While the traditional trio of résumé screening, interviewing and reference/background checks have their merit, recent modernizations in technology and social media are challenging the status quo.
Skype, FaceTime and Webex now give HR managers alternative options to consider candidates around the globe, as well as ease scheduling issues and travel costs involved. Likewise, a wide range of alternative approaches to the traditional reference check now exist in real time through social media networks. Klout and PeerIndex are two of the newest tools to evaluate a candidate's online influence, but even searching for a candidate's online profiles before hiring has become nearly commonplace with more than 45% of recruiters saying they always do it.****
And it works! Two-thirds of recruiters say they have successfully hired through social networks and among those 95% came in via LinkedIn. With the connections and reach offered by today's social media, it comes as no surprise that 98% of HR professionals say they believe that social networking is an important tool for recruiting, retaining and managing employees. *****