One mob.

David Weinberger has a way with words. Listen...

Businesses used to keep themselves distinct and safe and secure by selectively releasing information: If you wanted to know anything about a product, you had only one good source to go to. Now, I can learn more about a product and a business in five minutes on the Web than I could in weeks, and the best information comes from other customers.

Leading to ...

Now, in a hyperlinked, loosely coupled business environment, why imagine that what the mob outside the walls wants is any different from what the mob inside the walls want? With the walls down, we're all one mob now.

What does this mean for career sites? Go with flow:

• Ease those conversations.
• Make it painless to cite specific products (your jobs, organizations, roles).
• Make discovering relevant opinions feel like a happy accident.
• Encourage every visitor to your career site to open their mouths, shout what's on their minds, and sing what's in their hearts.
• Reward the vocal

The medium (blogs, bulletin boards, chat rooms, etc.) matters less than the intention. That you care enough to help foster communication. So much that you'll foster it outside your enterprise.

The result? Reputations become clearer, more granular, more available. Job seekers make better choices. Hiring managers and their recruiters can respond with better information and better behavior.

And the employment site becomes a better place to find work.