes with challenges around legal issues, privacy, and maintaining honest and realistic communications.

1. SOCIAL MEDIA AS
RECRUITMENT TOOL
Social Media as a Recruitment toolSocial Media as a Recruitment tool

3. “Socialmediadescribesa newset ofinternettoolsthat enablesharedcommunity experiences,bothonline and in
person.
SMisa communityofpeoplewithcommoninterestswhoconnectwithone anothertolearn,play,work,organiseand
socialise.Communities canbelargeorsmall,localorglobal. They canbepublic orrestrictedtomembers.”
Geoff Jennings,OnlineRecruitmentSpecialist

4. Social Media by the numbers
346,000,000 number of people globally read blogs
700,000,000 number of photos added to Facebook monthly
273.1 minutes on average spent watching online video each
month
55% Internet users who have uploaded and shared photos
57% users who have joined a social network
93% people expect companies to have a social media presence

6. Social Media as a Recruitment Tool
 Source of candidates
 Builds and leverages off networks
 Employee/employer branding
 Research tool
 Complements a company’s careers site
 Employer transparency
 Engage in conversation with customers, suppliers and internal stakeholders
“[Social Media] is NOT a Recruitment Strategy on its own. The key is to understand where the talent
hangs out online and then develop a strategy to engage with them on their terms”
Michael Specht, industry blogger

7. Twitter as a Recruitment tool
• Advertise job opportunities
• Network with industry leaders
• Source of candidates
• Employer branding tool
• Reach a wider and passive audience
• Respond to comments, requests, feedback, complaints in real
time
• Follow discussion on various recruitment topics
• Engage in conversation and headhunt talent

8. Facebook
Ernst & Young, Deloitte,
Hallmark, Apple and the CIA all
have dedicated Facebook
recruitment strategies
 Facebook is being used as a
strategy to connect with passive
candidates and to build long term
talent pools
 Aussie iconic brand Bushells
have successfully created a group
with a following of 8500 people
who make comments and share
ideas
The median age for Facebook is
now 33, up from 26 in May 2008
Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project
“Facebook is more than social networking, it’s a force for social
action” Mark Zuckerberg, founder

9. LinkedIn
Seen by users as a credible extension of their resume and a way
to research relevant industry information:
 Search employees and target organisations
 Join Groups to join in discussions and have access to industry
information
 Network with other industry professional
 Reference check

10. LinkedIn
Researching through
Groups
Contributing in discussion
Advertising job opportunities
Networking with
prospective
candidates/ clients/
colleagues

11. Slideshare
• An online forum to share
or browse PowerPoint
Presentations or Word
Documents either publicly
or privately.
•Information source:
• Search for webinar
presentations or topics
of interest
• Reports/ stats

12. Slideshare
…But what makes Slideshare
Social Media?
• It is a highly measurable
online tool
• It allows you to become part
of an online community to
share information
• You can comment and create
discussions on topics of
interest
• Allows you to network with
industry professionals

13. YouTube
YouTube is the leader in online video, allowing people to easily upload
and share video clips on www.YouTube.com and across the Internet
through websites, mobile devices, blogs, and email.
Founded in February 2005
• Channels created as a portal for
recruitment videos, resumes

14. Yammer
Yammer is a social media
tool to assist organisations
in being more productive
through the exchange of
short frequent answers to
one simple question:
'What are you working
on?'

15. Online social communities – Ning
Ning provides a platform for people to
join and create social communities and
meet new people with similar
interests.
Benefits of social communities:
• Build network connections
• Easy way to communicate
• Forum to share knowledge and ideas
• Share photos & videos
• Enable discussion
• Free

16. Online social communities - Wetpaint
• Share information, experiences and ideas
• Social community around anything you want
• Conferences/ Webinars/ Social Recruiting Summit
• Creates discussion and open communication

17. Online social community for Candidates –
Glassdoor & Even it up
 Candidates have the opportunity to
provide feedback on:
 Recruitment organisations
 Jobseeker selection
 The interview process
Tool that gives job seekers an insight into
working for a organisation
 Anonymous rating of employers, CEO’s
and the publishing of salary data
 See how your organisation stacks up
 Get recognised for what matters most

18. Having a Recruiting Strategy
Strategy
•What will social media do to your
customer relationships?
•Will the customers become more
engaged with your organisation?
•Who within your organisation needs
to be involved in your strategy?
People
•Who are your customers of the strategy?
•What are they able to use?
•How are they likely to engage with your
organisation?
Objective
• What do you want to achieve?
• Is this an internal or external
activity?
• Do you want to listen to or support
your customers?
Technology
•What tools should you use?
•What applications should you build?
•How do they work with your existing technology environment?
Sourced from: Inspect – Networks of
expertise, 21st Century Recruiting 2009

19. Challenges and Roadblocks
 Legal & privacy implications
 Be prepared to be overwhelmed
 Spam
 It’s a moving target
 Companies need to overcome their fears i.e. giving control back to the
consumer
 This is a different form of communication – its much more than marketing
 Be real & honest to the audience
 Can be a lengthy process to implement
 Being aware of your Social Media policy

20. Pros Cons
Reach to a wide network User frustration
Easy to gather information about candidates
and companies
Damaging your current employment status
Cost saving & targeting Issues of privacy
Building the brand
Diversity of pool
Pros and Cons of Social Media in Recruiting