Dive Brief:

• When it comes to attracting and landing top talent, employers should continue to emphasize the human touch, according to a recent survey.

• The American Staffing Association (ASA) Workforce Monitor survey, conducted online by Harris Poll, found that more than three in four adult U.S. job seekers (77%) desire "personal contacts" when searching for work. 

• The survey also found that three of the top five ways job candidates actually land a job are "high touch." Leading the way is "word of mouth" at 43%, with job board websites and employer websites second at 30%. Contacts or acquaintances with prospective employers also check in at 30%, while staffing and recruiting companies, at 25%, rank high as resources in landing that job.

Dive Insight:

Other highlights from the ASA Workforce Monitor survey found that 46% of those polled view the Web as the most helpful resource when looking for work, and 80% do favor the visibility that technology can offer when it comes to sharing their résumés. However, 61% "feel uneasy" about turning over too much personal employment information to websites.

Richard Wahlquist, ASA president and chief executive officer, in a press release said that a combination of technology and personal contacts is the winning strategy for job seekers.

Employers should take note, because even with recent advances in Web-based job sourcing and other emerging technologies such as social media, some things never change. Employers who tap into friend networks, former co-workers and family members gain access to strong pipelines into landing the right talent.