INTERNET - Social Media: The New Cover Letter?

http://www.ere.net/2009/03/23/social-media-the-new-cover-letter/

This is a great discussion about the role of social media to candidates but in turn the same information can be applied to current HR recruitment. A corporate website and a piece of it being devoted to careers might be a great tool for traditional candidates and those that are actively searching but there is a growing segment that is thirsty for new information, more depth and more personality that many standard websites do not provide. It is by embellishing the extensions that a connection is made strong by displaying multiple sides of a company whether they be the technology, employees or leaders of a company. Not only are you showing other sides of a company but you are also reaching out to them on their ground.

What are your thoughts?

PRINT - McDonalds "Make Up Your Own Mind" UK Campaign

Has your company found yourself in the middle of a debate and had a hard time hiring? While most would shy away from speaking about it, McDonalds makes a nice opportunity from the already open discussion. By creating a site to inform and educate they promote their brand to both consumers and potential employees while addressing their side of the discourse. Check their site out and tell us what you think.
www.makeupyourownmind.co.uk

QUOTE - Advertising and Relationships

"Advertising becomes a dialogue that becomes an invitation to a relationship."
--Lester Wunderman, member, Advertising Hall of Fame
I received this is one of my daily e-mails from AAF SmartBrief and I can't help but completely agree. It doesn't matter what industry you are in for advertising, whether it be product sales or human resources, but advertising really is what assists in opening the door between the relationship between suppliers and consumers or companies and candidates.

Advertising's job is to create and open the connection between two people and lead them to a discussion. Ads persuade people to guide their interest to an item or service. This is why it is so hard to gauge definitive responses and results from advertising. The product or service must be able to be sold effectively by the supplier otherwise advertising only leads to a one sided discussion resulting in clutter for your target.

Effective advertising not only falls on creating good-looking and memorable ads but also sales teams and representatives. Building brand names and marketable identities is only half of the power behind effective relationships between an audience and a company.

Creating effective ads comes down to figuring out what separates your company from the rest (defining the unique selling point) and what means the most to your candidates at this time. There are a variety of ways to connect with your targets including humor, emotion, direct competitor comparison, and education; but, they are not limited to those categories. Finding the unique approach that captures the majority of potential candidates' attention is the goal to opening this large discussion.

What factors would you say fall into the equation of this discussion between consumer and company?