This article has drawn from the findings of the latest LinkedIn Global Recruiting Trends 2015 survey which asked several questions of recruiters globally ref trends over the past 4 years. Some percentages used are approximations. The specific section of the report I focussed on was around sourcing of hires and the respective % movement. If it’s where head hunters and recruiters are focussing, then candidates need to follow.
I thought it might be helpful to pick out some of the key findings of this report and offer an opinion or two to help senior level candidates focus your job search efforts in the coming months.
Social professional networks have rocketed from 20% to 40% in the past four years, which is the most notable finding, and while we could be slightly cynical re the source of the results, this looks pretty solid to me. If you’re not fully and whole heartedly becoming a social media (specifically professional networks) user then you’re missing out in a big way. I’m guessing for most of you there are no surprises here, and the impact on a necessity for you to sharpen up your networking skills around social media.
Jobs boards usage actually held fairly steady with a slight increase the past 12 months, overall rising from 30% to 44%. So while I hear of so much negativity around jobs boards and the irrelevant and inappropriate approaches that they can sometimes generate, recruiters are still using them, so ensure your CV is updated regularly online at whichever jobs boards you’re registered with.
Employee referral schemes 40% to around 35% with a bit of a recovery last year. So extending your network to include as many people as possible, which might sounds too ‘shotgun’ as an approach but can have spinoffs in terms of increased visibility and reach. However some recent LinkedIn changes for 3rd degree connections visibility may affect this. This is an area to keep an eye on for sure, as anecdotally this is on the increase as a recruiting method.
So overall there seems to be no stopping the social media tsunami relating to recruitment. LinkedIn isn’t the be all and end all though. I know of many senior level executives and recruiters who are avid Twitter users. You might be surprised to discover how many recruiters and peers you’ll find on Twitter. We suggest having a twitter account as the immediacy of communication and response can sometimes be surprising – in a good way.
What recruitment trends are you noticing?
I hope you found this article useful; if so, please share it among your networks.
