Boosting Your Career Via Social Media

Excellent advice! I've been a "Career Coach" for eleven years now, and when it comes to getting a job and building a career, it ALWAYS comes down to who you know.! I don't care how nice (or crappy) your resume is-you must be able to present yourself in a way that, even if the person on the other side of the desk (or computer, or super-cool phone/gadget) doesn't know you-they feel like they do at the end of your time spent with them. It is true that you must have some of the competencies/experiences they are looking for. However, the only way I have EVER seen anybody get a job that they did not have the qualifications for was when they knew the right person. There are those who will cry that this is unfair. Really?!? It is fair that a hiring decision was made about you based on a piece of paper that outlines only some of your experiences/skills and includes nothing about the person who your momma raised you to be? Yes, it is unfair when daddy hands silver-spoon boy his position as V.P. of whatever, but that is never going to change! If you are not silver-spoon boy, you MUST work hard to build real relationships and experiences to be able to compensate/compete. In our ultra-connected world, it is not going to change anytime soon! Learning to use the online tools is only one part of the equation. If you are not the same person when you turn your phone/computer off you are going to be in trouble.

Thanks Richard and Jon! I love my non-American friends! xoxox

Jon Buscall beat me to it and said it all.

Thanks for being an inspiration and constantly pushing the boundaries of what you can do with social media

Brilliant, Gini. The scarf dare was hilarious.

Good advice too: it's all about building online relationships.

Hello: Please let me add a few thoughts to the question on how young professionals can enhance their career opportunities.

1. Volunteer -- Consider the obvious options like PRSA and Business Marketing Association, but others within your community or those that reflect passions.

2. Keep Learning -- There are many online, self-directed and in-person learning opportunities to grow professionally. Embrace these regularly.

3. Publish -- Contribute a "serious" article to any of the many online or print resources. Use social media to spread the word about you accomplishment.

4. Concentrate -- Become an expert in something, perhaps one related to a field or industry that you thoroughly enjoy.

Great advice Gini. I am going to send this to my daughter who is graduating college in May and in my best dadlike tone tell her that this is must viewing and really good advice. Much here I think that can also be adapted to those of us who are looking to sell our services as well. Thanks for posting this.

Kev - I'll "like" your page when you send the wine. :)

Charlene - I think gooey cookies would only work with me! But you ask a great question. I can only speak to what we would do (focus group of one). If you found out we were hiring and tracked us for a few days on Facebook and Twitter, made comments on the blog, or on our YouTube channel, we'd for sure talk to you. It doesn't have to be a long and extended relationship. We just want to know you're paying attention to who we are...and now it's easier to know that because of the Web.

Gini, nice. Yeah, actually shipping the wine does help in the bribe. My excuse? Waiting for labels, which are now in and will be applied shortly.

If they sent you gooey cookies you'd hire them, right?

What if someone has been living on the other side of the planet and is KICK ASS at PR, but they didn't even know you existed before they happened to see you were hiring or something?
This is a new model for hiring and I'm curious about it...

Ces...uh...use the search bar here? Alright, fine. I'll be nice. It's here: http://www.spinsucks.com/social-media/how-a-start-up-company-should-begin-a-social-media-strategy/

I saw number 2, but missed #1. How can I see it?

Kevin - bribing with wine works...if it actually arrives!

Patrick - that's so not a dare. But you have a deal.

Karen - next time you're in the city you HAVE to let me know. We'll go hat shopping!

Gini,

As always, great content that so many can use. We really should meet up one of these days. I was slightly disappointed in the lack of hatvertising, but appreciate the shout out.

Gini...great advice as usual. It's about building relationships and social networking and the social web provide that opportunity to do that with people across the country and across the world! I guess that's why your looking for global domination!!!!

Now...I QUADRUPLE DOG DARE YOU to say that your are a Michigan State fan on your next video blog. If you do, I'll buy you a Starbucks. Go Green!

I heard other ways to boost one's career is to bribe CEOs with wine and to win tagline contests. I can't imagine where these suggestions came from, but I kind of like them.

Great advice in your video, Gini!

other than the scarf being an awkward situation.. i love the content of what you shared. I feel good that i have moved in this direction on many levels. One of which is to connect with people who I highly respect in the industry and am trying to learn from!

thanks for all your wisdom!

Oh G, you shouldn't have opened the door to the dares. I fully expect to see an insane hat soon or scarf or maybe a frilly cravat. If not, there will be a hat from the past sent, if I can find it. Good topic. I believe this is actually something our recruiting department is working on. At least for certain areas like Marketing and Sales where they pull fresh out of Universities. Ironic, considering their harball stance on Social Media, blogging, and other things for it's current employees.

It's nice to know you are motivated through dares!

Anyone who knows me really well knows that isn't a surprise. It's part of our culture here...they know if they really want me to do something, they should DARE me. Sad, but true.

So, I would love to have heard that conversation:

Gini: "OK, listen, I need someone to lift up my scarf!"
Staff: "Um, why?"
Gini: "It's a triple dog dare damnit! DO IT! JUST DO IT!"
Staff: "do we have to?"
Gini: "YES! IT'S A TRIPLE DOG DAREEEE!"
Staff: "um, ok."

How do I know this is how the conversation went? Because it's pretty much exactly what would happen in my office. Thanks Gini! You're the best!

I LOVE these videos!!!