It’s a Social World: A Global Look at Social Networking

Posted on February 9, 2012 by laurie

By Carmela Aquino – January 6, 2012

Courtesy of blog.comscore.com

In case you missed it, comScore recently released a report on the global state of social networking, entitled It’s a Social World: Top 10 Need-to-Knows About Social Networking and Where It’s Headed. In the report, we examined the current state of social networking among online users around the world.

Over the past few years, social networks have evolved to become an integral part of the online experience, providing the means for users to facilitate offline connections and build new ones online. In the process, social networks have shaped the way we communicate and have even cultivated new social behaviors. Indisputably, the way we keep in touch with friends, find recommendations, and share ideas with others has changed with the advent of social networking.

Here are three of our key findings, which you can find in the full report available for download.

Social Networking is the most popular online activity worldwide
In October 2011, 1.2 billion users around the world visited social networking sites, accounting for 82 percent of the world’s population. Nearly 1 in every 5 minutes spent online around the world is now spent on social networking sites, making Social Networking the most popular content category in engagement worldwide.

Microblogging has emerged as a disruptive new force in social networking
Microblogging, a way of communicating through short-form content, has emerged as a leading social networking platform over the past few years, led by Twitter. In October 2011, Twitter reached 1 in 10 worldwide Internet users, reflecting its emergence as a leading global social network. Other microblogging platforms on the rise are Tumblr and Sina Weibo.

Mobile devices are fueling the social addiction
As mobile devices provide users with the means to connect on-the-go and interact in real-time, they show promise in taking social networking even further. Nearly one third of the U.S. mobile population age 13 and older accessed social networking sites at least once in October 2011. Across five leading markets in Europe, nearly a quarter of the mobile population reported doing so as well. With smartphones driving even more frequent social networking use through apps and the emergence of tablets, we expect mobile social networking to be the wave of the future.

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The Importance of Networking in a Social-media Driven Marketplace

Posted on February 7, 2012 by laurie

Connections are king. Always have been, always will be.

This new social-media charged marketplace is making connections even more apparent and necessary. Online job postings now attract more candidates than ever. Online professional groups share ‘leads and feeds’. With companies now receiving anywhere from 100 to 400 resumes for advertised positions, even the best candidates can get lost in the pile.

Interestingly, an important fact remains: almost 80% of job-openings go unposted. Word of mouth is faster. Personal recommendations are more trusted. Some companies don’t want to go through recruiters. Hiring managers simply seek referrals from trusted colleagues, clients, professional associations.

Therefore, personal networking must remain a priority.

Need another reason to continue networking? Consider this. All business environments have changed. People are using new lingo, talking about new issues. Networking and connecting with people on an ongoing basis helps you stay current and relevant.

So how to begin networking? Here are some suggestions:
1. Reach out to those people who reached to you. The people who reached out first after your departure, truly want to help you. See who they can refer you to, and have them pre-empt your call with one of their own. That way the call is much easier to make.
2. Consider your immediate social circle. Everybody knows someone. Friends, neighbours, and relatives all present connection possibilities. Chances are they know somebody who will be willing to talk to you.
3. Join a professional network such as Linked In (or a series of them). Be sure your profile touts your professional abilities and accomplishments. Once you are a part of this group, start searching to connect with people you know. Link to them, search their connections, request introductions to people. See which professional associations other people belong to, and join them.
4. Volunteer for a cause. You’ll be interacting with Board Members, local companies and fellow volunteers who all have their own connections. (be sure to list this on your resume)
5. Join a local board of trade or business organization. Remember, people lead to people. Chances are, they’ll lead to someone who can help you with your career search.

A word of caution about social media and social media networking. Sites such as Twitter and Facebook have the power to reach many people. They also have the power to bring a career down quickly. Be careful of what you post. Many hiring managers check these sites to get a better idea of the candidates they are considering; your weekend’s activities will not advance your cause.

Networking is vital, even if you are gainfully employed. Connections lead to new business, new partnerships, and building profiles. A solid network is a great safety net, should you need to job hunt.

So get out there. Formulate your 10 second elevator speech about what you’re great at. And then start spreading the word about something important: you.

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The Relationship between Hiring from Within and Human Capital Managegment

Posted on February 2, 2012 by laurie

Written by Jen Turi

Source:  www.careercurve.com

I was talking with someone recently about their company’s take on hiring from within. Although the organization was all for it, there were definite challenges in actually making it happen. These challenges sounded to me like they all revolve around Human Capital Management.

There are a number of benefits to hiring  from within such as:
•Already evaluated work performance as well as an employee’s ability to fit into company culture.
•It is much more cost effective to re-invest in an employee, even if you just consider recruiting cost alone.
•The employee already has knowledge of the culture, corporate policies, and your business goals.
•Advancement opportunities do wonders to increase engagement, instill loyalty, and lower turnover.

But this may not be so easy to implement, especially for very large organizations. There are many things you need to know to make hiring internally a valid and productive choice.

•Do you have a solid understanding of each employee’s strengths and weaknesses?
•Do you have knowledge of your employees’ career aspirations and focus on training and career development?
•Do you know what your company has already invested in each employee?
•Are you aware of the specific contributions made by your employees?

All of these things have to be there in order for you to successfully tap into a pool of potential candidates.

What’s your take on it? Does your organization take steps to hire from within and is it successful? Do many of your employees lose opportunities and do you lose out on this resource because of poor human capital management? Do you have processes in place to make this a viable option? Do you see the relationship between hiring from within and Human Capital Management?

Posted in Change Management, Leadership, Team Optimization, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment