Mar 31, 2009 | blog
One of the more frequent questions I hear about social media, is around how much time should a person allocate towards it. The answer is a lot simpler than it seems: lots.
For those looking at moving into a social media role, whether its a community manager, specialist, analyst, or strategist (hmm… lots of –ists in there) expect to spend quite a bit of time. Each of these jobs consist of a lot of hours, mainly because you’re dealing with a platform that never turns off: the Internet.
The speed of the Internet really has an influence on the time you need and should spend in a social media related field. Since things change so quickly, it’s imperative to be monitoring all the spaces that are relevant to your company, brand, or interests. This can take up a huge amount of time.
The bottom line on time invested in social media activities, is that you need to set boundaries, and work towards containing them. There are always things that require our attention, or distract us in some way. The trick is to be diligent in leveraging the tools and services that are available for doing monitoring and alerting you when something needs attention, or is relevant to your interests. Event then it get’s a bit difficult to stay on track.
Mar 6, 2009 | happiness
Finishing one chapter of a career, about to start another.
Feb 9, 2009 | blog, happiness
I have to take a minute and talk about the atmosphere that I’ve been working in as a consultant for the last eight months. It’s been an unbelievable stressful environment. Why have I stuck with it? Guess I’ve fallen into that rut of feeling like I need to be “responsible†and keep the nose to the grindstone – or something like that.
The reality, of course, is that this particular contract has taken more of my time, energy, and attention to participate in this environment. More than I would like to admit to friends and family – though they can probably tell from my blogging tempo at the very least.
That’s the rub too isn’t it? Coworkers who’ve been in their particular pressure cooker don’t see it for what it really is. Or is it easier from an outside perspective to criticize what you perceive is wrong and how it contributes the behaviors you observe?
At any rate, I’m finding the pressure of my current contract to be more than I desire to maintain. There are options to follow up on, and directions to pursue. Despite the news you hear from the mainstream media, there just seems to be an avalanche of opportunities out there if you’re watching for them.
So instead of stewing here in the juices of an unhappy circumstance, I’m off to change the future once again. Why don’t you join me?
Photo credit: Scribblings of Light
Feb 9, 2009 | blog
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
Jan 28, 2009 | happiness
By noon today, will the week be half over, or will you still see another half week to go before the weekend?
