Twoddler

To wrap up my time in Com 435 I presented an emerging technology called Twoddler -- Twitter for toddlers.

Makes perfect sense right?

The idea is a tricked out fisher price activity center. When the toddler plays with the activity center his or her actions are streamed to an online twitter account that is updated with their activities. (Check out an article and video demonstration here.) It is an interesting concept in theory, but in reality you end up getting pointless updates from a 2 year-old that says things like "brian is excited to play with music." Even still to think about how far technology has come, and how social medias (such as Twitter) are being integrated into our everyday lives.

I actually have enjoyed my Twitter account and will continue to keep it even after this class is over. I can honestly see how for business, Twitter is a great way to pass along concise information quickly. For example, it is the perfect type of media for Newspapers and New stations to quickly get out breaking news. Also for companies, its a great way to keep employees in constant communication. Personal use was a little questionable to me, but I believe that every human has a desire to share their thoughts and feelings ... which is why updating status on Facebook and maintaining a Twitter account are so popular. I am okay indulging ever so slightly in this type of frenzy. It is quite satisfying knowing that somebody else is aware that morning traffic was bad today on I-65. Also, it was a really unique was to share information about other people's posters. I actually enjoyed reading the other comments and it was very neat to see how fast the information updates.

Technology has come SUCH a long way and it is very interesting to see where it will end up taking us over the next 100+ years!

The Waiting Game ...

... And the games continue. I was contacted by ExactTarget and notified that they would not be able to let us know their decision until sometime early this week.

What really qualifies as "early?" Because I'm fairly certain that at 5pm on Tuesday the "early" part of the week has officially passed, and we are moving towards the middle.

So now the waiting game continues on. I have all my plans (A & B) figured out, but now I may have realized that I really want Plan B to be Plan A. Maybe I really don't want to take this job after all? And I am currently stuck in this time continuum, unable to advance any further until I know the decision of the company.

Welcome to the real world I guess.

Social Media Research

The past few weeks I have been doing quite a bit of research on social media. I know I have mentioned the use of social media a few different times in my blog, and currently I am doing a project for a class where I will present the idea to hire me as a social media coordinator. Overall I am intrigued at the idea of being paid to coordinate the various types of social media that are utilized on the web today -- from Facebook to twitter to YouTube. Knowing how to effectively use these concepts can really impact the way your company or organization is viewed in the cyber world.

I found a few studies that have been done on the effects of social media. One study found that 34% of people associate more positively with a organization that effectively utilizes social media. Another study found that 18%-20% of young adults 18-34 use social media, so from a company's stand point it is an excellent way to pull in the younger demographic. I found a report by Universal McCann that analyzes the use of social media. If you are interested I strongly suggest checking it out, they have found some very interesting research. Also the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth found that social media has had a positive trend in Fortune 500 companies from 2007 to 2009. All of this proves that social Media is here to stay and it is important for companies and organizations to learn how to effectively use it. If companies and organizations are able to do that, then they will open new doors that will allow them much more visual access within the Internet and their communities.

Making Decisions.

This past weekend I was able to visit St. Louis, a city I have grown to very much enjoy over the past few months. It was a nice opportunity to break away from Indiana and not worry about graduation, jobs, moving home and being broke :/. Unfortunately one thing that going to STL involves is driving, and quite a lot. It was a 4 and 1/2 hour trip both ways ... there wasn't so bad ... but the drive home was a bit brutal. The upside though was it gave me more than enough time to really think about what I wanted to do after graduation. And it finally allowed me to finalize some plans.

I will find out next week if I got the job at ExactTarget. The job is an excellent opportunity, really too good to pass up. So even though it may not be exactly what I envisioned myself doing I will accept if an offer is extended. If though, I do not receive an offer than I have formulated a plan B. I am going to move home -- work my butt off making money serving at a restaurant for 6 months and then I am going to move to Baltimore. Why Baltimore? Well, I am originally from there and ever since I left I have always had the desire to move back. I have an odd connection with the East Coast, and I realized that I am okay moving away from Indy for another few years. My second family and some close friends live in Baltimore so I would not be alone and the transition would be very easy. Also, flights are considerably cheap and it only takes about an hour by plane from Indy to BWI. There are also a lot of theaters, museums and artistic galleries where I could get a job, and I feel that it would be a job that I would enjoy and fit into better than "corporate America." Finally Baltimore is only 4 hours away from NYC, which means that I could continue pursuing my acting career and travel to the city to audition during the weekends.

It makes the most sense and I am very satisfied with my plan! Finally I am beginning to see that everything can work out, even if it takes meeting a few speed bumps along the way =)!

'Tis The Season ... Almost!!

There is nothing like the holiday season! I think the best thing about the holidays is that it kicks off with Thanksgiving. Once you roll around to December everybody has different religions, you have to be PC and make sure you don't offend people. But EVERYBODY can share in Turkey Day! What's there not to love about good friends and family in addition to lots and LOTS of good food!!

So break out those elastic pants and have a very happy and thankful Turkey Day!

