How Google+ Will Affect HR Professionals

We’ve talked about social media before, and the changes it has made to human resources and hiring. And now we have a new addition to the social media landscape. Google+ (or Google Plus, the two names are seemingly used interchangeably) was launched with a great deal of fanfare, and ironically enough – social media buzz. At the time of this blog post, 20 million people have already signed up for Google+, and the site is adding users at an astonishing rate.

It’s only logical that Google+ will have a profound impact on the way you interact with job seekers and clients. Let’s take a look at some of the ways Google+ is different than market-leading Facebook, and how that impacts you:

People expect you to have a profile – now.
Businesses may not be able to add Google+ profiles until Q3 (as rumored by several online media outlets), but your social media-savvy job seekers and clients will expect you to have a profile. Google+ is the latest tool, and it came out of the box with a clamoring for invites. Now that the floodgates are open, you had better have a profile. If you’re not sure how to set one up and use Google+, here’s an excellent online tutorial to help you get started. While Google is closing off new signups every few days as they prepare the service for a full launch, just about everyone knows a colleague or friend who can provide an “invite,” which gains you early access.

You don’t have to “friend” anyone.
That can be a relief for some people – no more awkward moments when you don’t want to add someone as your friend on Facebook! But this fact is not something to ignore. Google+ users have “circles,” where they can organize their connections. Each circle can have access to different pieces of information. Someone (including job seekers and clients) can add you to his or her circle without permission; however, you can control what these people see.

Privacy settings are important.
Privacy settings come into play on all social media sites, most notably, Facebook. With Google+, your privacy settings allow you to set certain information as a public “share,” so even someone who isn’t in one of your circles can still keep tabs on relevant information. This can be a great way to include clients, job seekers or current employees, without having to give access to more personal information than you’d like. Google+ blurs the line in our online “worlds” more than any other social media site. Use your privacy settings to your advantage.

Google+ is more about conversations.
Facebook and Twitter are excellent resources for sharing information, and the occasional short conversational exchange. Google+ is made for conversations – in other words: relationship-building. “Hangout,” a group video chat function, allows you to speak to multiple friends (coworkers, staff at clients, etc) using your webcam. Hangout doesn’t require additional software like Skype, and is an easy way to assemble multiple people (across different locations), quickly. “Sparks” is the Google+ news function (similar to your Facebook news feed). Use Sparks to share information and stories (and start conversations) with members of your various circles.

Google+ is about finding people.
Let’s not forget that Google+ is part of Google, the world’s largest (and best) search engine. When you sign up for Google+, you have the ability to connect with countless people, and find them based on variables like: profession, education, employer, interests, and other factors. With Google+, you’ll have access to a plethora of information that can help you find top talent, connect with potential clients, and more…the possibilities are limitless.

For more information about Google+, visit the official Google+ website.

Looking for talent in Winnipeg?
Contact Pinnacle Staffing Solutions. We’ll search our extensive network of talented professionals to find precisely the solution you need.