The year is coming to a close and the new year will be here soon. If you are still looking for a job, now is a good time to use Social Media to reach out to your network.
I've observed that many of the Social Media sites are upgrading, modifying, changing, and readjusting their functionality.
LinkedIn, the business social networking site, has also undergone changes this year. I have my personal new features that I love and will share them in another post.
The video below demonstrates how to use Social Media to find a job on LinkedIn.
I recommend that you visit LinkedIn and if you are not yet a member, then become one. Membership is free and the Fortune 500 are already there and post open positions on their LinkedIn page.
Be sure to do the following immediately:
Fill out your profile 100% - this will help people to find you and connect with you.
Use the "add applications" button to import any blogs you already have on the web.
If you have any videos, add them to your profile.
Add your white papers, articles, books, etc.
Connect to people from your Alma Mater, Fraternity, Sorority, and previous employers.
Join LinkedIn Groups that match your interests and industry.
Contribute to the groups you join by answering questions posed by members
Use these final weeks of the year to get the Top 7 things to Make Your LinkedIn Job Search done.
Sitting in my hotel room recently, I happened upon an upcoming movie created by Adrian Grenier Star of the TV show Entourage.
I found it fascinating because the subject of the movie was a young home schooled kid who is the youngest Paparazzo in the world.
Now, typically I would not have been able to see this show because I do not have HBO cable. Within seconds, I was hooked. 13 year old Austin Visschedyk was on the run, chasing a celebrity to obtain that lucrative money shot.
Who is this kid, I wondered? Where are his parents? Why is he running around the streets at this time of night instead of doing his homework?
I found out soon enough...
He is just one of several young people whose lives have taken a turn in this new direction.
What's the Buzz on this Generational Difference?
Here's the thing. Today's generation is not content to follow the path their parents and grandparents took. They are not interested in giving their creativity away to the corporation. They have seen the results from their father's and mother's commitment to the organization. It is not a pretty sight. So they forge their own paths.
And they start younger all the time.
Let's take the example of Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook. He is a mere 26 years old but just this week, the company made two announcements that illustrate they may indeed be the next Google. They have partnered with Bing and Skype.
Back in the day, that idea would have belonged to the corporation and he might not even have received a bonus. They said "your ideas belong to the corporation." Well not anymore!
So, Is It Worth It? That's a natural question, and the answer is a resounding, YES!
Our teenage paparazzo earns $500 to $2000 for each picture he captures that is used by his organization. It's no wonder his mother is one of his biggest supporters.
Imagine making that kind of money in today's economy for having that much fun.
By the way, Austin is not alone. There are several teenage paps around he's just the one the HBO movie focuses on.
Would I see the movie, you bet. Based on what I saw in my hotel room it's a great documentary.
So how about you? Please share your comments and tell me what you think of this new emerging talent, the teenage paparazzo.
It always amazes me when speaking with a Baby Boomer business owner, that they eschew the social media tools and platforms as too time consuming.
They say "I don't have time for that and don't see the value in it."
I say, "the train's pulling out of the station, you can get on it, or be left behind."
They sometimes find that annoying, but remain professional. I can see it their faces and in their manner. Perhaps the video below will demonstrate to them how fast the train is moving.
Here's another Generational Difference in the Age of Social Media
Students in the Third Grade are bloggers
The students in the video are bloggers and I love it. Now they have a new medium to share their thoughts about the books they read.
Like the Gen Y cohort before them, a tool is simply that, something to get a job done.
As a speaker I bring PowerPoint presentations to the seminar but often leave the screen blank, as I know many audience members used PowerPoint in the first grade. They are not impressed and can probably do a slicker one in no time flat. What they seek is experience and knowledge transfer.
Do you Blog? If not, why not?
When students begin using a tool at this age, it means it is an integral part of our social communication.
You should have a blog. There's no reason to not have one. It provides a platform to share your thoughts and ideas. It is a business necessity.
If you do not have a blog or don't know where to start, send an email to Yvonne at YvonneFBrown.com and I will help you get one started. It's quick and easy to do. You'll be blogging in no time flat!
How will this affect the younger generation?
Now I pose this question to you: What do you think about this? Is the third grade too soon to have students writing blogs?
