John SumserWhen you look at what's really happening, the hype says 'social' but the reality says 'data' ... LinkedIn is an exercise in arrogance run by the PayPal Mafia... Taleo is one of the most vulnerable players - they've become so big with so many moving parts, people inside Taleo can't tell you what the company does.
According to HRxAnalysts, "The 2012 Index of Social Technology in HR and Recruiting will help you chart your social media strategy for 2012 and beyond. The 100+ page report evaluates the claims and realities of social media effectiveness in HR and Recruiting, profiles seventy industry players and identifies seventeen 'social' technologies and their impact."
Joining us for a Talent Acquisition - Inside Recruiting Channel podcast on TotalPicture Radio is John Sumser, principal consultant for HRxAnalysts and founder and managing editor of The HRExaminer Online Magazine. John explores the people, technology, ideas and careers of senior leaders in Human Resources and Human Capital.
Over his career John has routinely advised Human Resources, Recruiting Departments and Talent Management teams with product analysis, HR Technology, market segmentation, positioning, strategy and branding guidance.
I'm calling this interview John Sumser, Part 2, because our friend, Bill Kutik, beat me to the microphone -- his podcast with John was published last week on The Bill Kutik Radio Show, and I encourage you to have a listen. Since this is "Part 2", I won't ask the same questions Bill asked.
John is a frequent and welcome contributor to TotalPicture Radio.
Listen to our interview for a $200 discount code for "The 2012 Index of Social Technology in HR and Recruiting"
Questions Peter Clayton asks John Sumser in this podcast:
I gave a cursory introduction to the 2012 Index of Social Technology in HR and Recruiting, which was scraped right off of the HRxAnalysts website. Give us a bit more detail. Here's a three part question:
1. What is the purpose of the report,
2. who did you write this report for, and
3. how will the readers' benefit from the 2012 Index?
I'd like to discuss a couple of the "key findings" of your report, starting with "Technology is entering companies through new paths." What do you mean?
Second: "The use of social media is helping to refine definitions of referral programs." Can you expand on this?
Overall, in reading your report, I've come away thinking that HR is conservative, slow to adopt new tools and technology, suspicious of the latest "shinny object" in the tech world... and somewhat resistant to change. Is my perception accurate?
However, recruiters and the talent acquisition function within organizations are far more willing to try new things and welcome all the new social technology tools available to them -- especially LinkedIn. Right?
There is one question Bill asked you that is worth repeating: You contend that social media really isn't that "social" - how so?
Most companies today will tell you they have a "social media strategy." They're on Facebook, Linkedin, someone is Tweeting for them. What's your opinion John? How truly "social" are these companies?
I would guess most companies are using a tool such as Radian6 to track what's being said about them in the blogosphere and on social networks. Does that jibe with your research?
Tell us what you mean by "HR and Recruiting are Local"
You have a lot of statistics in your report.Some have asterisks next to them meaning "take this with a grain of self promotion." However, a couple of stats that hit me: 90% of all US companies have fewer than 100 employees, and 98% have fewer than 500 employees. Something I think we all need to keep in mind when the cool tech hype machine winds up.
Your report goes into great detail regarding the 'networks' meaning LinkedIn, Facebook, BeKnown, Branchout -- Talk to us about data currency and searchability
Share with us some of your insights regarding LinkedIn.
BeKnown is Monster's entry, has it caught on?
What is your impression of Google+?
I'd like you to spend a couple of minutes talking about some of the big legacy applicant tracking organizations like Kenexa and Taleo that have been acquiring companies in an effort to build integrated talent management systems.
You refer to Taleo as being "one of the most vulnerable players" why?
One of the many companies you profile that I'd like to to comment on is Visualize.me.
Obviously, a tremendous amount of research has gone into the 2012 Index of Social Technology in HR and Recruiting -- is there any one thing that stands out for you, John -- or something that took you by surprise in doing this research?
One final question: Are you going to give my listeners a discount when they buy your report?
John Sumser Biography
John has worked a lot of jobs—from selling doughnuts door-to door, digging ditches and building railroads to corporate executive, director, editor, and CEO. He knows that making the right hiring decision requires both breadth and precision, and that finding the right person for the right job is a process that must adapt to an ever-changing marketplace.
The foundation of John’s interest in recruiting was how to use developing technology to find candidates that were inaccessible before. John was on the cutting edge of how the internet and technology affect work and recruiting. He became interested in the internet in its embryonic stages when it was known as the Well. His conversations with folks in the San Francisco Bay Area developed into a position as Executive Director of the Point Foundation and publisher of the Whole Earth Catalog, where he met and worked with many of the founders of Silicon Valley.
In 1995, John started his own company, Interbiznet, where he wrote a daily column on using the internet and technology for employment recruiting as well as a survey of global employment news and trends. His ideas have been the catalyst for dozens of new companies and countless MBA student papers.
In 2007, John sold Interbiznet and continued to write for the industry at JohnSumser.com before starting HRExaminer.com in 2009.
About Peter Clayton
Peter Clayton, Producer/Host, is an award-winning producer/director of radio, television, documentary, video, interactive and Web-based media who has created breakthrough media for a wide array of Fortune 100 clients.
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