An abundance of new technology has made it fast and easy to reach a large audience in one fell swoop. But actually connecting with the right ones? Far more difficult. So the question remains, how can you engage highly skilled job seekers that fit within your organization?
The Talent Shortage
Kristen Weirick, Global Leader of Recruiting, Employer Branding and Onboarding at Cargill and Keynote Speaker at The Recruiting Conference, said focusing on the shortage of quality candidates is the first step in determining what’s next in recruiting. “We have lots and lots of people,” she said. “What we’re missing is talent.”
According to a recent study, 52% of U.S. employers are experiencing difficulty filling positions within their organizations, up 14% from 2010. And while your immediate reaction might be, ‘What about the unemployment rate?’ Weirick said there’s a distinct difference between people and talent. And the future of recruiting lies in the ability to find and engage those quality candidates.
Social Media as an Engagement Tool
A solid recruitment marketing strategy is diverse and not focused on a single method or channel. And while social media should not stand alone, it is a valuable tool for attracting and engaging top talent. In fact, one in every six minutes online is spent on social networking sites, and 64% of companies have successfully hired through social media.
Although it is predicted that social media will replace e-mail as primary means of communication for many companies by 2014, Weirick warns not to confuse the medium with the message. Engaging talent on social media requires more than simply creating and promoting the pages – it’s about compelling content and two-way conversation.
How will you go about reaching top talent in the future? Share with us in the comments.
Image: Seagull Fountain
Author: Autumn McReynolds
Autumn McReynolds is a master of communication, and with two years in the recruiting industry and over five years of experience in journalism and content creation, she was thrilled to take her career in a new direction as a Blogger and Content Strategist focused on talent acquisition in the digital age. In addition to writing, Autumn spends her time managing social media accounts for business and pleasure. Follow her on Twitter @AutumnMcRey.
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