Using Social Networking Sites to Stuff Your Funnel

My current read is Patrice-Anne Rutledge's "Profiting From Social Networking." Its great information, but it puts me in my place regarding my presence on the web. I fall right on the border of Gen X and Gen Y, so I should be all over the latest web trends. Furthermore, in my industry, professionals are typically ahead of the curve. Mainly in larger markets, recruiters have found the web to be a great place to source passive candidates and provide value to their clients.

In short, the book was a wake-up call to my web presence (or lack there of). Especially among Generation Y members, who are a good chunk of an employer's candidate pool, the Web 2.0 is king. It is their (I can't consider myself a member until I embrace their trends) chief communication tool, as they participate in social networking sites (MySpace and Facebook) blogs, and podcasts. With that in mind, they've turned their back on traditional mediums like TV and newspapers. Some may still respond to a job posting online, but to get to the people that are not looking (typically the best performers) recruiters and employers will need to crack into social networking sites.

Here are the best three to not only get on, or if you're there already, use to establish a presence that resonates with younger candidates. Many companies have already started using these sites to appeal to users as an employer of choice. (I know new technology is daunting, but we'll do it together:)

Facebook: Besides reconnecting with former colleagues and long lost friends, (who could be potential candidates) this site allows you to create an "online public group" where the latest information on your organization is posted, including links to your current openings. Visit www.facebook.com and search "Cisco" for an example of a company group.

YouTube: Yes, you can search Family Guy clips, but with free posting capabilities, companies can also post short videos with real employees describing their company culture. Its great non-threatening PR, and its a cool way for employees to get 15 minutes of fame. QPS will be debuting a weekly video soon. It's geared to candidates, and talks abouts the latest positions available with our clients. Let me know if our marketing team can help you with your video.

Linkedin: Ok, so I've blabbed about Linkedin before, but the site has recently added several interactive features which should be appealing to passive candidates looking to learn more about your organization. One, Box.net allows you to post specific documents on your profile. While a candidate may not visit your company's website to see a job posting, having the posting on your Linkedin profile allows them to contact a specific person within their network if they have questions.

What's exciting (or scary) is that these sites while popular now, could fall out of favor with the online crowd. However, by establishing your organization within these communities, you're ahead of the curve. And I can try to fit in better with one of my generations.

Regards
Dave