Question

What are the advantages of a highly socially focused recruiting drive (e.g., using referrals and social networks)? Are there any major disadvantages to this approach?

Answer 1

The main advantages of socially focused recruitment drives are as below.

1.Cost savings: The referral programs and using social networks would help to reduce the cost of advertising in media and the company can also avoid the costs of external recruiting agencies.

2. Recruits people who can understand the company culture: When the close relatives or acquaintances are selected for the position, they can be well taught about the organization’s culture by the employee who has recommended the candidate.

3. Highly qualified candidate can be selected: The employees can refer the best suited candidate for the position and the organizations can select best candidate through referrals. Social networks help to find best candidate from a large pool of candidates.

4. Monetary benefit to the referring employee: The employees are offered monetary rewards for referrals which would help to motivate the employees in work place.

5. Less time: socially focused recruitment drives take less time as the candidates are informed instantly through social media and other employees.

6. Employee engagement: As the new candidates are selected through the existing employees, they involve more actively in training and making the new employees capable of doing the work.

Disadvantages can be

1.Chances of favoritism in work place: As the relatives and near ones are selected for the positions, there are more chances of favoritism in workplace through socially focused recruitment drives.

2. The diversity movements may get affected: The employees would refer or inform more people within their circle and there is less chances for diverse candidates to participate in the socially focused recruitment drives. This may affect the organization’s diversity movements.