Over the last year or so there has been much hype around Social Networking and even more specifically, social recruitment. Social recruitment is a reality and can be very valuable as part of a recruitment strategy, however Jobs.co.za warns recruiters to beware of the hype.

What is Social Recruitment?
Many recruiters often think that a social recruitment strategy means simply having a Fan Page or Group on Facebook. Some believe that if they have a profile on LinkedIn and are actively networking, that they are active social recruiters. While these activities might very well add to the overall social recruitment strategy, it is not a well thought out or planned strategy.

A social recruitment strategy is when a recruiter or company utilises relevant social and professional networks to do what recruiters have always done best, and that is to network. It is simply extending your networking into an environment where your target audience is.

Why should a recruiter consider Social Recruitment?
Social Recruitment allows recruiters and companies to network with and interact with ‘semi-passive' candidates on a more personal level. While a candidate might not be actively looking for a job, they might become
interested in a job or brand that they notice on a social or professional network and will then be enticed to want to interact with you. So although the passive candidate might not have actively been looking for a job at the time, you might very well have piqued their interest.

Planning for Social Recruitment Success
Do not you throw yourself into the hype simply for the sake of being part of the hype. Before you board the Social Recruitment train, make sure that you have planned your journey well. Have you packed the necessary
tools, have you researched the inhabitant's behaviours for your points of interest and do you know what your final destination will be?

To avoid plummeting into the black hole of social or professional networks never to be seen again, plan your strategy well.

Use this social recruitment checklist as you embark on this exciting adventure:

• If your target audience is not on a social network, then don't waste your time there.
• Make sure that your strategy is designed to attract, engage and build relationships with potential candidates and clients.
• Be sure to get the candidates permission to engage with them.
• To avoid embarrassment do your homework before approaching a candidate with an opportunity to ensure that they actually meet your
  requirements.
• Don't be shy to ask individuals to refer you (or your job) to their network of linked in professionals or friends.
• Never rely solely on information that you see on a social or professional network when making your hiring decision. They can
  sometimes be misleading, or you could be accused of discriminating on
  the grounds of the personal information (sex, religion, politics) that
  you have been privy to on the individuals profile.
• Remember that your social recruitment strategy is an ongoing process. Your pages need to be interactive, current, fresh and exciting
  if you want to create an impressionable image.

Your Job Board and Social Networks
Jobs.co.za's approach is a unique one insofar as social networking. Understanding that passive candidates are the ‘Holy Grail', Jobs.co.za's marketing strategy focuses heavily on relevant search engine and social or
professional network targeting. It's strategy has been designed to reach not only the active Job Seekers who are already registered on Jobs.co.za, but also beyond its job board to the most relevant targeted passive audience.

Jobs.co.za's expertise and experience in search engine and social marketing has lead this job board into the number one ranking position on Google and other prominent search engines. In addition, Jobs.co.za has assisted its clients in devising their own social and search engine recruitment strategies that integrates seamlessly with the Jobs.co.za technology where possible and relevant. While these additional channels are designed to attract quality passive candidates, the responses are then routed through central response handling,
screening and filtering tools powered by Jobs.co.za, thereby lending itself to being one of the most forward-thinking, socially adaptive and well networked job portals in South Africa.