The power of social networking sites is soaring by the hour. And today, even in the corporate sphere, where tradition rules policies, popular sites like Facebook and Twitter are starting to make a big dent. Companies these days reach out to their employees by starting their own pages on these websites, where often likeminded people join communities or pages and start threads of discussions. After these discussions, companies may even choose to directly hire prospects of their choice.
Ankit Khandelwal, an HR manager for an automobile major, says their company has a profile on both FB and Twitter. “We are constantly looking for fresh graduates from the top B-Schools, and the best way to connect with them is online. We post our activities on these sites and invite them to participate in discussions. We also have Google Groups, where selected employees connect with each other and solve queries,” he said.
For job seekers who have always been at the mercy of the HR department, such websites provide endless channels to connect with their prospective employers. Media professional Shobhan Singh recalls how he landed up an interview with his dream publication all because he followed its editor on Twitter. “On one occasion when I commented on his post, he appreciated my thoughts. Soon enough, we got talking and he invited me for an interview,” Shobhan said.