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82pc employers check 'candidates online before interviews’

DUBAI, October 27, 2014

More than 82 per cent of employers research candidates online before calling them for interviews, according to a recent Bayt.com poll.

The ‘Social Recruiting in the Middle East and North Africa’ poll revealed that  has revealed that more than 65 per cent of respondents in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region are aware of the concept of social recruiting.

As many as eight out of 10 believed that social media platforms are a good way for employers and candidates to engage through industry-related discussions.

The report also revealed that social media was also considered to be a great platform for employer branding by 79 per cent respondents, with the majority of job seeks stating that they will check a company’s social media profile before applying for a job.

About 65 per cent of job seekers had a strong desire to see job postings shared on social platforms, while about 67.6 per cent clicked on a social media-posted job opportunity either ‘very often’ or ‘quite often,’ it said.

Meanwhile, about 29.7 per cent of jobseekers believed that a dedicated jobsite will be very useful to them, while a majority are starting to see the benefits of enhanced social recruiting, with 32.9 per centsaying that a jobsite with both social and career content dimensions would be most beneficial.

Suhail Masri, VP of sales, Bayt.com, said: “Indeed, having a shiny online presence, whether for companies or professionals, has never been more important.  For employers in particular, simply having a static website is no longer enough, with almost 80 per cent of jobseekers checking a company’s social media profiles before applying.

“In line with Bayt.com’s mission of empowering people, Bayt.com’s recently-launched Company Profile platform is the best and easiest way for employers to give a company the most sophisticated and compelling presence on social media. Companies can attract and engage with millions of the most talented jobseekers in the Middle East and beyond, through a page customised for them that links to their news, job vacancies and more!”

In terms of companies jumping on board the social recruiting trend, about 58.5 per cent of respondents stated that their organisation advertises jobs on their corporate social media profiles – though of these, 30.5 per cent of respondents stated their companies ‘rarely’ do so, said the report.

More 55 per cent respondents polled by Bayt.com believed that they are more likely to be hired if they are active on social media channels, which is line with the perception of employers, who claim to find better candidates on the social media platforms.

Employers most specifically look for candidates on the social platforms who have professional experience, and industry knowledge and expertise, according to the poll.

They are also looking for candidates who will be a good cultural fit within their company, whose profile demonstrates professionalism, and who have an appealing tone of voice or method of communication, it said.

“Today’s digital world makes online connections more important than ever before, and job seekers in particular must bear this in mind when developing social profiles that can, potentially, attract an employer,” said Masri.

“At Bayt.com, we’re very proud of being leaders in the social recruiting trend, having given jobseekers the ability to create beautiful and attractive professional social media profiles for years now, by using the innovative Bayt.com People platform.

“Bayt.com had anticipated the need for employers to discover stories that go beyond a CV through well thought-out, intelligent, original content related to areas of interest and expertise.” - TradeArabia News Service




Tags: Jobs | media | research |

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