The ups and downs of interviewing
The interview process: Stressful. Scary. One of the most exciting times in your life? Hm. I don’t know about that last one. Maybe I’ll feel differently once I officially get an internship for the fall.
For the past couple of months, I have scoured the Internet, talked with friends and family, e-mailed and used Google and LinkedIn like it was my job. I sent cover letters and resumes to prospective companies hoping to get a response that would go something along the lines of, “You’re perfect. Please come work for us right away. We’ll cut you a fat paycheck.”
I’m still waiting for that e-mail to come my way, but in the meantime I have been on a few interviews and conversed with several companies. While nothing is set in stone yet, I know things will work out. I also know that my school schedule is a little bit ahead of most companies, so there’s still time to work out details.
My mom thinks this is a super-exciting time in my life. I think she’s almost envious. All I feel, however, is anxiety and uncertainty.
I’m trying to look at this time in my life from her point of view. I suppose when it comes down to it, this is a great time to not only explore opportunities, but also to learn about myself. Each interview I’ve had has made me think about my temperaments a bit more. Something that I try to take away from an interview now is a new way of thinking about how I would respond to a certain situation, or the type of environment in which I work best.
So as for now, I’m doing my best to treat this as an opportunistic time in my life, being open to whatever might come my way.
1 | Comment (0)Blogging abilities: a job requirement for president?
Should one of the requirements for the next president be that he or she is computer savvy? A recent article by the New York Times questions Sen. John McCain’s ability (or lack thereof) to e-mail, text and use the Internet.
When practically everyone has at least one form of an online account, be it e-mail, Facebook, Twitter or a blog, is it important that the commander in chief follow suit?
I don’t think most Americans want their president sitting in the Oval Office typing his latest blog or joining the latest social network. He has more important things on his plate and should be attending to them. However, a president’s level of technological knowledge can correlate with the way he implements policies.
McCain’s lack of ability to keep up with the blogging world doesn’t bother me. But a lack of interest to do so could be a red flag.
“We’re not asking for a president to answer his own e-mail,” Stanford teacher Paul Saffo said in the article. “We’re asking for a president who understands the context of what e-mail means.”
Whoever becomes president, as well as future candidates to come, needs to be aware of how the social networking world affects the average person’s daily life. It doesn’t mean he needs to be an active part of it every day, but it’s important to understand it and be able to notice how it shapes communication trends.
1 | Comment (0)I hate paying gas prices, too, but…
I rarely go a day now without hearing someone complain about gas prices or cursing them aloud myself. I cringe every time I put $50 or more on my American Express just to fill up my little old Honda Accord.
But I don’t think I’d ever be this desperate. A man in Orlando, Fla., entered a local radio contest in hopes of winning $100 worth of gas. When he heard that the radio station was giving away a $100 gas card to the person who called in with the most interesting trade, David Partin decided his unborn son’s naming rights were worth about a Franklin.
Indeed they were. Radio hosts Richard Dixon and J. Willoughby declared Partin the winner and relieved him of the agonizing task of deciding on a baby name. The baby is expected to arrive later this winter and will be named Dixon and Willoughby Partin (yes, with the word “and” included).
I guess they could have done a lot worse.
Partin and his girlfriend aren’t even getting the money until the baby’s legal birth certificate is presented! At first I wondered, ‘Where’s the trust?’ But then I realized that, of course, the radio station as well as the couple would get to relive their 15 minutes of fame in a few months when the hype has long passed.
When thinking about this story, I can’t decide if I fear for our future (gas prices, children, sense of sentimentalism…take a pick) or if I think this is a smart PR move. While I don’t think the name for one’s child should be priced at $100 in gas—come to think of it, the name for one’s child probably shouldn’t have a monetary price at all—the contest set forth by the radio station drew attention. If I were in Orlando, I’d tune into the station just to hear what people were saying about it.
The contest prize was certainly fitting for the time. Whenever anyone hears the words “free” and “gas” together now, interest is instantly sparked. And granted the station certainly didn’t anticipate getting a trade offer of this caliber. I doubt there were other offers that beat it in originality; Partin had to win.
The contest obviously sparked curiosity and talk, so it did its job. This winter, as the birth certificate is presented and Partin gets his hands on that cool hundred bucks (which by that time might only be good for a tank…OK, maybe not), I’m sure Dixon and Willoughby will be making more news.
Hm. I guess that could be referring to the two radio hosts or the one baby.
PR | Comment (0)Twitter Baby
I signed up for Twitter last night.
