Social Media, Jobs & You: How To "Follow" the Trend

Keep calm and tweet on!

So you're about to graduate or are still looking for that "dream job" and you need an edge. Your resume could use some beefing up but you can't justify adding "Facebook creeper" to your "Skills" section. Just when you thought that your blogging rants were perhaps a waste of time, think again...social media just might be your ticket to paradise, or at least employment.

Over the past few weeks we've been pretty busy at the office. Our data entry skills have been refined and our perky 9 a.m. phone greetings have been perfected. With our morning joe in hand, everything is going swimmingly, until there's a social media gaffe and we start wishing that everyone was as savvy as we pretend to be. 

With that, we can only predict (with side of wishful thinking), how successful you'll be after you pick up "Blogger for Dummies", but its becoming increasingly clear that social media is the way of the future. You may not realize it, but your ability to access your world through virtual means might actually pay off someday. Especially if you know how to do it right. Here are a few of our favorite tips from the blogosphere that can enhance your social media game:

1.) Do something socially constructive. (The Black Collegian): Don't be afraid to kill your time on the unemployment line by volunteering. Community service speaks to non-profits and start-ups that need malleable individuals who do good. By taking advantage and getting involved in your community, you're building material to blog or tweet about that builds your resume for you!

2.) Identify the tools to suit your needs. (PR Daily): Be aware of the platforms you use and their intended purposes. Many social media environments can be manipulated to serve in a variety of ways but be weary of posting status updates on professional sites like LinkedIn the way you would on Twitter. 

3.) Keep close tabs on your pages. (Business News Daily): Nothing is worse than losing control of your pages. Keep the number of profiles you manage to a responsible minimum and update them regularly. Information (especially pictures) that are outdated, discredit the owner's ability to successfully coordinate multiple tasks and ultimately speaks to your organization. Also, watch the comments of your followers. Crude or offensive remarks might turn your page into a red flag for potential employers.

4.) Know how you compare. (The Huffington Post): When it comes to real-life acquaintances, it's always better to believe in quality over quantity. Over the internet however, the number of friends or followers is what distinguishes successful users from their lackluster counterparts. Figure out what other people like you are doing or posting to gain traffic to their sites and follow their lead. Imitation is the finest form of flattery,  right?

If this looks overwhelming,
welcome to the big leagues!

5.) Leverage your network. (Forbes): If you're connect to a Blogspot account of someone who works in an industry you're trying to break into, ask them for advice. Facebook messages are another good way to reach out to people you admire. Don't forget to keep it professional and to not take it personally if you don't get a response. Advertising that you're actively job searching and have particular skills will also put you on employers' radar so joining LinkedIn professional groups is another good way to activate friends who can keep an eye out for you. 

6.) Maintain a smart online profile. (Monster.com): Kegstands might have been cool when you were involved in Greek life but now you're actively engaged in a job search and you'd rather be safely on your feet than with your life (literally) turned upside down. If you take pride in being successful, its probably time to untag and delete those pictures that aren't so flattering to your character. 

7.) Network wisely. (The Black Collegian): The best jobs are not always advertised in newspapers. This means that activating fellow majors in your alumni association, people who are career liaisons or college professors is a an integral part of your professional "attack plan". The more people who know you and can speak on your behalf to potential employers, the better!

8.) See yourself as an editor of your own suite of magazine. (The Guardian): We love our Tumblr, Twitter, Wordpress, Facebook and LinkedIn accounts as much as the next crop of social media mavens but there is a time and a place for everything and you can see the difference if you've found us on other platforms. Before you experiment with a new account, or think of re-purposing an old one, consider the functionality of the site and how you can make it work for you. If your Flickr is filled with vacation pictures then maybe its time to set the settings to private so that your future CEO isn't scrolling through pictures of you in a bikini (or worse, with a Spring Break sunburn)!

9.) Start a website/ blog. (Mashable Business): Take our advice and get passionate about something. For us, its a little bit of everything but there's a method to our madness. We don't average just under 700 hits a month for lack of trying so figure out what it is that makes you tick and get writing! The upside to this tip is that writing skills are invaluable and the more articulate you are about your passions, the more intriguing you become .

10.) Use your name as your brand, especially in e-mail. (Monster.com): It was cute in middle school but Pinkcutiexoxo@whatever.com isn't going to be eye-catching quite the same way a pink scented resume might be (see Legally Blonde). Keeping names consistent on your resume makes things easy and memorable for whoever is reading it. Also, if playing basketball isn't part of your desired job description, we suggest keeping any reference to a username including the word "hoopz" off the document as well.

Now that we've written the check-list, grab your favorite pen and start crossing out these steps. And don't forget to let us know how it works out for you! 

Good luck!

Everything I Need to Know I Learned...On Pinterest

Ruining a productive work day. One "pin" at a time.

If you're anything like me, you've probably become very familiar with the term "pinning". 

No, it's not a derivation on Charlie Sheen's obnoxious denial of a mid-life crisis or a newfangled way to play a childhood birthday game. 

"Pinning", in this day and age is a sensation sweeping the masses; a new social media outlet for people who have countless hours to tag pictures and videos of things that intrigue them. 