Still Searching ...

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs.
That is still what is on the mind.

Yesterday I had a day-long interview down in Indianapolis for a company called ExactTarget.
They are a mass e-mail marketing company -- one of the best and biggest in the nation. It was my first interview that lasted over 30 minutes and let me tell you, it was quite the experience. The day started at 3pm and lasted until 10pm that evening. We went through three formal interviews, two group forum interviews, two separate tours and ended the evening with dinner and a presentation on the software.

It was a great experience overall and I learned a lot, but the main point I took away from the process was the constant reminder to be myself. The program that we were interviewing for is called the Catapult Program. They had over 480 applicants -- finalist day (yesterday) was narrowed down to 23 and from there they will pick 10 people to join the company. Needless to say the competition is fierce. Every single finalist is extremely qualified to become a part of this program; they are all outgoing, personable, intelligent and overall great people.

So how do you stick out? Be Yourself. Capitalize on what separates you from the pack, and know that it is a GOOD thing that you are different from the others in some way, shape or form. For me it was my acting and traveling experience. And that is what I spoke about. I allowed the interviewers to take a peek into the way that I look at life and what I am trying to get out of this journey. I may not have the business experience they are looking for, but I have all the life experience and more that a person my age could obtain. So I was myself: I introduced myself to everyone, I asked questions, I found the topics all interesting, I was a focused listener -- but I also laughed at stupid jokes, expressed new ideas that I thought would be helpful and admitted to my faults and emphasized my strengths. I also told them that I loved my cat and I can't go a Sunday without watching football (both are VERY true).

So who knows what will happen. If I don't get the job then I wasn't the best person for the position. And that is okay, you win some and you lose some. But I can feel confident that I entered and exited the day illustrating exactly what they would be getting if they hired me.
I am who I am and I happen to like it =)!

It's a bird, It's a plane ... It's the Seabreacher!?

For my Advanced Presentational speaking class I had to create a PowerPoint presentation about an interesting technology. After doing some research I found the most interesting concept!

Meet the Seabreacher.

Crazy right!? It is not an emerging technology per say but, none the less it is an incredible concept. Originally designed for marine racing the Seabreacher is now available for commercial purchase. It only cost a quick $68,000! But if you decide to sell your arms and legs in return for a Seabreacher the return perks are pretty awesome -- you have can dive, jump and swim like a dolphin. The spacious cabin allows an up-close and personal view of the ocean and you can submerge it up to 6 feet!

Purely awesome.

Halloween In Indy

Ah senior year ... it's not all about finding jobs! Well okay, for the most part it is, but it is also your last hurrah to have fun with friends before jumping into the "real world." So in addition to utilizing my last few months to become well-educated on the job market, I have also been taking some time to try a few new things around town. And Halloween was a perfect time to explore a night out in downtown Indianapolis.

Now It may seem shocking to those who are not from Indy (or the suburbs), but most people do not go into Indianapolis. There really has never been a reason to go, other than to catch a Colts or Pacers game. So this was a brand new experience. We deiced to head to The Slippery Noodle, the oldest bar in Indy. It has two main stages so there is contestant live music, two bars and various rooms and lounges. Overall it was a fun place to hang out. On Halloween they claim to have a massive costume contest. So I was expecting wall-to-wall craziness of young business professionals getting loose on one of the best nights of the year.

Not quite.

Yes the music was decent, but no wall-to-wall anything. And even better most people were in their mid 30s to 50s! Which of course there is nothing wrong with, but it was quite an interesting mix of people. Following that we went to Tiki Bobs which was more of the young professional setting I was looking for, but only by about 5%. The music was more "club-y" but the DJ was terrible. Either way it was still successful, I mean it is hard to screw up a night where booze and costumes are involved.

Would I go back? Probably. Should you? Yeah, I say check it out =)!

The Facebook Effect

As I continue to delve into the job market I am more and more interested in how social media is continually affecting our world. Social media is still relatively new in our society, and so it seems not a lot of constructive research has been done in the field. I found a study conducted in 2007 on the Benefits of Facebook. The study was focused around the college community of Michigan State University and it examined how college students' social capital was affected by Facebook. The study found that overall college students who utilized Facebook to keep in contact with friends and expand their network overall had higher self esteem. Additionally, it seems that it is not the quantity of the amount of time spent on Facebook or the amount of friends but rather the quality of the time and friends that students kept on Facebook. Again, to those of us who have been using Facebook since 2004 this seems to be common sense. But it is important to understand that as studies continue to prove the effects of social media, the more it will impact and become integrated into our everyday lives. It will be interesting to see how sites such as Facebook and Twitter will be utilized into society over the next 5-10 years!

I have also been wondering, that as businesses begin to incorporate social media into their everyday communication methods, whether they feel as though it is worthy of a "full-time" position. Again, not much as been done as far as being proving a positive capital return in relation to the use of social media. I found a blog that discussed the Facebook Effect. Its a short read, but an interesting concept!

Not keeping up with mainstream society? Jump on that bandwagon and get connected!!

