Help! I’m Being Replaced By Pinterest!

Social Media is the NEXT BIG THING in recruiting. Don’t believe me? Ask anyone who sells social media services…

We had a real treat on the Recruiting Animal Show this week. The guest was Jason Ginsberg of Brandemix. Animal started the show by questioning the guest’s previous claim that LinkedIn was going to be destroyed by Facebook. Then we got into recruiting on Pinterest. Things went pretty much downhill from there.

I love Pinterest for recipes, cute pictures of babies, workout quotes… but I don’t recruit on it. I might be crazy. I may look back some years from now and regret being behind the curve on this one (I doubt it). I made a comment of referring to someone’s “little Pinterest page” (Find it around the 50 minute mark, after being told I must be afraid of innovation). A few tweets back and forth between my personal account and this company handle, and next thing you know, I see this in the organization’s timeline.

I “mocked” Pinterest, by saying I don’t personally use it for recruiting? So apparently my point was completely missed. I LOVE SOCIAL MEDIA. I think it’s great to provide a snapshot of a company’s culture, what we do and how we do it. I appreciate the EXCELLENT job my employer does on Social Media. Yes, even Pinterest. I made the comment multiple times that I think social media branding CAN BE A GOOD THING. I was the only recruiter on the show (not including Animal) who saw some value in what Brandemix was offering. Unfortunately anything positive I could have found here was overshadowed by the company’s inaccurate and inflammatory tweet.

Employment branding is wonderful. But without recruiters to facilitate the process, how does it get people hired?

I love this stuff as content to share with potential hires. I think it’s a great way, especially for large companies, to appear more “human”. Our content on Pinterest is FUN – it gives some idea of what a good time we really do have here at my company. I think employer branding is also huge for staying top of mind. I think it’s even beneficial for smaller companies who don’t have the benefit of a large, well established brand.

But the idea that it will replace recruiters? I don’t think so.

I know some folks will disagree with me, maybe even people in my own company (there’s nearly 100K of us…) I can only assume this sort of tweet represents Brandemix’s viewpoint. And that’s unfortunate. See, I work for Microsoft, but AlaRecruiter and all related rants belong solely to Amy L. Ala. I wasn’t tweeting, or even speaking on behalf of my company. It’s really hard to separate our personal and professional opinions from our work personas, and I’m not sure we should. Because I claimed that social media (even Pinterest) was a tool that could supplement recruiting, Brandemix decided to twist my words and drag my company’s Twitter into it. It’s unfortunate that the company or their representative couldn’t have the discussion with me directly and felt the need to make a false claim of my “mockery”. But hey, if someone can’t form a VALID argument because they keep confusing social media branding / advertising with the act of recruiting, I’ll weather the resulting temper tantrum.

Comment by Amy Ala Miller on August 22, 2013 at 9:35pm: LOL Miss Sandra I do adore you. :) I was going to call you tomorrow to make sure you weighed in on this one... Animal's getting so much traction out of it he's now posting on it. I should send him an invoice. :)

Comment by Sandra McCartt on August 22, 2013 at 11:28pm: LOL, Animal always defends people who get stoned by the multitudes. That way he can promote them to come back on the show to get stoned to death a second time in the name of self defense.

One of these fine days these baby marketers are going to learn not to take on a bunch of recruiters. There appears to be at least five of them on every corner and every hour on social media who have never been a recruiter, wouldn't last five minutes trying to be one but they all have the final solution to recruiting and all things HR. It would be right up there with me going on sites dedicated to Petroleum Engineers and Pathologists and telling them that i have this kissy product that is going to drill wells in half the time, never hit a dry hole and or diagnose every dread disease on the planet by sniffing behind a patients ears.

Once had a frustrated marketer ask, "Well what do recruiters want, anyway?" My friend about the only thing a recruiter would get excited about would have to be called a "Putanesca" That is Tex Mex slang for something that is fast , hot and cheap and turns into a cheeseburger at midnight.

Brandymix or whatever that is sounds like a drink blender to me anyway. Brand that birdlegs.

Comment by Stephen Nehez, Jr. on August 23, 2013 at 6:45am: Holy mackerel. The tweet heard round the world.

Comment by Bill Schultz on August 23, 2013 at 5:28pm: Now you tell me. I've been getting no pinterest on my postings. which leads to no pinterviews and no pplacement

Comment by Amy Ala Miller on August 23, 2013 at 5:37pm: Actually Bill, I've decided to get ahead of the next big thing and am considering hiring street performers to act out my job descriptions in an interpretive dance wherever large groups of people gather.

Comment by Amber on August 23, 2013 at 6:37pm: Dear Amy,

If you are looking for highly qualified performers that can get results for your company - call me! Our firm specializes in locating the exact type of performer you need. May I send you our customized job order form so we can start the search right away? I have a Pinterest sourcer who is ready and waiting to start a new project.

Comment by Amy Ala Miller on August 23, 2013 at 7:15pm: LOL Amber I almost spit my whisky (hey it's Feisty Friday) all over the place, but I am Irish and wouldn't let that happen.

You guys crack me up. Glad you're my friends. :)

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