IT Job Search Gets Personal

Leading IT jobs website Dice has launched a new social networking site that connects IT job seekers with tech recruiters. The Dice Talent Network combines social networking tools with an online job board where employers and IT job professionals can connect directly. For example, employers can communicate via chat or instant message or post job announcements, and tech pros can set up complete social networking profiles and follow and target the companies they want to work for.

Tom Silver, senior vice president of Dice North America, cited research that 75 percent of HR managers and recruiters have at least one hard-to-fill IT position. "Quick and easy access to high-quality, specialized talent remains the basic fabric of recruiting, and networking is a critical part of developing talent and managing careers," he said.

The Office of Personnel Management in January unveiled a revamped version of USAJOBS.gov, which allows job applicants to share job information on websites like Facebook, Twitter and other social networking websites. Do interactive job search websites like the Dice Talent Network give the private sector a competitive advantage over the government in reaching potential IT job seekers? Could a social network like Dice's be an effective tool to attracting and retaining top IT talent in the federal government?