More Food For Thought

So piggybacking off of my last post I wanted to share some information I found. As I continue looking for a job I found an emerging company that is solely dedicated to blogging. And they are headquartered right here in Indy!! The company is called Compendium and they have created a user-friendly blogware. The concept is blogging is an emerging technology that is being integrated into the business world, but many people are unaware of how to create and publish a blog. This software will make it not only easier but also a fun process for businesses.

Also I wanted to share a blog that my friend keeps -- I think she does a good job of talking about a broad topic but still keeping her character alive within her blog.

Check it out!

Blogging Dilemmas

I have to admit I am questioning my blogging abilities. The concept of keeping a blog I do find very intriguing, but most of the time I feel that what I am writing about is irrelevant. Right now as I look for a job blogging is in the back of my mind, especially entering the job market with a communication degree. The ability to keep a blog, or something like a blog, is going to be a selling point for businesses in the near future. The idea of integrating social networks and blogs with corporate america is a fast growing trend. I enjoy keeping up on my knowledge about how they work together, but I think I still have a lot to learn =)!

Stumbling along

Senioritis is a real disease. I would know because I have it. And how do I cure my senioritis?! By two new websites I have discovered:

Grooveshark and Stumble Upon.

If you are looking for a little distraction I suggest you check them out =)

Linking In

The first "jump" is always the most terrifying ... or so I'm told. Although I have never skydived or bungee jumped which this comment would most pertain to (by the way I'm not opposed to attempting either) I still think it can be used to describe multiple non-life-threatening situations. Such as submitting your first resume. Which if you haven't done it in a while, is significantly terrifying. I finalized my resume a few short months ago thanks to Purdue's Center for Career Opportunities. They were fantastic at helping me organize all my accomplishments onto one 8x11 piece of paper. With that in hand I was ready to start the next step, actually handing it over to esteemed business professionals.

My first experience in this was dragging my friend Dani all over New York City for 5 hours as I attempted to submit resumes the old-fashioned way, just walking into various companies and handing it over. Guess what. That doesn't work anymore. After receiving many eye-rolls, dirty looks and becoming more humble then I thought possible I gave up and resorted to spending the rest of the day relaxing in Bryant Park (a much better option). Upon returning to Indiana I sat down and began learning the "down-low" on the current situation of submitting resumes.

The Answer = The Internet.

Who Knew!?!

I panicked. I always thought that I presented my qualities better in person, and now I had to rely completely on my 8x11 piece of paper to sell me to my future employer. Being a tour guide and an athletic tutor can only get you so far -- I really have a lot more to offer than that (I swear)! How was I supposed to rely on the world wide web to help me get my foot in the door?

But after much research I discovered another way to approach applying online. Think of it as a first step, not an end result. In reality it is not that different than the old-fashioned way of walking-in; the application is going to get you the interview and the interview is where you have the opportunity to sell yourself. Also think of using the various online tools as networking devices to connect you to the right people. In today's world sometimes it's who you know, not what you know. Don't be ashamed to utilize your resources (friends, family members or random strangers you happen to meet) to connect you to the right people.

So my advice? Get online! Check out Linkedin, or Monster. If you use them correctly they can only help! Even starting a blog (case in point) or joining twitter (possibly questionable) may lead you to your next employment endeavor.

Last week I officially took my first "jump" and submitted my resume to a company through the Internet. Pushing the send button was exhilarating in its own right and who knows if they received it but I finally got the first one under the belt. Now the second, third, fourth ... twentieth one will be much easier! In fact, in a few weeks time I may even consider myself a pro ;)

Oh and feel free to "link" to me!

Let the countdown begin ...

First I must set one thing straight.

I am doing my victory loop, not my victory lap.
(There is a reason to this syntactical difference -- a victory lap implies I will be a 5th year from August to May when in fact, I will only be a 5th year from August to December. So instead of saying I am completing my victory lap, I choose to say I am completing my victory loop. And to justify it further I am still graduating in 2009 (my original year) so it's still legit.)

Either way the official countdown to becoming a "grown-up" has officially begun and it is to this countdown that I have decided to dedicate my blog. The next 4 months will bring many challenges and opportunities that will hopefully lead to a job. I have learned an infinite amount of knowledge about the job search just in the past month (negative and positive) that I feel is beneficial to share with others. Some of this comes from personal experience, some of it comes from the content I have been learning in my classes. Either way I still think it's helpful. Most of the time I will be sharing small tips (resume hints, interviewing stories, emerging technological tools that can lead to networking opportunities and applicable academic content) about my hunt for that "amazing" job ... other times I will be sharing personal accounts of my own shenanigans that occur during my last few months of "freedom" =)



So as they say: sit back, relax and enjoy the show!

Blogging!?

I am probably the last person I would have considered to keep a blog. But thanks to my COM 435 class we are now required to as a semester project.

I have to admit I am intrigued ... possibly even excited to undertake this endeavour. I think it will be quite the experience and maybe even satisfy my long-lived desire of becoming an author.

Let's get this party started!