It seems like a good idea doesn't it? Recruit Millennials where they are most comfortable. Work within the technology that they are so intertwined with, and use so easily, to introduce them to your company. It's innocent enough. We say we're using it for all the right reasons. It's the way they communicate. It's the way they connect so why shouldn't we be using that as a recruiting tool? There are so many reasons why you shouldn't that I may not be able to name all of them in this blog.
One of the biggest complaints I hear from employers about Millennials is that they are just too relaxed at work. They don't understand professionalism. They can't interact in a business environment. They write emails like they're texting on a cell phone to one of their friends. Well what did you expect? They are being recruited by companies in the their social arena. They are used to being comfortable and laid back. This is where they go to talk to their friends. It's their version of happy hour. But we're upset when we recruit them through a social networking site and then wonder why they can't be professional. We're setting the standards for them by coming into a space that they traditionally have not used for business purposes.
Here's what bothers me the most...I have heard several stories of recruiters who have gone onto candidates myspace or facebook sites and made the decision to not hire them based on pictures or something they see there. I'm not saying that I don't understand. That picture of your potential new junior executive doing the beer bong may be a good enough reason to not hire him. But let's be realistic. We all do stupid things. Especially when we're young. Does that mean we shouldn't get a job because of it? Sometimes yes...I'm just not sure this is the time. Here's my question...what's wrong with the traditional methods we used to use to hire someone? Reference checks, resumes, cover letters, even IQ tests. Why aren't those enough for this generation? They were fine for us and now we're the managers. We turned out okay. The only real difference between traditional background checks and the new technological information age comes down to this...there was just no picture proof of our adventures. Our future employers never saw the hand stand beer bong we did the weekend end before our interview. Did that behavior somehow make you less of a candidate? Less able to do your job? For some people the answer may be yes but for the majority of us, we know how to have a balance and for most Millennials, they do too. I've seen people out at happy hour, having a good time, probably drinking too much, and doing things they shouldn't. But they still get up on Monday, go to work and do a great job. Now I know what you're saying. There are no pictures posted all over the Internet about those weekend adventures. So what? So what if a 21 year old decides to put up pictures that you think he shouldn't. In the scheme of life does it matter. If he can come to work, do the job you expect out of him and be a great employee, what difference does it make?
So here's the point of this whole rant. Let online social networking sites be just that...a place where people can go to talk to other people, share their lives (the good and bad) and leave the recruiting to sites where it makes sense. Don't be the first recruiter or employer who gets sued because of their use of online information to make employment decisions. Trust me, it's coming. There's no way it won't within the next 2 years. The only real question is who will be the first to sue an employer for discrimination. Be careful, use technology wisely and for crying out loud trust that the traditional methods of background checks do their job!
