I am a huge fan of social and professional networking sites and one of my favourites is the professional networking engine from linked in. Amazing how exponentially your network grows by simply linking yourself to 20+ contacts/connections/colleagues/friends. Your "referring" network i.e. connections from connections from connections grows daily as a result of a viral-like effect : other people adding new connections make your network expand across all geographies, communities, religions, philosophies and boundaries.
How effective are online networks for recruiting your next new kid on the block? I read somewhere that 30 up to 50 % of all your newly hired monkeys come in via informal way - this means not through recruitment advertising, online job board postings or fair-like things.
Can we use our networks to find the right person with the right ambitions for the right job? Any experience with this, let me know.
