Archivo August de 2011
This is a post by PR columnist, Alison Kenney.
Like many people, when it comes to Google+ I’m wary of putting time and energy into another social media network, especially when there’s not a lot to be gained from doing so yet. Unlike the major social networks Google is trying to unseat with Plus (such as Facebook and Twitter), Google+ isn’t attracting the masses and the folks who are attracted are scratching their heads once they join.
So, what is one to do?
First, have some perspective –Google+ got an impressive jump out of the starting gate with 25 million people signing up for it in the first month. Technology “geeks” and social media experts rave about it. On the other hand, Google+ visitors have dropped 37 percent in the last few weeks, according to Alexa and plenty of “ordinary folk” who got into the beta have expressed backlash for Google+.
Give Google a chance – Google+ is currently in a closed beta testing phase but Google appears to be betting heavily on Plus with impressive marketing expenditures. Google has yet to introduce its Google+ pages for businesses, so it’s impossible to say what the business opportunity will be yet (though that isn’t stopping anyone from speculating)
Be patient – as Doug Haslam writes on the Voce Communications blog: “I ask the early adopters not to declare the service dead or the greatest thing ever- mere days into this limited launch. I share the naysayers’ concerns that it will be hard to move people off Facebook and/or Twitter, let alone other services we are used to using, to make Plus the center of our lives. We don’t even know what the services for businesses are going to be, so snap judgments on this new social network are meaningless. I also share the cheerleaders’ enthusiasm- for me, a hope, really- that Google Plus may actually take advantage of the fact many of use disparate Google services like Mail, Documents, even Buzz (guilty, and lonely).”
What do you think? Have you tried Google+? What do you think it’s chances are?
Alison Kenney an independent PR practitioner with more than 15 years of PR consulting experience. She is based on Boston’s North Shore and has worked with organizations in the technology, professional services and consumer industries. She writes a bi-monthly PR column on LindsayOlson.com. You can find her at www.kprcommunications.com. Learn more about Alison Kenney.
While most jobs will hold performance evaluations during the year to let you know where you need to improve, not all companies or managers will do this well. In some cases, you may find that the evaluations are neutral, giving you little or nothing to work with. In others, the supervisor may give unsatisfactory advice or simply forgo the constructive criticism you’d hope to hear in order to continuously improve your skills and performance. In these cases, you will need to come up with your own performance metrics.
Why You Need Goals
Without a good idea of where to improve, you’ll find yourself in a rut, and probably not very happy or challenged in your job. That’s why it’s a good idea to come up with your own evaluations if the company doesn’t offer you any suitable suggestions.
When you improve your work related skills, you’ll find that you increase your chances of:
- Promotion
- Earning more
- Learning new skills and gaining the confidence in your peers and managers to take on new roles and projects
Step One: Identify Trouble Spots
A few questions can help you figure out your weak spots, though you will likely have an idea already if you make a habit of evaluating yourself. Answer the questions and keep a log of the information down to help you keep track of it.
What have people spoken to you about in the past? It isn’t always your supervisor who offers the best criticism. If someone else has mentioned something you’ve missed in your job or on a specific project, then this could indicate an area you need to work on.
What areas do you struggle with in your job? Chances are you already have an idea of where you feel uncomfortable in your job. These are areas that could be improved and you are in the best position to identify them.
How could you better serve the company? Is there anything you could do to improve your efficiency? The more you bring to your company, the more likely you are to be recognized for your efforts.
How could you better serve your clients? In every company, the customers or clients are the most important factor, so it’s worth it to make sure you are serving them to your utmost ability. Think of how you treat your clients. Could you do anything to improve the experience for them?
Which areas or tasks do you tend to put off in your job? If you are avoiding certain aspects of your job or always procrastinate on the same thing, then it is probably an area you could work on.
Once you have your list of areas to improve on, it’s time to move to Step Two.
Step Two: Setting Goals for Improvement
Don’t attempt to fix everything at once. Instead, choose one or two areas to work on first. These should be areas that really affect your job performance and be noticeable if you work on them.
Make sure you choose realistic goals. Look at the big picture and break it down into the appropriate milestones. A plan will help you stay motivated and allow you to see your progress.
