Posts Tagged ‘social media’

Top three twitter tips for university leavers – guest blog

October 20th, 2011

Guest post by Gautam Godhwani, CEO of SimplyHired.co.uk

As a recent university graduate, you’re probably very familiar with social networks like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+. Now that you’re starting your job hunt, have you considered using these networking sites for more than catching up with friends, but to help you land a graduate job?

Twitter can be incredibly valuable in your job search if used in the right way. Shifting from using social networks as a social tool to a professional one isn’t always easy, so we’ve put together our best tips for using Twitter in your job search:

1. Follow the right people

If you aren’t certain of what industry you’re interested in, Twitter can be a great help. For a more general view of the job market, find and follow job recruitment / job seeking websites on Twitter. Simply Hired, for example, uses our Twitter feed (@SimplyHiredUK) to tweet about employment news, job openings and job seeker tips.

If you do know what industry excites you, start following anything in relation to that field. Twitter is a great way to get insight into job sectors through news stories and what influential people in the market are talking about. Most national newspapers have separate Twitter handles for different types of news, for example The Daily Telegraph has a @TeleFinance handle which tweets financial news. Make sure to follow the most relevant news to the industry you are interested in. Some journalists will work in different industries so whilst looking in newspapers and reading relevant stories, take a look at the journalist that wrote it and follow them on Twitter too.

Additionally, start following companies that you are interested in working for. Companies will often advertise their employment vacancies on Twitter and link to the application page. By following companies you’re interested in, you’ll gain great insight on the company that will really help you if you get the chance to interview.

2. Create your ‘professional’ handle

You may not be ready to stop following your favourite celebrities, so a great option is to create a separate professional Twitter handle just for your job search and future employment. This way, you can still keep your personal Twitter handle where you can follow whoever you like. When creating your new handle, make sure to keep it professional and use your real name, if Twitter is going to help you get your dream job you need to be formal, no more ‘@hot_stuff’ handles please! You can easily manage your different accounts in one place if you use a dashboard like Tweetdeck, Hootsuite or Seesmic.

3. Tweet, Retweet, mention and tag

When you first start out on Twitter it’s acceptable to be a ‘listener’, but you must become vocal in order for Twitter to really help you on your job hunt. This may seem daunting, but a great way to get yourself recognised whilst not feeling scared to press ‘send’ on your tweet is to retweet. If you see a news story or an employer’s tweet that you find interesting, retweet it. Make sure to include your own comment such as ‘look at this great story’ or include your opinion on a piece. Companies will see that you have retweeted their tweets and if you’re clever about it, you will be sure to get yourself noticed! It’s also a great idea to include relevant hashtags in your tweets. For example, if you go to a networking event, check to see if there is a hashtag associated with the event and include it at the end of any tweets you send about the event while you’re there. This can help you get the attention of other attendees and organisers.

Networking is your key to finding a graduate job in the current climate, and social networks like Twitter make the process much easier. Twitter is an amazing tool for self promotion, networking, and job seeking. It’s time to boost your online presence and get savvy with social media.

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Blogging your way to a career

September 22nd, 2011

Last year, celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton was offered $20m for his website PerezHilton.com. The blog quickly transformed the gossip site guru into one of the most recognised celebrity bloggers and influential people on the web.

Obviously not everybody will bag fame and fortune from their blogs, but they undoubtedly open doors to other opportunities and are a great way to build an online reputation. Blogs can showcase your talents, improve your writing skills and even enhance your chances of finding a graduate internship or job and impressing potential employers.

It is likely that at some point in the hiring process a potential employer will Google your name to see what they find. Therefore, you want it to support and enhance the perception you have created with your CV. The content they find should be informative, professional, well written and portray passion for the subject.

Steps in creating your own blog:

1.      Decide what you want the content to be about. There are so many topics and options but it will be your enthusiasm for a topic that will keep you writing. Begin by asking yourself ‘what do I love?’ You need to consider your hobbies, what books you read or films you watch, what industries interest you and what your favourite websites are.

