Web 2.0 Recruiting Brought To You By NAS Recruitment Communications
An Article I Wrote For Executive Healthcare Magazine
Question for Ask the Expert: "What do you see as the role, advantages, and limitations of social networks in health care recruiting?"
Response by Ken Levinson, President, Absolutely Health Care, the largest niche job board for health care and medical jobs, as well as Medical Mingle, the professional/social network for the health care and medical field.
Professional/Social networking sites are exploding. Just about everyone has heard of Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, and Twitter. These types of sites can be fantastic for helping connect with friends classmates, neighbors, and acquaintances, including people from your past that you have completely lost touch with. These sites are also invaluable in assisting job seekers and employers to find each other.
I grew up in Cherry Hill, NJ, but moved to Florida, and I had lost touch virtually everyone I used to know. After joining Facebook, I started looking up a few people from my past, and requested to become their friend. Once they accepted, and we caught up, I found other people I knew that they were friends with. By the time I got done, I had recaptured my entire youth, reconnecting with many people that I would have never found otherwise. I've also met many wonderful new people both personally and professionally through Facebook. With my network, if I ever looked for a job, I'd have lots of friends and professional contacts to help me, both directly or through contacts that they could introduce me to.
Our company owns Absolutely Health Care, the largest niche job board on the Internet for health care and medical jobs. Almost two years ago, we started Medical Mingle, a professional social network for people interested in, working in, servicing, or studying to enter the health care and medical field.
With a traditional job board like Absolutely Health Care used to be, everything is transactional. Companies can post jobs and look for resumes. Job seekers can post resumes, and look for jobs. There is no relationship building going on.
Professional/Social Networking sites like Medical Mingle are just the opposite. Medical Mingle is about long term relationship building and networking.
Julian Stopps of Broadcasting Online Recruitment News Limited made the following comment on Job Boarders which I think is right on target:
"Online social networks are certainly one tool in the recruitment toolbox, but I just can't see them replacing job boards completely, as they are very different offerings.
Job boards are primarily a tool for sourcing active job seekers (excluding CV databases from the equation).
Social Networks are more suited to subtle employment branding and advertising to passive candidates. In many ways the strength of a social network, from an advertising perspective, is to prime passive and inactive candidates with knowledge about your employment brand. Then when they switch to being active candidates your service is the first one they consider.
Social networks should be seen as a longer-term, slow burner approach. Job boards are a "we have an unforeseen requirement for five people now" approach".
We started Medical Mingle to compliment Absolutely Health Care. Health care professionals used to only come to Absolutely Health Care when they were looking for a job. Now through links to Medical Mingle, health care professionals also come to Absolutely Health Care to make professional contacts and friends, find professional resources, blog, participate in forums, post and view pictures, post and view videos, receive recognition, and win prizes. It gives health care professionals many reasons to hang around Absolutely Health Care, even when they are not looking for a job.
On the flip side, if someone hangs around Medical Mingle directly, when a member becomes a job seeker, they can browse jobs and/or post their resume on Absolutely Health Care, right from the Medical Mingle site. They can also network with other Medical Mingle members.
Professional/Social Networking sites combined with job boards are the perfect recruiting compliment for both job seekers and employers.
Major Honor For Absolutely Health Care
Absolutely Health Care (healthjobsusa.com) was named as one of the top niche job boards for 2009.
5 Day Contest Bonus Extravaganza
On Wednesday May 27, 2009, we will give a bonus point in our May contest by qualifying to participate by Tuesday May 26, 2009, and then posting a picture on Wednesday that is designated with a privacy level of public.
On Thursday May 28, 2009, we will give a bonus point in our May contest by qualifying to participate by Wednesday May 27, 2009, and then posting a video on Thursday. (CLICK HERE to see instructions for posting a video)
On Friday May 29, 2009, we will give a bonus point in our May contest by qualifying to participate by Thursday May 28, 2009, and then posting a blog post on Friday.
On Saturday May 30, 2009, we will give a bonus point in our May contest by qualifying to participate by Friday May 29, 2009, and then posting a forum post on Saturday (to get credit, you must message me on Saturday with a link to the thread you posted to, so I don't miss it).
On Sunday May, 31, 2009, we will give 1 bonus point each in our May contest by qualifying to participate by Saturday May 30, 2009, and then posting a blog post, forum post, posting a picture, or posting a video on Sunday.
In other words, you have the ability to earn 4 bonus points this day.
1 bonus point for posting a blog post
1 bonus point for posting a forum post (to get credit, you must message me on Sunday with a link to the thread you posted to, so I don't miss it)
1 bonus point for posting a picture that is designated with a privacy level of public.
1 bonus point for posting a video (CLICK HERE to see instructions for posting a video)
You will receive a bonus entry in our cruise contest for every point that you earn on May 27, 2009 - May 31, 2009 in our May contest.
For details and standings for both contests, see the appropriate modules on our home page.
Let's All Work To Build The Wayman Tisdale Foundation
Before his tragic death on May 15, 2009, former NBA player and Smooth Jazz artist Wayman Tisdale created The Wayman Tisdale Foundation, which is committed to making a difference in the lives of individuals with cancer as well as amputees. "I believe the best way to help is to provide support and resources. I know we can make a difference one person, one family at a time".
Let's all work together to finish what Wayman has started.
All of these items are VERY IMPORTANT:
1. Donations can be made to:
The Wayman Tisdale Foundation
c/o Paul Samuels
Morgan Stanley
2200 S. Utica Place
Suite 500
Tulsa, OK 74114.
918) 582-3211 or (800) 877-8651
2. CLICK HERE to join the movement.
3. If you are a member of Facebook, please CLICK HERE to join the Let's All Work To Build The Wayman Tisdale Foundation group.
4. Please invite anyone you know that loved and respected Wayman to take the three steps listed above.