How to use Social Networks as a HR Tool

Who is this Jason Sullivan guy?

Web 2.0 - Today

• Paradigm shift from web users as passive recipients of information to an environment dependent on user generated content.

• Common Web 2.0 components:– Social networking sites– Video sharing sites– Wikis– Blogs

The Internet in 2020

• Mobile devices will be the primary connection tool to the internet in 2020

• Transparency of people and organizations will increase

• Voice recognition and touch user-interfaces with the internet will be more prevalent and accepted

• Divisions between personal time and work time and between physical and virtual reality will be further erased for everyone who is connected

Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project

Social Networking Sites?

• Virtual communities• Share common interests/activities or have

interest in exploring the interests/activities of others

• ~ 200 social networking sites

Most Visited U.S. Social Networking Sites

1. Facebook2. MySpace3. Flickr4. LinkedIn5. Tagged6. Ning -“Create your own social network for anything”

Other Notable Social Networking Sites

• Friendster - Global• Naymz – “Online identity management”• Ryze • Zumeo - “Come for the jobs, stay for the networking”

• Doostang – Invite only network for young professionals

• Xing – Business focused site with primary traffic from Germany

• Viadeo - Business focused site with primary traffic from France

Noteworthy HR Sites

• RecruitingBlogs.com• HRM Today• ERE.net• Fordyce Letter Network

MicroBlogs

• Twitter – 40% of respondents picked Twitter as the number one social media service for businesses

• FriendFeed – social network aggregator• Yammer• Tumblr • Socialthing – Invite only• JaikuSource: Abrams Research

Viable Staffing Tool?

“According to a survey by Robert Half International, 62 percent of executives say sites such as LinkedIn will prove useful in recruiting job candidates over the next three years. Another 35 percent said they also plan to tap Facebook and MySpace”

Demographics of Social Network Users

• 35% of adult internet users have a profile on an online social network site– 75% of online adults 18-24 have a profile on a social network– 57% of online adults 25-34 have a profile on a social network – 30% of online adults 35-44 have a profile – 9% of online 45 to 54 year olds have a profile – 10% of online 55 to 64 year olds have a profile – 7% of online adults 65 and older have a profile

• 65% of online teens use social networks

Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project

Employee Referral Tool

Deloitte is offering $2500 to employees that successfully use Facebook to hire new talent

Referral Management Appirio and Jobvite

Suggestions on How to Use LinkedIn

• Join LinkedIn Groups– Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce, SHRM, APA, WorldAtWork, etc.

• Send group members free messages• Ask questions to groups or Linkedin Answers• Explore company pages

LinkedIn Growth Trend

Applicant Research• 40% of employers are using social networking sites to

obtain applicant background information• 80% of employers are using this information to make

hiring decisions

• Four potential traps:– State and federal discrimination laws may require you to defend

how the information you gathered influenced you hiring decision– The jury is still out on whether a Facebook search may be

subject to limits on background checks – Some states prohibit denying a job to someone because of off-

duty conduct that is not illegal– Shockingly, not everything on Facebook is true

Source: Jackie Ford -Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease, LLP

How to Manage Your Network

• What do you want to get out your social use?• Three different types:

– Open Networker• Accepts nearly all invites. Most often are job seekers, sales

professionals, and recruiters.

– Strategic Networker• Only accept and extend invites that align with your strategy

– “Close Knit” Networker• Only accept and extend invites of people they personally

know

Find me on-line at:

• www.linkedin.com/in/jasonsullivan• twitter.com/JasonSullivan• www.naymz.com/search/jason/sullivan/2405499