In an industry that needs everything done yesterday, deadlines are king and priorities change on a dime, the online social networking approach to recruiting simply doesn’t work. The LinkedIn and Jobster models may work for other industries, or for companies that have ample time on their hands to click around a website for hours on end, however, in the communications industry this is not the case.
One of the most frustrating things I have ever played was the game, Six Degrees From Kevin Bacon - the one where you have to name an actor and link him/her to Kevin Bacon within six steps. To me, this is exactly what these social networking sites are like to use - frustrating beyond belief. To get in touch with anyone, you have to send them a message, asking to be in their network, why? If you want someone to get in touch with you, why not just give your email address instead of having to go through the website to ask to be put in their network? My experience was a waste of my time - time that I honestly do not have to spare - time that I don’t believe anyone that is currently working in this industry has (especially passive candidates.) Because I know first hand how busy our clients are, I can’t see that anyone in the agency world has this much extra time to recruit.
Hopefully one of these days, someone will actually find the “Recruiting Holy Grail,” but until then, we’ll keep doing what we do best - find the best people for the best jobs, quickly.
Wow! This is really informative. I’ll stop wasting my time on these “social networks.” Cold calling is a much better use of my time. After 15 calls or so, usually someone calls me back to tell me to stop calling. But never let that stop you! In fact, I’m so busy calling people to get a job, who has time to check out these networks? Not me! I’ll just use the same methods over and over again.
Jason Stillwell
October 11th, 2005
Are you refreshing this post several times a day to get it at the top of the RSS Feeds?
Jim Durbin
October 11th, 2005
Jim, Are you suggesting that I do? Cause until now, I was not.
Ragan Jones
October 12th, 2005
It bugs me when someone claims to not have the holy grail and then negates other approaches. It’s like when people say TV is dead. I use job alerts, headhunters, cold calls, online apps, offline networking, etc. But I have found industry-specific online social networking sites like adholes and soflow to be a better use of my time than offline networking events. I have had great interviews and build some awesome contacts from social networking. Most importantly, it has built my credibility in the industry where others saw me as too junior or without relevant experience.
Anonymous
October 12th, 2005
Hi there anonymous,
I completely agree with you on the actual networking portion of your comment - however, I think you are missing my point. The services that make an employer pay to be in the network, and then force them to play Six Degrees from Kevin Bacon to contact a candidate, are what I was referencing that don’t work for our industry. Traditional networking, will always be a tried and true mainstay for recruiting. It’s like the old saying goes, “It’s not what you know, but who you know?” This will always remain the same, but offering a service that not only creates work, but frustration, is the opposite of the Holy Grail.
Ragan Jones
October 13th, 2005
Ragan,
some excellent points! It is amazing how so many want to change Recruiting “with the times”
Recruiting is one of the oldest if not the oldest professions in the world.
And just like with the other older profession, the only thing that really changes may be the positions. How one gets the job done is the same!
So if it aint broke why fix it. Go back to the Old Standards. They really Do Work!
Karen M
October 28th, 2005
Wow, Never heard of an additional sourcing tool negated, just because it was not the holy grail. Just as the 6 degrees game goes, so does “lines in the water” (as in fishing, not “phishing”). The more lines you have, the more good fish you will “catch”. Sounds to me like you’re sore because Linked In changed their free status. With a free account, you still get 5 introductions. If one of those 5 turns into a hire, it’s worth it. If it is taking that long to find people in additional networking tools, you need to refine your search methods. These networking resources also work the other way. For 5 minutes of your time posting your profile, you may get an additional 10 requested introductions from job-seekers. Your comments come across as a bit pretentious, and personally, I don’t see why any good recruiter would turn down any new networking tool to find new applicants, rather test, try, if you don’t like….don’t add to your arsenal. Encourage others to make their own decisions. Cheers!
Anonymous
October 28th, 2005
Try ZoomInfo. Can find and contact people directly… Free and paid versions.
Anonymous
October 28th, 2005
Can I please use your wonderful image of the man juggling everything. It’s the first time I’ve come across such a great graphic. I provide Virtual Admin to businesses and would love to be able to use this graphic in my emails sent out to prospective companies.
I hope you don’t mind me requesting this instead of just taking and using it.
Many thanks
Tracey Clarke
Tracey Clarke
July 23rd, 2007