Ever get sick of spending hours trawling through long job application forms? Well if so, you may be pleased to hear about a company asking applicants to apply through Twitter in less than 200 words.

A New York based company was recently looking for a social media marketing expert to join them – this is what the advert said according to the Times:

“(i) Email me two tweets. The first should be about your experience. The second should by why you’re perfect for this job. If you exceed Twitter’s allotted character count, you’re done.
(ii) Email me your Twitter name in link form (e.g. http://www.twitter.com/YOURNAME)
(iii) Tell me how many followers you have and how many people you follow.
(iv) Tell me who’s the best person you follow and why (in tweet form).
(v) Tell me what’s the best way to get more followers (in tweet form).
(vi) Specific salary requirement.”

Now, obviously this is for a job specifically relating to social media so applying via Twitter makes sense. But could it be picked up by organisations in other sectors? I think it’s a great idea and very original, which makes the job stand out. It also tells the employer the key facts he or she needs to know, demonstrates a skill they’ll need in the job and tests their ability to communicate effectively, follow instructions and be inventive.

But is that enough? There’s no mention of education, of any achievements or successes and no real way to get an insight into the person. As a recruiter – and a person who works with a great team – I think it’s vital that the cultural fit is right, and that’s something that only comes from using a recruiter. Social media will definitely continue to play a significant part in the recruitment process, but it won’t be able to replace the recruiter – just provide another tool to help along the way.