discovered that it’s being widely used by professionals across the globe in all different industries. I only have a few dozen “friends” in my cache (other individuals with profiles with whom I have made a connection) but the accessible network contains 88 million+ people. For instance, there is a group for Registered Nurses to connect and network. What a great group to post a topic for the healthcare group to read that says: “Any good RN’s looking for a new job in northern NJ?” Not to mention, once you’re a member you can search for anyone. Is there something about a particular candidate that doesn’t sit well with you? There’s a decent chance he or she has a MySpace.com account that will give you some more “insight” into their personality. The informatiLet’s face it: we all remember our first home computer--it wasn’t that long ago. My dad brought home one of his old computers from work; the screen was approximately 8 x 8 inches, and it was certainly not the flat screens we see today. Behind the screen, I’m certain there were mice running in wheels—there was definitely enough space for them and the speed of that computer was slower than it takes to make Thanksgiving dinner. We used it initially as a word processor and could never imagine that our computer would change so much in the next 15 years.

Now think back to your first cell phone. Mine was shaped like (and probably weighed as much as) a brick. It did not fold, the antenna had to be extended to even dream about hearing the other person who was calling, it was used only for emergencies and the rates of one or two phone calls were more than any of us ever wanted to pay for a simple call home to Mom and Dad.

Fast forward to 2006. Every other person’s hand we pass has a computer the size of their palm that connects wirelessly to the internet, takes and stores hundreds of photographs and sends instant text messages to any colleague or friend holding a similar device (not to mention rings when they have a call, lest we forget). These elaborate extensions of computers and telephones have made most of us accessible at any hour of the day, any place in the world. We all need an answer right now, don’t we?

There are so many new and innovative ways to reach candidates that most recruiters have not even begun to take advantage of. Working as the recruitment manager for a retained search firm, we brainstorm weekly about how to reach candidates efficiently and cost effectively.

One of the ideas we began incorporating last week is text messaging via cell phone to potential candidates. The majority of resumes that come across my desk have the candidate’s cell number on it: practically all cell’s are capable of receiving a text message. And as I’m sure you’ve experienced, each individual candidate prefer a certain way of communication. Some will pick up their phone and call you to return your voicemail. Some will reply to the email you sent them. And some will certainly take a minute to text a message back saying: “let’s talk today at 2”. Why not add this small and easy technique to your tool bag? Furthermore, we send the text messages for free through Yahoo Instant Messenger which doesn’t cost us a thing. Time efficient? Check! Cost effective? You bet!

As a recruiter did you ever think you could have access to a network of millions people at your fingertips? That’s one of the values of a using a recruiter: being able to tap into their network. I’ve found a way to reach AT LEAST that many people through my “MySpace.com” account. If you’re not familiar with MySpace, I highly suggest you log on and check it out. It’s the largest group of people in one place on the internet today and best of all, it’s free. After some initial skepticism (I thought it was just another “chat room”), I discovered that it’s being widely used by professionals across the globe in all different industries. I only have a few dozen “friends” in my cache (other individuals with profiles with whom I have made a connection) but the accessible network contains 88 million+ people. For instance, there is a group for Registered Nurses to connect and network. What a great group to post a topic for the healthcare group to read that says: “Any good RN’s looking for a new job in northern NJ?” Not to mention, once you’re a member you can search for anyone. Is there something about a particular candidate that doesn’t sit well with you? There’s a decent chance he or she has a MySpace.com account that will give you some more “insight” into their personality. The informatio

as calling, it was used only for emergencies and the rates of one or two phone calls were more than any of us ever wanted to pay for a simple call home to Mom and Dad.

Fast forward to 2006. Every other person’s hand we pass has a computer the size of their palm that connects wirelessly to the internet, takes and stores hundreds of photographs and sends instant text messages to any colleague or friend holding a similar device (not to mention rings when they have a call, lest we forget). These elaborate extensions of computers and telephones have made most of us accessible at any hour of the day, any place in the world. We all need an answer right now, don’t we?

There are so many new and innovative ways to reach candidates that most recruiters have not even begun to take advantage of. Working as the recruitment manager for a retained search firm, we brainstorm weekly about how to reach candidates efficiently and cost effectively.

One of the ideas we began incorporating last week is text messaging via cell phone to potential candidates. The majority of resumes that come across my desk have the candidate’s cell number on it: practically all cell’s are capable of receiving a text message. And as I’m sure you’ve experienced, each individual candidate prefer a certain way of communication. Some will pick up their phone and call you to return your voicemail. Some will reply to the email you sent them. And some will certainly take a minute to text a message back saying: “let’s talk today at 2”. Why not add this small and easy technique to your tool bag? Furthermore, we send the text messages for free through Yahoo Instant Messenger which doesn’t cost us a thing. Time efficient? Check! Cost effective? You bet!

