New face of IT recruiting

Move over job fairs. The recruiting industry has changed, and it's either do or die. Recruiters who once relied on faxes and job fairs to collect candidates and connect with hiring companies must consider social networks, blogs, virtual worlds, and other online media in order to survive. There's a lot to choose from, and the key is to keep it fun, share the experience, and connect the virtual and real worlds when possible.

As I've mentioned in this column before, I use Second Life to recruit for Cisco-certified IT professionals. Here's my avatar in Second Life as he relaxes in front of the stage at Crystal Sands (SLURL Visit Eclectic Dream (216, 28, 22)) where Bridge Resourcing Solutions recently sponsored a live music event. Based on the number of resumes I received, it was a recruiting success.

Here I am again in the Second Life office of my current employer, Bridge Resourcing Solutions, on Etopia Island. My avatar is having an evening champagne before calling it a day and going back to the music scenes to network with other Avatars.

Unfortunately, many recruiting efforts are conducted without the intention of ever meeting in person, but break this trend when you can. For example, I recently held a mixer in London at Tower Bridge for many of the CCIEs I've met primarily through LinkedIn who have helped me with various salary surveys and mentoring initiatives. This face-to-face meeting was fulfilling, and it set the standard for my next CCIE Mixers in San Francisco and NYC where prominent bridges will be the backdrops. The CCIE Mixer in North Carolina will target a museum if our plans continue as they have. So the virtual world and the real world do meet in my world and it is fun. (I love my job Charles. Thanks!)

My virtual experience is also expanding to include a repeat of my Resume Writing seminar held recently on Cisco's SIM, and a series of Career Planning sessions. With the new talent joining the IT ranks some coaching goes a long way to creating long lasting relationships.

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