Scroll Top

Is Social Recruiting Real?

Job seekers are using social media to find work.


The astounding growth in social media has revolutionized the way that people are connecting with each other, and forced companies to rethink how to find quality candidates. Industry specific stories, press releases, or infographics appear week in and week out claiming that social recruiting has arrived as the golden standard, and that companies not fully embracing social will lose talent to their innovative competitors. At TweetMyJobs, we believed an honest evaluation of the industry was necessary to determine whether or not job seekers and employers are “buying in” to the hype. So we went straight to the source.
We decided to listen to what job seekers and employers think about using social media during their job search. After surveying over 2,000 job seekers and 400 company representatives, we transformed that data into a brief video to evaluate the state of social recruiting in 2012 and pose the question: “Is Social Recruiting Real?”
The survey provided many interesting statistics, but a few caught our eye:

  • 50% of job seekers still spend most their time searching on traditional job boards
  • 29% of job seekers use social media as their primary tool for job searching
  • 45% of companies plan to invest more in Social Recruiting in 2012

These stats portray an industry that is well publicized, but still in its early growth stage. There’s no denying that social recruiting will continue to grow. Job seekers are using social media to find work. Innovative, industry leading companies are embracing the technology. Smaller companies are investing more and getting involved… the answer to our question seems obvious to us.
What about you? Do you believe social recruiting is real? Sound off in the comments below or follow the conversation at #Time2TMJ.

Related Posts

Comments (33)

[…] a whole stack of statistics about the current state of social recruiting.  As they mention in their blog post, they try to focus on the specifics to deliver an honest appraisal of the current state of things, […]

Enjoyed the video thanks for posting! As I reflect on my job search from a couple years back to today, I can say for sure I am putting more time and effort into social media & extending my reach. Loved the Bill Gates quote!

Thanks for the comment, and glad you enjoyed the video. Social media plays a major role in communication today- it was only a matter of time before it was adopted to help find/ fill job openings. Early adopters have really embraced the technology, but there’s still a huge opportunity for growth.

Excellent video!
Clear. Concise. Effective.
Thank you for the inspiration!

SEARCHING FOR EMPLOYMENT

[…] background-position: 50% 0px; background-color:#222222; background-repeat : no-repeat; } http://www.tweetmyjobs.com – Today, 8:18 […]

I’m the employee that you need, email me and I will start tomorrow
Thank You

What industry are you in? I am a Technical Recruiter for the Portland, OR metro area.
Kaylene

Wow! Power-packed way to share data in a short vid…music impact was perfect too!

Got to love the dramatic music!

Great video, thanks!
I cant agree more, I got my job via social media and now that’s what I do, (amongst other things), for a living. More employers simply must be adopting these channels, if you wanna reach applicants, go to where they are.

That’s the key: “go where they are.” With the astronomical figures surrounding the number of people that are registered with Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, it makes sense that Social Recruiting produces tangible results.

Interesting but, skewed! Heavy Hype + Short on Practicality = Skewed!! If “hiring” through social media/networking is in its infancy (it’s “growing”), and if more than 80% of companies do not use or have a budget for using Social Media, the real question is: What then is the best method to search for and secure your next best job/career/position RIGHT NOW???? No amount of staccato music will answer that!!! Do you really want to put your job searching eggs into a basket used by less than 20% of today’s hiring companies???? Hmmmm!!! HOWEVER, I do think most companies who still use snail mail (yes) and email to receive direct resume submissions, would also use social media as the new “electronic personal reference” to screen out poor cultural fits and/or ‘undesirables’, based on that individual’s LinkedIn, Facebook, Tweeter content. I see social media currently (from an employer’s POV) more as a screening tool more than as a recruiting tool.

Larry – where did you see that 80% of companies aren’t using social media? Quoting you: “…and if more than 80% of companies do not use or have a budget for using Social Media, the real question is: What then is the best method to search for and secure your next best job/career/position RIGHT NOW???? No amount of staccato music will answer that!!! Do you really want to put your job searching eggs into a basket used by less than 20% of today’s hiring companies????”
Perhaps you made up your mind prior to watching the video?