Don’t forget to give yourself a specific time limit to reach your milestones and goals. These should also be reasonable, don’t expect dramatic changes in just a few days, of course.
Take your plan to a supervisor and go over it. While the supervisor may not have been the one to come up with the ideas for improvement, he or she will likely see the wisdom of your ideas and can offer some tips or advice on improving in the areas you have chosen (and perhaps give you the additional feedback you’ve been hoping to hear). It shows your employers you are proactive and motivated in your career – all important characteristics to continue to move ahead.
Tips for Success
If you want to be successful in your pursuit of improvement, you’ll need to keep a few things in mind.
- Keep it simple.
- Be realistic.
- Make your goals measurable.
- Always be evaluating.
Remember S.M.A.R.T: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely.
Social media sites can be very useful if you’re looking for a job, but it isn’t a magic lamp that you can just pick up and rub and expect a job to appear. It takes some effort and planning to ensure that your efforts return rewards.
What Not to Do
Networking on social media needs to start long before you actually need work. Just suddenly appearing and asking for a job is a sure way to turn hiring managers and recruiters off, even if you’ve done your research and know who’s hiring. You should have an established profile and some relationships built before you begin to job hunt. I like it when people approach me on Twitter, Facebook and my blog to ask about positions, the difference lies in how the person approaches me.
Jumping into social media for the express purpose of contacting hiring managers will make you look desperate and is more likely to lose you potential jobs than give you a chance. Instead of starting when you’re desperate, get a head start on making use of social media by establishing visibility and relationships earlier. People are more willing to help and listen when they already know you.
Get Into Social Networking Early
Even if you don’t currently need work, make a point of being active on social networks anyway. This is the perfect time to build relationships and get to know people without needing something from them. Interaction is key when it comes to establishing a solid relationship, so make a point of talking with others instead of just at them. There are a few ways to create successful connections with other social media users, whether they are hiring managers or not.
Follow people who work for the company you are interested in working with. Don’t just watch them, however, take the time to actually talk to them. On Twitter, you can retweet their more interesting or useful posts, answer their questions or even ask them questions and discuss your mutual interests.
Other ways to start interacting with companies and their employees is to comment on the company blog and tweet or share the link on your favorite social media networks, or contact them via email. Once you get to know someone well enough on social media, moving to email or meeting up in-person if local is an easy step and could give you a leg up on the competition later when you need a job.
When You Need a Job
Ideally, you will have a well established social network by the time you are ready to start job hunting. If you are able, it may even be worth it to hold off on looking for a job for a little while in order to build up your network.
Once you’re ready, you can let your network know that you are in the market for a position. When reaching out, be specific and make it easy for people to help you. Let your network know about what kind of opportunity interests you, or even the specific companies. If you know that a particular hiring manager has an opening or if you are particularly interested in working for them, reach out directly to that person.
Some companies have very strong referral programs where existing employees can recommend you for an open position. If you know someone within the company, ask them about the opening. Asking for the recommendation is a big favor, though, so make sure you ask someone who has really connected with you and has some experience with your work.
Keep in mind that anyone you ask about work should already have a relationship with you. Unless you are reaching out to an industry recruiter or the HR department, people generally don’t respond positively being asked for favors by strangers, so make sure you know the person you are asking and that they know who you are.
It takes time to build relationships and these should ideally be relationships that will last even if they can’t help you find work. People tend to know when they’re being used, so keep it real and be genuine in your friendship. Even online, this matters and sincerity could make all the difference in whether you get a job or not.
A post by PR columnist, Alison Kenney.
It’s summer…the mind wanders…and all of a sudden you don’t have the same energy for your PR efforts. Those new media pitches aren’t rolling off the keyboard anymore; you aren’t spending time on networking occasions; or you haven’t, ahem, blogged in awhile.
