As a recent report in The Guardian states, nervous employees are brushing up their contacts in preparation for possible job hunts as the recession finally becomes formal and stretches its evil tentacles across the globe. Uber-networking site LinkedIn has consequently seen membership rise to around 30 million, with one brand-spanking new member being added every two seconds during 2008. But what exactly can LinkedIn do for recruiters, and how will the service develop?

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It’s not every day you get to place an ad for a role first filled in the fourteenth century. But that’s what Blackbridge did earlier this month, when the House of Lords turned to them to advertise for a new Black Rod, in anticipation of the retirement of the incumbent Sir Michael Willcocks in April 2009. As you might expect, the advertisement has caused some interest in political circles.
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As more firms are rationalising their employee base, attention turns to how to communicate with those remaining – who are possibly demotivated, insecure and carrying more of a workload than before. Of course, when redundancies are happening it’s best not to communicate with posh conferences and expensive-looking printed newsletters. So, how can electronic messaging help you out?
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As we go to press, media owners all over the UK are offering goodwill to all clients with a selection of seasonal deals. Blackbird suggests that, while the economy currently resembles a snowman after a set-to with a blowtorch, now might be a very cost-effective time to get your ad in front of people who are spending the Christmas period seriously considering their professional futures.

The Financial Times has already stepped up to the plate with discounts on colour and global coverage; Exec-Appointments have offers on featured ads and long bookings; People Management is happy to consider deals for publications dated 11/12/08 and 1/1/09. But whatever you’re thinking about, let us know - we’ll naturally be delighted to negotiate on your behalf.

Want to do some more social media marketing or associated techie stuff, but need reassurance that others are doing it too? Then this list is for you. Compiled by online marketer Peter Kim, it’s a wide range of links that take you to examples of which organisations are blogging, mashing, sharing, podcasting, tweeting and more. (Blackbird particularly likes the Starbucks crowdsourcing site.)

Think you’ve got it bad as a UK Recruiter? Actually, you probably have, but you should look at this article all the same. It’s online recruitment mag Cheezhead’s summary of a speech at a recent conference in which Kevin Wheeler spoke of challenges facing different recruitment markets around the globe. Apparently China has over one million people graduating without a job every year.

Finally, if you’ve ever dreamt of picking up an award for online recruitment, you might be disillusioned by this debate concerning The National Online Recruitment Awards. Proof, if ever it were needed, that recruiters can always be relied on for a tasty scrap or two.