19 12 / 2011
My Social Media Job Search
It has been way too long since I have written a blog post. The social media program I was participating in, Chicago Career Tech, ended in November and I have been wrapped up in my search for a full-time job while consulting with small businesses to help them with their social media endeavors.
As many of you probably know looking for a new job can be exciting, stressful, tiring and time consuming. There are so many different tools that can be used during the search, some new and some that have been used for years.
Social Media has been an important tool in my job search. I have used Twitter, Facebook and Linked In to assist me with my search. Along with Social Media I have also used more traditional tools such as attending networking events, scheduling informational interviews and applying for jobs through online job boards and company websites.
I am curious to hear how others have used or are using Social Media in their job search. Please comment below (job leads are also welcome!).
08 9 / 2011
Surprise! There is No Such Thing As A Script in Social Media
What do you get when you mix frozen lasagna, bloggers and hidden cameras?
A. Satisfied diners
B. A Surprise Birthday Party
C. A night to remember
D. A misguided attempt to harness the positive power of Social Media
E. C and D
If you answered “E” you are correct, great job!
A recent article in The New York Times, “When Bloggers Don’t Follow The Script, Much to ConAgra’s Chagrin”, describes ConAgra’s attempt to get food and mommy bloggers to help them with the marketing of a new line of Marie Callender’s lasagna. ConAgra and its public relations firm invited the bloggers to dine at an underground restaurant with a famous chef and food critic.
Well, it turned out that the bloggers were fed frozen lasagna, not a dinner prepared by the chef which was what the bloggers were expecting. The event was recorded on hidden camera.
Needless to say, it backfired. The bloggers felt like they were misled and deceived which led to negative blogging.
This demonstrates a lack of understanding on how Social Media works on the part of ConAgra and its PR firm. They should not have expected the reaction to be completely positive to begin with. If they were expecting the bloggers to react a certain way this leads me to believe they do not understand blogging. It is nearly impossible to control what a blogger is going to write, for the most part bloggers want to be honest and upfront with their experiences.
The article points out that hidden camera situations have been used in the past with Folgers, Pizza Hut and others. But the difference is they did not use bloggers, Tweeters or other Social Media participants. Social Media is powerful and messages can not be controlled like they have been in the past.
If you were invited to the event, how would you have reacted?
01 9 / 2011
Social Media and the Schools- Getting It Right
About a month ago I had my first blog “rant” about Missouri Senate Bill 54. I was uncomfortable with us because I am not a ranter by nature. But I was very disappointed, dismayed and disgusted (I apologize for the overuse of “dis”) with the bill that forbids teachers and students to connect on any social media site through private communication.
Today I read the article, “Social Media Goes From School Ban To Teachers Tool” from The Asbury Park Press. The article discusses how some schools are embracing Social Media rather than fighting it. Some schools are starting to realize that Social Media is a huge part of students life so they should start learning how to use it in a constructive and educational manner.
The article explains the various ways educators are using Social Media in their schools in classrooms. Teachers may blog about books that are being read in class, a science teacher is using Twitter as a tool to help students discuss their homework assignments and one district has even developed their own smart phone app.
This is great news. Students and educators should be learning and using Social Media in a positive way. Just like in any field Social Media can be used properly or not in education. Just because their are perceived “dangers” does not mean it should be avoided.
It will be important for schools and districts to draft policies that guide the use of Social Media just like they have policies on just about everything else. The policies and proper use of Social Media will only be a benefit to educators and their students as it will keep them up to date on new and innovative ways to keep learning interesting.
Do you think Social Media can be beneficial in a school setting?
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17 8 / 2011
Time Flys When You Are Learning And Having Fun
Today is my last day working at Tribeca Flashpoint Academy. The program I am involved in, Chicago Career Tech (CCT), includes two work study placements. Flashpoint was my first placement and has been an incredible experience. My supervisor, Kristin Hertko, has been an amazing resource and has helped me to feel comfortable and confident with my new Social Media skills.
On my first day at Flashpoint Kristin encouraged me to start a blog. She believes that strong writing skills are a must for success in the Social Media field. I have to admit that I was intimidated by this at first. I decided to blog about topics in Social Media, figuring that it would help me to learn about the field. Writing my blog has been a great learning tool. I have gained confidence in my writing skills and knowledge about Social Media.
I encourage anyone in the Social Media field who is intimidated by the idea of starting a blog to do so. It is a great way to learn, write and engage with others. Find a topic you are interested in or want to learn more about, start a Tumblr account and write. If you do not feel comfortable publishing your posts right away than wait. I listened to Kristin and I encourage you to listen to me.
Yesterday Kristin and I were discussing how to be successful in Social Media (which we do regularly). We were talking about how some people are intimidated by the Social Media field and make it more complicated than it has to be. Kristin said the bottom line is it is a conversation, the tools are there to give people a place to talk.
That bottom line will be what I remember as I continue my career in Social Media. If I ever feel overwhelmed or unsure about what I am doing I will remember that when it comes down to it Social Media is about guiding the conversation no matter what the topic is.
Next week I start my next placement at Jewish Child and Family Services. I am looking forward to a new experience and continuing my learning. But as I move on I will continue to remember what I have learned during my first three months in the Social Media field.
16 8 / 2011
Keeping Your Cookies In the Jar
Managing on-line privacy is an important issue in regards to Social Media and web use in general. There is the desire for marketers to obtain useful information about their sites and Social Media campaigns balanced with individual’s desire for privacy.
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15 8 / 2011
Going Against the Grain On the Grid
Over the weekend the New York Times published an article, “Our Plugged in Summer.” I was immediately intrigued by the title because it was different from other articles I have read lately where individuals or families vow to “unplug” or go “off the grid” for a period of time. Was I about to read an article about someone who was so addicted to technology they could not disconnect or a family that has so little to say to each other they spent their summer with their noses in their smartphones, Ipads or laptops?
11 8 / 2011
Quality or Quantity
Newt Gingrich has 1.3 Million Twitter followers, Groupon has 115 million subscibers and I have 547 friends on Facebook. Two out of three of these statistics have made news during the past few months.
09 8 / 2011
Social Media Articles For Small Business
This morning Mashable posted an article discussing recent studies that examined Social Media use among small businesses. The studies found that small businesses are not completely jumping on the Social Media bandwagon.
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08 8 / 2011
The Learning Curve
So far learning about and working in Social Media has been an amazing experience. I have had the opportunity to learn from individuals, including my teachers, supervisor and classmates. I have also learned from other resources such as blogs, books and online courses.
This morning I read a blog post written by SuzeMuse, “The Secret to Success with New Skills.” Currently, SuzeMuse is teaching Social Media at a college and doing corporate training. She recognizes that sometimes she sends people off with new skills and they are able to utilize them, but other times people leave and do not have the confidence to use their new skills. SuzeMuse believes some of this is due to the fact that people do not always have the time to apply their skills to “real world” situations.
03 8 / 2011
Missouri Senate Bill 54: My Very First Rant
Today I saw an article that REALLY made me angry. As of August 28, Missouri will be the first state to prohibit social networking between students and teachers.
Missouri Senate Bill 54, also known as, Amy Hestir Student Protection Act, forbids students and teachers to connect on any site that allows for private communication. Teachers may not friend current or past students (age 18 and younger), but they can set up public fan pages.
