Online community clicks for Brighton recruiter
A Brighton recruiter is using the power of online communities to better serve its specialist sector.
A Brighton recruiter is using the power of online communities to better serve its specialist sector.
Stephen Whitehurst, director of ZeteoPeople, set up an online community on the professional networking site XING where those involved in theSAP business management software market can discuss topics of interest.
In just over a year it has attracted nearly 4,500 members and helped build the agency’s profile and credibility in its field.
While recruiters and companies can post job advertisements in the community, Whitehurst believes that its real value is in allowing them to engage and interact with potential candidates. “Recruiters have got to try harder than just firing off job specs via email to anyone who they think might be able to do the job. Also, jobseekers can sometimes feel like they are being stalked online by recruiters,” he said. “The community allows recruiters to develop a relationship with a potential candidate and build trust.”
The community features an area called Candidate World, where jobseekers can advertise their availability, an SAP blog, relocation help and advice, an Ask the Headhunter section and an area where permanent and freelance job ads can be posted.
By pulling all the talent into one space, Whitehurst knows that he risks being eclipsed from the recruiting equation in some cases but says this openness is key to successful online networking.
“Potential candidates respond well to me and ZeteoPeople because they know SAP World and so we are less anonymous than other recruiters,” he said. “It gives us a level of credibility straight away and builds trust — key for a young growing business in a tight market and difficult global economic times.”
He added that creating the network has opened doors for the recruitment firm. The company has attracted the attention of the founders of OnCircus, an international community for SAP professionals, and has been given the franchise to develop networks for the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. Whitehurst said it will do this concurrently with its recruitment business.
