This post has been inspired by @TheSourceress (aka Katharine Robinson of Ecosearch). I've been Tweet Friends with Katharine for several months now and find so much of what she does in recruiting and sourcing AND social media to really be, shall we say, "spot on". She got my attention last week with her personal Social Networking Policy.
We should all have one. You have to draw your "line in the sand", because as much as I enjoy my work friends, they don't need to know all the nitty gritty details of the trials and triumphs my family and friends experience. Unless you're really interested in supporting non-profit community theater – then we can talk. There are a few that get the "Mom" stuff that is a constant in my life. So, while certainly I want to be findable and build a network, there needs to be some common sense employed. And frankly, my non-work friends have been quite vocal that they really don't need to see my @sourcerkelly feed from Twitter on Facebook. So here's my own personal policy:
–LinkedIn (Plaxo, Xing, Naymz, you get the idea) – I connect with virtually everyone (because even neighbors and the swimming teacher need jobs!) but I tend to not include my email on my profile. If you're in recruiting, you should be able to figure it out just by taking a closer look at the AIRS Sourcing Report. I'm not big on spam and took my email out months ago when I realized it wa being pulled and used for that purpose.
–Twitter (& Plurk) – I am very open to contact on Twitter, but know that I use it for information gathering and exchange. It's my virtual watercooler. So, if you aren't doing one or the other on a variety of topics I enjoy like research, recruiting, hr, accounting, engineering, military, diversity, social media, etc., AND you're just telling that you drank bug juice, I might not follow you. If you're a recruiting professional and you don't provide a bit of info about yourself, I might not follow you. Why? Because Twitter is an excellent place to network! If I can't get a feel for who you are, why would we connect? And this is important – if you only go by your first name, have no followers but follow thousands, I most definitely will block you.
–Facebook – I do have a line in the sand here that's pretty definitive. I know Facebook is a great place to find people. I show people how to do it all the time. It's amazing what we draw out of it for our clients and the potential the site has. But, for me, here's where I need to "know" you. Either we're tight with our work, have built a solid relationship through other online media, are friends or related. Just hitting me up because we're in the DC Metro area or the HR Profession isn't going to cut it.
The concept of a personal Social Media Policy is important to keep in mind as you source. We know there's this fountain of people active in these environments and are tempted to dig in with abandon. But be conscious that they may have their own unwritten Social Media Policy. It's in your best interest to figure out how to contact them and establish rapport so as not to freak them out or invade their virtual space!
I so totally agree with this great article, and as a neophyte who is just getting past the first segment Chris calls “stalking” to the second segment of getting involved, and being someone who’s spouse uses Facebook to go all the way back to find contacts from her kindergarten class, there are definite lines that should and cannot be crossed. I have a Facebook account but do not recruit or search for candidates on it. I am learning to use Tweeter (I had the grandiose idea that I was going to find the “soft” candidate until I tried to do a search and could find nothing!) now using Tweeter as it should be used, as a place for information and to find people to learn from. I use the other forums and like this article, that are meant to be used for the purpose they are made. I use Linked in, I have found “fist”, HR Capitalist and workforce for my HR info and I am starting to give my “two cents” and believe me, it is worth about that. Then I go to my Political blogs and pull what little hair I have left out.
The one problem I have and the one place where the lines are blurred is that line between political and Corporate HR. Because the Government is forcing themselves into our work lives, it is imperative for all of us to be able to speak out about our rights and how they interact with the Governments current policies. I see allot of prefacing like “this is not a political site” but when the government is getting into the HR, Union, Bailout and speech business, it all get s a bit blurry
“I know Facebook is a great place to find people. I show people how to do it all the time.”
How?! I have been trying to crack the Facebook-as-candidate-sourcing-social-utility riddle for ages!
Hang in there CD – Have you taken any AIRS courses? You knew that was coming right?
Promise I’ll write more on how to source from it. If you are in need of specific examples, drop me a line at kelly.dingee@airs.rightthinginc.com and I’ll show you what you can do.
Best,
Kelly
I’ve had to add this to my LinkedIn profile just to control the amount of request that I receive:
I’m always open to connect, but if we have never interfaced before, let me know how we would both benefit from the relationship. Truly tell me why you’d like to connect, not the generic “I’d like to add you to my personal network” line.
If you’re with a recruiting agency/staffing firm/headhunter extraordinaire, you must demonstrate a clear reason for the connection. Please do not use this medium in lieu of the 5 minute cold call. We get pinged daily by firms. Your typical “Most Place-able Candidate” call is not the most effective way for us to engage.
I respect my network and the relationships with my colleagues and friends. If you are requesting a forward, make sure that it’s compelling and adds value.
Believe it or not, I still get the generic requests.
The toolbox for building a strong online presence are right at your finger tips. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and VisualCV are anyone would need to make a well rounded impression of you. Relying on a traditional resume is dead.
As a creative genie, I fluff my presence with a professional blog and a portfolio.
The other, more obvious side to this is the issue of Google. A quick google search of your name could reveal your previous arrest records or awful album release or amateur “photo sessions”, so be aware…
Kelly,
I’m blushing! Thanks so much for the reference, I’m pleased that I inspired you.
It’s funny; I cranked out my policy in about half an hour and flung it up on my blog, after a couple of badly thought out approaches on Linked in.
I’ve been blown away by the response to it.
I’d like to let you know that it has also helped me a great deal, especially with the eternal “who to follow?” conundrum on twitter. Now that I have thought about my rules, it’s a lot easier.
Katharine
@TheSourceress
Truly tell me why you’d like to connect, not the generic “I’d like to add you to my personal network” line.