katelynshelby: February 2012

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Best iPad 3 Rumors

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Yesterday Apple sent out invitations for a March 9th unveiling in San Francisco. By the looks of the invitation, I (along with everyone else) are assuming this is the unveiling of the iPad 3.

Here is a list of some of the best iPad 3 rumors out there:

Speed of Light
Bloomberg reported that the next-generation iPad will be faster by running on a quad-core chip. It is also said to feature a high-definition screen and be compatible with long-term evolution (LTE), a wireless network that allows users to access data more quickly.

iPad 3 Educational Material
It has been reported that there are iPad 3 reading material and how-to resources out there. According to GameZone, Amazon added two iPad 3 books to its European site — both in French and German. According to this same report, the iPad 3 for Dummies is scheduled to be published on March 29.

Siri, Your Personal Assistant
According to 9to5Mac, Apple is adding Siri Dictation to the iPad 3. While looking through the iOS 5.1 beta 3 settings application on the iPad it was noted a new section called “Privacy and Dictation,” which included legal and feature information for Siri.

Looks Makeover
iLounge recently reported that it saw the prototype of the next-generation iPad at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). It looked just like the iPad 2, only thicker by about 1 mm. The camera in the top left corner is expected to be similar to the camera on the iPhone 4S.

There's even a change of an edge-to-edge retina display that allows multiple iPads to interact together, like this concept:

Lighter Price Tag
There have many suggestions that the next-gen iPad will not include the hefty price tag that we are familiar seeing with the pervious iPads. This would be in an effort to compete with the Kindles and Android tablets.

Bottom line is though, the next gen model going must be monumentally different than the iPad 2. Fanboys and girls were upset enough for the unveiling of an iPhone 4s rather than the 5 (Siri isn't that impressive). Is there a chance we might just be seeing the iPad 4s and not a total revamp at all?

Monday, February 27, 2012

Help me choose a new iPhone cover!

Picking an iPhone case is one of the most important decisions of your life.

Okay, I'm being kind of dramatic but really... your phone case, or lack there of, says a lot about you! Are you fun? Are you serious? Artsy? Or do you walk on the wild side and let your phone go naked?!

So help me choose my new cover!

Claro by iSkin
I have a black phone and I really like this one in purple. It's not too loud but it has some sparkle which gives it a little character. $34.99

Grip Groove Duo by Belkin
Simple, clean, white without being boring. $17.99

Glam by Case Mate
It's like carrying around a bar of gold! $40.00

Flower Pattern, Dark Wood by fredamorris

There just something about a wood case that entices me. The mix of both nature and technology in perfect harmony. $29.99

Black Faux Wood by piimism
As much as I really want a wood case I'm afraid a wooden case is going to be too heavy, thick and bulky. This faux wood case might be the perfect solution. $20.00

Solo FX SE by iSkin
Simple with some pizzaz! It's classic black without being boring! $34.99

Little Blue Box
Need I say more? $35.20

Waddle by Case Mate
How freaking cute is this little guy?! $25.00

So which is it? Which are your favorites? I need a case that shows off my personality, yet is appropriate for the workplace. There's this guy at my work with a purple polka dot case and he gets teased so bad! I don't want to be him.

Leave your votes in the comments!

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Coming Soon: Social Media Meltdown with Katelyn & Joe

My good friend (and fellow podcaster), Joe, and I have finally teamed up for a show of our very own!

Social Media Meltdown is our new weekly live streaming video show where Joe and I will discuss a hot button topic in the realm of social media. Viewers will be able to log on, watch the show live and interact with us as we go along. At the end of each show, we'll answer the questions you've submitted!

Although Joe and I are no strangers to digital media, doing a live streaming video cast is who new world for us but we are really excited to get to interact with our audience in real-time. This will be fun!

The show will run every Tuesday at 7:00pm EST. But don't worry, if you can't make it you'll be able to watch the recorded copy.

Invite your friends to join us! Without an audience it won't be nearly as fun... or SOCIAL!

This upcoming Tuesday will be our first show so log on and support us!

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Augmented Reality Becomes a Reality?

We are now taking a huge step in making augmented reality a staple in our every day lives thanks to Google!

