The 1 Thing You Would Tell Recruiters about Twitter

Since JerryB got the debate raging yesteday, I can't help but ask this question.

I'm talking at the DallasHR PEG meeting tomorrow about recruiting and twitter. And I'd like to use some quotes from those interested in providing the "1 thing you would tell recruiters about Twitter."

I'll provide your example (giving you credit, of course) and reference your username.

@Jessica_Lee already gave her response via Twitter:

"be personal and personable but don't forget you are a brand and also represent your company's employment brand."

What say you?

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Dennis Smith on January 28, 2009 at 1:17pm

No shock to me that it's working for you, Mr. Early Adopter : ) - My last interview was set up without ever talking to the person on the phone...it was all conducted via Twitter (and I was the one being "interviewed"). I did a follow-up to the interview via Twitter and it included several self-made videos. It was not only fun, but kinda cool.
craig silverman said:

I am using Twitter and have already generated a few strong candidates for a few internal account manager jobs we are hiring. Several of the people following me on Twitter have also forwarded a few referrals for potential UMS Franchise owners that I am now speaking with! I feed my blog postings on RBC directly to twitter automatically via TwitterFeed.

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Permalink Reply by Dennis Smith on January 28, 2009 at 1:20pm

fyi! Anybody that wants to twitter me their answer can send it to: @dennissmith - that's what Steve Levy just did

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Permalink Reply by Slouch on January 28, 2009 at 2:12pm

Dennis, I would say that there is a difference between being a recruiter and using twitter to generate placements and being a recruiter and using twitter to be part of a recruiting community. It's the same thing as recruiters who blog to generate placements and recruiters who blog to be part of a recruiting community. Both are very valuable things to do and both will yield results.

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Permalink Reply by pam claughton on January 28, 2009 at 2:14pm

Twitter is a great way for potential candidates to 'get to know you' and for you to be more approachable, more personal so that you are more familiar to them than some unknown recruiter. It lets you establish a connection more easily, and gets your name out there. I had several new candidates contact me who had been following me for awhile and knew I recruited in their space. When they were ready, they got in touch. I'm a big fan!

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Permalink Reply by Steve Levy on January 28, 2009 at 2:22pm

Perhaps I'm simply more anal because I'm an engineer but I like to have a plan. My advice to Dennis was to use Twitter like a GrandMaster plays chess - always thinking several steps ahead rather than stream of consciousness. But then again, I may be different... ;)

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Permalink Reply by Dennis Smith on January 28, 2009 at 2:36pm

You are different, bro. But that's what makes you the GrandMaster.

Steve Levy said:

Perhaps I'm simply more anal because I'm an engineer but I like to have a plan. My advice to Dennis was to use Twitter like a GrandMaster plays chess - always thinking several steps ahead rather than stream of consciousness. But then again, I may be different... ;)

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Permalink Reply by Dennis Smith on January 28, 2009 at 2:39pm

Perfect example, Pam....thank you. That's exactly why I started using Twitter. It helped make me 'findable' but still gives potential candidates the luxury of deciding when they want to make contact.

pam claughton said:

Twitter is a great way for potential candidates to 'get to know you' and for you to be more approachable, more personal so that you are more familiar to them than some unknown recruiter. It lets you establish a connection more easily, and gets your name out there. I had several new candidates contact me who had been following me for awhile and knew I recruited in their space. When they were ready, they got in touch. I'm a big fan!

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Permalink Reply by Steve Levy on January 28, 2009 at 2:54pm

I realize this will sound odd in a thread about Twitter but Duane Roberts just sent me a tweet thanking me for following him...and I called him to introduce myself in a quasi-non-digital manner (quasi because the telephone is digital).

I think brick-and-mortar can augment social media tools like Twitter and shouldn't be forgotten.

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Permalink Reply by Dennis Smith on January 29, 2009 at 10:25am

Thanks for your suggestions! I've included your mug shots and suggestions in my ppt and will present today at the Dallas HR meeting.

Thanks everybody!

dennis

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Permalink Reply by Jim Durbin on January 29, 2009 at 1:37pm

@smheadhunter - Gaining trust will gain you candidates. Failing to gain trust will have you complaining this Twitter thing is a waste of time.

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Permalink Reply by Sean Harry on January 29, 2009 at 3:18pm

The ONE thing I would tell recruiters about using Twitter is the ONE thing I currently tell job seekers about using Twitter (and about utilizing recruiters also, BTW) -- THIS MEDIUM (Social Networking) is all about relationships. Twitter or Facebook, or LinkedIn or any other social network is a tool for building and strengthening relationships. Period. If you don't have a relationship with someone, then none of the tools make any sense. In fact, they can make things worse.

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Permalink Reply by Sean Harry on January 29, 2009 at 3:19pm

This distinction makes a ton of sense. I wholeheartedly agree Slouch.

Slouch said:

Dennis, I would say that there is a difference between being a recruiter and using twitter to generate placements and being a recruiter and using twitter to be part of a recruiting community. It's the same thing as recruiters who blog to generate placements and recruiters who blog to be part of a recruiting community. Both are very valuable things to do and both will yield results.