In the last few years searching for a job and advertising a vacancy has changed dramatically within the online space. Job boards make searching for your dream job simple, easy and quick but is that enough in 2011? Posting on job boards and hoping the right candidate will apply doesn’t seem to cut it anymore. We’re finding that Recruiters and HR Managers are starting to utilise social media outlets to place that perfect candidate or seek referrals and that Job Seekers are researching and working to find their perfect job using those same outlets.
1) Job Posting
For recruiters, posting a job online on any of the major New Zealand jobs boards will almost definitely guarantee applicants but you aren’t necessarily finding the candidates that would be best to fill the position, just the ones who are proactively searching. By using social media you can target a new passive job seeker audience, many of whom could be more suited to the position you’re advertising.
For job seekers, finding companies and connecting to them through different social mediums will build your reputation and show you are interested in the company and what it stands for as well as any positions that may be available and suitable for you.
2) Referrals
A massive amount of current job placements in the New Zealand workforce are through company referrals. Referrals are when a current member of your company or someone that knows your company and culture well recommends a person they know would be good for the role.
Social Media enhances the referral system by targeting new audiences and giving people a chance to personally publicise roles. Using either current employees social media networks or the companies network referrals offer the chance to target a new audience, one that may not be looking for a position but find the opportunity too good to pass up.
For job seekers it makes it possible to get a sought after advantage over other applicants.
3) Sourcing the Passive Candidates
There are many different avenues for companies to source new employees within the world of Social Media.
Facebook can be used through current employees of a company or can be directly targeted to certain groups such as IT or Design by sourcing pages that are relevant. Companies could also have their own Facebook page that users can subscribe to.
Twitter is great to grow relationships and conversations over. It can also be used to target specific users who impress with certain content and style.
The number one area for searching for particular professional candidates is LinkedIn where many employees are searched for specifically. As a job seeker, use LinkedIn to showcase yourself and build a professional profile. Connect and get recommended in a globally recognised professional platform. (Join our Jobs.co.nz LinkedIn group here)
Do you use any of these tools to seek out different job opportunities? Or as a Recruiter to source new talent? Let us know what social media tools you find handy or beneficial, its always good to hear about new techniques and tools being used!
Over the next few weeks we will run through how to use each of the main platforms to their best advantage whether you are a seeker or a recruiter so stay tuned!
