Change And The Generational Gap

Feb 9, 2009 | blog

'table talk' by ChrisB in SEA We had an interesting discussion around the lunch table the other day regarding many aspects of the current economy.  From the mounting job purges of too many large companies and what it all means to us the average person.

Really the discussion came around to how the traditional exercise of searching for a job is changing.  There were three of us at lunch today and, not surprisingly, there were three different perspectives and understanding of the process in an environment that we all find ourselves in.

Here is where the differences in age come into play.  Among the three of us around the table, there was about a decade from the youngest to oldest.  The perception of how best to position oneself in today’s market was probably best understood by the younger two of the group, with the oldest standing fairly firm to the notion that job search and how you go about it hasn’t changed much.

Really, the truth is that it depends on the job you’re looking to get.  Calling it a job to begin with is part of the problem, as anyone looking for the next job should really believe that they are looking for the next step in their career.  Following the old, tried and true methods of mass mailings, cold-calls, and relying on a headhunter finding you may still work, but one wonders for how long?

Instead, following the example of many an enterprising young millennial may actually be your best bet.  Maybe everyone doesn’t feel up to posting videos of themselves on YouTube, or spending hours on Twitter, or the many other social networks. However, at least a full LinkedIn profile, and even a Facebook page, so folks are able to find you, may be in order.

The point I suppose I’m trying to get to is that change has already taken place in the area of job search & career placement; and the sooner you understand that the easier it’ll be to prepare for the next phase of your career.  This is as true for seasoned corporate veterans as it is for the new college grad looking to jump into the fray.

It’s time to manage yourself into the next career change rather than falling into it.

Photo credit: ChrisB in SEA

Happiness CCXCII

Jan 12, 2009 | happiness

Your personal social network is your employment engine. You do have a personal social network don’t you?

How Do Companies Find Their Community Managers?

Aug 28, 2008 | blog

Online Communities by .mw It’s a new field where there are no experts; no real training for classification or certification, and it’s difficult for folks participating in it to explain how it works. It’s not a lawless field where anything goes, but the cowboys still roam the prairie where social media grazes. Christopher S. Penn describes the problem and the process quite well in his post How to Become a Social Media Expert, comparing social media to the nuances of martial arts training – pretty good analogy in my book.

Since there are no real experts with years of schooling and experience, how does a company find a community manager? Heck, how do they determine what they’re looking for – most companies really don’t even know exactly what they need. Several are starting to here “community manager” more in relation to social media, and I suppose it does make a bit of sense to the average hiring manager.

As I’ve been looking around in this space as a consultant myself, I’ve noticed a bit of mislabeling, and misunderstanding of what these positions do. They can range from being a glorified forum moderator, to the public figurehead of the company in social media circles. The vagueness and inconsistency is frustrating to both those looking to move into these jobs, and the companies who realize they need someone to fill this indefinable niche they have.

Normally, a company would hire a consultant to help define the needs, address the process, and sometimes assist in filling the role. The problem though is… aren’t consultants experts and there really aren’t any social media experts? Catch 22 huh?

Some firms are looking internally and finding candidates in their existing staff. This could be anyone from marketing, to information technologies, to human resources (and beyond). Sometimes it’s easy to get noticed and get in front of the right people. Other businesses are going for the big guns and hiring out consultants from the A-List to assist them in their social web endeavors.

At least, several of the A-List actually have participated in building, shaping, and forming the concepts of the social web through the work of Cluetrain and their own pieces through the years. This is a great place to start, even for organizations with small budgets – many of the thought leaders in social media give away really good information for companies to start from.

So in this nascent “industry”, there is confusion on both the side of organizational need and individual growth in social media. The next step for those mastering the dark arts of the social web is to be bold, go forth, do good things, and prove that you have the vision and understanding. Both to the founding concepts of Cluetrain and to the fiscal responsibilities of corporations that want to participate in, not control, the message.

Photo credit: .mw

Your Personal Network

Aug 15, 2008 | blog

My Social Network by luc legay We talk a lot about social networks and social networking these days, but it’s really nothing new. Only the tools are. People have been networking with peers for decades, much longer actually, but we’ve only really called it networking for a generation or so.

While tools like social networks, micro-blogging, or podcasting utilities, and the Internet itself bring powerful new (and fun) ways to network, it still relies on people. Without people, these tools are simply high-tech toys with little purpose.

Anyway, what I’m talking about here is your personal network of peers and associates in your industry or genre. The people that you interact with, compete with, and explore opportunities with. Your personal network is an important part of your career. I didn’t fully realize this until I left a cozy but uninspiring position a couple years ago. It wasn’t until spending a bit of time out participating, networking, and interacting with folks in and out of my field that I discovered how important a personal network is.

Interestingly, my personal network is grown from my mix of social media exploration and personal branding work. Through both interests, I’ve grown a network of friends and associates that I can share ideas with, send questions to, be a support network for peers, recommend people, help solve problems, and much more.

So, I strongly recommend paying attention to your network. The people you associate with professionally and socially have a lot to offer to you in both your personal and professional life. Not only does a person need to grow that network, but to maintain it as well. After all, as in most things, it’s the quality of the network, not the ultimate size that yields the greatest results and rewards.

Also, being a helpful resource to your network, not just a consumer of it, will bring more value to you than you can imagine. As you participate in your network – your friends and associates – make sure to help them find what they’re looking for. Help them with jobs, choosing the right iPod, finding the right hotel for vacation, answering those social network questions, or whatever else comes along. Be the resource that your network needs and your network will be there for you.

Photo credit: luc legay

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