Here a network, there a network, everywhere a social network. Perhaps it's overkill, but we are all now a part of so many social communities online that sometimes it feels as if we are no longer growing closer together, but farther apart. This is especially true in the staffing and recruiting community. We recruiters, by definition, tend to overdo it in the area of networking.

Through Ning niche groups like RecruitingBlogs, TalentBar, Recruiter Earth, Fordyce Letter Network, and others, I have met more talented people in the recruiting business from all over the world than I ever thought possible when I started recruiting back in 1995. But there is so much going on with all these groups that it is sometimes tough to keep up. And the place where I ultimately end up hearing about much of this activity is Twitter.

Just a short while ago the founders of RecruitingBlogs and TalentBar announced a coordinated effort to bring recruiters together on Twitter to participate in split placements with Splits.org. This gave my friend, Susan Kang Nam (@pinkolivefamily), a great idea for a monthly get-together on Twitter for recruiters from all these diverse networks to discuss current issues and events, #splits, and generally get to know each other better all in one place and one time, in 140 characters or less of course.

She asked me to help her coordinate this effort and I told her "Hell no!" Okay, that's not true. It's nearly impossible to tell her no. And I have no backbone. And she threatened my family. Seriously, I thought it was such a great idea that I enthusiastically agreed, and here we are. There was much debate on what to name such an event. Since we were trying to connect networks of talent professionals, I had the brain spasm to call it #TalentNet. I created a facebook group for announcements and so forth. You can join it here.

Please join us this coming Wednesday, April 29th, at 9pm Eastern time on Twitter at #TalentNet to join in the conversation. We'll do it again on the last Wed. of each month at the same time. Network with your peers, exchange ideas, and get the latest news from the recruiting community. The top Twitterers in the talent world will be on hand. Remember to tag your comments with #talentnet. If you are new to the whole hashtag thing, just go to search.twitter.com and type in #talentnet. It's that easy.

Susan and I will be on BlitzTime, a call in networking forum, next Wed. at 12pm Eastern to talk about Twitter and #TalentNet. Now please go join the TalentNet facebook Group and participate in the discussion on Twitter next Wed. night, or Susan may send @Chris Brogan over to your house with a pair of pliers and a blowtorch.

Seriously, this is going to be cool. Can't wait to see you all there.