After I participated in the @animal http://cli.gs/DBSPy9 Radio Show I became more introspective about how I use Social Media as a Social Recruiting tool. What do I use SM for? How do I integrate SM with Full Life Cycle Recruiting? How do I use SM to source new Client Partners and new Human Capital Partners? I am defining SM as LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube and Blogs. I am sure there are more, but for the sake of this article these will suffice. I have my own bias of LinkedIn, Twitter, Blogs and telephone with a healthy component of Boolean Searches to glean information.
What happens after I Source Human Capital Partners and Client Partners using all of these SM tools? Is my work completed? Do I simply introduce the two to each other and receive compensation, a multitude of referrals for new business and move to the next project?
I think not. As a Human Capital Specialist I must build a relationship personally with the Human Capital Partner and Client Partner, This relationship is built on trust. I establish this thru frequent, meaningful and professional contact with both parties. I ask the questions embedded with the Power Words "Who, What, Why, Where When and How of both Partners. I discuss with them how I have conducted myself in similar scenarios. I assist them in identifying and defining their challenges and how my brand can meet those challenges by eliciting their buy in. We create a partnership. My skills facilitate this, not SM. SM maybe the delivery mechanism for this, but SM does not make it happen. I use SM as a way of verifying what was agreed upon, better said I use email to verify and validate the level of commitment of all involved. I use the telephone to actually build the relationships with my Partners, wow what a surprise-:)! A series of in person meetings when possible is the best way, but present day logistics make this challenging. Together with my Partners we measure our progress, make adjustments and achieve our mutual goal; the hire.
My skills at asking questions as a Human Capital Specialist, which include the use of Social Media, may qualify me as a Social Recruiter. But I was successfully recruiting by using my social skills long before the Social Media tools existed as many of you were. Now we have evolved and adapted. Social Darwinism applied to Human Capital Acquisition and Client Partner development?
That is my take.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
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I couldn't agree more. You point is well-taken.
ReplyDeleteI love your parting question, "Social Darwinism applied to Human Capital Acquisition and Client Partner development?"
ReplyDeleteI always think of myself as a matchmaker for professional relationships. To me SM is a database builder that has the huge perk of interaction. So, when I'm out there tweeting for example, I'm building my virtual 4 column list of other Recruiters, Hiring Managers, Candidates, and others that bring news, information and joy to my life for a variety of reasons.
What follows the tweet in potential progressive order is a google search, email exchange, phone calls and a relationship.
The first tweet is like a virtual handshake...
Great post, David. I agree with your insights, as well as those of Jeff and Karla.
ReplyDeleteLove your closing question about "social Darwinism." I've actually been contemplating a blogpost for my candidates about Darwinism and the job search/recruiting/staffing process. Survival of the "fittest" doesn't have to be baldly equated with fierce competition; surely another powerful criterion of "fitness" is cooperation. And SM provide some great tools for this! Still, these are tools ... whose effective use is only one aspect of relationship-building.
How I see it is that with any of these upcoming tools via social media, it's all about creating that relationship that will surpass and trust building. We are all exploring to see which tools will work best (and use it well) in order to achieve ROI. That takes time but with some patience and in between building the relationship counts for me. I agree with you on this post and well written ~ Thanks for sharing David!
ReplyDeleteBest ~
Sus @pinkolivefamily
Thought provoking stuff. Maybe the solution is not with Twitter. Check out TribeHQ http://www.tribehq.com/ - watch the video -welcome your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteIt's always been about building relationships. Now the Social Media tools simply add a level of sourcing and introduction, but the rest is the same. Thanks for your post, David.
ReplyDelete