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Young jobseekers use Web 2.0

And the IT industry can use sites such as Facebook and MySpace to recruit students into maths, engineering and computer science.

By Nicole Kobie, 14 Sep 2007 at 12:16

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Young people are turning to the web for career help, so the IT industry should also make use of the internet for filling the skills gap, according to research from recruitment consultancy Harvey Nash.

One in ten new workers had no careers advice when they were in school, and half of those that did found it confusing. So when looking for advice on choosing a career, most of those surveyed said they'd look to their friends first and online job sites second. "People have always looked to friends, family, peers and role models for advice when they want direction," said Albert Ellis, chief executive of Harvey Nash. "Web 2.0 and the advent of social networking have changed the way in which young people embark on and develop their career," he added.

While three-quarters regularly use social networking sites, just five per cent are using such sites for advice and professional networking - but the research suggested that number would rise, as a quarter said they would consider using such sites in their work-search. A third would consult online forums or blogs when looking for job advice.

Such a web-search focus could help fill the skills gap, he said, by encouraging students to take maths and engineering at an earlier age using social networking. Some firms are already trying this. "T-Mobile has a group on Facebook, with people who work there sharing information about the benefits," Ellis said.

But he warned firms to be careful setting up groups or other social networking tools, as people will post what they really think. "It's a dangerous area to jump into feet first for big brands," Ellis said. "Microsoft or other big companies have followings, but some of the time it's quite negative."

The IT sector as a whole could make use of Web 2.0 to talk to students earlier in the education, and better publicise a career in the industry - and help battle the skills gap. "They've got to be a little bit more creative," Ellis said. "If someone makes a decision to be an IT professional or anything else, these are huge decisions early on, so we need to make sure we get people the right advice early on."