Right now the job search and recruiting market is in constant change. Much of this is happening due to social media, and the continued evolution of how people interact anywhere online. Being that the main source of the initial interaction between the job seeker and the employer happens online, it makes sense that this changes constantly. With that in mind there is no doubt that the future of this process could look very different even within the next few years. There is a lot of information out there on how this might look, but we at ShinyNeedle have our own opinion. Our opinion is not just based on the online environment, but rather the voice it now gives every single individual. In the past it was a little harder to talk about yourself or your ideas in a large public forum. It's now as easy as sitting down and writing, then clicking your mouse. That in essence is where we feel the core of these changes will evolve.

It's natural for the younger generation to use many things available online to accomplish just about anything. This can be social networks, free blogs, online evaluation tools, or entertainment through videos and gaming. Therefore the future of recruiting and talent acquisition will and should become a conversation, rather than a throw it over the wall process. That conversation is created from all these amazing tools that are readily available 24/7 via digital platforms. It won't be an email from a recruiter to a potential candidate, a candidate sending their resume to a blind email address, or a what have you done lately phone screen. It will be more of a what do you think about this article on my blog, here is how I can help your company grow, and how can we make this successful for both of us conversation. The interaction and the open discussion will be more effective in predicting a future candidates success at a given company as well.

You might be reading this and say there still has to be a process. This conversation stuff is great and sort of makes sense, but how does this get initiated? Does the job seeker initiate, or does it matter? The answer is it doesn't matter, but there will be people and companies that lead the charge. It's how it always works and will eventually bring everyone along with them. In the end you'll have more invested employees, more interesting daily interactions at work, and a better product or service delivered from a given company. Technology and digital platforms are already making this happen, but there is no question we're not far from it being a mainstay.

If you have any thoughts or questions let us know on Twitter @shinyneedle, or email us at contact@shinyneedle.com