Micro-Blog Recruiting What is it???.....by MC Didone

One of the latest technologies that the Recruiters are using are Micro-blogs. Micro-blogs, by definition, are different than a traditional blog, such as the one you are reading now.

According to Wikipedia “Micro-blogging is a form of multimedia blogging that allows users to send brief text updates (say, 140 characters or fewer) or micromedia such as photos or audio clips and publish them, either to be viewed by anyone or by a restricted group which can be chosen by the user. These messages can be submitted by a variety of means, including text messaging, instant messaging, email, digital audio or the web.”

With the nature of a Micro-blog being limited in characters, the content is different than what one finds in a traditional blog. People use Micro-blogs for both personal and business use. A Micro-blog is a great way for an organization to announce products, services or career opportunities.

There are quite a number of Micro-blogs available to use. The most known appears to be Twitter which has been around for about two and one-half years and has won web awards in the blog category at the 2007 South by Southwest Conference in Austin, Texas.

Plurk is also another Micro-blog platform that integrates video and picture sharing. Jaiku is a Micro-blog platform that incorporates social networking and lifestream service and is by invitation only.

Yammer is a recently launched micro-blogging service that allows users to post updates, follow others and tag content. “Yammer focuses on business, and only individuals with the same corporate email address can join a given network”
As companies come and go, some micro-blogs might come and go as well such as Pownce did. Pownce was a free social networking and micro-blogging site but was closed down following an acquisition by SixApart.

The concept of micro-blogging, however, is here to stay and can be an invaluable tool to get corporate messages and career opportunities out into the community and start a “following” of candidates for current and future opportunities.

Stay tuned for my next blog installment discussing Social Networking and Recruiting…

The author of this article has been with the North America Recruitment team for approximately five years and can be reached at mc.didone@oracle.com