When you hire, what is your process? Do you collect resumes, run background checks, conduct group interviews and ensure you’ve conducted all your due diligence on every person you’re considering before the one on one interview?
That may seem like a long process, but with virtually everyone on social media, finding out all you need to about prospective team members can be easier, and cheaper than ever before. Today job hunters have to know that companies are looking at more than just their resumes, but they still leave many ways for you to figure out what they are really about before you hire them.
Depending on the type of business you run, a prospective employee’s online presence might be all you need to make a decision. Social media has become like a virtual resume, but a person’s web “footprint” can give an employer all the information they need to make a decision, far more information than a list of jobs and skills might.
A resume gives you an idea of what the person has done, but learning about them online gives you an idea of who the person is, and how they will be able to grow with your business.
Is this fair?
It depends on who you talk to. This is a great situation for employers, but a bad one for possible employees who lie about their qualifications.
In the past, hiring people was really taking a chance. Have they fudged their resume? Are they really qualified to do the job? Are they portraying themselves as someone they aren’t simply to get the job.
Today, just by searching for possible employees on-line, you can learn if the person would fit into your company’s culture, if they have the strength and desire to work for your company.
If your prospect’s profile picture is him partying with your buddies, you might realize he is not responsible enough to hold a job.
Same with what’s written on a prospect’s wall, Twitter account or LinkedIN profile or even if they have a blog. Any prospective employer can learn what the person is really about, not just what they portray to companies.
The job market is tough and many people will do anything just to get a job. Don’t fall victim to them in your search. Hiring the wrong person can cost your business money, time and even customers, so use all the tools at hand, including social media, to make the most informed decision you possibly can.
Tags: ActionCOACH, business growth, company culture, due diligence, hiring process, job market, Jodie Shaw, resume, Social Media, team building
