Open Web LogoI recently had the opportunity to review Dice’s Open Web product.  I found it to be a great addition to the recruiter’s toolkit as it provides access to a much wider pool of potential candidates by making it incredibly easy to search in the social realm.

This certainly meets a need and saves time because, let’s face it, recruiters and HR ladies with a new Open Req on their desk are usually doing some sort of Google search, LinkedIn search, or trolling on social sites anyway.  It does, however, remind us how important it is for organizations to have defined policies/procedures for their use of social media profile information in the recruiting stage.

As unsexy as it may be it’s still critically important for HR professionals to manage risk and liability while balancing that with the benefits to be gained from interacting with and sourcing candidates via social channels.

There are many of my HR colleagues who continue to believe, very adamantly, in the need to keep personal and professional personas separate – both for themselves and for their candidates.

They really have no interest in viewing a applicant’s social footprint nor do they wish to cross the streams and engage with candidates via sites that are perceived as more personal (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr come to mind).

When reviewing applications these HR practitioners are the first to say that the only things of importance are professional skills and work experience…the corporate hiring equivalent of name, rank and serial number.

Does this mean HR professionals should never interact and connect with candidates or applicants online?  Does it mean they should never consider the ‘whole person’ when evaluating the importance of cultural fit, motivation and interests when contemplating moving someone along in the hiring process or extending an offer?  Of course not; in my mind that’s just plain foolish.

They can, however, be smart and purposeful by keeping a few key points front and center:

  • HR professionals and recruiters who research candidates or view candidates’ online social media information, even if public, should be aware that the information once seen cannot become ‘unseen.”  (note – the Open Web data is pulled from billions of web pages, all of which is public information readily available). There are certainly pieces of information that may be gathered by reviewing SM profiles that would be considered protected category information such as race, ethnicity, religion, marital status, physical or mental disabilities or medical conditions.  While this information could, and quite often does, come out during conversational chit chat in an interview, being aware of it earlier means the recruiter must make sure that screening/selection processes do not have an adverse impact on individuals in protected categories.
  • It’s advantageous to fully define which employer representative should be viewing social media profiles; for example, removing the Hiring Manager (ultimate decision maker) from this process and instead having the Recruiter who has been trained in how to use this information be the one who views social profiles. It’s a plus within the Dice product that when forwarding a candidate’s resume to a Hiring Manager only the resume moves forward; the Hiring Manager does not see the links to Open Web.
  • Employers who are government contractors and subject to E.O. 11246 must also ensure that their policies and procedures fall in line with OFCCP record keeping requirements in regards to the “Internet Applicant” definitions. As always, they should refer to DOL guidelines and/or get legal guidance with any questions in this area.

This is certainly not Dice’s first rodeo and I’m fairly certain that customers have access to guidance and best practices on how to appropriately manage candidate data; the customer dashboard I worked with had a treasure trove of information and links to resources.

But even if one is not using this platform the above tips are pertinent to anyone traversing this brave new world of internet and social recruiting.  We all remember the Uniform Guidelines/UGESP (HR 101) … right?  Right?

Originally posted at HR Schoolhouse

robinAbout the Author: With 25 years of HR Management experience, Robin Schooling, SPHR, has worked in a variety of industries including gaming, healthcare, manufacturing and banking.  In 2013, after serving as VP Human Resources with the Louisiana Lottery Corporation for almost 7 years, Robin left corporate HR to open up Silver Zebras, LLC, a consultancy focusing on unique HR strategies that power people, strengthen talent capabilities and harness the power of connections.

She’s a member of the Smartbrief on Workforce Advisory Board and served on the Boards of Directors for Geaux Veterans, and the Louisiana Business Leadership Network, which focuses on providing positive employment outcomes for people with disabilities.  Robin is a Past President of Greater Baton Rouge SHRM, a former board member with ASTD Baton Rouge, an active member of the Baton Rouge Social Media Association and she currently serves as Secretary/Treasurer and Communications Director for the Louisiana SHRM State Council.  In 2011, GBR SHRM awarded Robin its “HR Professional of the Year Award.”

You can follow Robin on Twitter at @RobinSchooling or connect with her on LinkedIn.



By Robin Schooling

VP Human Resources, Hollywood Casino – Baton Rouge Robin is on a mission to make organizations better by making HR better. She’s worked as a Human Resources and Recruiting Leader since the days of fax machines and has traversed a variety of industries including healthcare, banking, 3PL, and gaming. She speaks to global audiences on a variety of HR, Recruiting and HR Tech topics, has a popular HR blog, and one time had a by-line in Fast Company!  She serves on the Advisory Board for HROnboard, is the current Ringmistress at the Carnival of HR, and stays involved with groups including HR Open Source, the ATD Baton Rouge chapter, and various SHRM entities.  A fervent and unapologetic fan of the New Orleans Saints, she continues her relentless quest to find the perfect French 75. Follow Robin on Twitter @RobinSchooling or connect with her on LinkedIn.