The first step is acceptance.
For all you members of "Pinners Anonymous" out there, this  page is all too familiar...

A few months ago when a then-newly engaged friend of mine had posted some of her wedding ideas on Facebook, I remember thinking, "what a pointless yet interesting way to create a wish list!" and so the journey began. I applied for an account and within a few days was exploring the site and the catalog of images that were included. But that was a few months ago. Now, Pinterest has everything from pictures of dream destinations to inspirational quotes to funny e-cards. My sister, who is a social media hermit (with the exception of a fairly witty Twitter account), has been receiving a daily text message including a snapshot of a funny thing I find on the site. She doesn't seem to be enjoying it as much as the rest of the female population but if one thing's for certain, Pinterest is growing in fans with or without her.

Just one of the many fun ideas you can use when (and if) Mr. Right pops the question.

Aside from all the useless things on Pinterest, I've found that I can create "boards" of ideas that interest me that are simultaneously informative. To prove this, I will share some of the things my pins have taught me (organized by their corresponding board titles). Maybe it will inspire you to get an account, follow me and spend an unnecessary amount of time "re-pinning" what you see.

Aesthet-tips: To create wavy hair- Mix a teaspoon of salts, a few drops of olive (or jojoba) oil and 1/4 cup of water in a spritz bottle and mist on damp hair.

a girl can dream: Wedding wish jar- Have guests slip small handwritten notes and thoughts for the bride and groom in a large glass jar. Newlyweds can read the notes post nuptials!

Barbie mansion: Organization ideas- Use empty Altoid tins to store small items by name in your junk drawer.

"Cool" Box: Laundry Cheat Sheet-To remove antiperspirant/ deodorant marks from clothes, combine half a teaspoon of dish detergent (or castile soap), a few drops of white vinegar and a half cup of water. Press into the stain with a rag. Flush with water and blot. 

Entertain me: Fun fact-Part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

Fab&fit: Reasons why you should drink green tea; It is an excellent source of antioxidants, it helps protect your liver from alcohol and it burns fat and enables you to exercise longer. 

inspiration: "For what it's worth, it's never too late to be whoever you want to be. I hope you live a life you are proud of. And if you find that you're not, I hope that you have the strength to start all over again."

sweets&treats: Cloud Parfait- Blue Jell-O + Cool-Whip

And there's plenty more where that came from! Sign-up for Pinterest using your Facebook account and follow me, NESSessCITY, for more housewares inspiration, wish list ideas, and much more!

Are you already on Pinterest? Still trying to understand the hype? Comment here, chat and 'like' us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter (@citygrlthoughts)!

Happy pinning!

Gay Marriage: Does it really matter?

Apparently Isiah isn't the only one
in support of equal marriage rights...

If you're a current events junkie (or even just a social media fiend), there's no way you could ignore the buzz today when the 9th Circuit Court in California struck down the voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage. Celebs from Corey Monteith to Olivia Munn were literally a-twitter as the news broke across the country and throughtout various social media-spheres. In fact, today's ripple effect of support for equal marriage rights begged the question; if so many are in support, have the unsupportive lost their voice?

Perhaps the most memorable quote in recent history surrounding this issue came forth today through the words of Judge Reinhardt who stated that, "Proposition 8 serves no purpose, and has no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California, and to officially reclassify their relationships and families as inferior to those of opposite-sex couples."

On conservative website, Truevalueexperience.org, writer Reid Guy suggested that since this issue is now going before the Supreme Court that, "the judges decisions could possibly change the landscape of America as we know it. This decision could go down in history as one of the most important since Roe v. Wade." Well, Dear Mr. Guy, we think so too.

Tara's "calling" out anyone who is standing in the way of gay marriage.

But as monumental as this decision is, what changes will it bring with it? Obviously it will enable those who are gay or lesbian to participate in the institution of marriage much like their heterosexual counterparts but what about other social implications? Reid Guy said "the landscape of America" would change right?

Wrong.

In case you haven't figured it out by now, you are either part of the American population that could run off tomorrow to get a marriage license in any state or you're not. You either identify as one sexual orientation or you don't. That isn't going to change. What will change is that every other American will have that opportunity too. Its not a crisis. In fact, its the opposite of a crisis.

In Hillsborough County, Florida, the cost of a marriage license is $93.50. According to Wikipedia, there are approximately 2.5 million weddings a year in the United States. If just 25% of those weddings are between gay and lesbian couples, that's $58,437,500 in revenue a year! Economically speaking, equal marriage rights would be a smart decision for America but that's not the only reason Prop. 8 was rightfully overturned.

With an economic boost and happy neighbors, society will soon see that allowing gay and lesbian couples to tie the knot is about as disastrous as allowing gays to serve in the military, sharing schools with students of a different skin color and permitting women to cast their votes in a ballot box. As history has shown, sometimes a little re-working is in order for us to progress as a civilization. Its time to recognize that the day is soon coming when "...one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of it's creed..."

So we ask to those who are still in opposition, when it comes down to it, will it truly have a negative impact on your life? Does it really matter?

What do you think? Do states have the right to ban same-sex marriage? Leave your thoughts below, on Facebook or on Twitter by following our new name, @citygrlthoughts

We look forward to hearing from you!