Majority of people are most familiar with augmented reality through the use of various mobile apps like Layar, which makes it easy to locate and find services in nearby locations via your mobile phone's camera. These, and similar, apps basically take in real-world objects and augment them into the digital world, often in real-time. And the "real-time" aspect is exactly what Google is keying into.

There has been a steady leak of information coming out of Google on the top secret project revolving around the Google's AR glasses. These Android based, heads-up display glasses will display streaming real-time information about the wearer's surroundings, literally right before their eyes.

The data will be fetched through a 3G or 4G data connection, GPS locating, front-facing camera to capture the environment, voice control interface, and several other sensors.

So when will we be able to get our hands on these? Sources close to the New York Times are reporting we'll see them hitting the shelves by the end of 2012. Sources are also saying the glasses will cost around the same price as current smartphones then, I'm assuming, you will need some kind of data package.

Will you buy a pair?

Hopefully technology will progress until a point where we do not need to wear glasses anymore. Augmented reality contact lenses, maybe? A sci-fi dream!

If I just caught your interest in augmented reality, try out these cool apps in preparation for the Google Googles launch!

Augmented Car Finder - For those drunken nights when you lose your car.
Google Sky Map - For a romantic night under the stars.
Lookator - A map to all the best wifi signals.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

The Upside of Internet Self-Diagnosis

In a previous entry, I discussed the perils of internet self-diagnosis however the service has proven to be useful.

In the recent Wolters Kluwer Health Point-of-Care survey, Google and Yahoo were cited by 46 percent of physicians as a frequent source of information about patients health, diagnosis, treatment and care. And 60 percent of physicians have admitted to changing their original diagnosis based on internet research.

These seem like alarmingly high numbers. Shouldn't we trust that our doctors are using more sophisticated forms of research than what we have available in our own homes?

What this study did not site is what type of sources the physicians in question were consulting from the search results. It is probably safe to say that most were referencing scholarly journals and other sources. It can also be assumed that they may be referencing online communities comprised of healthcare professionals all over the world. In some cases, the physicians may be doing a more throughout diagnosi.

Psychology Today recommends being "smart" while using these online resources. They recommend people "self-screen - but not self-diagnose." When consulting the internet regarding your personal ailments, consider the source--make sure the information is credible. Also consider the context in which the information is being used. You may want to reference a source like HealthFinder.gov which is ran by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which offers information from trusted sources.

The Wolters Kluwer Health Point-of-Care survey also found that "53 percent (of physicians) believe that easier access to more medial knowledge by patients has had a positive impact on the doctor-patient relationship, leading to more informed discussions with patients." The survey also found that only one in five physicians believe this readily available information has been detrimental and lead to misinformation or an incorrect self-diagnosis.

Although internet diagnosis has some positive aspects, it has to be remembered that it is an easy and slippery slope into being a cyberchondriac.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

iWore: Professional Prints

I like to add personality to my outfits for work while still keeping an extremely professional tone. I do this by pairing traditional business attire with more youthful pieces.

As you can see here, I made a fun print more professional by pairing it up with a black blazer. The blazer keeps a traditional undertone while the colored pattern and unique pleating gives off a fashionable tone. I received a lot of compliments on this dress and its appropriateness for the workplace... little do they know the dress is entirely backless! Risque

Black Blazer: Victoria's Secret
Patterned Dress: ModCloth
Black Opaque Tights: Target
Black "Snake Skin" Pointed-Toe Pump: DSW
Jewelry: Tiffany & Co Heart Lock

Thursday, February 16, 2012

The Death of the "#" Symbol

According to Wikipedia the "#" symbol has most commonly been referred to throughout history as the "number" symbol. For example, "#1" stands for "number one." In American English, the symbol is also called the pound sign (not to be confused with the British Pound currency symbol "£") The pound sign is most commonly found on telephone keys and is referred to as the pound key.

I know this may sound like common sense so let me give you the back story to my profound moment...

Today I picked up my desk phone at work and dialed in for phone conference. As usual the operator said, "Please enter your conference I.D. number..." then completed her sentence by saying, "...followed by the pound or hash key."

The hash key?!

