Where Everybody Knows Your Profile

As many of us search for great talent in a tight hiring marketplace, the advice offered by Lena West in Social Media 360 bears noting.

Companies can no longer afford to compete on cash, bennies and perks. They need to be cool and hip - or at the very least have a clue. . .

Companies that don't have a seat at the Internet's conversation table really are not part of the dialogue and good companies with bright futures are all too often being overlooked as potential employers. . .

Organizations that are not engaging with social media are getting the short shrift on top talent, because no one wants to work at an old-fart of a company.

She tells the story that a young job applicant turned down a solid company because she found their website was flat and they didn't have a blog.   It makes sense.  Although we work very collaboratively in teams at our agency, some of our employees have not had the chance to work with all of our senior people.  We have heard from many of them that they are learning a lot about our senior team members by reading their blog posts.  It is giving them an additional window into the people behind the brand and the collateral on the website.  It is helping us bring to life the principles we describe.

In many ways, the blogs and even participation in social media sites like Facebook are replacing the old after work watering hole as a way to connect with coworkers and learn the latest gossip. As much as it may frighten some of us who actually worked in jobs before email existed (if you can imagine that), it's an evolution we all need to embrace.  At the end of the day, it's about community and communication.

So I guess Cliff and Norm should probably spend less time on the bar stools and more time updating their profiles.