Does Facebook Have a Role in Recruitment?

  

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By: Helen McGoohan 

Since its inception in 2004, Facebook has become undoubtedly one of the most popular social networking sites and is a focal point in the daily routine of many people. With over 750 million users, it has been debated that Facebook is purely a social platform and contact from companies would be viewed as an intrusion into their personal lives. Facebook recently announced that it will be teaming up with the Department of Labor and some career agencies to help the unemployed find new employment. Facebook’s broad and diverse user base means that there is a huge talent pool out there for both companies and recruitment agencies. Has LinkedIn already cemented its place as the social media platform for job recruitment, or does Facebook have a role as well?

From an employer’s perspective, Facebook users are easier to reach because they tend to spend more time on the site compared to LinkedIn. Facebook page users can currently post available positions on their company page as their status update. Positions that are posted are able to be seen by anyone following that company page. Those who follow a company or brand hold an interest in the company, and therefore could potentially place a higher value on working for that company.  

Although Facebook has a strong reach, many people do not want their Facebook profile attached to their business persona. LinkedIn offers users a chance to focus on their professional credentials rather than their social experiences. Engaging with a potential employer or recruitment agency on Facebook may not be appealing for many users, because they might not want to have to censor their profiles or adjust their status updates to reflect a more professional attitude. Facebook is already considered a valuable tool for communicating with customers and building a brand image, but is a platform for recruiting on Facebook going too far? While the above factors would seem to be a deterrent, Facebook might have a role as a form of online social jobs board as discussed by Joe Light for the following reasons:

• First, personal referrals have a huge clout and Facebook would facilitate this among its users as sharing content is easy and quick to do. A recommendation from a friend will resonate and connect with a user on a far greater level than an ad or company message.

• Facebook users span a broad range of demographics and with over 750 million users, so Facebook can be a huge resource for employers.

Therefore, we need to ask whether or not Facebook will have a future role as an online job board for companies and recruitment agencies. Would simply posting jobs on the company page be viewed as less intrusive than contacting an individual directly? Would you like to see companies advertising vacancies appearing in your news feed, or do you think that Facebook should be used solely for company updates and engaging with customers through discussion and content? Post your comments below and let us know what you think!