I'm familiar with calling "#" a hash in the correct context (i.e. social media) but when you're referring to the button on my phone keypad, that's the pound key.

So that got me thinking. Has the pound sign died? Is there a generation alive right now that will not know the "#" as the pound sign? It is very likely that this is where it is heading.

I can handle the fact that there are children on this planet that will grow up and never see, hold or use a floppy disc. I mean, I've never even touched an 8-track. And I'm perfectly okay with that. As a technology enthusiast, I understand and encourage the quick evolution of gadgets in society. They should die as fast as they are born... that's what fosters innovation!

This forces you to take a step back and really examine the impact social media has on language and syntax.

There are always fads in speech and communication but they come and go without anyone really making much fuss or noticing. And every once in a while we add new words to accommodate for new discoveries and uses. But in the case of the "hash," it is actually changing a language. Changing it. Not adding to it. Changing it!

My mind is just blown that Twitter can change the English language.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Internet Self-Diagnosis

In today’s cyber world we are provided with resources and information on anything and everything. We can purchase all our clothing and home furnishings online. We can order a pizza online and have it delivered. We can even visit with a virtual doctor.

The internet provides us with services like WebMD and mobile applications like iTriage that will collect information on our symptoms and ailments then report back to us the possible causes, sicknesses and diseases.

But is this type of self-diagnosis doing more harm than good?

For instance this is what might happen if you ask “Dr. Google” what is wrong with you:

Some doctors feel that these online diagnostics are creating “cyberchondriacs,” a common term used to describe otherwise rational internet users who latch on to the worst diagnosis thrown at them by search engines, message boards and diagnostic services. For example, a user googles the cause of her three day migraine and most of the top results include brain tumor and scattered among the first page are some results about stress and eye sight issues but the user immediate jumps to the worst—brain tumor.

It is also ironic to note that even WebMD recognizes the peril of Cyberchondria buried within their Family Webicine blog from December 2008. But it does not dare to place this warning on its homepage as a valuable reference in easing the imaginations of their users.

So why are more and more people turning to self-diagnosis through the internet? Most health professionals just chalk it up to the rise in general internet usage and the prevalence of hypochondriacs throughout history.

Not only is this practice of online self diagnosis dangerous but it can also be deadly. Some people use the internet to gain piece of mind about an ailment when a doctor's appointment seems unnecessary or too costly without insurance. Some doctors feel that this practice is causing people to feel that regularly scheduled doctors appointments are unnecessary and this will cause a decline in preventative health measures in the long run.

So what should you do to instead of turning to the internet for help? The Huffington Post suggests:

Engage in an open dialogue with your physician for a diagnosis or advice
Develop an inner circle of wise people to go to for advice
Seek out smart accredited authorities and newsletters
Be your own advocate; No one knows your body better than you

Monday, February 13, 2012

Saying Goodnight to Technology

Goodnight iPad is a new children's book based off the classic Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown. As much as this is a children's bedtime story it also is a lesson to be learned by most adults.

Ann Droyd playfully pokes fun at our "wired in" lifestyles that we are now passing down to our children. She describes a family kept awake by the gadgets that surround them.

Droyd touches on this rapid growing epidemic of sleep issues due to the ever-nagging hold technology has on us as a society. We have been growing more and more attached to the technology and devices that are supposed to make our lives easier but they're actually hurting our well-being because we don't know when to "power off."

Various studies have been done to examine the effects of technology use prior to bed and the results are astounding. The constant connection with the world (literally) leaves our minds scattered and unable to shut down and focus on much needed deep sleep.

And this is not a practice we should preach to our children. An assistant professor at Stony Brook University Medical Center, Lauren Hale, said, “Higher use of these potentially more sleep-disruptive technologies among younger generations may have serious consequences for physical health, cognitive development and other measures of well being."

So in this world of constant "bings, bongs and beeps of emails and tweets" where do we say stop? I personally get anxiety of turning off my phone--even if I'm just sleeping. It's human nature to want to feel connected and now that we are able to be digitally connected to nearly everyone and every thing, it's hard to prioritize what needs to be looked at now and what can wait for morning.

