Smart Social Media for Recruiting
Listen Now:
Online social networks create a whole new media paradigm through which to reach today’s graduating talent. The rapid pace of this shift, and a new world of social etiquette, has left many corporate university recruiters off on the sidelines.
In this podcast we’re joined by author, speaker, and Gen-Y expert Lindsey Pollak, as we begin to frame out an approach to social media practices that can serve recruiters in the university space.
Lindsey is the author of “Getting from College to Career: 90 Things to Do Before You Join the Real World” published by Harper Collins and co-author of the book “The Savvy Gal’s Guide to Online Networking (or What Would Jane Austen Do?)” published by Booklocker. She also runs a career advice blog for young professionals called “The Lindsey Pollak Career Blog.”
Listen in and then, PLEASE, add your thoughts to our conversation.
Ray
PS: Follow us on Twitter @TheUSpace.
July 16th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
We are in the midst of re-establishing our brand to the external market. The tough part is to find the heart and soul of our brand message and the ability to have college grads embrace it. During times when health reform is at the forefront of the news, and insurance companies are being labeled very negatively, we struggle with trying to find a sincere, relatable, and innovative way to present who we are. I have been with the company close to 5 years and seen how the company has evolved but has many complex aspects to its culture. I see brand as the intro and not the end all answer. I still think developing relationships and constant visibility in targeted areas is the most effective way to go.
July 22nd, 2009 at 6:19 pm
Ingrid… It sounds like you face two separate challenges that probably have about a 20% overlap. First is an industry-wide credibility slump. Second is gaining credibility as a corporate entity with university students (a problem that almost every must face in this new media age).
Your commercial brand is very strong in the health insurance space… at least from what I’ve seen… so any negativity seems purely industry related, unless there has been negative new pertaining specifically to BS CA. O.C.Tanner has done some very interesting research that shows how firms can counter negative business and/or industry perceptions by offering some level of recognition of audience integrity and value. That might mean opening demonstrating your awareness that top candidates can provide truly remarkable potential for your business and for the care of your customers.
On the audience/media related challenge, our experience with employer branding in the university space shows that if you first speak to the aspirations and values of the audience you will win a permanent opening in their hearts and minds.
It’s not simple… but if you thoroughly understand the audience’s aspirations, you may be closer than you think.
Feel free to contact me if you’d like to have an off-line discussion about your challenge (rferreira@bnoinc.com).
Thanks for offering up a very real challenge.
Ray