So, John gets hired as a programmer by PharmaX. He's excited to be able to join this new, rapidly-growing company. In addition to making a change on his Facebook account (so his "friends" are aware of his move), the recruiter who sourced him asks if he would declare himself a "fan" of his new company. He does thereby opting in to open his network to advertising.

 

The recruiter then designs a highly targeted mass-customized series of ads which appear

- to everyone within two degrees of seperation who graduated from the same college program as John. These ads have John's Facebook picture, link to jobs, included is a link to John's "new hire" profile on the company website and a offer of encouragement to consider open positions and join their "classmate".

 

- to everyone connected to John who has visited a career portal  within the last 30 days (data courtesy of Facebook's tags) to inquire that if they are looking, and, if so, to check out "our company" where John would be your referral and you would both be eligible for a referral reward if qualified.

 

You get the idea.

 

The newest means to monitize Facebook might just have an interesting recruiting component....eventually. For now, its a product advertising approach.

 

The staffing analog of the current social media darling's recent announcement though could be summarized as follows:

 

If Facebook members (or members any social media for that matter) "self-identify" (opt-in) as "fans" of a company they just agreed to join (as a new hire for example) or, even declared themselves as as an "engaged" (employee) within the company that gives them the wherewithal to make a living, then companies could pay to target members of their "network" with recruitment advertising.

 

Essentially firms would be able to use their emplyees as endorsers by tapping their employees own trusted networks- without the employees themselves having to take any further action to forward on...or refer.

 

Hmmm. Like some, Don't like some.