I was recently invited to speak to a group of HR professionals on “Web 2.0 and Global Career Possibilities”.
Here is the transcript of my speech:
Gbenga Ogunjimi is my name: I am a Social entrepreneur, Recruiter, Conference speaker and Web 2.0 visionary. Of all the things that I do, I am here to talk to about the Web 2.0 component.
I start by saying exactly a decade ago I started a career in social services, 5 years after my career took another dimension and I found myself in social entrepreneurship. Just about 3 years ago I embraced Web 2.0 as an empowerment strategy, I was so thrilled with the possibilities in this that I made about 75% of my enterprise empowerment programmes to be focused on Web 2.0
My task today is to show us all how Web 2.0 can realise job opportunities as well as our critical goals as professionals, consultants or entrepreneurs.
So what is web 2.0? According to Wikipedia it means Web applications facilitating collaboration.
Never in the history of the world has there been an opportunity to collaborate as it is today. Ladies and gentlemen, you and I are blessed and privileged to be the generation that has witnessed the transition of a divided world become compactly connected.
And of all the facets Web 2.0 I just want to talk about the intense explosion of social networking sites. In our every glare we watched Facebook hit 350m and LinkedIn 50 million. Right before our very eyes, we are seeing these tools redefining business, governance, social services, governance and even recruitment.
My frustration however is that in a network of this magnitude most people and sadly HR professionals too see it as play grounds rather as collaboration centers.
I know that we all of different goals but somewhat converging interests – we all are gathered as HR professionals. Some of us are here to learn how they can realise their dreams of building their own next Phillips Consulting or KPMG, some reaching the pinnacle of their careers in HRM. Others are here to figure out how to internationalize their professional pursuits; internships abroad, become HR consultants to not just corporations but governments, and some to use their HR expertise career to change the world by pursuing a social cause.
Ladies and gentleman whatever our goals are, would you mind for me to introduce to what can realise them all?
Please meet LinkedIn, the 21st recruiting platform.
I not too ago was introduced to this platform and I still remain in awe of the possibilities of this single network.
Did you know that?
• All fortune 500 companies of America have presence on LinkedIn
• The major Nigerian companies across banking, telecoms and oil sector are there
• This network has over 50 million quality professionals worldwide and more people join everyday
• On the network you have access to presidents of countries, corporations, head of HRs, and all
But to make the most of this network, you have to understand the 4ps of social networking:
Purpose – Ask yourself why am I here and what are the biggest goals of my life?
Profile- Display this purpose, goals as your Web identity.
Participation- Share and contribute by starting conversations in groups you can elicit collaboration from the locals of that geography.
Persistence- Value proposition; network has left the realm of serendipity, coincidences, luck, chance or act, networking is essentially a science.
I conclude my quoting myself from a blog a recently published titled the Web 2.0 approach –
“Now is the time best to dream: when the whole wide world is within reach and resources vast. And all it takes for these dreams to happen is a shift in paradigm; a shift in thoughts, and action, a shift to a whole new approach – a shift to the Web 2.0 Approach” – Gbenga Ogunjimi
Ladies and gentlemen the whole wide world is now within your reach, embrace it!
Thank you.