Helicopter Parents continue to micromanage their children while focusing on their own needs rather than the needs of their children. One parent moved into her daughter's dorm and slept there for four days until the room-mate kicked her out. Check out the video below to see what I mean.
While this has been going on for many years, it appears to be getting out of hand. The net result is a workforce unable to make decisions or problem solve.
Yes, the new workforce is highly educated. Many join the employment ranks with an MBA in hand but without the ability to make decisions or problem solve.
Very good reasons I understand the pain of pushing your little bird out of the next and the psychological effects on you as a parent. I too had separation anxiety when my son Charles transitioned into adulthood. An empty nest feels, well, empty.
It is a necessary component of parenthood though, because in order for your children to be successful in life, they must learn self-reliance. Consider what would happen if something happened to you, how would they survive?
I've experienced it in my seminars I've seen the results of micromanaged young adults in my seminars. When presented with a case study to generate ideas and find business solutions the respond with a blank stare. They really don't know where to start.
Now, if they are presented with a group of ideas, they can take the ball and hit it out of the park. Coming up with their own ideas is difficult and I blame it on their parents. Here's why, when parents consistently make decisions for their adult children, these young adults miss the opportunity to learn self-reliance and problem solving skills.
My message to College Students
It's time for you to step up and take responsibility for your own actions. That's why I am pleased to see you asking Mom and Dad to take a hike in the video. I recommend you tell your parents:
"Drop me off at school and leave. I'll be fine. I'll learn how to take care of myself. Then after graduation I will more prepared to go out into the world and make my own way. I promise, I will make you proud of me."
It will be difficult for many of your parents to let go, as their intentions are good. They want to take care of you. But you need to take control of your own life now to ensure your future success.
The reporter in the story shared a little video from his own son requesting "Mom, Dad, It's time to let go." Good for you, that's the first step of growing up and taking responsibility for yourself.
Your comments are welcome. Please share your thoughts or experiences with this. I'd love to hear from you.
Response to the Beloit Mindset List was immediate and mostly negative. There's a lot of push back on the items listed.
On NPR the response was instantaneous. The writer particularly takes exception to several items on the 75 item list especially #58, "Beethoven has always been a good name for a dog."
I'm with you Linda Holmes, especially regarding the opening section about Benny Hill.
I for one find item #73 "Silicone breast implants have always been regulated" especially of interest since they seem to be everywhere these days. To many college students, getting implants are equal to new shoes or a backpack for school. It's nothing more than an accessory.
Some things missing from the list include more serious topics such as the aspirations for the class of 2014.
While previous generations aspired to being a doctor or the President of the United States, today's graduate dreams of being a celebrity.
Getting hired for a "Reality Show" is most highly favored.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, the path to success in life for the Class of 2014 is more likely to be:
Get a sex tape
Get exposure
Get a reality show
Get famous
Just watch Baby Boomer Laurence Fishbourne squirm in recent news about his shameless daughter.
At Boston.com they selected their 10 favorite items on the Beloit College List including the ever popular, "they don't need wristwatch and find email antiquated." Text them, or be ignored. It's your choice.
I'd rather text than talk
In a recent class I noticed a Gen Y student responding to a text using one hand and her thumb moved so fast it made me chuckle.
I think the writers of the Beloit College Mindset List for the Class of 2014 made an incomplete list. What do you think of their list and what would you add to it?
As the economy slowly picks up, job seekers are using more creative means of finding a new position. Thinking outside the box can put you in front of the right people, the ones who have the authority to bring you on board.
Traditional methods no longer work
One must design a specific plan of attack and work it like no other. In one of my previous blog posts, I shared the strategy of one job seeker who created a video demonstrating the company's product on himself.
In that same blog post, a Baby Boomer created a mock interview video including a unique means of presenting his resume to his potential employer.
Create your own fantastic opportunity
Finding a job in a tough economy requires standing your previous strategy on its head. Posting resumes no longer work, simply using sites like LinkedIn are single threaded means to get hired.
As this video shows, using Social Media strategically can get you an interview with the CEO. Done correctly, the turn around time for your "in person" interview could be just a few keystrokes away.