2.      You need to focus on the aim of your blog.  You need to think about whether it is to spread the word about a particular topic, make your readers laugh or educate people? With this in mind you can then keep your content focused and targeted.

3.      Keep it updated and blog regularly. A blog with only 2 or 3 posts or that hasn’t been updated in 6 months has little value. If an employer looks at your blog and sees that only there are only a couple of entries that are dated then they may assume that you are either not committed to it, or that it’s only out there for show. It will also help boost search engine rankings and a higher rank will send you more people.

4.      Keep it professional! Remember that a potential employer could be reading it. They don’t want to see bad language, poor spelling or bad mouthing of other companies.

5.      Use social media to promote your blog. If an employer does search you online you want them to be able to find your blog so make sure it is linked from other places. Use Twitter, LinkedIn profile and Facebook and make sure it shows up when searched for

So now you have all the tools get that blog started! Once your blog is up and running, make sure you include a link to your blog in any job application.

Start blogging now!

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What is a Digital Marketing Executive?

April 14th, 2011

Companies are increasingly realising the importance of digital marketing in enhancing their business thus creating many new career paths and job titles. The ability to build an online connection to customers or clients is quickly becoming one of the most highly demanded skills in the job market.

A digital marketing executive is typically responsible for engaging a brand with customers or clients via the digital space, aiming to establish and manage the online presence. It is their job to keep up to date with relevant issues and latest news through articles and blogs to ensure that their brand is at the forefront of any industry developments.

An important part of a digital marketing executive’s job is to engage with the community through social media methods such as Facebook and Twitter. What was once pre-teen and student territory is now seen as a required skill to engage with customers and clients. The role also involves the analysis of website traffic flow and creating online adverts using Facebook and Google.

To get a better feel of the role of a digital marketing executive we asked Joe Kiddle who is currently doing a digital marketing internship at a web-based company. His day-to-day tasks included updating website content, helping design and maintain the weekly newsletter, SEO keyword searching, image optimisation, engaging with the community through social media and some print based design work.

He had this to say about his internship;

“Working for a web-based company has taught me a lot about what goes on behind the scenes; from the general maintenance and updating of site content to advertising, gaining a brand presence online through SEO, social media and web-based design. I enjoyed having my own input into various web and print based design aspects, as well as being responsible for the newsletter and social media areas. I think having this responsibility and input is important in an internship, it allows you to grow within the role whilst developing ideas and learning from your own mistakes.”

Do you have your own unique blogging style and killer online presence? If you live and breathe social media then why not think about a career in digital marketing.

Follow Joe on Twitter @JoeKiddle or check out his blog http://corneroftheearth.tumblr.com/

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Industries that didn’t exist 10 years ago

April 4th, 2011

If you have graduated or are a student looking to graduate this summer you will be starting to think about the next step. For all those who are looking for the answers to ‘what’s next?’ and ‘what roles are out there?’ we have put this blog together, eager to broaden your mind to new and developing job markets.

From technology to cultural shifts there are so many aspects affecting the changing job market. For example, huge advances in social media mean that brands and companies can use websites such as Facebook and Twitter in the day-to-day running of their businesses to increase both their customer base and presence. Also, with further progression and innovation in the energy market there is growing demand and opportunities for roles within the renewable and green sector.

For the best chance of bagging and hanging onto that graduate internship or job, you should consider focusing on a profession and a career in a growing industry rather than a declining one. There are many fields that are constantly growing and developing and are therefore creating jobs.

The following are good examples of new roles for 2011 and beyond, ones that didn’t even exist 10 years ago.

Social Media Executive

If you are a social media buff then turn your past-time into your job by pursuing a career in digital media.  A role in this sector  focuses on building brands through the use of social websites and tools. So if you know your #hashtags from your re-tweets and have great social presence or maybe you write your own blog then this could be the perfect role for you.