As a recruiter did you ever think you could have access to a network of millions people at your fingertips? That’s one of the values of a using a recruiter: being able to tap into their network. I’ve found a way to reach AT LEAST that many people through my “MySpace.com” account. If you’re not familiar with MySpace, I highly suggest you log on and check it out. It’s the largest group of people in one place on the internet today and best of all, it’s free. After some initial skepticism (I thought it was just another “chat room”), I discovered that it’s being widely used by professionals across the globe in all different industries. I only have a few dozen “friends” in my cache (other individuals with profiles with whom I have made a connection) but the accessible network contains 88 million+ people. For instance, there is a group for Registered Nurses to connect and network. What a great group to post a topic for the healthcare group to read that says: “Any good RN’s looking for a new job in northern NJ?” Not to mention, once you’re a member you can search for anyone. Is there something about a particular candidate that doesn’t sit well with you? There’s a decent chance he or she has a MySpace.com account that will give you some more “insight” into their personality. The informati

not even begun to take advantage of. Working as the recruitment manager for a retained search firm, we brainstorm weekly about how to reach candidates efficiently and cost effectively.

One of the ideas we began incorporating last week is text messaging via cell phone to potential candidates. The majority of resumes that come across my desk have the candidate’s cell number on it: practically all cell’s are capable of receiving a text message. And as I’m sure you’ve experienced, each individual candidate prefer a certain way of communication. Some will pick up their phone and call you to return your voicemail. Some will reply to the email you sent them. And some will certainly take a minute to text a message back saying: “let’s talk today at 2”. Why not add this small and easy technique to your tool bag? Furthermore, we send the text messages for free through Yahoo Instant Messenger which doesn’t cost us a thing. Time efficient? Check! Cost effective? You bet!

As a recruiter did you ever think you could have access to a network of millions people at your fingertips? That’s one of the values of a using a recruiter: being able to tap into their network. I’ve found a way to reach AT LEAST that many people through my “MySpace.com” account. If you’re not familiar with MySpace, I highly suggest you log on and check it out. It’s the largest group of people in one place on the internet today and best of all, it’s free. After some initial skepticism (I thought it was just another “chat room”), I discovered that it’s being widely used by professionals across the globe in all different industries. I only have a few dozen “friends” in my cache (other individuals with profiles with whom I have made a connection) but the accessible network contains 88 million+ people. For instance, there is a group for Registered Nurses to connect and network. What a great group to post a topic for the healthcare group to read that says: “Any good RN’s looking for a new job in northern NJ?” Not to mention, once you’re a member you can search for anyone. Is there something about a particular candidate that doesn’t sit well with you? There’s a decent chance he or she has a MySpace.com account that will give you some more “insight” into their personality. The informati

hy not add this small and easy technique to your tool bag? Furthermore, we send the text messages for free through Yahoo Instant Messenger which doesn’t cost us a thing. Time efficient? Check! Cost effective? You bet!

As a recruiter did you ever think you could have access to a network of millions people at your fingertips? That’s one of the values of a using a recruiter: being able to tap into their network. I’ve found a way to reach AT LEAST that many people through my “MySpace.com” account. If you’re not familiar with MySpace, I highly suggest you log on and check it out. It’s the largest group of people in one place on the internet today and best of all, it’s free. After some initial skepticism (I thought it was just another “chat room”), I discovered that it’s being widely used by professionals across the globe in all different industries. I only have a few dozen “friends” in my cache (other individuals with profiles with whom I have made a connection) but the accessible network contains 88 million+ people. For instance, there is a group for Registered Nurses to connect and network. What a great group to post a topic for the healthcare group to read that says: “Any good RN’s looking for a new job in northern NJ?” Not to mention, once you’re a member you can search for anyone. Is there something about a particular candidate that doesn’t sit well with you? There’s a decent chance he or she has a MySpace.com account that will give you some more “insight” into their personality. The informati

discovered that it’s being widely used by professionals across the globe in all different industries. I only have a few dozen “friends” in my cache (other individuals with profiles with whom I have made a connection) but the accessible network contains 88 million+ people. For instance, there is a group for Registered Nurses to connect and network. What a great group to post a topic for the healthcare group to read that says: “Any good RN’s looking for a new job in northern NJ?” Not to mention, once you’re a member you can search for anyone. Is there something about a particular candidate that doesn’t sit well with you? There’s a decent chance he or she has a MySpace.com account that will give you some more “insight” into their personality. The information, tools and resources are out there, we just have to finding new ways to put them to use.