The title of this blog may have a few of you raising eyebrows or maybe even rolling your eyes, well get those brows down and eyes front because the competition for talent is getting stronger. The advent of social media means that candidates can research potential employers and, if they are lucky engage with them. It is unfortunate that whilst the vast majority of companies are ‘socially active’ they fail to respond in a meaningful way. By meaningful, I mean a response that actually answers the candidates query – auto DM’s on twitter do not count as engagement! 

Engaging as a recruitment agency is difficult. Traditional agencies maintain confidentiality over their clients; this means that they cannot represent the end employer’s brand. Some would argue that this does not create a great candidate experience.

Picture the scene, you are perusing the job boards for a new role, you find something that fits your skill sets, geographical needs and financial wants…. But the company is listed as confidential. This does not allow you, the candidate to make an informed decision. A career is about more than money, candidates want to see what the company culture is like before they commit to an employer, what are their values, their culture, how does their employer brand hold up against competitors?

Direct recruitment is in my opinion the answer. Without the cloak of confidentiality, companies are free to promote their message and engage candidates on an emotional level. There are few technologies better poised to tell your story than video and social media. Using social channels that work for you (no need to be on them all, as long as you engage with your audience on the ones you choose), not only will you engage and attract people who are invested in your organization but also increase your chances of attracting the best of the best.

Lloyd Palmer - Plugin Recruiter