Internet Most Crucial Tool For Recruitment

The Internet today is the most important tool in the hands of a job seeker when it comes to recruitment, according to a recent “Hiring Management in the MENA- poll conducted by Bayt.com .

In fact, the simple act of establishing an online profile is crucial for candidates seeking senior executive and management roles. Not only is the Internet the medium of choice for 50 per cent of employers seeking potential hires, but 84 per cent will take the time to research candidates online before making a final decision, the poll reveals.

“Creating an online presence is now more essential than ever,-said Suhail Masri, vice-president of Sales, Bayt.com . “The world is turning increasingly to the internet as a comprehensive source for employment needs. Bayt.com provides the tools job seekers need to boost their online presence, to give them the best possible chance at gaining employment,-he added.

With the widespread popularity of social media, it is especially important that candidates monitor their Internet presence by ensuring that they have a professional presence on the Web that employers can find quickly when they search for them, he said.

“With more than eight out of 10 employers taking the time to search the Internet to find out more about their potential hires, maintaining a savoury, professional online profile could be the key to securing -” or losing -” a job. That’s why we rolled out Bayt.com ‘s Public Profiles platform last year. Bayt.com professionals can comfortably and easily create a professional online presence today that is targeted towards the region’s employers,-he added.

Sourcing of candidates

Employers state that sourcing relevant candidates is one of the biggest challenges faced when hiring for senior executives and management positions (according to 29.2 per cent of the poll’s respondents). This suggests that the chances of employment are higher for candidates who have a prominent online presence, as they have more opportunity to stand out from the competition and get seen and contacted by top employers.

In terms of what employers are looking for in senior executives and management candidates, one third of the poll’s respondents (34 per cent) placed the most value in leadership and management skills.

However, a candidate with technical excellence and industry knowledge is also considered highly attractive. The majority of employers (37.5 per cent) prefer to have a well-rounded candidate who can satisfy the above-mentioned criteria in addition to several more, such as a track record of innovation, being a good cultural fit, as well as the quality and quantity of their relationships.

” Bayt.com has been catering to the online recruitment of managerial and senior executive professionals since the jobsite’s inception in 2000 and more than 69 per cent of Bayt.com ‘s community of over 8.5 million professionals today is comprised of mid-career, management and senior executive talent,- Masri said.

According to the Bayt.com poll, choosing candidates from within the same industry is preferred by nearly eight out of 10 employers (77.3 per cent), while 42.2 per cent would prefer to fill their top-level positions with promotions from within of their current employees.

With more than half of the poll’s respondents (50.8 per cent) claiming that their company has a clear management track, the potential for career growth within the same company in the MENA region is relatively high.

In terms of the actual recruitment process, 56 per cent of respondents say it differs significantly when hiring senior executives to juniors. Six out of 10 employers (62 per cent) are unhappy with their company’s process for hiring top level employees, and the process itself can take up to three months (according to 68.4 per cent of respondents). In 18 per cent of hiring situations, coming to a hiring can take six months or more.

Times of Oman