Recruiting 2.0: Changing the Game

You're an employer. You have heard all the buzz about social networks and how they help you relate and brand yourself better all while reaching out to potential (passive) candidates. Great. So now what? Jobs in Pods has a great post on how exactly to go about doing this by suggesting Ning or StandoutJobs as a way of creating your own network. (You can also check out KickApps.com as well.)

...todays employers must shift recruiting dollars to a proactive, rather than reactive approach. Thats what web 2.0 is about. Its not about posting a job, its about communicating with prospective candidates. Its about engaging them on their own turf, whether thats on MySpace, Facebook or any other number of social media sites which they visit.

...stop talking down to job seekers and start involving them in the conversation. The companies who accomplish this will become an employer of choice among the next generation of workers.

Read more How to get your own Web 2.0 Recruiting Site by Jobs in Pods.

Chris uses a specific example of Southwest Airline's Nuts about Southwest site. (He offers a good analysis here.) What I like most about Southwest's site is that they aren't trying to reinvent the wheel. They're meeting people where they're at. On Flickr, Twitter, Facebook, etc. They brought all their photos, videos, podcasts and blog posts together in one place but are utilizing all these other tools out there that already exist.

Web 2.0 takes traditional media which you filter down and push out to the masses and allows people to talk back. It completely changes the game. Instead of being a nameless, faceless part of the masses, and having their applications and information get lost in the depths your Applicant Tracking System, people want to be heard and find out what and how you can help them. By engaging your potential candidates you can understand them better in terms of what they want from a company. If they don't feel like they matter from the beginning they may rule out an opportunity with your company because they went unheard. Utilizing online tools to engage potential candidates not only helps your brand out but creates a bigger pool of applicants who are willing to consider a job with your company.

Another thing to consider is that these Web 2.0 gadgets aren't a quick fix to all your recruiting problems. They certainly can help you out but unless you are real it's not going to work. With Web 2.0 comes some accountability to be honest with your candidates. Involving them in the conversation as Chris Russell says in his post quoted above. And before I close out this post, check out this excellent post from Ingite Social Media: 6 Steps for Developing Social Media Campaign Content. That should help you get started with some ideas on how to work on your 'playbook'.

Changing the game, FTW!

Update: Also see Social Media U by Sarah Perez