The Power of Social Networking
Wednesday, 02 September 2009 19:16
It’s no doubt that professional recruiters have started hunting for job candidates using the technology found on social networking sites such as LinkedIn and Facebook.
Social networking technology is a powerful recruiting and job search tool if utilized correctly. For example, LinkedIn, a growing network of over 8 million professionals, includes a long list of professionals from the most sought after organizations and Fortune 500 companies. By typing keywords into a search engine, a recruiter can scan the entire network to identify high-quality candidates that he or she can't find elsewhere. Let’s say a recruiter wishes to seek out accountants in the Toronto area on LinkedIn, he or she can simply type “accountant, Toronto” or “accountant + Toronto” into the search engine and voila, an entire list pops up. There are also areas to conduct more advanced searches. Thus, the key words you use when building your profile on one of these social networking sites are crucial for search engine success – your aim is to ensure your profile appears on the first few pages.
These social networking sites also help job hunters and passive candidates market themselves online by setting up profiles, listing work history and specific skills. Such sites are also about open connectedness and communication which means that people who want to communicate will make themselves available through social media. But what really makes networking sites such as LinkedIn helpful is that it allows users to share their online rolodexes to their network of friends, colleagues and professionals. With LinkedIn, hiring professionals can find people faster using a vastly increased network of contacts.
Although the rise of online networking sites has made it easier to connect with colleagues and learn about job openings, it's also part of a much larger trend in which more information about you may be available to anyone who's interested – including hiring managers, who often perform Internet searches on job candidates.
Keep in mind that if you want to advance in your career, you need to make sure that both your online networking efforts and your overall web presence are working for - not against - you. What more companies are doing now as part of their recruiting process is typing in an applicant’s name into Google’s search engine to see if any information pops up that may not be on their resume. That being said, it is important to be more mindful of the material and content you post about yourself and ensure that you use networking sites with care.
Where does that leave you? As job placement becomes more and more competitive, candidates should take the time to join social networks to gain more exposure online and to grow their personal networks. If recruiting professionals are already aggressively fishing within these online forums, potential candidates should get involved as well and start swimming.
When logged into LinkedIn and Facebook, search for “PTC Accounting” and join our groups to help start expanding your personal network!
Social networking technology is a powerful recruiting and job search tool if utilized correctly. For example, LinkedIn, a growing network of over 8 million professionals, includes a long list of professionals from the most sought after organizations and Fortune 500 companies. By typing keywords into a search engine, a recruiter can scan the entire network to identify high-quality candidates that he or she can't find elsewhere. Let’s say a recruiter wishes to seek out accountants in the Toronto area on LinkedIn, he or she can simply type “accountant, Toronto” or “accountant + Toronto” into the search engine and voila, an entire list pops up. There are also areas to conduct more advanced searches. Thus, the key words you use when building your profile on one of these social networking sites are crucial for search engine success – your aim is to ensure your profile appears on the first few pages.
These social networking sites also help job hunters and passive candidates market themselves online by setting up profiles, listing work history and specific skills. Such sites are also about open connectedness and communication which means that people who want to communicate will make themselves available through social media. But what really makes networking sites such as LinkedIn helpful is that it allows users to share their online rolodexes to their network of friends, colleagues and professionals. With LinkedIn, hiring professionals can find people faster using a vastly increased network of contacts.
Although the rise of online networking sites has made it easier to connect with colleagues and learn about job openings, it's also part of a much larger trend in which more information about you may be available to anyone who's interested – including hiring managers, who often perform Internet searches on job candidates.
Keep in mind that if you want to advance in your career, you need to make sure that both your online networking efforts and your overall web presence are working for - not against - you. What more companies are doing now as part of their recruiting process is typing in an applicant’s name into Google’s search engine to see if any information pops up that may not be on their resume. That being said, it is important to be more mindful of the material and content you post about yourself and ensure that you use networking sites with care.
Where does that leave you? As job placement becomes more and more competitive, candidates should take the time to join social networks to gain more exposure online and to grow their personal networks. If recruiting professionals are already aggressively fishing within these online forums, potential candidates should get involved as well and start swimming.
When logged into LinkedIn and Facebook, search for “PTC Accounting” and join our groups to help start expanding your personal network!
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