Social Media’s Role in the Recruiting Process

The job hunt has been an ongoing process for many people and a relevant topic given the number of recent college graduates. So the question for many job seekers is: Should you leverage social media as you search for a job? And the question for employers is:  Should you rely on social media profiles and activity to find the right candidate?

Chirag Nangia, CEO of Reppify, thinks you should. Employers, of course, face many legal boundaries with the type of information they can use to compare job candidates and must understand what kind of information actually adds value to their candidate search. As the web and online communities continue to grow more specialized, it may become easier for employers to look to certain communities to fulfill special needs and positions. Likewise, it will be easier for job seekers to identify good communities in which to participate. However, even there, there is competition.

Nangia suggests keeping any professional profiles up-to-date with your most current or relevant information. As employers try to weed out candidates from the many resumes they receive, figuring out any way to stand out or offer more information is helpful.

Nangia also suggests engaging in relevant online communities that potential employers might know about. GitHub is mentioned multiple times, as an online community to share code and write code faster. Identify communities that are relevant to your profession and chime in with thoughtful dialogue.

I also suggest following an organization or key influencers from a company or industry on Twitter. Retweeting or engaging in smart dialogue online is just a good way to have your name seen. it might help even more if you have a website or LinkedIn Profile that they can click from your homepage.

Although social media is still relatively new, everyone seems to be testing the waters. Your own personal or industry connections are still a safe bet. Referrals are taken seriously when it comes from someone an organization or hiring manager trusts. Ask around and see if someone in your circle is hiring. The job hunt can be a long process. After all it is a bit like dating; you want to make sure the organization is right for you and vice versa.

Have you found a job through social media? Leave me a comment and let me know what worked.