Have you been following any/all of the buzz on, social media and how it is changing how organizations locate, attract and then hire talent? It is a lively topic to say the least.
Keep in mind there is a huge difference between knowing and understanding. Having a person as a contact in a social network (Twitter/Google +, Facebook, Linked In) is knowing who they are, in order to interest them in a new opportunity you have to understand what they want. This requires building a relationship.
A hammer is a tool used to build a house. Social media is a tool used to build a relationship.
The article below is yet another take on social media and how it will/will not be playing a role in recruiting as we move into 2012. The first highlighted quote (see below) is great affirmation for what search entrepreneurs believe. Every professional in a recruiters niche is a candidate. It is a simple concept and the “game changer” for recruiters internal/external who “get” the increasing talent shortage.
“A company either waits for the moment that someone presses the button and turns themselves into a candidate and then jumps on them, or makes a proposition that is attractive and tempts them into candidacy. Hence at the core of Recruitment 3.0 is that everyone is a candidate. And it is up to us to create candidates not wait.”
Charlotte Byndas 