Friday, November 14, 2008

Brushing Dirt Off My Shoulders

I hate it when bloggers talk about how busy they've been, as if the rest of the non-blogging world hasn't a thing to do (and, um, the fact that one blogs is reason enough to assume that one is not busy enough). So I won't offer busyness as an excuse for my 2-week vacation from blogging.

Let's just say I've been thinking. So in late October, I was on an ERE panel, along with Cheezhead (an awesomely smart dude, sharks) and Shally (sharkiness personified), talking about Web 2.0. Mainly, we talked about blogging and Twitter and whether or not it was worth all the fuss.

Since then, I also presented to the Seattle Staffing Management Association about nearly the same topic. Again, the discussion turned to how social media, web 2.0, cloud recruiting and thus and such can really be part of the routine for a "typical" recruiter.

And then, while playing around with a beta search engine, Viewzi, I came across this posting from John Sumser. OK, so I will admit to a bit of self-serviness because linking to this post also reveals the kind, kind words John showered upon me (and my panel-mates). But I didn't buy any shoes this week, so I will permit myself a wee bit of back-patting. Insightful. Brushing the dirt off my shoulders.

OK, if you can get beyond how sharky I am, John poses a few interesting questions for those of us stoked up on new technolgy:

I wonder when it became the recruiter’s job to lead the organization into new
technology usage. Isn’t the job to staff the existing organization? Aren’t other
people supposed to be moving the technology ball forward? Are Recruiters really
supposed to spend their time at the cutting edge?

Very good questions. Enough to stop a shark in her stilettos. I will answer these questions over the weekend -- I think I have a response, but I want to think some more. I do think it's our job to lead the organization into new technology usage. Recruiters should be early adopters. John challenges me to think about why. Stay tuned for my response.

3 comments:

  1. I bought my first pair of Donald J. Pliner shoes, last week, to reward myself for taking the leap.

    I'm not sure exactly how to define the leap or where I'm going. I just know that there's no turning back.

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  2. The goal of technology is to make a division within a company better (lower costs, higher quality, etc.).

    I THINK IT _IS_ THE JOB of recruiters to find technology that allows them to get recruiting accomplished better. (lower costs, higher quality, etc.)

    I DO _NOT_ think it is the job of recruiters to drive technology into other divisions (Sales, Marketing, etc.). This is the only area where I think he is correct.

    That being said, a small percent of employees across all divisions will be early adopters and push technology across the company, even to other divisions. This isn't their job, but their passion will lead them to do it. These people are called Innovators and Early Adopters as you can see here and here.

    Web browsing, email, and cell phones weren't allowed in companies when the technology was young. Thank goodness for innovators and early adopters who brought their companies into new technology kicking and screaming. ;-)

    -Bryan
    Bryan Starbuck

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  3. Anonymous7:59 PM

    hey carmen - it's jessica from ERE. thanks for the shoe love... i've never gotten so much attention for what's on my feet! you've got great taste though. :)

    on recruiters being on the cutting edge of technology... it's interesting and exciting, isn't it? my firm offers consulting services to clients about the online world and web 2.0 and how to use it to communicate messages... and it's interesting that i'm one of the few in our entire firm who actually is walking the talk and immersed in the web 2.0 world. can you believe that? i'm further on the edge than most everyone else!

    i think this alone shows how i can add value, how i'm an out-of-the-box thinker and how ahead of the curve i am when in contrast to the past, HR seemed to always be in the dust. i dunno if this is where i'm supposed to be, but it's where i've found myself and it speaks loudly from a credibility and innovation standpoint when others see me pushing technology. finally, i feel like one of the cool kids. it's a nice change of pace, i must say.

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