How the Big Boys Do Twitter Recruitment

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Twitter RecruitmentStudies show that large corporations are frequently using Twitter for recruitment. Jobvite’s annual Social Recruiting Survey indicated that social networking for recruitment  usage has grown significantly since last year.  The study also revealed that 83% of respondents were currently using or are planning to use social networks for hiring staff.   Survey respondents came from a range of industries and business sizes, so it was a fairly representative sample.

In comparison to other social networks, Twitter is the third most popular recruitment channel in comparison to the big two (Linkedin  and Facebook) being used by 45% of surveyed firms.

How corporate recruiters are using Twitter

Since Twitter messages are limited to just 140 characters in length, (a short sentence), Twitter based recruitment messages tend to be a  short, precise message and call to action. Typically the message will be a job vacancy or job related news and the call to action will be a link to a web page with more detail. You can see how leading organizations are using twitter for hiring in the examples below:

Microsoft

Here are a couple of Microsoft job tweets from the 16th of October.

  • We’re hiring: Business Architects,Business Strategy Consultants, and Enterprise Architects – visit us @ http://bit.ly/eh8vBJ #jobs
  • Check out our most current #Microsoft DC, Washington #jobpostings @ http://bit.ly/hUmkqH

Microsoft tweets are direct, to the point calls to action with no frills. This is an employer that is confident of its appeal and is within a sector where there is a ready supply of candidates.

Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC)

This recent tweet from Price Water House Cooper on the 5th of October shows how they use more seductive tweets to encourage users to read the twitter link. For example:

  • No two career paths are alike. See how others have shaped their #careers and how you can grow your own way at #PwCpwc.to/orAXT9.

PwC are constantly reaching out and trying to engage with both passive candidates and actively looking job candidates through blogging:

  • Does your online image reflect the “real” you? PwC’s Holly Paul on managing your online profile. http://aol.it/oZPiId #personalbrand
  • It’s not just about a resume anymore. Learn how a strong online profile can help you build your #career prospects.http://aol.it/n191LD #Pwc

PwC also use tweets to promote themselves as an employer.

  • For the 3rd year in a row, #PwC named most prestigious #accounting firm in North America by @VaultCareers bit.ly/mTzZo0 #Careers

Of course, they also use it to advertise jobs:

  • We’re seeking candidates working toward #accounting degrees for positions in the D.C area., Detroit and San Jose!http://pwc.to/nWffhP #PwC

The finance industry is known to be a sector where demand outstrips supply in the employment market, and the PwC twitter strategy reflects this. PwC are adopting a recruitment strategy to target both passive candidates and actively looking job seekers.

Fox News

The entertainment industry is another sector which typically has an oversupply of candidates. Like Microsoft, Fox News is straight to the point with its tweets, and does not need to build an on-going candidate engagement strategy like PwC.

  • Researcher/Information Specialist at Fox News Network: Job Description: FOX News Channel, a fast-paced 24-hour t…http://bit.ly/nS62OB
  • Reporter at Fox News Network: Job Description: Fox News Radio is seeking an experienced radio reporter to be bas…http://bit.ly/qim0LG

And what about Hashtags on Twitter?

At the end of many of the tweets above you will see a hashtag such as #Careers or #jobs. All the employers are using relevant hashtags as topic markers to ensure their tweets come up in jobseekers searches.

Is Twitter effective as a recruitment tool?

The way that Twitter is so frequently used by market leading employers shows it is an effective medium.  However, Twitter on its own is not an effective attraction tool as the restrictions mean that messages are to short to convey a reliable message about the job, company brand and culture, all of which are vital pieces of information to the recruitment process. Twitter works effectively when part of an overarching recruitment strategy and should be seen as tributary driving jobseekers to the employer website, vacancy page or blog.

By Marie Larsen