Has talent moved to TikTok?
Companies are missing out on the graduate conversation
Last Friday evening at 10pm, I was invited to join a TikTok live. My Susan Boyle moment had finally arrived.
No, it was not the tortilla challenge. It was a session with hundreds of graduates and students who wanted careers advice.
Engagement was off the charts. 10pm. Friday.
I am new to TikTok. I've avoided it. But despite my family's best attempts to burn the house down to get my attention this week, I have become a head-down convert to the way of the swipe. An addict.
And the conversations have been brilliant.
Highlander928 has been running live CV workshops on TikTok to help grads improve their pitch. In three months, he's amassed more than 11k followers because these kids are super keen to learn - but they're not getting the real-world advice they need.
Before joining the session, I listened to the audience.
- "My CV isn't getting accepted."
- "What do I need to do with LinkedIn to make it work?"
- "How come I can't get a job with a degree?"
- "If my university is better than his, and I'm on for a first, why is no one replying to me?"
They think these problems are unique to them - that they're not good enough. But what they don't realise is that everyone is struggling to engage companies through formal channels these days.
Being a graduate is no longer a differentiator - maybe it never really was. Some of the audience were shocked when I said this. I told them to get work or experience as soon as possible, learn to differentiate and to begin building a network from day one. Stop relying on CVs and LinkedIn alone.
But almost every week I speak to a CEO who says they can’t recruit young people. And getting them to stay is even harder.
The CV+LinkedIn system is failing both graduates and employers because it’s missing one vital ingredient - communication.
Grads think they’re communicating. Companies are convinced they are listening. Neither side is making real, human connections - instead they’re getting bot-blocked by intelligent automation processes.
They’re not even talking on the same social media platform.
Outcome trumps process every time, so whether you’re a grad or an employer, lift up your head and start looking for different ways to talk.
News analysis:
TikTok reminds me of the 1980‘s envy we UK kids used to have of US cable TV. Hundreds of channels and so much content.
We had four.
Now because I‘ve been on TikTok, I’ve ignored the mainstream news about war and this week’s government cockups. Instead I have watched Hurricane Milton live from people's homes in Florida, a lot of people selling shoes, puppies and tattooed criminals after they've just come out of jail.
In other words, there is no news analysis this week as I’m going for a fat breakfast.
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