Fear not, here are a few tips to stay get that motivational juice flowing again:
Hit re-start – take a fresh look at your work and go back to original proposals and/or plans to see if you’re meeting objectives or to gather ideas for other efforts you could be doing
Give yourself permission to roam – some of my best ideas come from surfing the web, clicking through to links that others have shared, and reading whatever catches my interest
Take advice from those who’ve gone before you – you’re not alone and co-workers, colleagues and others in your network or online have plenty of advice to offer about breaking through writer’s block or ideas for generating content
Check out the competition – sometimes nothing gets you motivated faster than the idea of being left behind; looking at your firm’s or client’s competitors and their PR efforts, or checking out what other PR professionals are up to, could be the motivation you seek
This topic came up in a recent #soloPR chat on Twitter and the group had this advice:
Take some time off:
@dariasteigman “When was your last vacation? Just a few days off did wonders for me”
@karenswim “Take some time away, even a day to recharge & assess if you need to change direction”
Look outside yourself for inspiration:
@CommAMMO “Learn something new, talk to someone new, go to a new conference or meeting, have a new martini…”
@BlueprintCG_PR “I get my mojo back by picking up a good business book on what I need insight on”
@REDMEDIAPR “find what your passionate about and start dabbling ex I love wine but have no wine pr exp so cut my rate to get feet wet”
@dconconi “learn a new skill (eg. sm), take a mini break (or a long one), bring in a sub who you can teach (and learn from)”
@BlueprintCG_PR “Always keep reading…it feeds the brain, gives insight, & points u to new directions”
@BlueprintCG_PR “A good workout helps me clear my lungs & recharge my mind”
@sophie180 “Brainstorm! New biz opps or that new BIG idea”
@mdbarber “Meet with another pro and exchange ideas about each other’s job, or another business problem”
Change things up:
The creator and moderator of the SoloPR chat, Kellye Crane says, “Sometimes working from a different location can jump start the mojo.” She added, “Also, is it time to raise your rates? Sometimes we feel defeated when not being paid our worth.”
Consider the big picture:
@dariasteigman “Assess the problem: is it burn out, boring work, uninspired projects, etc.?”
@jenzings “first, step away and identify the problem–what’s boring? The client, the approach, etc. Can’t fix until examine critically”
@KellyeCrane “When in a funk, I start thinking about what it is I *want* to be doing. Then figure out how to do it!”
@jgombita “Is it really the work you are bored with? Or is it other aspects of your life you are unhappy about? (Transferring emotions.)”
[You can read the full #soloPR chat transcript here or at the solopr.com web site.]
Do you have other tips for staying motivated? Please share your ideas in the comments below.
Alison Kenney an independent PR practitioner with more than 15 years of PR consulting experience. She is based on Boston’s North Shore and has worked with organizations in the technology, professional services and consumer industries. She writes a bi-monthly PR column on LindsayOlson.com. You can find her at www.kprcommunications.com. Learn more about Alison Kenney.
I’m posting again for US News & World Report’s On Careers blog!
Last week I wrote about how LinkedIn Groups can help you build relationships and discover companies/opportunities that may not be posted elsewhere. Read it here.
It’s a great place to connect with like-minded people. My search firm, Paradigm Staffing, created a PR & Communications Jobs Community (come join us!) where we post our open positions and give a place for PR professionals to connect and discuss PR and job search strategies and topics. In the recent months, a topic was posted about age discrimination in the PR industry and it sparked such a lively discussion that several of the group member have taken it offline to create their own cause-related PR firm!
This week I posted about How to Get Your Resume in Front of the Right Person – everything from identifying the hiring manager, cold calling, and customizing your communication to that person is covered.
You’ve heard the advice that you should start a blog in order to help you find a job. It’s not always feasible to write a blog as Alison explains, so don’t sweat it if you don’t have one. Many other tools exist that will help you maintain a professional presence online that recruiters and hiring managers can find.
Here are a few:
About.Me
Think of About.Me as a visually appealing resume with links to click on. Users can provide an overview of who they are, as well as link to their social networking pages, LinkedIn profile, websites, etc. You can include a photo of you, which is a nice touch to give recruiters a visual connection to you.
The great thing about About.Me is that you can use it to funnel in all types of people to one spot. All your different social media and personal links are found on one page, which keeps you from having to list half a dozen URLs on your resume. Another perk? It’s free.