Personally, I think I'm going to try harder to have an hour "wind down" session every night before bed where I say goodnight to all my devices and the internet at large and do yoga or read a physical book. Disconnect myself. Unplug.

I literally put off going to sleep to write this entry.

Friday, February 10, 2012

Path: The New Mobile Social Network?

Facebook wasn’t designed to be mobile. No matter how many app updates get rolled out and how much more intuitive they make the app, there is still something missing when viewed from a mobile device. Don’t get me wrong… in my eyes, Facebook is the God of Social Networks but its mobile app experience leaves something to be desired. Not everything translates to mobile.

Path is a social network that was created for, and only exists in, the mobile world.

Marketed as a “smart journal that helps you share life with the ones you love,” Path is by default a private networking experience and is intended to only being shared with close friends and family.

Posting to Path is simple so it's perfect for life on the go. It allows you to be personal and express yourself.

How it works:

Home Screen - Keep up with the lives of your loved ones through a single feed of moments. (Pictured below)

Moments - The status, location, photo, or music posts you and your close network make are known as your moments. Share your sleep-state, your favorite song this moment or where you are and how you look.

Camera - Capture beautiful photos and videos using world class mobile camera technology. Including 8 free and 4 premium Lenses to filter your photo and video moments in real-time into beautiful works of art.

Automatic & Easy Posting - Path learns about you and automatically posts when you go to a different neighborhood or city. More posts in your Path, without your effort.

Pages - Learn more about the places and artists your loved ones post.

Chooser - One button to post beautiful photos and videos, who you are with, where you are, what you are listening to, what you are thinking, and when you go to bed and wake up. (Pictured below)

Comments - Respond to moments, the posts on paths, with comments.

Emotion - Respond to moments with any one of five core emotions: smile, frown, gasp, laugh, and love.

Customize - Choose a cover wallpaper for your Path from your photo library, or choose from over 42 handpicked photos from photographer John Carey.

Sharing - For the occasional moment you’d like to share in public, you can share to Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, and Tumblr. (Sharing Pictured Below)

Menu - Access key menus by swiping your screen left or right with a simple gesture.

Settings - Control your Path experience from your mobile device, no need to visit a website.

Privacy - Path is private by default. You are always in control of your moments and who can see them.

Security - Your Path is securely stored in the Path cloud using world class technology and techniques.

I've been using Path for a little while and it definitely has its advantages and disadvantages. For instance I like the intimate nature of the network. I like seeing what my close friends and family are doing, listening to or interested in. I also like that it will cross post to other SM networks. However, I wish this went the other way. I'm already posting so much to Twitter (and the usability is better) and Instagram that I wish it would automatically send those updates to Path. I really don't need one more place to have to worry about updating.

But the big advantage of Path is that it was created to only exist in the mobile world. Everything translates perfectly with and is very user friendly. Sometimes there are things I want to do on Facebook but I only have my cell phone and app isn't able to do what I need. Path doesn't have this problem.

Currently Path is only available on the iTunes and Android Markets.

Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Note: During the recent Hackathon it had been discovered that Path uploads your entire iPhone address book to its servers and the integrity and security of Path was questioned. Dave Morin, the CEO and founder of Path, quickly responded, "We actually think this is an important conversation and take this very seriously. We upload the address book to our servers in order to help the user find and connect to their friends and family on Path quickly and efficiently as well as to notify them when friends and family join Path. Nothing more."

Update: Shortly after the controversy over Path keeping your iPhone address book, CEO Dave Morin apologized and deleted all address book data.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Experience NYFW From Anywhere

Thanks to the powers of the internet and social media anyone can experience the Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week from anywhere in the world!

Starting today top designers from around the world will unveil their Fall 2012 Collections and, this year, it's not just for the fashion elite anymore. NYFW and it's featured designers are making it easier than ever to feel like part of the action and excitement.

This year you have a front row ticket to all the hottest catwalks!

Live Video

Now your computer screen is a portal to the hottest runways. YouTube has once again partnered with Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and Maybelline to live stream more than 25 shows at youtube.com/liverunway. See full schedule below.

