What I Know About 'Social' Recruiting

Here's what I know about 'Social' Recruiting:

It isn't social until myself or my staff has seen our candidates face-to-face. A candidate can be an absolute rock-star on paper (or LinkedIn or Facebook or Twitter), but if I haven't seen whether the candidate is fully capable of engaging me, making eye contact, firmly shaking my hand or composing their body language... they aren't going to my clients. On the rare occassion I can't meet a candidate, I have taken to Skype; at least I can get an idea of how engaging this candidate is. Afterall, talking through a keyboard isn't very 'social' at all!
My teams use Twitter, Facebook, Niche Blogs, LinkedIn, Hi5 and other social media outlets, but they are also mandated to attend truly 'social' events. This means they frequent outtings by ERE, CAPS, NAPS, Tweet-Ups, Whine N Dine's, Career Fairs, and Community Forums. I can't afford (nor can my recruiters or researchers afford) to forget how to conduct themselves in social settings. People wouldn't believe how many 'social guru's' I've met at conferences or other engagements who couldn't hold my attention in a conversation unless they were inhaling hellium baloons and I had humor invested in listening. I'm serious... Do your recruiters AND your researchers a favor... drag them from behind the dust of a keyboard and put them in an open room of talkative, networking socialites.
My business DOES make money off of recruiting and sourcing through social media networks, but that doesn't alone, pay my bills. So, yes... I may tweet, update, link, connect, follow, blog, fan or whatever else you do on these sites, but unless it pays for my son's college tuition in whole - you shouldn't expect me to spend my entire day @replying, DMing, thanking mentions or tracking google mentions... Why? Because I make my money by closing deals or securing other companies with research that closes deals... THAT'S what I am good at. THAT'S what pays my bills and THAT'S as much as I know about this whole Social Recruiting trend. Yes, it helps pay a few bills here and there, but it's not my cash cow and it's not where I will spend 90%, 70% or even 50% of my day.

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Comment by C. B. Stalling!! on September 20, 2010 at 9:04am: I like what you are saying and I use these sites too. But about 10 % of the time. My son started back at hight school on Sept 7 of this year. This past week I told him Sat night you are going out with your friends. Get in touch with them go to a movie dinner what ever but get out there.

He post on Facebook who want to go out or something like that. Starts texting etc.........

Until he picked up the phoe and stated calling to CLOSE the deal the plan was going nowhere. Just like peoples business can fail. You need to ABC. Always Be Closing. Pick up the phone and set those meeting or set those dates.

Karen Thx for posting I like reading your stuff. Would love to meet you some time.

Sorry need to post twice can you delete the first

Comment by C. B. Stalling!! on September 20, 2010 at 9:05am: maybe it only posted once..

Comment by JR Fent on September 20, 2010 at 11:42am: AWESOME article Karen. Your point is well taken and I agree. It cracks me up how much people hide behind their keyboard.

Comment by lora totilo on September 20, 2010 at 12:47pm: Great article Karen! Thanks for sharing!

Comment by Mark Moyer on September 20, 2010 at 1:42pm: Well done, Karen! Had to laugh at (and agree with) your comment about the social "gurus"...it can be challenging to get Millenials and Gen Y-ers away from the keyboard, and amazing once they see how rewarding it can be to actually meet people face to face. Thanks, Mark

Comment by Jennifer Scott on September 20, 2010 at 3:09pm: GREAT post Karen! Social Media should be used as a tool to build your sphere of influence, not as an excuse to hide behind your computer! See you at the next Whine & Dine? Milford tonight; Stamford on Wednesday!

Comment by Karen Russo on September 20, 2010 at 9:43pm: I am glad everyone enjoyed the article, thank you! @ Jennifer - I am actually in Mexico, but once I return in a few months I will see you out there!

@Miles - yes, we are from CT, but you met our Kristen Durkin at a Tweet-Up last year in NYC. Now, you will have to get out there a bit more... won't you? :)

Happy Hunting!
-Karen