Search Engine Optimisation Specialist

There is a growing demand for SEO specialists whose key focus is to move their clients’ websites up the search engine rankings, namely Google, bringing them more site traffic and bigger profits. If you are a bit of a techie with a head for marketing and can combine analysis, experimentation and gut feeling then search engine optimisation could be just what you are looking for.

Online Advertising Executive

With developments in technology there is an ever growing need for online advertisers.  They mainly focus on optimising online advertising deciding where, when and how to run online campaigns. This could range from Google ads and Youtube videos to Facebook ads, as well as analysing and tracking each adverts performance.

Sustainability Manager

With the growing focus on recycling there are rising career opportunities and companies employing people to look after their sustainability programs. This can range from recycling and waste reduction to supplier sustainability evaluation, carbon footprint issues and leadership in the areas of facilities design, green manufacturing and more. So if you are hot on reducing your carbon footprint then sustainability is the direction to take.

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Beauty of blogging – guest blog

April 1st, 2011

Introducing new resident guest blogger Jayne Read, University of Leeds graduate.

Being unemployed totally sucks, doesn’t it? Nothing to do and nothing to focus your energy on, you feel stuck in a rut. Often it feels like you’re stuck in a vicious circle because you don’t have the experience to get the job you really want or need, but you are struggling to get a relevant job in order to get the experience that will eventually progress your career.

For me, the advantages of working in retail for nearly two years after graduating meant that the hours were flexible, I was earning money to pay the bills and I was still interacting with interesting people. Working weekends, meant that I had weekdays free for exploring and pursuing personal interests. I dabbled in freelance photography, fashion modelling and writing. It was writing that eventually caught my full attention.

About two years ago I started contributing to local and online magazines and earning a little income from online article writing. However, it was my blog that captured my imagination, because I could write to my own briefs and my own rules!

Having lived with a boy (who is now my husband) for 6 years and being obsessed with browsing the internet for interesting fashion and beauty brands, I didn’t have anyone to share my exciting finds with at home, so I started Jayne’s Kitschen to share my enthusiasm for kitsch, vintage inspired and quirky fashion, beauty and baking!

For a long time, my little WordPress blog went unappreciated, with only about 5 to 10 views a day. After playing around and learning about social media, I began to utilise Facebook to promote my writing, this increased my reader numbers, and it also enabled me to link directly to companies I was writing about.

It wasn’t until a year ago that I reluctantly started using Twitter that my blog really kicked off! Twitter baffled me, I had no idea how to use it, but with some perseverance and research I mastered it and am now proud to boast nearly 300 followers! I use Twitter to promote my blog and also as a way to contact potential companies/ people to feature. My blog now gets at least 150 views a day!

Although I was working full time in a job that I knew I wasn’t going to be in forever, and although I had periods of unemployment, this constant interaction with the digital world and the skills I have used for this hobby and others, have lead to me gaining my first career role! After seeing a company director Tweet that he needed someone to do social media for his company, I replied and within a week I started my new job!

In addition to being hired via social media, I have made some fantastic contacts within independent fashion and beauty and have started making a name for myself. In the past few months people have started approaching me for features and guest blogs, it’s fantastic and gives me hope that I’m heading in the right direction now!

Blogging is a great tool to share your personal interest and views, to keep you busy and in the end will add to your CV and help you to network with relevant people.

You can follow me on Twitter @JayneJRead, check out my blog www.jayneskitschen.com and become a fan of Jayne’s Kitschen on Facebook. Please feel free to Tweet me if you have any addition questions!

Watch this space, my next guest blog will feature tips on using social media for internship and job hunting and the pursuit of personal interests.

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Sheen seeks winning intern with tiger blood

March 8th, 2011

Unemployed actor Charlie Sheen is seeking a summer intern to join ‘Team Sheen’ to organise his social media presence and develop the social network of Hollywood’s most trending celebrity.

Yesterday the most-watched Twitter celebrity tweeted, “do you have #TigerBlood? Are you all about #Winning? Can you #PlanBetter than anyone else? If so, we want you on #TeamSheen as our social media #TigerBloodIntern!”

