Did you know…
- A BLOG is created every second?
- At least 100 people sign up to a social networking site every hour? (Australia)
- It is estimated that today’s school leaver will have 10 – 14 jobs by the time they are 38?
The ways that we communicate and live sure are changing.
Recently at the 2008 Australasian Talent Conference [something you may well hear about in a few BLOG entries to come] there was a difference of opinion about the value of social networking sites being suitable places to look for potential employees, or passive candidates.
Before I attended, I would (and did) happily debate that yes, in fact, social networking was a perfect way to locate talent…kinda ‘catch them while they are playing scrabulous’ sort of thinking.
Now, I am not so sure. Actually, I have changed my mind.
The catalyst was the number of overseas speakers at the conference who were very intent on suggesting that this is a viable way to source and attract talent, and is the way to go. But somehow all their messages lacked authenticity plus evidence to support this as a key opportunity – it came across as faddish and hype.
Dave Mendoza, author of SixDegreesfromDave.com did demonstrate the power of on-line communities – but at the end of the day, it was blogging that won out in my mind. And the use of ‘linked-in’ came a close first equal.
Using Facebook or MySpace as a recruitment tool, or Second Life for that matter, may sound like good ideas (and if you have a huge attraction budget, go for it!) but for me , in a crowded conference room where 300 people were all listening and looking engaged – I had that moment of clarity where commonsense set in. For now we will wait and see!
