SOCIAL MEDIA RECRUITMENT GEN Y
US - Online networking and virtual communities have proven to be a preferred means for millennials to advance in their career, or even make major job choices.
Similar to Chatroulette, Gen Y employees are taking part in online events called "Network Roulette" that pairs them up with recruiters, mentors and peers.
Users simply have to log in, where they will be paired with a recruiter from a company for a five-minute conversation. These young job seekers then get to add a handful of the people they spoke to their own network following the chat. They can even approach recruiters directly for job opportunities.
In an interview with CNN, Ryan Healy, creator of the Brazen Careerist website and host of the networking event, said, "It's like a career fair that we bring online."
Brazen Careerist, a career management site targeted at high-achieving millennials, was launched in 2009 to help technology-savvy Gen Ys move up the career ladder. The website provides materials on career development and a forum to exchange questions and opinions. It has hosted over 75 such online networking and recruiting activities.
Amy Ng, a recruiter with financial services provider Citi, has attended two such "Network Roulette" events, on top of hiring via LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. Although Citi has yet to hire anyone, Ng likes the format.
Ng said, "Because the events are online, and they're more cost-effective to attend than say a traditional job fair, it becomes a really efficient way for us to connect with a wide range of candidates that we might not otherwise meet."
To date, nearly 50 businesses, including some Fortune 500 companies, have sponsored and taken part in the various networking events organised by the Brazen Careerist. Sponsorship can cost up to a few thousands of dollars.
It is no secret that Gen Y employees, who are between the ages 18 to 30, require fun and flexibility in their jobs. These millennials are also notorious for making drastic career changes to try their hand at different roles and industries.
Gen Y employees will make up almost half the global workforce strength in a decade's time. Yet currently, the unemployment rate stands at 13.4% among these young individuals.
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