There is no Social Recruiting

When most people talk about Social Recruiting they mean searching the database on Linkedin. That's not social. It's a deliberate misuse of the term by bloggers who want to announce revolutionary changes that don't really exist.

I've asked many people on my weekly recruiting radio show about this and I know it's true.The next step for social recruiting is searching the database on Facebook.Not much recruiting happens in actual social activities.

Some people also search the participants on Github but then recruiters have been lurking on IT discussion groups since before the internet became open to the general public in 1993, when there were still only bulletin boards.

Inotherwords, there is no social recruiting. If you disagree come on my show and defend your claim. See http://AnimalShowBasics.com

UPDATE: Social Recruiting is short for Social Media Recruiting which means recruiting on Social Media. There is a lot of recruiting happening online by people searching databases but there is almost no recruiting going on via social media. What is social media? Places people gather for exchanges like this one and get to know eachother.

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Permalink Reply by Jerry Albright on February 13, 2014 at 12:17pm

Hi Paul. Good to see you!

Unfortunately, you're wrong. And you're conflating client relationships with candidate relationships. In most cases, clients need to "dig" you. Candidates? Get over yourself. The could not care less 95% of the time. You may "think" you're socializing, but your candidates are thinking otherwise. The last thing IT candidates are looking for is another recruiter calling them "buddy".

Isn't it time we actually let some of the hot air out of our balloons?

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Permalink Reply by Recruiting Animal on February 13, 2014 at 12:17pm

Social and Social Media recruiting are two different things.

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Permalink Reply by Jerry Albright on February 13, 2014 at 12:20pm

adjective

1. pertaining to, devoted to, or characterized by friendly companionship or relations: a social club.

2. seeking or enjoying the companionship of others; friendly; sociable; gregarious.

3. of, pertaining to, connected with, or suited to polite or fashionable society: a social event.

4. living or disposed to live in companionship with others or in a community, rather than in isolation:People are social beings.

5. of or pertaining to human society, especially as a body divided into classes according to status:social rank.

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Permalink Reply by Matt Charney on February 13, 2014 at 12:24pm

Jerry - you said to check Webster's, not Dictionary.com. I mean, that site was built by the same people who gave the world Dice Open Web.

Jerry Albright said:

so·cial
[soh-shuhl] Show IPA

adjective
1. pertaining to, devoted to, or characterized by friendly companionship or relations: a social club.

2. seeking or enjoying the companionship of others; friendly; sociable; gregarious.

3. of, pertaining to, connected with, or suited to polite or fashionable society: a social event.

4. living or disposed to live in companionship with others or in a community, rather than in isolation:People are social beings.

5. of or pertaining to human society, especially as a body divided into classes according to status:social rank.

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Permalink Reply by Paul Alfred on February 13, 2014 at 12:33pm

Jerry Happy New Year by the way ... I guess we have to disagree on some of the features that define a "Killer Recruiter" ... If you have had candidate relationships for more that a few years with a candidate some spanning 10 years or more ... Trust me when I tell you I am and they are "Social" with me... A fundamental key in developing a great relationship candidate or client ... Don't forget that Candidates can also become Clients ... Great Social relationships are necessary to maintain the transition of that relationship ... But hey ... what do I know ...

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Permalink Reply by Keith D. Halperin on February 13, 2014 at 2:45pm

@ Jerry: Well-said. While I can see the need to have *more involved communications/interactions with a (potential) candidate in some types of recruiting environments (executive, strategic)- that isn't my world.

@Matt: I try to get all the necessary and important information from my candidates.

I use:

1) Email whenever possible. (I'm open to text, too, though not the fastest texter.)

2) Phone to get communication skills when my managers ask for them or if I get a flag.

3) F2F when they come in for a F2F interview with the Interviewing Team.

I come in everyday to the corporate office, so I'm not agoraphobic- I just like to minimize contact with candidates. (There'll be time to meet with them other times if they get hired, and if THEY'RE not- I'D rather not...)

It seems to be working for me so far (19 1/2 years & counting)....

Cheers,

Keith "The Anti-Social Recruiter" Halperin

*Call that what you will.

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Permalink Reply by Recruiting Animal on February 17, 2014 at 2:03pm

Dear Linda Ferrante LoCicero - I didn't intend to say I was comparing the discussions about Social Recruiting on RecruitersOnline, Sourcecon and Recruitingblogs. Although I think that's a fair topic for people who are interested in recruiting social media, I was merely pointing out that 3 simultaneous discussions in different places indicates to me that it's a topic of general interest to recruiters.