Raise your hand if the Internet hasn’t changed the way you do business. Any hands in the air? Exactly. The Internet, and lately the social web, has fundamentally altered the way we act as people and as companies. The Internet’s role in the hiring process is no different. But like any technology, the trick is using it as a tool instead of a crutch. So how do we apply lessons from the past to today’s Internet-enabled world?
Timeless Advice: Still Go with who you know
New tools don’t necessarily mean new strategies. Remember, most hires still come from referrals. That’s right, about one in three of your final candidates will come from inside your network, and the referral will get the hire twice as often as the other two. The difference is, the Internet and social media have expanded the size of our networks drastically.
No matter how good your memory may be, your computer can keep up with more contacts than you can on your own. And with tools like LinkedIn (which we’ll go into more detail about in a later post), you can easily see your contacts and their qualifications. You can ask for referrals from employees, too. Let the people you already know and trust help you recruit the best fit for your company.
Watch out for Monsters
Just because job boards and career sites deliver resumes, that doesn’t mean you should limit your search to them. Though Monster.com or Craigslist can and sometimes do give you good candidates, you shouldn’t rely solely on them (especially for higher-level roles). Using it as a pillar of your search is fine, but it can’t be your whole strategy. Also, be ready to be flooded with dozens, or even hundreds of resumes from applicants who are completely unqualified to do anything for your company other than waste your time.
A good rule to go by: if it’s a role you’d feel comfortable posting on a bulletin board in a business school or a career fair, then the online approach might be enough. But if you are looking to hire anyone other than a low level employee or an intern, you’ll need to put more thought into your search (or hire an expert!).
The Internet helps, but hiring is no easy task
Online tools can be very helpful to hiring managers. But hiring isn’t an easy job, and the Internet won’t change that. While the Web isn’t going to make your hiring process easier, it will make it better! At the end of the day, only true dedication and strategy will allow you to hire better.
Image used under Creative Commons from quinn.anya.
