Tag Archive for social media strategy

Laziness or blindness? You be the judge.

I’ve had a few interesting chats with people all around the world over the last few days regarding social media and the impact it is having on the recruitment industry. There is no doubting that social media is not a fad, however there are still some, or should I say many, within the recruitment industry that just don’t believe that social media has a place, is worth their time and effort, or will produce any results to bother with it at all.

To me this is astounding. Having been around the industry for 9 years now, the one thing that has always been the most difficult thing for any recruiter, in-house or 3rd party to do successfully was connect and engage with the candidate market place, to truly have their finger on the pulse of what is happening out there beyond their usual 1st degree contacts.

With social media, that has changed the game, so why are so many recruiters, in-house and 3rd party, still so scared to delve in to the rabbit hole of social media?

Are they simply scared of the technology itself? Surely not, no doubt they are all on Facebook anyway.

Are they scared that they will be found out not to be a people person, for that is in fact what social media will highlight if you do not get involved.

Are they worried that it won’t produce results? How can this be, surely talking to people in your industry is your main focus anyway, how on earth from that can social media not produce results.

I’m stumped. Social Media for me has given me greater access to people within the recruitment world like never before. If you’re a recruiter, wanting to find candidates or clients, why on earth would you not utilise the vast power that is social media?

Laziness or blindness? You be the judge.

Should every company have some Social Media presence?

Simple answer you would think? Yes, it makes sense really doesn’t it. The Social Media craze is sweeping the world and has taken over traditional media to a large degree, in terms of it’s immediateness and impact and knowledge sharing and networking. Iran, Mumbai, Patrick Swayze, Haiti, Michael Jackson etc etc. were all first broken to the wider world via social media. So if the world is so in tune with Social Media then why wouldn’t business benefit from having some presence in order to stay “more in tune” with their consumer/client base?

The 2 biggest negative comments or worries that I have heard is that Social Media is just what Ashton Kutcher had for lunch (ie Twitter) or that we are worried that someone will say something bad about us or it gives them a greater chance to, all social media. Firstly, the wonderful thing about Social Media is that you get to choose who you follow/track/watch, you can always opt out of receiving some ones updates or life story.

Secondly, and really the answer to the second response is pretty simple. If you are worried about people saying negative comments regarding your business then 2 things, not being on Social Media isn’t going to stop that, and secondly the issues in your business that they are suggesting should be something that you look at. Isn’t it best to know what the market is saying and either prevent or react to these issues then to not know at all. Ignorance is not bliss.

Regardless of what angle you wish to use social media from, recruitment, consumer, networking, new business generation, customer service etc etc. you are doing yourself, and your business a disservice by not utilising the tools that the broader community today are all over.

Whats your thoughts? Should every company have some Social Media presence?