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Web 2.0 and Recruiting

What is Web 2.0? And, why is there so much hype surrounding it? In terms of recruiting, one of the best definitions we've come across is one referring to Web 2.0 as the "Writeable Web." Web 2.0 creates a Web environment where you are no longer talking "at" your customers (or potential job applicants), but "to" or "with" them.

Strategies

You don't have to run right out and upload an entire suite of blogs, wikis, or RSS feeds to make Web 2.0 part of your recruiting mix. The first step is to look at your current Career Site and see where and when improvements and enhancements can be made. Alstin can assist with analyzing your current site content and provide phased recommendations and a roll out plan to create elements of Web 2.0 on your site.

Communications

What kind of elements of Web 2.0 make the most sense for your organization? Options vary, but features job seekers may be expecting to encounter on your site could include any of the following:

• Employee Blogs - Enables employees within various departments of your organization to write daily, weekly or monthly blogs. Allows for significant creativity with minimal changes. Job seekers prefer to see the "real world" and not be fed a bunch of marketing hype, so keep it real.
• Social Networks -Develop one exclusively for your recruiting initiatives. You can invite prospective applicants, previous employees, alumni, and current employees to join.
• Podcasts - Develop job description podcasts ("jobs in pods") that enable a Hiring Manager to discuss the attributes of the position with a team member (or to the potential applicant). Podcasts are a terrific way to enable a potential applicant to download your job description and take it with them for "on the go listening."
• Videos - Develop video employee testimonials, tours of your facilities and/or departments to enable your Career Site visitors to get a glimpse "behind the scenes."
• Feedback - Add elements to your Career Site that enable visitors to "post" discussions or rate your podcasts, videos, etc. Enabling for this method of "feedback" is integral for taking your Career Site to the 2.0 arena. (Note: there are ways to moderate comments prior to them being visible to the entire Web.)

Results

By adding interactivity to your Career site, you are engaging your audience and inviting them to be a part of the hiring process at an earlier stage. This enables you to not only educate and "sell" your organization to your targeted audience, it allows you to receive feedback (both good and not-so-good) and create a more open line of communication. Ultimately, by combining these key facets you will increase your ability to interest and lure a high caliber applicant. Want to take your site to the Web 2.0 level? Contact Alstin today.

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