Social networking is becoming an increasingly popular business tool for companies to connect with their customers and clients. But is it an effective way to understand and communicate with them?
Social media has been identified as an effective way to connect with specific audiences, especially Generation Y, who have grown up with the web and regularly use social media and blogging as a method of communication.
This would suggest that using social media to enhance your presence when recruiting graduates is a positive step, which it can be if done in the right way. Feedback from graduates, however, has signalled that many actually have concerns about their social networking persona being viewed by potential employers, meaning that they may attempt to limit their interaction to prevent negative effects.
Last week we reported that the 'Social Media Audit' conducted by recruitment and marketing communications provider Penna Barkers and the Association of Graduate Recruiters, found that one in seven companies believe that it is "dangerous" to target potential recruits through sites such as Facebook or Twitter.
Therefore, would a middle ground be useful where GenY can build a social profile specifically for their job-hunting activities, in order to create the professional image that they want to portray, rather than the more ‘social’ image portrayed on their existing accounts?
Have your say -
- Do you have a personal social networking page?
- Do you search for new recruits on social networking sites?
- Do you think a middle ground is needed?
- Would you be happy for your colleagues and potential recruits to view your social networking page?
- Does your company have a social networking page?
- Do you think it is used effectively?