Following one of the most famous media meltdowns of all time, actor Charlie Sheen is looking for a social media savvy individual to help manage his online behaviour.

Sheen, one of America’s highest-paid actors on television was recently sacked from the top rating show Two and a Half Men. The troubled star was ousted after a frenzy of US media reports on Sheen’s controversial personal life including drugs and alcohol abuse.

Sheen, earning nearly $2 million an episode, had his contract cut short because of his erratic behaviour and goddess-loving lifestyle. The 45-year-old has since criticised the show’s producers and has used the media to attack his former bosses.

Sheen’s rants and philosophies have been particularly popular on Twitter where he generated a number of trending topics. The unemployed actor broke the Guinness World Record for gaining the most fans in the shortest length of time. Within 25 hours and 17 minutes of creating his Twitter account Sheen picked up a million followers.

In an earlier report, Sheen is said to have signed a deal to join 5,000 other celebrities, from Paris Hilton to Snoop Dogg, to deliver product endorsements on the social networking website.

Apparently, the most suitable intern for this position would have to be hard-working, self-motivated, creative, resourceful and a social media savvy individual to work closely with Charlie Sheen in leveraging his social network. The #TigerBloodIntern is to monitor day-to-day activities on the major social media platforms, prepare for exciting online projects and increase Charlie’s base of followers.

So if you are looking for an eight week summer internship and you have a winning attitude, tiger blood in your veins, high tolerance levels and a tendency to make terrible decisions, be sure to apply before the deadline this Friday. Just don’t say we didn’t warn you.

NB: Inspiring Interns does not endorse the Charlie Sheen internship from hell.

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An Inspiring Internship

December 2nd, 2010

London under a blanket of snow

On Monday morning, a freezing central London greeted me with a tube strike and thus a 40 minute walk across town to none other than Inspiring Interns, where I began (you guessed it)…an internship!  Whilst this wasn’t my original intention when I applied to Inspiring Interns, it has definitely transpired to be exactly the internship I was looking for.

Having graduated this year and worked for a short while in recruitment, I decided that I wanted to gain experience in marketing and I felt that an internship would be the best way of achieving this.  So having left my job I got in touch with Inspiring Interns, who offered me a number of roles including one with them. Naturally I could only choose one…

So what exactly does being a marketing intern at Inspiring Interns involve?  Basically, anything and everything.  But it has certainly brought to my attention the importance of social media in promoting a company, regardless of the industry.  Seldom do we as a consumer actively investigate new brands the age has dawned where brands must access us.  And where better to access millions of potential customers at a low cost than social media websites.

Did you know that social media has overtaken pornography as the number one activity on the internet? FACT.  Facebook tops Google for weekly traffic in the U.S.  FACT.  1 out of 8 couples married in the U.S. met via social media.  BIZARRE.  Thankfully the latter two facts relate less directly to those of us based in the United Kingdom.  However, they do go a long way in highlighting that social media is definitely the way forward in business.

So where does this leave you?  Most probably, Facebook stalking.  But for those of you interested in marketing, PR or any customer facing role, then perhaps it’s time to consider actively building yourself an online professional face.  Not only is it useful for teenagers sharing photos of prematurely drunken experiences, but it is also a good way of building up what could be necessary experience for a future career in a social media orientated role.  Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, a blog…it’s all relevant.

Ecommerce is the buzz word of the future: so get involved now.  And what better way to begin your career than with an internship?!

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Are you flexible enough?

August 2nd, 2010

A recent study by Orange has revealed that more and more job-seekers are flexible blog imageprepared to work flexible hours in their first job.

Out of the 1000 students that Orange questioned, over 53% said that they expected to work on a flexible basis, either working remotely or out of the traditional office working hours.  A further 69% said that this option was of high importance to them.  Gone are the days of graduates expecting the standard 9-5 working day for their first job – remote and mobile work has become such an integral component of corporate life that now there seems no need to even be in the office.