Nicholas K

Thursday, Feb. 9, 9 a.m. ET

BCBGMAXAZRIA

Thursday, Feb. 9, 10 a.m. ET

Richard Chai

Thursday, Feb. 9, 11 a.m. ET

Rebecca Taylor

Friday, Feb. 10, 2 p.m. ET

Rebecca Minkoff

Friday, Feb. 10, 3 p.m. ET

Tommy Hilfiger Men’s

Friday, Feb. 10, 5:30 p.m. ET

Charlotte Ronson

Friday, Feb. 10, 6 p.m. ET

Lacoste

Saturday, Feb. 11, 10 a.m. ET

Jill Stuart

Saturday, Feb. 11, 11 a.m. ET

Herve Léger by Max Azria

Saturday, Feb. 11, 3 p.m. ET

Tibi

Saturday, Feb. 11, 6 p.m. ET

Monique Lhuillier

Saturday, Feb. 11, 7 p.m. ET

Tracy Reese

Sunday, Feb. 12, 2 p.m. ET

Custo Barcelona

Sunday, Feb. 12, 4 p.m. ET

Diane von Furstenberg

Sunday, Feb. 12, 4 p.m. ET

Tommy Hilfiger Women’s

Sunday, Feb. 12, 8 p.m. ET

Carolina Herrera

Monday, Feb. 13, 10 a.m. ET

Carlos Miele

Monday, Feb. 13, 11 a.m. ET

Bibhu Mohapatra

Monday, Feb. 13, 5 p.m. ET

Betsey Johnson

Monday, Feb. 13, 6 p.m. ET

Badgley Mischka

Tuesday, Feb.14, 10 a.m. ET

Vera Wang

Tuesday, Feb. 14, 11 a.m. ET

Dennis Basso

Tuesday, Feb. 14, 3 p.m. ET

Narciso Rodriguez

Tuesday, Feb. 14, 8 p.m. ET

Michael Kors

Wednesday, Feb. 15, 10 a.m. ET

J. Mendel

Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2 p.m. ET

Milly by Michelle Smith

Wednesday, Feb. 15, 3 p.m. ET

Anna Sui

Wednesday, Feb. 15, 6 p.m. ET

Vivienne Tam

Wednesday, Feb. 15, 7 p.m. ET

#TweetWalk on Twitter

Started by Burberry at the 2011 NYFW, #TweetWalk is the hashtag to follow on Twitter to see this year's hottest looks before they hit the runway. Seconds before a look headed down the runway, it was photographed and tweeted so all the Burberry fan could see it first!

At 3 p.m ET on Friday, Rebecca Minkoff plans to stream her entire show live. She also plans to debut pieces from her collection on Twitter a full 30 minutes before they appear on the runway. Additional backstage footage will appear on the designer’s Twitter and Instagram accounts, and the full show will stream live on YouTube at 3 p.m. ET on Friday.

At 5:30 p.m. ET on Friday, Tommy Hilfiger will stage a “Twitter Model Walk” at its men’s Fall 2012 show's shoe line. The company will release images of the shoes on Twitter as they hit the runway. Followers can enter for a chance to win a pair by retweeting an image with the hashtag #TommyRunwayShoes, or by filling out a form on Facebook, where the U.S. fashion label will also be livestreaming video footage of its show.

These won't be the only sneak peaks you'll find on Twitter this year. The whole internet will be aflutter with fashion news! For the whole inside scoop from designers, the media, and attendees follow the hashtags #NYFW and #MBFW.

Tumblr

Get NYFW updates right on your Tumblr feed. For the third year in a row, Tumblr has sent fashion bloggers into the action to chronicle all the action.

Instagram

Do you see a trend yet? Following the #NYFW hashtag (again) on Instagram and it will get you backstage impromptu snapshots.

I think this should be about it!

As exciting as it is that we can all be involved in the action, it has been argued by many that the mass availability of NYFW has transformed the purpose of the event all together. What was once an invite-only event for the fashion elite is now a global, consumer-facing experience.

Do you think the mainstreaming of New York Fashion Week will cause high-end designers to loose their luster?

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Teaser: New Webshow Coming!

Joe, @speedyf40, and I are teaming up for a spectacular new webshow!

