The beginning of a revolution?

It’s been a long time since I posted, and I guess that’s because I’ve been a little distracted recently (or have just been a little too busy having fun being a dad) but I’ve now seen a couple of articles today that for some reason seem to have made me feel I need to post.

 

Now I totally understand that a new site/product has to launch itself, and find a way of capturing people’s attention, but I’m struggling with the whole premise that ‘this is the beginning of a revolution in the recruitment market’.  Is it not more a case of someone making the logical link between Social Media platforms and job ads, and developing a platform to target grads in this way?

 

I’ve been in this industry for some time now (listen to me – online old fart) and I have to say I’ve seen a lot of ideas come and go – some with some pretty impressive/aspirational launch statements/claims (anyone remember Revolver.com?  I still have the business card collection if anyone's up for another round of Business Card Trumps…), but this is a bit of a new one on me.

 

I get the whole premise, I really do.  And you know, I’m pretty certain it will succeed as a product longer-term as it is well-backed, is being run by some very bright people, and seems to have a well thought out plan, but as for it being a ‘historical day’, well, I’m just not convinced.  I think I’m just a bit more battle hardened I guess…

Like I say, I may be totally missing the point, but I think that to make such bold claims based on the launch of an alpha site into an incredibly complicated, very mature and particularly fickle (candidate) market seems a little brave - but hey, the world needs brave people to push things forward, so good luck to you guys - I truly hope it does work for you. 

Comments

[Ben Nunn]

OK, it's been such a long time since I posted, I clearly forgot about the para spacing - sorry.

[Matt Alder]

Ah Revolver.com! did you know they actually paid a fortune for that domain from some mad gun fan in Texas.

Despite that bit of genius I must say that "Big Blue Dog" was my favourite from that era. I remember one conversation in particular

MA - "So being that you're such a well known brand as the Evening Standard they must be a really good reason why you called you job site "Big Blue Dog"

ES Sales Person - "errrrr"

MA - "What does it mean?"

ES Sales Person - "To be honest we've got no idea it got picked out at random by a focus group"

MA - ".........."

[Alex Hens]

you've also forgotten about how a namecheck what the flippin heck you're talking about - in this case http://www.bravenewtalent.com/

;-p

[Alex Hens]

I agree - it sounds like a whole lot of Web Bubblicious hot air and spin - how appropriate that they've apparently been singled out by this government as a shinning example of a technology business that will establish the UK as a digital leader. Anyone spin better (or get it more wrong) than them?

Is it just me that also thinks they're working in reverse? In all the years I've delivered web projects I've always seen it that your first version site is your Alpha and then pre-launch release is beta (I mean hey - google have made that part of their business model for gods sake). Now of course it's possible that this is a new trendy/different project management tool that they're following, and of course does what order it comes in matter as it's just semantics? But I’m not so sure that this doesn’t sum up my initial gut feel “government backed bunch of not very experienced gobsters in suits doing things the way of this government i.e. Cocking around p*ssing away someone else's money and generally doing things arse about face”.

OK - perhaps I'm being a bit harsh and just trying to stir up the debate, but I'm not at all so sure that this is anything new or that exciting or going to be leaped upon by the people it most needs to - the student community. I mean why would they? Yeh, sure you'll get some particularly keen student union pariah's desperate to brown nose employers at every given opportunity and investing their time in such places accordingly, but has university changed that much since I was there (given that there's a distinct likelihood that I wasn't and never will be in the "top talent target" group these guys are "certain they'll engage").

What can I say - I just like my new market changing recruitment spaces a bit more humble and actually delivering before they shoot their mouth off - like the guys at http://www.WikiJob.co.uk. I like them to have a different take on things and a real personality that stands a chance of standing out like http://www.HereComesTheBoss.com. What doesn't really rock my boat is a rip off of LinkedIn & FaceBook that talks before it can walk - because LinkedIn and FaceBook already have the traffic and the ability to switch that to career discussions, and other job boards in the market have the brand recognition and deploying a social media style platform within their space is pretty much a piece of cake.

Best of luck though - you'll especially need it in this market.

[John Buffey]

Hensy - I think you are being a tad harsh on them. Yes, they may be a little young and slightly over-optimistic in this cynical old market...but it is a good idea.

Ultimately it may end up being too labour intensive for many employers, but for advertising agencies it’s an opportunity in the evolving world of media.

[Jamie Leonard]

Hey, let’s stop having a dig at companies with stupid names that try to copy Facebook......

Jamie Leonard - MyLongLunch

[Ben]

Wow Hensy - when I wrote that post, I toyed with using the word 'arrogance', and felt I may be being a bit harsh. I won't spend as much time thinking in future...

I think your closing para is absolutely right - prove yourselves before proclaiming a world changing product. But as John says, maybe they have something. If they do, I'm happy to 'eat my hat'(sort of) but like Wikijob, prove the product first, then talk turkey.

[Alex Hens]

oh - don't get me wrong Nunny - I generally think plenty about what I write (appreciate it might not always come across that way though), but more often than not I come down on the side of "fence sitting ain't really what I'm good at doing" (certainly not with my "build") ;)

John - still not sure you're right - because exactly that opportunity you talk about (to engage with potential candidates) already exists for agencies at the social media watering holes where these guys already take in their virtual networking refreshment. And if Agencies are waiting for a social network with a pure careers bent (if they really need someone to lead them that much!) then my money says an established player can/will have a similar offer in place and with significant traffic before these guys have broken into whatever comes after their Alpha phase.

