An international study shows more Canadians job hunting through social media and online networks.
More than a third of Canadians have been contacted through social media about a possible job opportunity, according to a recent survey.
The study found that 39% of Canadians had been contacted through a website or network and 14% had been hired after the initial contact.
LinkedIn and Twitter topped the list of sites used, according to the study from HR firm Kelly Services.
"Social media is rapidly revolutionizing the recruitment process because it broadens the access to an enormous pool of candidates," said Michael Webster, executive vice-president of the Americas region for Kelly Services in a statement.
"We are also seeing the impact access to smart technology has on retention as the work and personal lives of today's employees is more commonly blended together. Suddenly employees have the flexibility to engage socially or accomplish work tasks at any given time."
A majority (60%) agreed that these networks were a good way for them to forward along job opportunities to friends and colleagues and about half (48 per cent) said they would be interested in receiving such offers.
"Employees are more social and more flexible in the way they engage with trusted friends and work colleagues on social media and, increasingly, they expect to have access to technology in the workplace to enable that," said Webster.
The survey, which polled 122,000 people from around the world, found that, on average, 41 per cent said they were contacted in the last year about a job through social media. Brazil was the highest at 74 per cent, while the figure for the United States matched Canada at 39 per cent.
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