Week 5 EOC: Social Networks and Job Hunting

Job hunting is changing due to social media, and it’s very much a matter of opinion as to whether or not those changes are positive. On one hand, businesses are saving large sums of money on job recruitment. “Facebook's use as a job-recruitment tool remains small, but its appeal may be growing. Some recruiters say they have all but eliminated their spending on job boards, which can charge a few hundred dollars per job posting, depending on volume. Others note that while LinkedIn contains a more comprehensive résumé database, candidates tend to value referrals from their connections on Facebook more.” (Wall Street Journal) Now, recruiters can actively find the types of candidates for which they are looking without waiting for the candidates to come to them. Some people who may not even be looking for jobs may end up being contacted and finding something they like but didn’t expect experience. On the other hand, some people searching for work are feeling as though companies are infringing upon their privacy. “Indeed, Jeff Vijungco, vice president of world-wide talent acquisition for Adobe Systems Inc., said that in focus groups, prospective job candidates were sharply averse to being contacted through Facebook for jobs. ‘The antibodies kicked in pretty quickly. They thought it was very invasive,’ he said.” (Wall Street Journal) Quite a few people would like to keep business and personal life separate, and when recruiters blur that line, naturally, people will be uncomfortable and unsure of what is and is not appropriate for their social media. In some ways, that alone can make people feel unsafe and paranoid.

Not all instances of businesses reaching out are so tense. In the book Marketing, an Introduction, it is explained that some companies reach out to their best customers in order to employ them as brand ambassadors to the public and to their friends and families. Some customers are so loyal and enjoy a brand so much that they jump at chances like that.