Thanks to Jim Durbin for pointing me in the direction of Shel Israel's post yesterday: Blogs and Recruiting. Not that Shel is difficult to find, but I didn't spend too much time yesterday reading my normal plethora of blogs. However, before I turn off the computer for the night, I always do a quick review of the days postings on Recruiting.com.
Fortunately, Jim had just referenced Shel's post and noted that he was interested in hearing from people regarding their blogging success stories.
Here's Shel's post in it's entirety - check it out.
My response is below. I was compelled to respond more with a "why I blog" comment, as I think it's more appropriate given that many in the recruiting space believe we are wasting our time.
Shel - lively post...hopefully it will stir some activity that leads to greater involvement in the blogosphere by those of us engaged in corporate recruiting.
I started blogging in Dec. 04 while working for a large telecom vendor with HQ in another country. They soon put the squash on it so I went underground and assumed the "Masked-Blogger" identity. Obviously, it is difficult blogging behind a mask, as it defeats the purpose - the very spirit of why blogs exist.
I joined T-Mobile in Dec. '05 and I'm now blogging openly and using the blog as a tool - not just to recruit, but to influence. Why do I blog? Because I can. Why did recruiters start using job boards way back when? Because they could. When tools are made available to the recruiting public, we can choose to use them...or not.
I choose to use blogging as a tool. Anil Dash said, "Connect with the audience you care about." I care about the job-seeking public that has an interest in a career within the wireless sector. Conversely, I care about the job-seeking public that "doesn't" have an interest in the wireless sector. Why? Because one day they might change their mind.
My blog not only helps me influence job-seekers, but it makes me a "shortcut" for the public in general. People click on www.t-mobile.com to look at phone rate plans and check out the cool new phones. People go to www.talentbloggers.com, because they are interested in talking to the guy that works at the place with the cool phones.
If I offer you the opportunity to frequent a static website that simply serves as a conduit for information, versus, the opportunity to frequent a site where you can engage a live person who knows what it's like to work at the company, you'll choose door number two.
I provide an alternative to the "black-hole." I have the privilege of making a connection with someone that otherwise might not choose T-Mobile as a wireless provider; someone who might choose T-Mobile as an employer today; someone who might choose T-Mobile as an employer tomorrow. This is where the Employer Branding comes in that Heather mentions. I am extension of the T-Mobile Brand to the uninformed public.
Yes, we have made hires through the blog. Oftentimes, it's not even a job for which I'm recruiting, but I regularly speak with people that are coming to me - to T-Mobile - via the blog. But it's not just about making a hire. Do I think everybody in corporate recruiting should be blogging? Oh, I'm sure there's situations where it doesn't make sense. However, I think most of us should be blogging.
Frankly, I'd just as soon my competitors didn't blog. It will prevent them from connecting, on a genuine level, with the audience they care about. They'll be left standing behind the locked door when the person they care about shows up with "the stuff."
Remember the Cheech and Chong parody? (short version):
Cheech: It's me Dave. Open up, man, I got the stuff.
Chong: Who is it?
Cheech: It's me, Dave, man. Open up.
Chong: Dave's not here.
Cheech: No, man, I'm Dave, man!
Chong: Who?
Cheech: Hey, c’mon man.
Chong: Who is it?..................
May my competitor's audience continue to stand outside of locked doors. Word-of-mouth will soon make its way to this audience and they'll realize that there's a company interested in hearing what they have to say.
Thanks for the opportunity to jump on the soap-box.
Dennis Smith
{tags: corporate blogs, WOM, recruiting blogs}
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