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Bright idea may help to stem brain drain
FOR more than two years now, I've been banging on about the read/write web, social media and online networks in these pages in the hopes that readers will start to get as excited as I am about the new opportunities offered by Web 2.0.
Finally, I'm seeing signs that enthusiasm in the Isle of Man is starting to build.
A number of organisations have invited me to come and have a chat about it over the past few weeks and I've noticed loads of people are joining Twitter, a number of new blogs have been launched, Facebook hosts a number of very active Isle of Man communities and LinkedIn seems to be really taking off.
One of the most exciting developments is that the Isle of Man Government is stepping into the fray. The Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Education have teamed up to launched their own online social network, www.manxgraduates.com
The idea is to help local employers connect with Manx graduates and other skilled Manx people who are living abroad who might be thinking about returning home. The initiative is part of the government's strategy to fight brain drain and encourage Manx workers to return to the Isle of Man bringing with them a range of skills and qualifications.
Trade and Industry Minister David Cretney said: 'As a parent with a daughter in further education myself, I know how important it is that individuals studying or working in the UK and elsewhere can access up-to-date information about career opportunities here in the Isle of Man, so we can attract them back to make a valuable contribution to our community.'
The site borrows some of the interactive features found on social networking sites like Facebook and LinkedIn.
So people looking for work can register, post their CV and other information that might be of interest to employers.
Isle of Man employers and recruitment firms can put up a company profile, details of general career opportunities as well as specific job vacancies. And as with the best social networking sites, it's completely free to all users. So far, take up by both individuals and employers has exceeded expectation. Within a few days of its launch, hundreds of people were using the site to create and manage their own CV and were communicating directly with dozens of employers via the site's messaging feature.
In addition they are reconnecting with other site users who they might have been childhood friends that they've lost touch with over the years.
Once the registration has been completed the process is just about effortless.
Relevant vacancies are matched to individual profiles, and notification lands in the Manx Graduates' inbox and whichever personal email the user prefers.
It makes the looking for and applying for a job faster and easier; with one click of the mouse a person's CV is in the hands of all relevant employers.
The website was built by Castletown-based software developers PDMS. Managing Director Chris Gledhill has a keen interest in social media and has been a great supporter of the Isle of Man Social Media Club.
He said: 'Online social networks are still cutting edge in the context of public services, but they are a cost effective way to build community and strengthen relationships with stakeholders.
'With Manx Graduates, we could very well be the first country to use social networks in this way.'
So once again the Isle of Man is leading the rest of the world in the adoption of cutting edge technologies.
But the cost effectiveness and power of direct communication inherent in social media is bound to be attractive to public sector organisations.
Some 60 per cent of UK local councils are blogging in one form or another, mostly for employee communication.
Last year, Medway Council launched a successful podcast to engage younger residents in social issues at a cost of less than 400. It was to foster just the kind of innovation that we formed the Isle of Man Social Media Club.
It's free to join and anyone with an interest in the internet and how it's changing the way we communicate, socialise and conduct business, is invited to come along.
We meet on the third Thursday of each month to discuss the latest trends, tools and issues and share our experiences and learning. Our next get-together takes place in Douglas on February 19 at 12.30pm to 2pm.
Our speaker is Chris Gledhill and he'll be discussing the Manx Graduates project. It's free to attend and lunch will be served. The venue has yet to be confirmed, but if you are interested in attending, let me know.
>>Sherrilynne Starkie is the managing partner of Strive Public Relations, a strategic communications consultancy serving the Isle of Man. Visit her business blog, Strive Notes for frequent updates www.strivepr.com/notes or follow her on twitter.com/sherrilynne
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Weather for Isle of Man
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 1 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 3 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: South
