| This is not some new marketing fluff or | | | | language is a necessity. Anything else defies |
| propaganda to get companies involved in social | | | | common sense and would be a mistake. That |
| networks. Social networks provide a rewarding | | | | means developing and exploiting links in Facebook, |
| environment for companies to connect with great | | | | Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube or blogs. It also |
| talent before they hit the payroll. Companies using | | | | means becoming social media literate, |
| viral content in social networks will be the first to | | | | understanding Gen Y's recruiting goals, being |
| get Gen Y's attention and the pick of the talent | | | | generous with time and information and |
| crop. In the Web 2.0 world creativity, content and | | | | participating in a meaningful way. Just getting social |
| community rule and companies need to dance to | | | | network accounts not only isn't enough in fact it |
| the new beat. | | | | would look trivial and shallow. If companies want |
| Before Web 2.0 and social media networking | | | | Gen Y to arouse interest in them they need to |
| companies used their websites and job boards to | | | | be active. |
| attract and recruit talent. Many were ignorant to | | | | Company pages in Facebook pages and Twitter |
| social sites crammed with some of the best | | | | accounts should bring companies to life. This |
| corporate talent and suffered the penalty. Until | | | | should include videos of employees being |
| now. | | | | transparent about their daily corporate lives, their |
| Social networks house large, precious databases | | | | failures, successes and eccentricities. More like |
| have massive popularity and very low | | | | in-house diaries and less like scripted |
| implementation costs. But the swing to Web 2.0 | | | | advertisements. The best way to connect with |
| technologies by corporations has been painfully | | | | Gen Y is by engaging in conversations already |
| slow, even though it makes sense to use to | | | | happening online. |
| these sites for their next corporate hire and | | | | Web 2.0 and social media networking have blasted |
| lunacy to ignore them. | | | | the doors wide open for companies to get |
| Gen Y, the early adopters of social media | | | | creative. People want more than ever to connect |
| networking, are now 88 million strong. Neglecting, | | | | with others with the same values and interests. |
| even throwing away opportunities to get the best | | | | Even in the current downturn talent still needs to |
| talent money can buy without paying ludicrous | | | | be won. Web 2.0 is the perfect place to meet |
| hiring or transfer fees is counter intuitive. | | | | without putting resumes or reputations on the line. |
| Companies wanting top candidates to join their | | | | It's not a trick. Becoming peers through social |
| ranks should advance recklessly towards Web 2.0 | | | | networks is an unexpected and invaluable way to |
| strategies, embrace social networks and grab hold | | | | connect to elite talent. Companies with viral videos |
| of the wealth of talent roaming the landscape. | | | | and ripping good content for Gen Y will get their |
| And it's absolutely free. | | | | attention and will work for them. In this new digital |
| Positioning themselves where their potential | | | | frontier, creativity, content and community will |
| employees spend time and learning the local | | | | triumph. |