Getting Headhunted in Cyberspace

With the astounding rise in popularity of social and business networking services online like Facebook and LinkedIn, it’s little wonder that these platforms have become the harbouring space for many job seekers, some disguising as serious business networkers and some who are outright promoting themselves online, with a tinge of desperation.

Remember, what used to be staged on real life is now being replicated online. When there are too many jobseekers using corporate recruitment sites, networking sites or job notice boards of recruitment agencies online to seek career opportunities, the net effect will take a toll on recruiters. They'll eventually be bogged down with finding the right talent required for the organisation and may just ignore your application.

So, as a jobseeker, you must know what headhunters look for. Headhunters like me have an impact on a client organisation as we look for referred talents who surface through direct poaching, referrals from respected individuals and focused advertisements. We have more respect for people in this group than those who write in to us often or when they are out of job. Remember, headhunters target passive candidates more than active ones. So the last thing you should do is to make yourself appear desperate, lunging at the recruiter for a job.


Choosing the Right Site

First, you have to know the difference between social and business networking sites as different netiquette rules apply. You won't see a CEO with a fantastic profile and credentials on LinkedIn or on Facebook talking politics or sharing dirty jokes, do you?

Social networking sites like Facebook or Twitter are like the bar you hang out after work, with friends. You fold up your sleeves, lean back and chat the night away. The chat can be about your fling with a colleague, gossip about your nasty boss, or maybe, movies and football. But if you aren't careful online, it isn't just your close friends who savour the juicy discussions you blatantly share but a wider network of people.

Social sites are alright if you are in new age jobs or trendy industries like advertising or multimedia and if you're in your twenties. It isn't the right site if you're a top talent waiting to be picked by the CEO or HR Director because they won't have the time to check their Facebook chatter. Pardon me for my stereotyping, but I shun talents in the C-class like financial or consulting positions who appear on Facebook with improper netiquette.

Personally, I don't use Facebook to look for top talent and I view someone who excitedly updates their Facebook as someone with plenty of time on his hands. But I will use Facebook to check up on the personal life of certain candidates because, as a recruiter, it reveals a lot about their personality, friends, the topics they discussed and the areas of interests. Is this considered intrusive? Read the disclaimers on your social media sites before you decide.

On the other hand, if you're seeking greater opportunities, you ought to use business networking sites like LinkedIn, now the leading site where professionals lurk, discussing business, conducting surveys and share market research. They're akin to the Davos Conference or the business conferences you attend. Their members are like-minded professionals with exceptional business and professional experience and knowledge who use the platform to share information both ways.


Doing it with Style

When you create an online profile, your image is the most important feature that attracts recruiters who search for your profile. The extended advantage on business networking sites is that you don’t just get searched but you also get to meet experts in your field who may offer you an opportunity. In fact, your hit rate is higher if you're spotted by a Director, as they know who to pick better than his recruiter.


The Profile

The profile should be like the 80s miniskirt – short as possible but covers all the vital bits. When you reveal too much, you're already letting slip all your vital points and the recruiter may make premature conclusions about you. Your profile should never appear like a CV; besides your current title and company, put down achievements that speak for themselves.



Next month: How to activate your online presence