The show will be live once a week and people can log on and interact with us! If you don't get to catch up live, you'll be able to watch the recorded version after it airs. Despite my above screencap of us being silly testing and drawing on our faces, the show will be pretty serious. The subject matter the show is something that I am really passionate about and I'm really looking forward to putting our talents together!

Don't worry! Joe's not giving up Just Cool Enough and I'm definitely not giving up on Girly Nerdy Goodness... who says you can't have more than one podcast?!

Stay tuned!

iWore: Classy Lace

Lace that's appropriate for the office.

White Lace Top: Forever 21

Black Dress Pants: Express

Jewelry: Pearl and Sterling necklace and Great Grandmother's Pearl Ring

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Pinterest: The New Marketing Tool?

Despite the rise of social media and big businesses' ploy to use it for marketing over the last few years, consumers still trust their peers over corporations. Technically, who can sell a product best? Traditionally it would be the company's sales team but in today's society, people trust what their friends are saying.

As social networks become more and more flooded with corporate influence, users turn to other, less known, communities... and this is where we find Pinterest, "hottest website of the year."

Pinterest is a high-tech version of a bulletin board where you can "pin" up things you like for all your friends (your Pinterest network) to see. You can have multiple boards, each with its own subject.You can find and upload content to pin on various subjects including interior decorating, recipes, animals, architecture, men's/women's fashion, and design--the possibilities are endless.

As a great way to share your interests and categorize your thoughts, companies have now figured out ways of using it as a marketing tool.

There is definitely a niche market for it. The companies that will see the greatest results would be in the retail industry. Clothing, gadgets, home products, art work and other tangible objects a consumer can purchase are the best types of content for Pinterest. For example, ideeli.com, a retail site, saw a 446 percent rise in web traffic since utilizing Pinterest. By pinning your product with a link to where it can be purchased, your pin can go viral thus increasing sales. Simply pinning your insurance agent's phone number, is not a good use of Pinterest or your time as a marketer. Users want to share high quality images and graphics with their friends. It's all about the visual... which is why less visual companies are coming up with more creative ways to share over Pinterest, for example through infographics.

By using Pinterest and its ideal that people share what they like with their network, companies are getting the word-of-mouth advertising, at little to no cost, from their friends that most consumers trust.

So tell me...

As a Pinterest user, how would you feel about being bombarded by advertisements and sales-ey pins? Would the site still hold as much appeal if it was a well-known marketing hub? Would you still "trust" your friends pins as recommendations?

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Google Tricks That Will Save Your Life

While reading this article from OnlineColleges.net about 100+ Google Tricks That Will Save You Time in School, I stumbled upon some really awesome tricks I did't know about. Now I use these all the time so I hope you find a quick trick (or two) that will save you!

Most importantly: Get around blocked sites. If you are having problems getting around a blocked site, just type "cache:website address" with the website address being the address of the blocked site to use Google's cached copy to get where you are going. Great for use at work and school!
Do a timeline search. Use "view:timeline" followed by whatever you are researching to get a timeline for that topic.
Search for a specific file type. If you know you want a PDF (or maybe an pirated MP3 or torrent), just type in "filetype:pdf" and your search tearm to find results that are only in that file type.
Use Google Earth's Sky Feature. If going outside isn't your thing, take a look into the night sky from your computer screen.
Collect notes with Google Notebook. Use this simple note-taking tool to collect your research for a paper or project or other notes.
Use Google Docs for everything. Use their 50+ pre-made templates, collaborate on group projects, create online surveys, create calendars, create graphs, spreadsheets and text documents, send invitations and more!
Use Gmail. Make the change to the super-popular Gmail if you haven't already. It makes communication and your life easier through its tasks and to-do lists, archive feature, mail labels, use AIM in Gmail, and more.
Control your life with Google Calendar. Sync up with others using iCal, customized reminders including SMS reminders or an SMS daily agenda, use multiple calendars, invite others to your events, and more.
Google SketchUp. If you need to draw 3D figures for class, use Google SketchUp to do so easily and free of charge.
Blogger. This is the blog engine that I use. In my opinion, it's the easiest and most intuitive.

What are you favorite Google products or tools?

