Social networks as a business card?
May 2020: How to make the most of the hype surrounding social media recruiting
Asking for numbers is out. Nowadays, people ask for LinkedIn and XING accounts, at least if they want to be part of the digital business world. The daily hype of being a part of as many social networks as possible doesn’t stop either. And even our own parents have acquired a taste for Instagram and Facebook and share their leisure activities with the entire community like world champions. But how much potential is there really in LinkedIn and co.
No more applications by post
Social media recruiting is one of the latest trends in recruitment. It describes the search for applicants via social networks such as LinkedIn, XING, Facebook, Instagram and similar. Companies use the influence of these platforms to target future employees. Online, you can create a digital CV and present yourself at the click of a button. This finally replaces the postal application and closes the chapter of cumbersome paper bureaucracy. The digital CV gives the recruiter a quick overview of qualifications, activities performed or internships completed in order to determine directly how suitable you are for a particular position.
Goals of social media recruiting
Social media recruiting represents a complete process, from the search for potential candidates, through the selection of personnel, to communication and management of the application process. Social media recruiting pursues three core objectives:
Simplification: Simplicity for both the company and the applicant should be guaranteed by social media recruiting. Job seekers should be able to submit their documents as easily as possible, while at the same time a simple application process increases the number of applications, giving the company a larger selection.
Speed: A traditional application process usually takes a lot of time. Companies can save themselves valuable work and time through social media recruiting, as all application documents can be accessed digitally and a pre-selection can already be made online.
Find the best applicant: The aim of every application process is to find the best candidate among all the applications for a specific position. This is exactly what social media recruiting promises through the electronic pre-selection of a suitable applicant.
Connect with companies
Compared to traditional job boards with job advertisements, social media recruiting is defined by direct contact with applicants and two-way interaction. Interested parties can respond directly to job advertisements or job offers and, for example, ask questions, to which recruiters can respond quickly and easily. This creates important connections between both parties, which can be of great importance in the selection process.
Presentation is the key to success
The right self-presentation is the be-all and end-all for successful job placement and allows us to determine how other people perceive us. The strategic use of social media is associated with many professional possibilities and opportunities. However, as positive as the effect of social media is, the associated damage can also be greater. Many users often forget that everything they ever share online will be circulating on the web forever. It is therefore particularly important to pay attention to appropriate self-presentation on the Internet and always remember that the right presentation can lead to success in social media recruiting. Because a drunken party picture on Facebook or Instagram will reduce your chances of getting your dream job considerably.
Conclusion
If you really want to be successful in a job, you have to impress with your profile. The most important thing is to get the best out of yourself and provide your future employer with as much positive input as possible. However, you should never forget: as many opportunities as social media offer, there is also a lot of competition!