But I too am very happy to be proved wrong - there's plenty of space for new entrants to shake things up, and just because I'm not particularly taken with the cut of this particular team's jib nor believe there's much substance behind their spin doesn't mean that they mightn't find a niche and exploit it. Stranger things have happened.

And Jamie - you make I larf! Power to you and MLL.

:)

[Rob Bishop]

Um, guys (and girls), seriously.

The lad Lucian just has a virtual postal address in a MWB office. Let's not get ahead of ourselves.

[Alex Hens]

Rob - you must surely be mistaken - I have a presentation document that states he's "one of the UK's top 5 'up and coming entrepreneurs'". So is that where they all hang out? MWB you say? What even people who "started our (??) first profitable business aged 4" and have "made £25million before our(??) 18th birthday"?

Oh - I see.

OK then.

Definitely not them getting ahead of themselves then.

;-)

[Dom Sumners]

Very harsh, guys - we are battle weary cynics who groan when we hear hyped up language like "revolution" "historical day etc" but they are launching a new product into a busy market and in that mode staff and marketing have to believe in the product/mission/company like true zealots as you hope some of that passion will pass on to users/clients etc. It would be perfect if that passion was backed up by a great product and good execution but lets see.

Maybe we have become the grumpy old men and women of online

[Ben]

Yep - I know what you mean Dom - it was a tough one to post originally because on the one hand I found the whole messaging of the press release quite patronising and slightly degrading as to what was already out there, but on the flip side agree that we should be encouraging new ideas. Which I think, in the most part, we do.

As mentioned, I wish them luck - and where possible and appropriate will offer our support, but I just think an element of realism should be introduced.

Aside from the individuals themselves (who I have no problem with) I think it is the time commitment that is the limiting factor, as the Hens mentioned somewhere within one of his posts - and if they have overcome that somehow (which, in a way they are talking about) then maybe that is the factor that will make a difference. But the beginning of a revolution? Not so sure. Just a nice idea that may well offer an alternative route to market for both candidates and employers alike.

Let's wait and see.

[Sinead Bunting]

As the Oscar Wilde quote goes, 'There's only one thing worse than being talked about,..not being talked about'. (never quite appreciated that sentiment as a teenage girl...).

I guess the issue that makes people a tad uneasy, is highlighted above in some of the comments.

The offering hasn't achieved the critical mass of the target audience, yet is making bold and ambitious claims of revolutionising the space in which this audience lives and communicates.

Intuitively, we have been used to the big success stories of the digital age having started embrionically like Google and Facebook (certainly even Monster). Typically these digital offerings had a great product, plugged a gap in the market and once they had gained a certain level of momentum and audience, the VC's got involved and brought them to the next level.

It's kind of a back-to-front model - however they do have a seeming impressive level of backing and investment, so perhaps it can buck the trend and have a decent chance of succeeding. Only time will tell and I'm looking forward to seeing how these guys get on - and yes, we are all a bit cynical, so best of luck to them.

On another note - they have told me there is talk of a reality TV show being commissioned to document their sideline project of finding the top grads/talent in each country globally - can't remember the name of this project.

I'm thinking the voice from Big Brother...

'Day three into the revolutionary launch of Brave New Talent, Digitalrecruiting bloggers still bleating on....cynical swines.

[John Whitehurst]

i have an idea for a revolution ...

a media company that delivers a good service, does not lie about the proposition and has a team of sales people that understand the product ...

oh to dream ...

[Ben]

I recall an online product that hit the recruitment market space many years ago that was impressively backed/invested in... Stepstone.

But still, I am with you in still remaining positive, if a little cynical.

[Matt]

Come on guys, give them a break. From what I've seen there is a definitely something in it and the site is still in Alpha so it's a bit early to make judgments either way. Ok so the press release was OTT but hey we're talking about it so it had some kind of effect! To be honest in the mad market we're in who the hell can say what is going to be successful this year and what isn't. The last time I checked over exuberance wasn't a crime!

[Richard Tyrie]

I've decided, if I ever launch another new venture, I too am going to over-hype it. talk about great PR...

I know.. maybe I'll say my new venture will:

'Change the game, and re-write the rules!'

Yay! Ah. thats already been said.

Hey, maybe [they that shall not be named] just meant that 'changing the rules' was about them not having to use SSL certificates to protect candidate data any more!

So thats what they meant. The phrase is mine!

RT

[Alex Hens]

My my - quite polarising this lot aren't they, or to be more precise they're approach is.

It has indeed got us all talking - so if the old addage "No publicity is bad publicity" holds true in the modern world then well done BNT.

The fact is though that whatever Brave New Talent may be or grow to become, it ain't no revolution. The revolution is here baby - and you're just riding on its coat tails. Maybe they'll ride it well - maybe they won't.

I just hope for their sake that they have a two sided marketing strategy because it's the student population who will be the ultimate judge & jury on this venture - and last time I checked they're generally typified as being the most cynical of cynical types. If a couple of us take exception at "over exuberance" / ridiculous hollow spin then my money says these guys n gals will too.

One thing's for sure - these guys are ones to watch (for the right or the wrong reasons I'll let you decide).

[Peter Gold]

And you lot wonder why I tar you with the same old brush; I reckon my 1/2mil is better off with those boys than the banks.

You're just a bunch of mean old gits :)

DISCLAIMER: I refused their application to Talent Cloud because I thought they were talking crap and reserve the right to contradict myself like Mr Hens does.

[Alex Hens]

:-p

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