Thursday, February 2, 2012

iWore: Pleated Pencil Skirt

ModCloth had their annual Cabin Fever Sale a few weeks ago and I picked up this gem:

A pleated pencil skirt. I thought it was really unique... definitely not something you see every day. It's still quiet and professional but it has personality and stands out in a sea of suits!

Cropped Black Sweater: H&M
Gray/Blk Pleated Pencil Skirt: ModCloth
Tights: TopShop
Shoes: DSW
Jewelry: Tiffany & Co (vintage key and women's dog tag)

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

How Social Media Will Help You Find a Job

Anyone who is looking to start a career (or move on in their career) right now knows that the market is still tough. There are an increasing number of people looking for jobs, but open positions are far and wide. This means employers have the pick of the litter when filling positions!

So how do you get a leg up on your competition?

That's right! Using social media platforms you can gain and edge over other job seekers in your field.

My first job at the company I work for now as a New Media Specialist was as a Social Recruiter. It was my job to go online, meet and network with engineers and sell the company to them. This aggressive form of recruiting is highly successful and is gaining mass popularity around the world.

Now you might be saying to yourself, "But social media doesn't apply to my field." Yes it does. Welcome to the 21st century! Social media is everywhere and it isn't going away. So get with it and use it to better your career!

I'll start with the best and most important social media tool for job hunting:

LinkedIn is one of the easiest and most professional ways of finding a job and being found by a recruiter. LinkedIn allows you to create an online resume that is searchable by the 135 Million+ members. Forty-one percent of LinkedIn users are utilizing the site for social recruiting (infographic). This is not a social network for personal information--only job and education history. You can then network with old and current coworkers on a professional level.

Completing your resume profile with as much detail as possible is the most important to be recruiting accurately. Recruiters can search the LinkedIn database by people with a specific job title, (former) employer, college or university, skills, certification, years of experience, location, and anything else you provide in the given spaces.

Once a recruiter has found your profile and is interested in you, they have the ability to send you a message which lets you know you have the expertise they are looking for and they will also provide you with a link to apply for the specific position online. It's the new way to cold call.

Through LinkedIn you can also take a more aggressive approach by looking for the jobs yourself instead of waiting for someone to find you. You can do this one of three ways.

Companies can create profile pages on LinkedIn. Company profile pages allow you to view a company overview, all LinkedIn users who are employed at said company, the company's products or services, and their open employment positions. If you have a specific company in mind that you would like to work at, it would be a good idea to "Follow" that company and when and employment opportunity is posted it will show up on your LinkedIn homepage.

LinkedIn also offers a comprehensive job search tool where you can enter in any job title imaginable from engineers to zoo keepers and from electricians to CEOs. Once you enter a job title into the search, you can then refine your search by relationship (whether anyone you've networked with on LI works there or has any connection there), company, location, date job was posted, salary, job function, industry, and experience level.

By using these refining tools you will save a lot of time during your job search by not having to view postings that do not apply to you. Once you find a posting you like, follow the directions listed to apply! So easy. No more jumping from site to site looking for job postings!

Lastly, using LinkedIn's group search. You can find groups of like-minded professionals who are open with sharing job openings, career advice, and networking opportunities through a message board style of communication. For example while searching for "clown" groups, the results provided me with 20 groups dedicated to clowning. Now if I wanted to be more specific, I could have tried "Michigan clowns" to see if something more local was available. Many established organizations have LI groups, like The Public Relations Society of America: Detroit (PRSSA-Detroit) in which you can join. By joining groups associated with your area or field you will increase your reputation in the industry and get your name out there for recruiters who monitor group activity looking for recruits!

Twitter is not the best way of finding and applying for jobs, but there are tools out there that make it possible. Even if they aren't the most effective, Twitter doesn't take long and every little effort counts!

First off, make your Twitter profile Employer Friendly. Delete any old tweets with any unsavory content that might be a turn off for perspective employers. Once you begin applying for jobs using Twitter, your profile will be their first impression of you. Even though deleting your tweets does not erase them forever (the internet is permanent; it does not forget), employers won't see them front in center during a casual search.

