Does the RBC site intro mean what I think it means?

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What stands out to me in the above is the second sentence. I know others have observed, mentioned and questioned this in the past, but it seems to me that much of the (recent) content here seems geared to a different audience than what one might expect if the context of RBC is accurately depicted in that introduction paragraph.

While I'm not opposed to occasional "off-topic" subject-matter - especially if it is high-quality, informative or entertaining. But in abundance it tends to diminish the overall value and user-experience of a site when the core focus gets diluted.

There is certainly some overlap of interests between the recruiting profession and the candidate population, but being that the name of this site is recruiting blogs, I don't really visit here to learn about how to write a resume, how to find a job and how to deal with anything else that might be found on a site called job search blogs.

I don't want to sound hypocritical because I happen to write and share content geared toward both types of audiences myself, but I do my best to put them in context out of respect for the intended purpose and readers of each posting venue. When I see my daily RBC email and it has subjects like: top 10 reasons to work with a recruitment expert during your job search or five resume tips to you get noticed, it adds no value (to me).

The RBC content that I appreciate is the type that teaches me something new, enlightens me about a new concept, tool, technique or methodology to source, screen or select top talent or real-world examples of what others are dealing with in their recruiting activities.

There are plenty of contributors here that do consistently provide insightful, original and unique content AND demonstrate their know-how AND share their hands-on experience and expertise. I'm grateful for that and encourage more of the same!

Thoughts!

~KB @TalentTalks

Comment by Bill Schultz on May 15, 2012 at 7:53pm: Kelly I think Jerry wrote a similar blog on the subject and one of the moderators had a good answer for it at the time. Although the name and content escapes me.

Comment by Kelly Blokdijk on May 15, 2012 at 8:55pm: Thanks, Bill! I remember seeing something that Jerry wrote about this too. I'll see if I can locate that post. Maybe if the other content is popular enough or in demand here, a solution would be a separation of recruiting / recruiter focused content and that other stuff? Hoping to get some additional input... KB

Comment by Tim Spagnola on May 16, 2012 at 7:11am: Kelly - here is the thread Bill made mention of LINK.

While I do agree partially with the logic of the argument, Noel brings up a good points. A lot of feedback we get from new members is that they are new to the recruiting field and get a lot from the career focused content. In fact a number of people use those type of posts to send to candidates. Is that content for everyone? No.

The RBC is (an will remain) an open forum. The larger on-going conversation touches on all areas of recruiting and the job search process. There is not internal push or focus to generate certain content nor shift the focus in a different direction. It is just falls under the topic of the moment. I appreciate your post and encouragement of members to share more direct recruiting commentary. I also agree with Sandra's comment in Jerry's thread - Perhaps we as experienced recruiters should add more content if we want it to be recruiter focused instead of just bitching.

I hope others members that read your post and feel the same way decide to bring their voice into the mix. I personally enjoy reading the real-world examples of what others are dealing with in their recruiting activities more then anything else.

Comment by Sandra McCartt on May 16, 2012 at 2:59pm: I have certainly experienced the same frustration and let's call it what it is. Thinly veiled and sometimes not so thinly marketing by job search coaches, software marketing people who don't know shit about recruiting other than they have the final solution to all my problems and the problems of recruiters everywhere. Cutesy little boys who sell MBA lists who never recruited anything in their life. Not to be outdone by Tweetybird Da Costa the automated tweeter who posts in the status thread 5,7 9 or 12 drop ships of links to somebody's blog someplace which he thinks is branding himself. It's Wednesday. It has taken three or four days for the glut of unrelated to anything pictures posted by Valentino along with movie reviews and assorted other garbage to clear the site so anything else shows up. While i think pininterest is a lovely site i don't see the value in turning RBC into a privated bulletin board for one member or a twitter feed for another. In my humble opinion, that crap needs to stop. I like a lot of recruiters right now am super busy. If i have a few minutes to check in on the site i don't have time to dig through 30 pictures and 9 tweets in a row ( i counted them out of curiosity) to see if there is any current content that might have something to do with recruiting that is not a feeble and irritating attempt of one member to use the site like twitter.. That would be why God made pininterest and twitter.

I am more than happy to try and add some recruiting related content to the site rather than just fuss because the job coaches and seminar sellers are writing the same old tired social media how to, resume how to. Here is my question to you who use the site to sell your crap or your seminars or brand yourself. There are over 30 thousand members associated with RBC. If each of us posted half a blog with a link to our site to read the other half to build the hits on our site, each of us set up automated tweets that blast out multiple tweets in a row, each of us reinvented the wheel about how to write a damn resume or conduct an interview the site would be nothing but a rolling billboard. And we are close.

So here's the drill, am i bitching yeppers i am. Will i continue to try and add relevant content, yeppers. But i will say this to all of you who clutter up a recruiting site with your hawk and squawk to promote yoursleves, your site or your goods and services. Keep it up and we will all do it and i promise the value you get from the site will be less than the zero comments you get on your junk now. Adios and bye bye.

Comment by Bill Schultz on May 16, 2012 at 8:10pm: If i have a few minutes to check in on the site i don't have time to dig through 30 pictures and 9 tweets in a row ( i counted them out of curiosity) to see if there is any current content that might have something to do with recruiting that is not a feeble and irritating attempt of one member to use the site like twitter.. That would be why God made pininterest and twitter.

I think some of the frustration for me has to do with the new navigation. As you scroll through the comments and get past the VD. (Valentino and Dean) and find something to click, you cannot back browse so you have to repeat the process a few times. Kind of gets on my nerves.

Comment by Kelly Blokdijk on May 16, 2012 at 8:55pm: Thanks for the comments, all!

Sandra - I think yours would be an excellent stand-alone blog, BTW!

Yeppers! Please feel free to keep up the "tell it like it is" straight talk - I don't care if you call it bitching, fussing, venting or ranting, whatever it is works for me...

Comment by Sandra McCartt on May 17, 2012 at 1:58am: VD is right on the money Bill. It's a rampant social disease called "lookyme" About one more run of Groucho Marx in a baseball cap spamming the site and my nerves are gone, as it appears they are as of today. Enough, Basta!

Comment by Sandra McCartt on May 17, 2012 at 2:09am: @Kelly I think your suggestion would be a good one. Put a tab that says, "real recruiting/HR blogs" and another one that says" promote your shit here". One would have to be a working recruiter or HR peson to be able to post anything in the "real deal".