• Of those visiting social sites, 72% have searched for a potential employer on those sites.
• Of that 72%, only a third, or 32%, found an employer with helpful job-related content on their social media site.
• 57% who experienced an employment-related discussion on the social web were motivated to consider working for an employer.
New York, NY—November 2, 2010— Bernard Hodes Group, a leading provider of integrated talent solutions, released the results of a new research study focused on the utilization of social media networks by companies interested in sourcing and recruiting new talent. The study, entitled “The Employment Conversation: How Employers & Talent are Meeting on the Social Web,” additionally reveals how the online population utilizes social media for seeking career-related information. Among the most interesting findings is that only one-third (32%) of those surveyed and searching social media sites found an employer presence containing helpful job-related information.
“Our research supports the importance of a social media presence from a recruiting and branding standpoint,” said Alan Schwartz, president and CEO, Bernard Hodes Group. “Companies must be committed to nurturing their social web presence and ensure that they are connecting with potential candidates in an honest and authentic manner.”
According to human resources professionals who participated in the Hodes study, the biggest challenges to deploying social strategies for recruiting purposes are managing internal training and resources needed for implementation, convincing co-workers or superiors that it is a worthwhile endeavor, funding, and organizational reluctance to change.
“Through this research we discovered that although companies are developing social strategies and using social networks to create a community, they are still having challenges utilizing social networks to engage or connect with potential employees,” said Daria Friedman, vice president and director of research, Bernard Hodes Group. “Although connecting through social communities has become the norm for individuals, many companies still have not incorporated sufficient recruitment content into their social sites.”
Even with challenges, using social media strategies is considered by most HR professionals to be very or extremely important for recruitment and employer branding. Nearly 80% have or plan to have a social media presence on their career site, use social media to keep in contact with alumni employees, optimize their career site for mobile access, and implement social-recruiting training.
“Social recruiting strategies are extremely important to companies that are both actively and passively recruiting. Without a social presence, employers are potentially missing out on the opportunities to build relationships with candidates, seek out talent that may have specialized skills, and bolster their own reputation through a social strategy,” said Shannon Seery Gude, vice president digital and social strategy, Bernard Hodes Group.
The research study was conducted throughout the spring and summer of 2010 among 969 online users, ages 18-69 via an online survey. Phone interviews were conducted with 17 HR professionals from large corporations and organizations among a variety of industries. These individuals were selected to participate based on a working knowledge and experience with social recruiting strategies.
For more information and to download the study “The Employment Conversation: How Employers & Talent Are Meeting On the Social Web,” please visit http://www.hodes.com/documents/employment-conversation.
About Bernard Hodes Group
Bernard Hodes Group offers innovative solutions and strategies to help companies find, keep and engage the best possible talent. Partnering with clients, Hodes offers a full array of integrated solutions, including: recruitment communications and support, strategic planning, hiring process assessments, and staffing technology (www.hodesiq.com). Headquartered in New York, with over 80 offices and affiliates around the globe, Bernard Hodes Group is a part of Omnicom Group Inc. (www.omnicomgroup.com)— a leading global advertising, marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom’s branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, interactive, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.
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This press release was distributed through PR Web by Human Resources Marketer (HR Marketer: www.HRmarketer.com) on behalf of the company listed above.