A new approach to the unemployment line - Social Media!

As part of my reading to assist in building the marketing and branding position of the construction company I'm working with, I was inspired to use these same techniques to market something I'm really in need of "selling" - ME! I felt like it was time to break out of the cover letter, resume, boring, boring, boring routine and exercise my marketing skills!

So, to do this, I launched accounts on Twitter, Facebook, about.me and, of course, Blogspot to profile my skills, traits, personality and professional life. I will be blogging, tweeting and posting on topics related to marketing, design, advertising, branding, public relations and the like.

To start, I created a fan page on Facebook to be my public profile for prospective employers. While I have nothing to hide in my personal profile, I didn't really think that they would want to read about the kids' activities or follow my Farmville progress!

Once the page was created, I asked my friends to support my cause by posting the following to my personal profile:

OK, friends! I need your help! I'm trying a new approach to the unemployment line - social media! To help me out, visit my page (http://on.fb.me/nxt4QV), "like" the page and add a comment, quote, etc. that would be your endorsement of me. My focus is on media, marketing, branding, public relations, copy writing, advertising, etc.

If you can speak to either/both of my personal and professional attributes including (but not limited to!) writing, creativity, design, creation, communication, professionalism, character, organization, etc., that would really help me out! My plan is to link this page, my Twitter page and about.me page via QR code to put on application materials. Thanks in advance for your help! ~C

Next up, I created a Twitter account and linked it with my Facebook page. The content of my Facebook feed and Twitter account will be essentially the same, as one will post to the other and vice-versa, but is simply another outlet for my information.

Finally, I created a QR code that takes you to the about.me page I created (which, as of this writing is still in progress...why is it you can't find any decent pictures of yourself when you really NEED one??). On my about.me page, I plan to profile some key attributes and skills as well as create a memorable plug in the minds of prospective employers. I'm thinking a story to stick in their mind will do the trick! I also linked my blog (see it at http://christinacox.blogspot.com/), Facebook page and Twitter account from this page so it became one-stop shopping for viewers.

Do you have ideas on what else I should include or things I should consider? Post them in the comments below and help me make my online marketing plan thrive!

8 Ways to Stay Afloat While Between Jobs

This is a cute little article and video clip. While it didn't tell me anything I didn't already know or wasn't already doing, it does offer a little bit of inspiration to reinvent yourself during this lean time. :)

Check it out here: http://blog.simplyhired.com/2011/08/8-great-ways-to-stay-afloat-while-between-jobs.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=aug9

BOOK: The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook by B. Mezrich

I've been reading The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook by Ben Merzich. It's definitely a page-turner and is enlightening to read about how Mark Zuckerberg, a then-Harvard student with almost zero social aptitude, created Facebook essentially to help students to interact with one another. Having hacked into Harvard's network, almost getting himself expelled from school and a computer geek right down to the core, Zuckerberg had no intention of making it a billion-dollar company!

I highly recommend reading Ben's account of the creation of Facebook!

Still watering...

I've fallen behind on my blog postings, but not because I have quit watering the bamboo! Over the past month, I have been ear-deep in website design, SEO self-study, marketing techniques, networking, business plans and personal discovery.

The website is taking shape. It now links to Tyton's FB and Twitter accounts, posts our blog, along with an RSS option, links to another website (buildzoom.com) where customers can review our company and a feed from our Twitter posts. Whew! I've also been exploring how to move our site up on the Google results through SEO.

In the meantime, I've continued to explore potential career paths to follow. Everyday, I feel more and more compelled to shift away from school/site-based educational positions. At this point, I'm seriously considering leaping into the field of real estate. It's a far cry from the field of education, but it speaks to my heart.

I've also determined over the past couple of weeks that a career focused in sales could be a good fit for me, but it is VERY dependent on what I'm selling. If I'm selling real estate, great! If I'm selling insurance, no thank you!

Income is important, too. I made decent money in my last job, so looking to positions that pay $30 or $40K a year hurts. But, at the same time, I could make $150K in a job I hate, but it would still be a job I hate. I'm tired of getting up everyday to go to job I'm so miserable doing. I need one that I love!

So, as I continue to water my bamboo, I need to go back to the core values I identified at the beginning of this process and see how they fit into my ideal job. I'll also be exploring how the finances will work out and plan to complete a CIS to identify other possible careers I haven't thought of that will fit into my ideals.

I'll also be posting the titles of books I am reading and, when I think of it, I'll post my thoughts on the topic and on the book itself.

Until next time, in the words of Howard Shultz, ONWARD!