It's that time of year again where every holiday imaginable hits at the same time: Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Year's Day. Oh and let's not forget about Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Despite the holiday season, the business must move forward and there is still a need to recruit for quality candidates. This can actually be a great time of year to make strategic hires.

Do you remember when social media outlets such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, or even MySpace were new and maybe even a little intimidating? Social media started out as means for individuals to communicate and share information, but has quickly crossed lines into the business and professional realm. This in turn has had an effect on Human Resources (HR) and its role in the workplace. Let’s take a look at some of the best benefits social media has provided for the HR industry:

Let's face it, during the months of September through February, football is on nearly everyone’s mind around the office. Employees are talking about their favorite football teams, how the teams rank against one another, their Fantasy Leagues, and the scores from Thursday, Sunday, and Monday night’s games. Sounding familiar?

Have you ever looked around and thought to yourself, “Wow, the employees that work here are great! I wonder if they know someone with the same work ethic?” The initial thought to bring in people similar to those currently employed is the first step in creating an employee referral program. However, you must first inform your employees of the program and the parameters involved. To do this, communicate with your employees regularly about the program and its parameters, company intranet and social networking sites (Twitter, LinkedIn, Newsletters, Yammer) and corporate social events. Also, during the onboarding process, educate incoming employees on the program. Provide your new hires with information on where to find forms and the steps of making an employee referral.