It would also be a good idea to put a link to your online CV or resume, like your LinkedIn profile, in your Twitter bio to ensure it gets maximum exposure (use a URL shortener like bit.ly to make sure it fits).

Besides using Twitter's standard search bar to find postings, follow various job posting Twitter accounts. Mashable has put together this great list of accounts to follow:

By field

@alldevjobs – Developer jobs
@ArtDirectorJobs – Art director jobs
@cwjobs – Copywriter jobs
@jobsinhiphop – Jobs in Hip-Hop
@journalism_jobs – Jobs in journalism
@juicyjobs – Green jobs
@libgig_jobs – Library Jobs 
@mediabistrojobs – Media job listings from mediabistro.com
@medical_jobs – Medical jobs
@media_pros – Jobs for media professionals
@narmsjobs – Retail marketing jobs
@PRSAjobcenter – Jobs in public relations, communications and marketing
@reflectx – Physical Therapy jobs
@seojobs – SEO job listings
@socialmediajob – Jobs in social media 
@travelmaxallied – Healthcare jobs
@travelnursejob – Jobs for traveling nurses 
@usmusicjobs – US Music Jobs 
@web_design_jobs – Web design and other graphics jobs 

By job type

@findinternships – Internships and entry level jobs for college students
@freelance_jobs – Freelance jobs
@heatherhuhman – Entry level jobs and internships
@Project4Hire – Freelance and temporary jobs
@jewish_jobs – Jewish job listings

By region

@MyBristolJobs – Job listings from mybristoljobs.co.uk
@chicagowebjobs – Web-related jobs in Chicago
@ChicagoTechJobs – Technology jobs in the greater Chicago area
@ITJobsLondon – IT jobs in London
@ITJobsSydney – IT jobs in Sydney, Australia
@JobsBoston – Jobs in the greater Boston area
@jobshawaii – Jobs in Hawaii
@NewYorkTechJobs – Technology jobs in the greater New York area
@PDXJobs – Jobs in Portland, Oregon
@sdjobs – San Diego technology jobs 
@sfmobilejobs – Mobile Web and Digital Media jobs in Silicon Valley
@mtltweetjobs – PR/marketing/social media/tech jobs in Montreal
@TopJobsInLondon – Top jobs in London, UK
@web20jobs – UK-based web 2.0 jobs 

General

@JobAngels – Helping the unemployed find jobs
@indeed – One search. All jobs. 
@jobshouts – General job postings
@simplyhired – Job search site 
@StartUpHire – Jobs at VC backed companies
@twithire – Job board service  

You can also follow the hashtag #TweetMyJobs. Or you can even use a third-party website like TwitJobSearch, which will help you search Twitter's database for job postings.

Your Klout score, the measurement of your influence based on your ability to drive action on social networks, is a key indicator of your knowledge base and you ability to create content and engage with others online. Klout measures how many people you influence (true reach), how much you influence them based on engagement (amplification), and your influence on your network (network impact). Klout analyzes every piece of social media content--every tweet and Facebook post--to assign every SM user topics and levels of influence.

I, for example, tweet a lot about digital technology, the area in which I live, and advertising so Klout has determined I have a Klout Score of 49 and I am influential about Advertising, Detroit and Social Media.

Your Klout Score is a number between 1 and 100. People who have concise, highly-focused, and knowledgeable content subjects usually range over 40. Klout founder and CEO, Joe Fernandez, considers the average score to be about 20 and a score above 30 to be reputable and a score above 50 to be elite. Once you are a high influencer, people can use Klout to search for knowledgeable personalities on any subject like social media or pottery or speed walking. Just another way for people to find you in the great Social Media Ocean.

In the world of job hunting, Klout can play a pivotal role in employers choosing an applicant. Klout's Garth Holsinger explains:

Stay tuned for my upcoming article about how to raise your Klout score!

By using all of these social media tactics, you are creating a funnel that leads directly to you. You start off creating a brand for yourself that appeals to employers then create all of these paths that catch their interest, via social media, that lead back to you.

Ultimately, the more you put yourself out there the more changes you have of getting their attention.

In these days of competitive job searching you can no longer sit back and wait, you have to actively pursue a large amount of potential leads and always putting your best foot forward.