Companies want to be where the most qualified and talented candidates are. HR recruiters can use social media to find top and source recruits. Social networking sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 535 million combined users. More than 80% of companies use some form of social network for hiring and, for example, iPads are used in more than 50% of the Fortune 100 companies.
Here are some interesting statistics on the effects of social media. More than 96% of the world’s population under the age of 30 have joined a social network. Facebook added more than 200 users in a year and has more than 60 million daily status updates. 80% of companies have used LinkedIn for recruitment and Facebook’s fast-growing segment is women 55-65. There are hundreds of thousands of blogs online with 34% of online bloggers talking about products or business products. 78% of consumers surveyed say they trust their peers over advertising slogans.
Many companies are using the introduction of iPads as a recruiting tool. In January 2011, Monster.Com announced the launch of Monster for iPad, a free app that integrates existing Monster user accounts to work with iPad using technology to assist with access to application history, stored resumes, and cover letters. New recruiting apps designed specifically for HR staff come out monthly as companies see the need.
In March, Procter & Gamble launched a multi-billion dollar global campaign targeting young talent. They are using mobile “powerBrands” that encourage players to rise through the ranks of a consumer goods company that eventually becomes a worldwide president. The game can be found on Facebook, leading the company to potential candidates that fit the desired profiles. Even the United States Marine Corps and the United States Army have introduced the iPad to their recruiting. They are using the device to record information on potential job fair recruits. FourSquare and Facebook Places are also additional tools that can help promote a company’s presence at job fairs and recruitment events.
College campuses are also using iPad to solicit potential students, showcase school features, and gauge new student wants and needs to stay competitive and attract top students. The University of Oregon is using technology to enable student interaction and reduce recruitment costs. The University of Nebraska is using iPads to improve talent recruitment in sports programs and has an interactive locker room that has improved communication between existing players, new players and coaches. Some universities have even stopped assigning campus email accounts and are issuing iPad tablets and eReaders to students. Marketing firms and online companies like Teach First are also using technology to target the brightest teachers who match desired skill sets and profiles, reducing the time and cost of recruiting and delivering the best. candidates to their schools.
As job seekers become increasingly tech-savvy, the old days of waiting for companies to call you are long gone. With the explosion of social media, smartphones, and mobile tablets like the iPad, applicants have immediate and rapid access to more information than recruiters could have imagined just ten years ago. This is forcing companies to change the way they approach top talent. They will have to move quickly and provide applications that are easily accessible. Gives companies with tight hiring budgets the ability to integrate social media into their hiring strategies. Reduce paper usage and printing costs, and increase the volume and frequency of materials you can send out to recruits. It allows businesses to change information and quickly update it and adapt to changes without incurring large marketing change fees. Companies that use this type of technology will also showcase the best candidates who are at the forefront of technological innovations. Technology-based job seekers will base their impression of what an employer can offer in a career based on the online brand presence.
So here’s my question to you: are iPads part of your company’s recruiting strategy?
