The use of social networks to drive recruitment is on the rise

Research conducted on behalf of new site mypeoplebiz.com through various recruitment surveys over the past year, indicates that up to 78% of companies are now using social networking and social media to find and attract candidates. A recent survey of recruiters & HR executives found that over 50% of companies were spending more on business networking sites such as LinkedIn, social networking sites such as Facebook, and employee-referral programs in 2008 than in 2007, and less on print and traditional job boards. Referral and social recruiting sites can be used more effectively
by redefining the model and redistributing the rewards as mypeoplebiz are doing.

Candidates are open to the idea of social networking as a recruitment tool. Importantly, itís not just employers who are keen to jump on the ënetworking bandwagoní to revolutionise recruitment. Increasingly, both active job seekers and passive candidates are willing to publish career-based information about themselves on social networking sites, with a view to potential employment opportunities, either from friends or from head-hunters. A recent survey of computer users indicated that 87% of respondents think social networking sites are useful for business purposes including networking, exchanging ideas, getting advice, recruitment and research.

The winners in this space will be the sites that understand the recruitment process best and provide the tools to manage the process such as proper candidate tracking.