TherapyJobs.com Recruitment Podcast Series

Introduciton to Social Media Podcast Transcript:

DAVID: Welcome to the TherapyJobs.com Recruitment Podcast. I'm David Pearson here with Robyn Melhuish and today we're talking about online social networking.

ROBYN:It seems like everybody is talking about online social media. Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter... who's using it, how they're using it, the benefits of using it...

DAVID: I know, the conversation is unavoidable.

ROBYN: Even people who aren't participating in online social networking usually have something to say on the subject.

DAVID: So what do we have to say about it?

ROBYN: I'm not sure that TherapyJobs.com has an official position but I think we're ready to join the conversation.

DAVID: And what better way than with the very first TherapyJobs.com podcast?

ROBYN: Exactly.

DAVID: Now, we already know that social media is sweeping the nation.

ROBYN: Actually it's sweeping the globe. At last check, Facebook has 200 million active users worldwide and an average of 500 thousand new members are signing up every day. So we know it's a big deal, but are healthcare professionals engaging in the trend?

DAVID: To answer that question, we surveyed our contacts at the health facilities and agencies who post jobs on TherapyJobs.com. As it turns out, 60% are on Facebook and LinkedIn, but only 30% are using the sites for recruiting purposes.

ROBYN: That's interesting, because you can definitely find therapists on Facebook!

DAVID: As it turns out, 80% of our survey respondents are regular Facebook users. In fact, 83% of our survey respondents are members of at least one social networking site, though compared to the 80% on Facebook – MySpace and Classmates.com are falling behind with 20% and 7%.

ROBYN: LinkedIn was lagging too – only 8% of respondents said they're on LinkedIn.

DAVID: So Facebook is the big winner I guess, but what's the point of any of it? I tend to agree with one respondent who said, "these social networking/twittering sites are much ado about nothing."

ROBYN: Well, perhaps you and our indignant respondent are right, but... maybe not. About half of the therapists using social networking sites are using them for professional purposes. They're connecting with therapists they don't know outside of cyberspace. They're asking questions and giving feedback and sharing opinions with therapists they didn't have access to before.

DAVID: Now the survey results suggest that for now at least, most therapists are primarily on Facebook for personal reasons. But clearly, they are comfortable with the concept of online social networking, and it's something they're willing to make time for.

ROBYN: And as they get more comfortable with it, healthcare professionals are realizing that they're no longer limited to looking up answers in books or making a phone call to a mentor when faced with a challenge. Instead of seeking advice from one or two colleagues, a therapist can send out a tweet and instantly consult thousands of other therapists.

DAVID: It's certainly an exciting concept, and we've barely scratched the surface on the potential of these sites to change the way healthcare is delivered. But the sites have other benefits as well.

ROBYN: That's right, online social networking is truly just that – an opportunity to "network" and the therapists we surveyed seem open to using the sites to network with hiring managers and recruiters... but to do that, the human resources side of healthcare has to be willing to take the plunge into the world of online social media.

DAVID: Okay, so let's say that our audience is ready; is it really as simple as signing up for a Twitter or Facebook account? There's more to it that that isn't there?

ROBYN: Well, it's not complicated, but you're right – it does requires a little more explanation, and while about half of our audience is already comfortable using Facebook to connect on a personal level, the survey results indicate that they're not exactly sure how to use the site – and others like it – professionally.

DAVID: But TherapyJobs.com is here to help.

ROBYN: That's right, we're here to assist you in all of your efforts to connect with therapists, so next time, we'll begin your social media tutorial by talking to renowned healthcare recruiter, David Pritchard, about how he's using social media.

DAVID: Thanks for listening to the TherapyJobs.com Therapist Recruitment Podcast.