But what will this do in the long run to office mentality and general company well-being?  Will the annual Christmas party be a room full of people who have only ever communicated via conference-call or online, unable to recognise one another face-to-face?  Flexible working is undoubtedly a convenient way to work – you can chose your hours if your life is too hectic to fit to the 9-5 regime, or if you don’t have the means to get to the office, you can stay at home or go to the local Starbucks and login remotely.  Life no longer has to fit around work – today work can fit around your life.

These new statistics come at a time when Facebook has just revealed its worldwide population of over 500 million users, who collectively spend 700 billion minutes per month on the social networking site.  This undoubtedly confirms the influence of technology and the growing importance of social media in today’s world.  Access to networking sites in their first job also came high up on the list to graduates – 43% felt that access to sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn was integral to building up contact lists for their professional development.  Social networking is no longer confined to keeping in touch with friends and family; it’s fast becoming the most important way to connect with potential clients, business partners, and new employees.

Max Taylor, Director of Corporate Marketing at Orange, commented on his findings.  “Today’s graduates are far more digitally savvy than their counterparts of ten – or even five – years ago.  They expect to be able to work on the move and make use of tools like social media and the internet wherever they are.”  Yet despite the increased flexibility that social networks provide, there may also be some negative knock-on effects; social networking and modern technology may be doing a very good job at destroying the most basic of human abilities – that to communicate with other individuals.  In a world where technology rules, it is easy to forget how simple things like eye contact and body language make a huge difference in how a person is perceived, but these aspects are instantly lost behind a computer screen.  For the ‘flexible worker’, physical interaction between work colleagues may arguably be less important than the amount of Facebook friends or LinkedIn connections.  Is this the high-tech future we are heading towards?

Inspiring Interns is a recruitment agency that place students and graduates in internships with a view to full-time employment.   See http://www.inspiringinterns.com for all the latest news and vacancies.

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What is social media and is it a career for you?

June 10th, 2010

Inspiring Interns has placed many graduates in social media roles. If you have a flair for words you might be considering a job in copywriting or journalism, dismissing social media as a serious career option. In the past 24 months, this has all changed. Brands are crying out for talented, web-literate graduates with an innate understanding of social media.

The essence of SM is engaging and connecting with others- your peers, your friends, brands, communities, and celebrities. It allows you to share photos (Flikr/Twitpic), conversations (Twitter/chat rooms), your life (Facebook), knowledge (Wikipedia), videos (Youtube), your CV (LinkedIn) and your views (WordPress/Blogger). Social media is powerful. Facebook has 500 million active users and could hypothetically form the third largest country in the world. In May 2010, FB overtook Google as the most used website in the US.  FB captures an intricate insight into users’ views and interests, and its ads are therefore highly targeted and relevant.

Dell is a classic social media success story. They’ve used social media to engage with their customers, improve their products and improve brand loyalty. Their Twitter page has been used to provide immediate online support for their customers. Their acclaimed blog IdeaStorm has their customers sharing ideas and feedback on their products, which effectively helps Dell improve their designs for free. Dell’s SM has resulted in a significant increase in its sales.

Careers in SM vary widely. Every brand wants to harness the power of the masses. It’s cheap and it can be hugely effective if done right. Good social media managers are like gold dust and the industry is mushrooming.  SMPs can work in-house for a company/brand, as part of an in-house marketing team or for a specialist social media agency such as Alterian.

Social media professionals write blog posts, analyse audience’s reactions and act accordingly. SMPs need to be able to think on their feet, as timely responses are an imperative. You need rock-solid written and oral communications skills.  Because things are changing so rapidly in the ‘real’ world and online, you’ll need to be able to challenge thinking and create new solutions.  If you can create order from chaos and find clear pathways through disparate ideas, then social media might be up your street. It’s important that you have an inquisitive mind- that you are curious about the world around you and the social media industry as a whole.

Because social media is so popular with companies and graduates, it is usually quite difficult to secure a job with little experience. They usually hire interns or give the job to people who are already working in the company. Inspiring Interns can provide the perfect gateway into this industry, finding meaningful three month internships in social media roles that lead to full-time employment.

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