New research has found that the number of job applications that have been posted on Facebook rose by 1,000 per cent in 2011.
The figures, compiled by recruitment software developers Broadbean Technology, also found that the number of applications for jobs posted on Twitter rose by some 500 per cent. Broadbean’s director of sales, Dan Cohen, said that the figures indicated the increasing efficiency and frequency of the use of the social networks in the recruitment process needed to be acknowledged by all employers.
Mr Cohen was speaking at last week’s members’ meeting of the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo). He said the figures were based on their analysis of the jobs posted by Broadbean’s users, and were compared with the same survey carried out in 2010.
“It is free, it is extremely efficient, and it is not going to go away,” Cohen explained, adding that the use of the widely-used networks for recruitment was a “no brainer”, especially if the company wanted to “catch the end of Gen Y and Gen Z”.
The research also found that there had been a 10.8 per cent rise in the number of jobs being posted to job boards, indicating that they remain a steady portal for online recruitment.
Geoff Newman, chief executive of online recruitment agency RecruitmentGenius.com, believes that whilst uptake in social media advertising has been swift the results have been less than dramatic.
"Most of the advertising on social media has been by recruitment agencies because Broadbean Technology makes it so easy and accessible. However a lot of people are finding the results are very disappointing and still rely on traditional methods to find candidates. Whilst it is free to broadcast your vacancy, it doesn't mean anyone is necessarily listening and you may face diversity issues sending to such a niche demographic."