2010 New Year predictions for social recruiting et al
I know it is a bit early but I thought I'd get this one done before I retire for the rest of this year. My last post of 2009 and hopefully my last day of work for 2009.
So what are my predictions for 2010?
Jobpartners and Taleo will slog it out in the SME sector with their Small Business products. Both worth taking a look at.
ATS ACQUISITIONS
There will be yet more consolidation at the top and bottom. Taleo will buy someone - maybe Stepstone if Axel Springer decide they don't fit strategically. Or maybe WCN will spend some of their cash and buy one or two of the smaller vendors to extend their product range.
Either way I expect to see 3-6 vendors become 2!
NEW ENTRANTS
SuccessFactors need to get an e-recruitment module and as they are being recommended (see Fortune magazine) as a stock to buy; new whizz bang technology aside, they still need an ATS - Jobpartners or Peopleclick maybe?
SOCIAL RECRUITING
As employers get back on the recruiting trail cost will be king so any channel that can (allegedly) get free candidates will be high on the agenda.
Expect loads of social recruiting conferences full of talking heads spouting on about how to do it with little or no evidence or experience to back up their views. Unfortunately (or fortunately) there will be plenty of people looking to pay for this wisdom in hope of deliverance.
JOB BOARDS
They'll still be with us as long as the average corporate recruiter is happy to hide in the crowds of other corporate recruiters placing jobs on job boards. Most JB's still won't work but because some will, they'll all gain from the success of few shared across many. Rates should come down but they won't!
GOOGLE ADWORDS
Will continue to be the most under utilised recruitment channel and done badly by 90% of those that dip their toes. At least 5 years before it becomes a mainstream channel.
AD AGENCIES
Yet more will go leaving some great people looking for work. Really hope I am wrong on this one.
FLAT FEE RECRUITERS
Easywebrecruitment, Webrecruit et al will clean up in 2010 but there will be loads more appear. Traditional agencies will offer a "no frills" service to go on their a la carte menu so it'll be a lot hotter in the agency kitchen.
NEW CONCEPTS
- Linkedin and Monster will add a full ATS offering to their stable; maybe even using Force.com.
- Job advertising will become free on some of the key job boards with charges based on a CPA basis (A=Applicant) or CV access.
- The STS will be born - Social Tracking System - recruiters will need to track conversations with passive candidates to move them down the funnel to become Applicants.
- Large employers will create low cost "clearing houses" of fully screened/assessed applicants via an independent agency JV.
- Jobs.co.uk (best kept secret in recruitment) will turn out to be nothing more than yet another job board albeit employers only - no agency jobs in site then!
So, that's it for 2009. Have a great Christmas and New Year - see you on the other side!
