Recently, we had a chance to talk with Dan Ryan, social media expert and president of Ryan Search & Consulting. A featured speaker at this year’s Advanced Employment Issues Symposium, Dan let’s us in on his best social media strategies, and what this year’s AEIS attendees can expect from this year’s “Social Media in the Workplace Track”
Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you became involved with AEIS.
Dan: “I got involved with AEIS in 2010 after having done many webinars for M. Lee Smith Publishers. I have worked in a variety of leadership roles throughout my career, and the last 5 years have been quite interesting as I have ventured into my own business providing Retained Search and Leadership Consulting services for clients across the United States and in many foreign countries.”
Q: What is your own personal social media story?
Dan: “I started using LinkedIn several years ago and branched out into many other networks. Almost everything I know is self-taught, and I take a very pragmatic approach to using networks and integrating networks.”
Q: Personal Facebook pages and blogs are the new norm nowadays for social communications, but what’s the best advice you can give to organizations who want to make the jump to using these social media tools and more at a professional level?
Dan: “My best piece of advice is to have a complete strategy first before you enter into any new venue or network. I see many people who set up a site, but they don’t have a clue what to do once they get started.”
Q: How has recruiting changed in the digital age? Is it better or worse?
Dan: “Recruiting is not better or worse, but I find it to be much different and that is a hard transition for many job seekers, especially those who are mid to late career. Many of these potential candidates have never used any social media networks and most have never had to conduct a job search. It is a cold, cruel world for many.”
Q: What’s on the horizon in terms of new social media technology that employers should be aware of?
Dan: “GIS (location identification) will be utilized more and more as time passes and many networks will become more “mobile” in their usage of devices such as the iPhone and related smart phones.”
Q: Can you give us a teaser as to what AEIS attendees can expect from this year’s “Social Media in the Workplace Track”?
Dan: “Attendees in the ‘Workplace Track’ session will see and learn many methods to use social media and networks. The applications will range from recruiting to communication and even touch upon employee engagement.”
The 2011 AEIS is coming to these locations:
Nashville, The Hutton Hotel: October 6-7
Las Vegas, Paris: November 17-18
Dan will be leading the “Social Media in the Workplace” track at this year’s AEIS. Click here to register.