Clicking for Candidates 4 Risks of Online Recruitment - Spark Hire

Clicking for Candidates 4 Risks of Online Recruitment - Spark HireEveryone has a LinkedIn profile these days, and we think nothing of it. In fact, online job recruitment is so prevalent in todays job search that even Facebook is getting in on the action with Facebook Careers. But before we all give three cheers for online recruitment, there are some important risks to consider.BedTimes Magazine, a website devoted to the sleep product industry, recently posted an interesting commentary on the risks of online recruitment that can apply to any industry. They referenced data from a survey conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management which pointed out that only 26% of surveyed companies in 2011 were using online platforms to search for potential job candidates, down from 34% in 2008.The data revealed that this is in large part due to the risks of online job recruitment. With that, BedTimes Magazine unveiled four risks that hiring recruiters need to take into consideration before they surf the web for their next job candidates.4. Online Recruiting Makes for a Larger Candidate PoolYouve probably experienced this by now. The ease of applying to a job these days far outweighs the time it took a decade ago. With just a few minutes and a click of a mouse, a candidate can apply for a job. Hiring recruiters now have to dig through many, many mora resumes to find the perfect candidates to interview, let alone hire. If your human resources team has been up to their elbows in online job applications, it may be time to downsize your online recruitment efforts.3. Legal Issues with Social Media RecruitingThanks to Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, etc., its easy to keep tabs on a job candidate 24-7. With just a few clicks you can check out what theyre up to, what theyre eating, what theyre drinking, where theyve beenthe list goes on and on. Its a slippery slope to a lawsuit. If a job candidate were to find out that you based hiring decisions off of their personal online i mage, it could spell trouble for your company. Tread carefully in how you use social media for online recruitment. Use it to find candidates not keep tabs on them.2. Misrepresentation of Job CandidatesDishonest job candidates have found a beneficial loophole in the job search thanks to online recruitment. They can just as easily fabricate academic records, work experience and skills expertise online as they can on paper. Though this is a general recruitment problem, its important to be aware that a job candidates profile isnt any more legitimate because its online.1. Creates In-House Issues for Managers and HR RecruitersThis goes back to the second point that a candidates online image shouldnt be used against them. Perhaps your department refrains from looking at a candidates social media profiles, but what about managers within the company? These risks arent just for one department theyre for those who have any say in hiring processes, if not the company as a whole.Do the benefits of online recruitingoutweighthe risks? Please share in the comments.IMAGE Courtesy of Flickr byThe Fayj