People talk about, my friends are members, and I’ve heard it can do wonders in terms of networking. But I’m still a newbie and don’t fully get its concept.
To me, it seems like Twitter is basically the same thing as updating your status on Facebook, or putting up an away message on AIM (I feel so old school for saying that….Does anyone do that anymore?). I’ve never been a big believer in thinking that people care that I’m drinking my morning coffee before showering then leaving my house at 11:06 to run errands, only to return for my 4:00 class in Haley (I won’t be home until after 8, so here’s my address if you want to steal anything…).
But now I just sound like a pessimist.
It doesn’t necessarily come from a place of skepticism; I simply have yet to understand how Twitter can be used to help people find jobs or gain much more than friendly connections.
Luke Walker posted a blog on PROpen Mic that was reassuring because it mentions how someone’s seemingly mundane details of his or her day can be interesting/important/significant (take your pick). It’s also one of those things that may take time to develop. I’ll have to spend some time on there to find people, let them find me and see what’s being talked about in Twitter world.
Twitter has already proven to be popular, effective and groundbreaking. I guess I just have to learn to use it to my advantage. So, with that being said, I’m going to try to figure it out and stay involved. We’ll see where it takes me.
Update: In the time it took me to write this blog, post it and figure out the links (it gets me every time), I got three followers on Twitter. I feel so special…I think I’m going to like this.
twitter | Comment (0)Yes We Can
Barack Obama’s team announced yesterday that instead of a traditional nomination acceptance, the presidential hopeful will deliver his formal acceptance speech in an open-air forum next month. The Democratic National Convention will be held on Aug. 28 in Denver.
His speech will be made in front of a crowd of 75,000 (the traditional hall where he was originally going to deliver it holds about 20,000). The tickets are free, but Obama’s team is offering special seats to some. Ten supporters who have donated at least five dollars will be chosen to receive airfare to Denver with a friend and to meet Obama backstage.
The open convention, which will be held in the Broncos’ football stadium, isn’t necessarily some huge, radical move (JFK did it, too). But it shows that Obama and his team can think outside of the box. I think it also drives home the fact that the senator is passionate about the people of the United States and their involvement and input. The event is intended to include the American people, an extension from the typical convention group.
The date, Aug. 28, it just so happens, will be the 45th anniversary of the “I Have a Dream” speech by Dr. Martin Luther King. I’m sure we can expect an allusion to that.
David Plouffe, Obama’s campaign manager, said in his message to supporters and on the Web site, “Barack has made it clear that this is your convention, not his.”
I appreciate the efforts Senator Obama is making to include the American people in his campaign and in his strategies to advance our country. They seem fitting, given the time in which we live. His Web site gives several opportunities for people to connect and share with one another. Most of the news stories posted have open threads for people to continue conversation. Supporters even have the ability to create a personal page within the site.
Some people are calling Obama’s open convention a move of theatrics. OK, maybe there’s a little bit of that in there. But something has been happening throughout this whole election process that has made it different from others: younger voters are starting to care about issues, make decisions for themselves and actively participate in the political process. If some theatrics are what it takes for that to happen, then so be it. (Here’s a prime example…no, it didn’t make or break any decisions, but it tugged at my heartstrings a little.)
I’ll admit that I have become much more aware of this election than any before. Most of that likely comes with being older, but I think the campaign tactics to reach people—especially of my generation—have been effective. When we feel like we’re being looked after and involved, we respond more proactively. Obama and his staff recognize this and are continuing a campaign that caters to this need.
campaign, obama | Comment (0)Millennials are different. And that’s a good thing.
Baby Boomer. Traditionalist. Generation Xer. I’m familiar with these labels, but until recently wasn’t aware that I am part of a generation referred to as Millennials.
I recently read a White Paper on PRWeek that takes an extensive look at how Millennials are different from other generations and how they are shaping the workplace. It describes Millennials as “children of Baby Boomers… [who] grew up surrounded by technology and entertainment.” Furthermore, they are a “generation that has known nothing but good times and is accustomed to getting what they want.”
Hm. That doesn’t paint such a nice picture of my generation. I mean, it sounds like we’re having fun, but aren’t respected much by others.
The article was interesting to read and made several good points. There are some things that simply cannot be argued about Millennials and the time period in which we were raised. For instance, we’re incredibly familiar with technological advances and are always ready for the next gadget that comes our way. Because we grew up with cable TV, video games, CDs, e-mail and eventually MP3s, text messaging and online social networks, we feel comfortable using them as forms of entertainment or communication.
