I’m going to add supporting evidence, as to how right on the money an article which has been recirculated and edited/updated in Business Week is, and also add value to the discussion, by adding a point they missed. It was an article on how social media, particularly blogs are changing the business world.
They failed to mention how blogs are changing the interview & recruiting process.
Employers have googled me, and my two blogs. I know because of web developer analytics. Links to my blog have been forwarded around offices in e-mails, again more data from stats. I know which employers spend time on my site, looking at me, and I know which ones don’t, and what posts they have read. Here’s a fun fact, I’ve applied to a job posting where they only want applicants to post a link to their blog, rather than a resume. These kinds of things have impact on decisions made in the recruiting process, and is likely effecting my career as a professional.
If an employer googles me, they will find I have a passion for stocks, an entrepreneurial flare, as well as enjoy writing, reading, and I’m about to graduate from Engineering at Waterloo. If they dig deep enough they will get to read my thoughts, on silly things as well as where else I have interviewed. I don’t care, I’m just being honest. Information is value. All recruiters and HR people should realize that in a formal interview people answer questions in a fashion that is more likely to get them hired. If you think about it, the process needs to be improved. It’s sort of like dating, but you have approximately an hour to decide if you want to date the person (for at least a few more months). And both sides are expected to make this decision quickly and by any means necessary.
Here’s a thought: I want an employer to know as much about me as possible, I don’t want them to make a mistake and hire me into a job where I’m a) not qualified b) won’t be good at or c) have to hide my personal life & interests.
So, I’m laying it out here, I’ve applied to jobs in finance mainly (research/analytical thinking), the Internet (some start-ups), technology (many many diverse jobs here) and others which I am really crossing my fingers for, like Deloitte. Some have been interesting, and some lame. Surprised? You shouldn’t be, I’m talented, educated, and could do many things in many fields, and be equally successful and happy doing them. I’ve only blogged about a fraction of the opportunities I applied to and interviewed for. Employers should be on this, I will when I do any interviewing. I’m waiting for a head hunter to reply to a comment on a post I write and offer me a job. It’s coming.
This next part is important, and leaders should realize this. If somebody is alive in North America and doesn’t have any tracks online, it can mean an array of possibilities (here are a few I could think of):
- They are terrified of stalkers (or the authorities)
- They are lame (ie have no thoughts, ideas, interests, etc.)
- They are liars (ie hide behind a fake profile name, and thus have something to hide)
Hears a tip to level the playing field, when you google them, add the location, or topic they might be found near.
To all employers that I have interviewed with, may one day interview with, or never will because of this: I’m just honest, and if you asked the right questions in an interview, I’d tell you the answers anyway. So in my next interview, just ask me, “What would I get if I googled you?”. Let’s not dance around the “who knows who or what about whom” in the next interview, okay. I promise I’ll ask you the same thing back, if you’re going to be my future boss that is.
Another thing, inferrences and assumptions based on online conversation which are normally rather poor writing, can lead to mistakes. So it’s probably best for both parties to clear up any uncertainty or misinterpretations you found by “digging around” google on your own.
Oh by the way, leaders are already taking this to the next step. I know for a fact, Microsoft and Amazon.com, take bloggers over non-bloggers to interview and then give them offers. I know many people who talk about various interviews they have been through. Some of them are on my blog roll.