I completely agree with Larry. As an example to the idea that social media is used for screening, my brother-in-law screens job applications from lawyers by reviewing 10 years of their facebook accounts. Such screening reduces his pile of potential candidates in an economy where overqualified candidates are scrambling for jobs.

I’ve been using Social Media, Job Boards and whatever else I can find and I’m still looking!
I’m frustrated and feeling like nothing I try works.

Same here. Who has gotten a job through a job board? Seems to me all the job boards share the same positions available.

Great video! Thank you.
By the way: I am a resourceful librarian with a background in computers , research, youth services; I recently moved to New York and I am looking for a job here.
Any thoughts? Vodnik777@gmail.com
Let’s see what happened!
Best to all,
Elina

Excellent video and well-selected music. Good stats, but citing the 2011 JobVite survey might also have helped drive home certain points even more powerfully.

I have got over 60 applications through social recruiting with not even one call yet!So yeah i have to wonder is social recruiting real?
VANCE WILLIAMS
CARROLLTON,GA.

[…] a whole stack of statistics about the current state of social recruiting.  As they mention in their blog post, they try to focus on the specifics to deliver an honest appraisal of the current state of things, […]

As long as there are people there will be social. We are joined together by interests, community, or service in one capacity or another. Technology has evolved to the point where we can communicate quickly, effectively and more frequently. Social media is new for business because they now are being pulled in through the virtue people are talking about them whether or not their in the conversation. It’s in their best interests to join in and promote their brand. Social media marketing is a big deal in today’s environment. Very lucrative potential to those who embrace it.

I wonder how much it counts against a candidate who is not as adept at social media and the internet as a whole. I would imagine the social media recruiting is mainly for the business world industries. Will that count against a CEO who is busy running the company as opposed to tweeting? I think social media recruiting has its place but shouldn’t automatically disqualify a candidate if they don’t have much of a social media profile. I would hope the recruiters would use it as part of their social media strategy with considerations to what is mentioned previously.

The music editing is brilliant!

[…] on every measure of growth it’s clear our network is reaching the tipping point.  Social recruiting is real and we are disrupting the old model.  To celebrate our third birthday, we’re making public […]

I love Statistics that do not tell the whole story.
50% of job seekers still spend most their time searching on traditional job boards
ok what about the other 50%
29% of job seekers use social media as their primary tool for job searching
and what about the other 71%
45% of companies plan to invest more in Social Recruiting in 2012, again what about the other 55%. The real way of getting a job is knowing someone who can get your resume to the top of the pile. It is Friends and not social media that gets jobs. Went to Job Fairs, had a Linkin Account, Twitter Account, Gmail Account, Facebook and yahoo and none of these worked to get my job. What finally got me the job was “me” and the friends I knew who took a chance and hired me. I am now making more money than any entry level job gained through job fairs or social media.

Intuit is using social media to recruit – follow @intuitcareers on Twitter for jobs, connect with us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/intuitcareers (you can change your privacy settings first if you wish – hide everything except work, education and an email address to connect).
You can also find career advice on our slideshare account at http://www.slideshare.net/intuitcareers

[…] is and isn’t and getting closer and closer to that blueprint for success. We’ve already determined that social recruiting is real and now it’s time to figure out the ways that your business can tap the huge social media pool. […]

[…] thrown around, but does it actually provide value in the recruiting space? This video created by Tweetmyjobs (#Time2TMJ) makes a compelling statement. Social recruiting is only going to grow in […]

I am currently seeking employment and not some kind of scam type job.

[…] (a 2012 survey of 400 company representatives) TweetMyJobs shares job openings via Twitter. […]

Comments are closed.

Privacy Preferences
When you visit our website, it may store information through your browser from specific services, usually in form of cookies. Here you can change your privacy preferences. Please note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our website and the services we offer.