The drawback is that you can’t really include your entire resume; it’s more a place to give a sense of who you are rather than the whole enchilada. Visitors still have to click on the different links to learn more.
Tumblr
If you don’t have time to blog, consider Tumblr your “mini blog.” You can write blurbs on professional and industry topics you’re interested in easily, as well as share links, videos and photos. A hiring manager can view this as your interest and knowledge on a topic; it’s especially good if you don’t have a lot of job experience in an industry. It shows that you’re proactive in learning about your desired field of work.
The disadvantage is the same as the benefit; if you’re trying to score a job that requires solid writing skills, recruiters might not see Tumblr as a reliable indicator of your writing ability.
Social Networking
Social networking tools like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter are also good replacements for a blog in the job hunt. You can share posts and news, engage in conversations, follow topic hashtags like #PRJobs or #HAPPO to find jobs, or follow recruiters and HR staff. You might find out about a job before it’s even posted to the site if you maintain relationships through social channels.
Keep in mind that having a presence on social media requires a lot of effort; if you’re not active, you’re invisible, and you won’t find a job that way.
The key to being found online is to be there. Work to update these channels daily and connect with hiring managers and recruiters. Build the relationships before you need them so you don’t seem desperate for a job.
This is a guest post written by Jonathan Rick.
“We’re gonna make your logo pop! We’re gonna make the
IPREX globe spin! And we’re gonna make the buttons beautiful!”
“A button can be beautiful?” asked a skeptical Susan.
“Oh yeah!” beamed a confident Jesse.
It was at this moment that Jesse had Susan. He’d been muddling through the meeting, but this burst of bravura, energy and passion was sincere and infectious—a gust of fresh wind that won him the contract to redesign SusanDavis.com.
Similarly, when I myself interviewed with Susan, things coasted along for the first 15 minutes. She asked about my experience; I provided conventional answers. Then she deployed her pet question: “If you were an animal, what would you be?”
”That’s easy,” I grinned. “I’d be a dog.” It was at this moment that I had Susan. With great pride and obvious pleasure, I regaled her with stories of my miniature schnauzer, Wyatt.
One final example. I was one of three interviewing a potential subcontractor for a Defense Department project. It was clear this husband-and-wife team could do the job, but they lacked fire in the belly. And because it wasn’t clear that they really wanted the gig, it wasn’t clear if they’d be fun to work with.
Sensing this, my boss’s boss changed direction and pinged the pair with the following question: “Can you tell us about any of your extracurricular activities that relate to the military?”
The husband tilted his chair back, searched his memory, then tilted forward. “Sure,” Chris said, as he proceeded to uncork a heartfelt narrative about a recent weekend when he was home playing video games. When his wife returned, she told him about a veterans charity she had just read about. The story so moved Chris that he dropped his controller and stayed up all night voluntarily coding for the nonprofit.
“If these guys can sacrifice their lives for their country, I can sacrifice a night’s sleep,” he said with a gleam in his theretofore sleepy eyes. It was at this moment that he had us.
To an artist like Jesse, attention to the seeming minutia of Web design was no big deal. To a PR guy like me, naming five national reporters mattered more than discussing my dog. To an engineer like Chris, proposals ought to be won or lost on their merits, not on what the bidders do in their spare time.
Yet what all three of us failed to appreciate was the import of passion. Fortunately, we each were tossed a soft ball to rectify this. Not everyone is so lucky. It shouldn’t take prompting to light your fuse.
Passion, of course, isn’t a substitute for talent. It is, however, a key differentiator, revealing what makes you tick, what drives you, what you’re capable of achieving in the right circumstances. To exude such enthusiasm is to show character. To withhold it is to be average.
So, the next time you’re in an important meeting—be it an interview, a sales pitch, even a date—relax that uncomfortable façade, slacken your stilted smile, and unbottle your passion. No doubt, you’ll be more comfortable. And more successful.
Jonathan Rick, a social media strategist in Arlington, Va, blogs at No Straw Men and tweets at @jrick.
This blog is to share my recruiting experiences and discuss thoughts on the job market, PR industry and technology.
Alison Kenney is an independent PR practitioner with more than 15 years of PR consulting experience.
