Importance of Social Media in Human Resources

The way we use the internet has evolved. Social media has changed the way we communicate, providing a fantastic platform to connect with people and share information, but most of all, keep current with everyone's activities. Social networking allows for quick hit information bytes and offers the ability to source information and people through a network of contacts with rapid turnaround. And it's infiltrating the corporate world.

In the current business environment, with global companies operating with reduced budgets, social networking websites offer a cost effective tool not only for teams to stay connected, but for Human Resource professionals to creatively optimize recruiting or onboarding and other critical human resources functions. Human Resource professionals, and companies as a whole, should not be afraid to embrace social networking sites because once the economic storm subsides, those companies that embraced this technology will be more competitive, productive and successful.

Social media can be incorporated into training environments, such as for onboarding and new hire orientation, or applied to recruiting strategies to source top talent for an organization. It can even be used to obtain a better understanding of the personality and lifestyle of potential job candidates and how this could positively or negatively influence their position within an organization. Your company's image will be projected through social media, but unless you're on board with social networking, it might not be the image you want people to see.

At Human Resources IQ, you can obtain articles, interviews and videos, such as the following, to learn how to get the most out of Social Media in Human Resources:

"The Evolution of Technology in the Workplace," by Phil Kotacka. In this article, Phil Kotacka discusses whether Social Networking is a useful tool or bane of the business world. http://www.humanresourcesiq.com/article.cfm?externalID=838

"Social Media in HR," an interview with Johnny Taylor, Jr., former President and CEO of Rushmoredrive.com. In this interview, Taylor shares how employers searching for top talent can benefit from using such social media in HR. http://www.humanresourcesiq.com/podcenter.cfm?externalID=111

"Social Networking for Your Online Orientation Program," with Charleen Allen, Director of Global Learning and Development for Baker Hughes. In this video, Allen discusses understanding how social networking can figure into your onboarding and orientation program to get your new hire engaged and productive early on in their position. http://www.humanresourcesiq.com/video.cfm?id=124

Check out additional applications of Social Media for your business environment and ways to capitalize on it at www.humanresourcesiq.com.