Businesses 'need to understand graduate market'

Businesses looking to recruit graduates should not use social networking websites to advertise positions, according to new research.

A study by TMP Worldwide and Target Jobs of 1,400 graduates found that 70 per cent did not want firms to "sell" vacancies on sites such as Facebook or Twitter.

Some 73 per cent of respondents also said they felt businesses should keep recruitment separate from the social networking presence.

Carl Gilleard, chief executive of the Association of Graduate Recruiters, told Personnel Today that there is "a line to be drawn" and firms need to "understand the market" they are engaging with.

He added: "Employers should use social networking sites to communicate, to raise awareness, and to get messages across but they shouldn't use them as a selection or pre-selection tool, especially out of the blue with no prior contact with the graduate."

The National Association of Pension Funds recently claimed that the Pension Quality Mark could be used by firms to improve their staff recruitment and retention levels. 

How does your company appeal to graduates?  Should social networking and recruitment be kept seperate?