Social Recruiting: Randstad Canada Uses Social Media to find Top Talent

Randstad Canada's skilled recruiters use social media as a way to find top talent.

TORONTO, May 8, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - There is no denying the use of social media sites has exploded over recent years. Currently there are almost 16 million Facebook profiles live in Canada and over 5 million on the professional social network LinkedIn. And as more and more people spend their time online, it only makes sense for Randstad Canada, the country's leader for staffing, recruitment and HR Services, and its skilled recruiters to use social recruiting techniques to be where the most qualified, talented, and largest pool of applicants are.

Stacy Parker, EVP of Marketing at Randstad Canada, says it is easy to understand why the organization is using social media as a recruitment resource when you consider the millions of users on sites like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. "The recruitment sector has always been good at adapting and by embracing social media and it's opportunities, we have already seen our recruiters reinventing the way they build their brand and build relationships with clients and candidates."

Social recruiting is about engaging with users and using social media tools to source and recruit talent. This includes posting open job positions to social media sites, actively searching these sites for potential candidates and even researching a candidate's social network profiles to learn more about them.

According to Parker, there are many unique ways an organization can leverage the power of their network through social media. "A key component is training and developing a unified strategy while constantly testing. Continuing to put resources and effort behind social media leads to results. It is not a "one night stand" but an ongoing relationship you need to develop and consistency and frequency are keys to success," she explains.

Parker says social media sites can and do open up a whole new world of job recruitment opportunities. "These tools allow our recruiters to target the exact skill sets required for often difficult-to-fill positions. Candidates that were once difficult to reach are now right at our fingertips," she says.

"We spend every day helping Canada's leading employers find talented people, so of course we want to be where the most talented and cutting-edge prospective job applicants are," says Parker. "It's important to us to develop a strong understanding of the ins and outs of social media and how it benefits the recruitment process. These networks, when properly executed, are a great way to gain a competitive advantage and can be a very powerful tool for finding today's top talent."

About Randstad Canada: Randstad Canada is the Canadian leader for staffing, recruitment and HR Services. As the only fully integrated staffing company in the country, we understand the recruitment needs and demands of employers and job seekers across all levels and industries. Through our insightful knowledge of local markets, employment trends and global network of recruitment experts, we are shaping the Canadian world of work. Visit randstad.ca