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ONE in three Australian job seekers use social media to find employment with the majority turning to Facebook rather than LinkedIn, according to Randstad.
Despite the growing trend towards the tool, figures from the human resources provider show that Australia is behind the rest of the world.
The annual Randstad Award report shows half of job seekers worldwide use social media to apply for work at 49 per cent, compared to 34 per cent in Australia. Hungary leads the charge at 75 per cent.
Of the 12,000 Australians polled 62 per cent use Facebook, 45 per cent use LinkedIn, 32 per cent use Google+, 15 per cent use Twitter and 11 per cent use Instagram.
Randstad CEO Frank Ribuot says he wasn't surprised by the findings.
"While people use a range of methods to find and apply for work, the most successful way to secure a job you want is to use your personal networks," Ribuot says.
"Traditionally this meant contacting friends and family and working closely with a specialist recruitment consultant.
"Today, with the ability to speak to a much wider network in an instant, this extends much further with the use of social and professional networks."
Ribuot says it was a natural progression in the job hunt, as social media "gradually permeates" every aspect of our lives.
"There is so much information to be gleaned about an organisation and its culture by looking at how they engage with the public online, and there are clear benefits for both job seekers and employers that maximise the use of social media and professional networks," he says.
"Although today many would expect LinkedIn to be the preferred network when applying for a job, it seems Facebook might be the sleeping giant of recruitment.
"It will be interesting to see how the platform develops over time as more people utilise the network to do their research on potential employers and talent and to search and apply for jobs."
Employers must stay ahead of advances in technology and sourcing tools within the labour market to attract and recruit top talent, Ribuot says.
He says by understanding the needs and motivations of your target employee demographic will give employers a significant advantage over the competition.
This includes effective engagement with the public, sharing timely and relevant content and sending positive messages on social platforms.
"If organisations want the power to attract and retain great talent in a highly competitive market, investing in a strong social and professional network management plan will be crucial for the years ahead," Ribuot says.
The report surveyed 225,000 potential job seekers across 23 countries.
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