You win SoMe you lose SoMe

It was our first time at the SoMe's, but it proved to be an interesting event. A relatively new date in the recruitment calendar, the key aim of the conference and awards ceremony is to demonstrate how graduate recruiters can successfully use this vital new media in order to enhance their campaigns.

The conference was a mix of speeches and master-classes from social media specialists (LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook), researchers and clients, all passing on their own insight and knowledge to a full room of graduate recruiters, agencies and media people.

Though a long day, there was plenty of advice to be had, particularly for clients just starting to dip their toes into the 'scary' world of social media. While hardened professionals may have found the day a little light on detail, it was clear after speaking to many of the clients there (and listening to a number of great case studies) that no one is really breaking the mould when it comes to using social media. Most of their time in fact seems to be spent attempting to get senior management buy-in.

This is a tricky challenge for all recruiters, especially for those of the graduate variety, and it's something that we're well used to hearing (and helping support with).

The simple fact though is that your company is "on" social media already. You may not have a company presence, but people are talking about you. The only decision you, and your senior stakeholders, have to make is whether you want to take part in these discussions or not.

At the awards event later that evening, it became clear early on that all the winners had one thing in common - senior management buy-in. Once given the freedom and flexibility to 'do' social media, recruiters and the graduates who managed most of the walls, tweets and blogs, created interesting, engaging and absorbing experiences across all of the major social media channels.

Sadly, CA3 didn't come away with an award for Deutsche Bank and the App we produced for them - as always we took it magnanimously and stormed off to the bar - but we did come away with some clear and practical ideas of how we can help you internally with your social media discussions & challenges.