Employers must up their game in social and mobile recruitment, survey finds

Jo Faragher

A survey of around 27,000 students and graduates has found them to be way ahead of their potential employers in terms of what they expect from social media and smart phones.

US-based market research company Potentialpark, which looked at the online presence of around 700 employers, found survey respondents to be unimpressed with career websites, which failed to deliver the daily updates and personal interaction they enjoy with Facebook and Twitter.

While careers sites were the most popular way for graduates and students to look for jobs (cited by 74% of respondents), they feel that the online recruitment process should be within ‘one-click’ reach. Ninety-four percent said that, in addition to a careers site, the hiring company should present on at least one social media or professional networking platform.

Candidates also expect employers to develop sophisticated mobile career websites and apps that can be accessed via smart phones. Only 110 out of the 694 employers surveyed had a mobile career website or app.

Julian Ziesing, chief analyst at Potentialpark, said: “The career website is the employer’s showroom where you can go to see what the company has to offer. Facebook however is the jobseeker’s living room, where the employers go to catch their attention. This is where jobseekers feel out if the messages and promises of the career website pass the reality check.”

For a list of the top-ranking employers, look here.