Getting a job through social media

Finding new employees via Hyves, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Xing. It is now possible. SocialReferral is the name of a new online employee referral program, which connects companies’ vacancies with the social networks of their own employees. Its the first pro-active job referral platform in the world.

The idea is simple. A company is searching for an employee. They post the vacancy on SocialReferral and connect the social networks of their employees to it. The program connects the vacancy with the profiles and shows the ones that match with the job description. Employees filter the matches that SocialReferral found and invite the best candidates for the job. In fact, employees become recruiters for their own company.

Doubts
The biggest advantage is definitely the saving of money, spent on expensive recruitment companies. However, is doubtful if companies will find employees only within the social networks of their own employees. Because of the fact that not every employee is active on social networks and also because its questionable if people publish information about their working skill on their profiles.

Obviously there will be companies that find a capable candidate. Though, in my opinion most of the companies still need a recruitment company to find the employee they are looking for.

The program
Also the SocialReferral program might have some disadvantages. Based on what information in people’s profiles does it select potential employees? Does it filter out the people who already have a job for example?

Potentially it is a good idea, but is doubtful if it works in practice…

What do you think?