Social Media – The New Recruiting Tool

Recruiting through social media has become a valuable way to connect, network, and search for highly qualified and experienced candidates. Social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc. are being used as an approach to locate and pre-screen job applicants before initiating communication. Jobvite, a leader in social recruiting and applicant tracking systems, released a study that shows 92% of employers and recruiters alike currently use some type of social media platform for recruiting and screening of potential job applicants.

Social Media Recruiting for Employers & Recruiters

Creating a valuable network of contacts through social media can help a business locate, screen, and hire the right candidates for the right jobs in a timely and efficient manner. While growing your network, it is important to keep in mind that quality of relationships rather than quantity of contacts is far more valuable for finding the right candidates and strengthening your brand as a company. Recruiting through social media platforms should be a two way street for both parties. As a recruiting firm, your company is looking for high-caliber candidates while the candidate is looking for a high-caliber firm to give them the best opportunity to find the right job. In this regard, it is vital that your company represents themselves in a professional manner with current and relevant information on their Facebook, LinkedIn, or company website. As a candidate, it is important that employers can see a true representation of your skills, experience, and professionalism through any social media platform that you decide to engage in.

Social Media Recruiting for Candidates & Job-Seekers

Whether you are passively or actively seeking new opportunities of employment it is imperative to manage your professional image on all social media applications. More than ever, employers and recruiters are using social platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to screen job applicants beyond their experience and skills in their resume. These platforms allow employers to seek a more personal view of candidates to decide if they believe that the candidate would be a positive reflection of the company and its working culture. Furthermore, employers are not engaging in social media searches to dismiss candidates who have outgoing personalities and social lives, they are looking for cultural fit and potential red flags to be cautious of. Recruiters are looking to hire candidates, not reject everyone. Below are some new statistics of a social media networking in regards to recruiting potential candidates:

Social Media Job Screening Statistics

• 92% of employers use social networking sites to screen prospective employees
• Facebook is the most popular social network to screen candidates
• 69% of employers have rejected a candidate because of what they saw about them on a social networking site. This includes but is not limited to:
  • Inappropriate photos
  • Lied about Qualifications
  • Negative comment about previous employer
  • Posted inappropriate comments
• 68% of employers have hired a candidate because of what they saw about them on a social networking site. This includes but is not limited to:
  • Positive impression of their personality in regards to an organizational fit
  • Profile supported their professional qualifications, awards, and accolades
  • Profile showed candidates creativity with positive communication skills

At On the Mark Recruiting Specialists, Inc. we specialize in the recruitment and placement of professionals in the automotive sector. Our customers are global and domestic manufacturers and suppliers to the OEM, Tier I and Tier II industry.