Sometimes I tend to think I was born a little bit too early to be considered someone who had all of these things growing up. It wasn’t until I was in fifth grade that my family got a home computer and my parents were a little late jumping on the cable TV bandwagon, compared to most of my friends. Nonetheless, I’ve been exposed to technology long enough to barely remember life without it.
The article praises our keen abilities to use and adapt to new media. But that’s pretty much the only credit we get. Most other descriptions of Millennials paint us as focused on friends, too reliant on interactive technology, concerned only about ourselves and as people who expect a great deal of nurturing.
Speaking as a Millenial, I know I’m biased and see my generation in a different light than Baby Boomers or Gen Xers. And yes, a few paragraphs into it I started forming my arguments in defense of Millennials (you would, too, if you saw how many times the word “lazy” was used to describe your age group). But let’s consider the qualities my generation does have that are beneficial to a company. We can multitask and are open to new ideas and generally adapt well to extensions, improvements and innovations.
We love to be part of something new or groundbreaking, so if there’s a bit of a risk, we’re likely to take it. We value staying in touch with friends and colleagues (even if it is in a less personable way than relationships were upheld in the past).
And granted, the art of writing properly has considerably declined, and continues to do so with each new generation becoming more and more exposed to text messaging and lackadaisical writing, but Millennials are on top of their game when it comes to sending e-mails, texts, instant messages or tweets.
Companies need to recognize the new wave of employees coming their way. Millennials might not have the same mentality as those before them when it comes to professionalism or how to go about their work, but as a whole they understand that globalization is continuing to rise and technologies are constantly changing the way we do business.
Not every Millennial is walking around with headphones blasting and a Blackberry in hand. I live, work and go to school with Millennials. I am a Millennial. I think we’re too often dismissed as people who lack ambition. We may value our MP3s and Blackberries, but are ready for real, professional jobs. We recognize that the tools we use every day will help us succeed in a workforce that is growing with Millennials.
As I’m waiting to get an internship for the fall, I hope that the positive and forward-thinking ways of my generation will help me succeed in the working world. I only hope I can stay off of Facebook long enough to find out.
generations | Comment (0)Going Green
I love doing homework that “requires” me to watch TV. When I heard about Discovery Channel’s Planet Green network, I checked to see if my cable provider offered it, and now channel 101 is on my list of favorites.
Discovery launched the first ever “eco-lifestyle television network” last week, in hopes of convincing even more people to jump on green bandwagon. Among its efforts to promote the launch, Discovery’s PR hosted a concert, recruited various celebrities and personalities to support the channel and generated online buzz.
I applaud the efforts to get the word out about Planet Green because unlike most campaigns, the push to go green affects everyone. Whether someone is conscientious about recycling, conservation, or what have you is another story. But are we not all affected by the environment? Do we not all share the same planet?
Discovery, therefore, had a very large audience to reach. They focused, of course, on those who are actually able to watch the show, visit the Web site, understand the underlying messages and eventually practice eco-friendly ways. The company targeted three main groups, all of which received messages through a different, appropriate medium. Online blogs and sites were created in hopes of reaching a younger audience, while young adults were expected to be more receptive to magazine articles. Finally, awareness through traditional broadcast and radio caught the attention of baby boomers.
I like how Discovery’s SVP of Communications and Public Affairs, Annie Howell, described reaching a target audience as “psychographic” rather than demographic. She and her company recognized that their launch wouldn’t follow traditional methods. They needed to reach not an audience within a specific area, but with a specific mindset. As with most green efforts, the audience is a large one: planet Earth.
The timing of Planet Green worked out nicely, as well. Although going green has become a popular trend for quite some time, it has been fresh on our minds with the presidential campaign. I’m sure it’s not a coincidence that the channel has come to us during a time of heightened concern for the environment through speeches and goals for the future.
Discovery is using social media to its advantage by allowing blogs and comment posts on the site and encouraging viewers of both the channel and the site to collaborate in their efforts. Planet Green gives tips, advice and information that apply to all aspects of life: work, health, technology, fashion, etc. I think the site and channel does a good job of appealing to different ages, interests and degrees of eco-friendliness.
Some people see going green merely as a fad, but at least it’s one that is worthwhile. And while I do recognize that trends have made it seem like the popular thing to do, I don’t see it going out of style. Maybe it is “in” to be green, but who is it hurting?
If a popular stance is what it takes to strengthen and preserve our home, then consider me a follower of the in crowd.
PR, green | Comment (0)