As Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler announced on Twitter yesterday, he has decided to suspend his search for a Chair’s Office Communications Director/Multnomah County Social Media Coordinator at this time.
I want you to know that we appreciate your interest in working for the Multnomah County Chair’s Office. We hope you will watch for future career opportunities with us.
~ I’ll write more later ~
Read my newest post at, Webmanual.org in response to the new position that Multnomah County posted last week.
A few years back I started something called Breakfast for Five. Ok, so not an original idea. Jon Favreau had Dinner for Five on the Independent Film Channel.
The dot com bomb dust was about to settle and I thought this could be a very informal way for 4 principals from the creative industry in the Portland market to get together and share stories, no agenda.
My partner in crime at the time, Colette put together a great invitation that we hand delivered buzz. We had 4 or 5 I believe, then we got jobs and ran out of time and money. But we did start a small buzz. I’ve been thinking about doing this again.
Another friend and I, Melissa, while unemployed for the last several months have been hanging out in a coffee shop at South Water Front. We call it “the office”.
While setting in the office a while back I asked the owner if I could have a breakfast there the first Friday of every month. He said, “of course!” He loves that we hang out there.
Last week I was watching Leo on Ustream at “the office”. I said to Melissa, “hey we can have a show too!” Right then I created a show, “Chatter at Rilassi”. This will be the new venue for Breakfast for Five.
It may take a bit to get all the details worked out. But I’m working on it.
Stay tuned!
Once again unemployment is high. What do you do?
For the last 15 years or so I have been listening to people talk about their future. I have to admit that going to school to study photography, film and television; I really thought that I would be listening to people talking and pitching film ideas. Best-laid plans right?
First and foremost, you have to network. It is a bit easier today with all the social media outlets. Facebook has groups, as does LinkedIn and Twitter allow you to follow companies and people at those companies to gain insight into their environment.
I’ve never been good in a crowd. Mingle isn’t my thing. But what I can do is talk to a group about being prepared for that future. The mindset to prepare hasn’t changed so much but the tools and resources available sure have. Where to start?
First, take a breath, relax and put together a plan. Make a list of everyone you know. EVERYONE! I say try to get to 50. In a workshop a couple months ago on this suggestion one woman said, “hey I still have the address list together from my wedding!” EVERYONE. Then contact each and every one of those individuals telling them you are looking for work and what you are looking for. Check them off as you go through the list. And determine whom you will follow up with and at what intervals. I’ve said this for years, you just never know. You just don’t know where your next lead will come from. I heard someone say, be careful of the feet you step on today they may be attached to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow.
Work on a financial road map. Get clear what you can and are willing to do and do without. Target specific companies and make sure you take full advantage of that thing, that place that is Social Media.
I’ve watched people for years apply to jobs with no real consideration of the company that they are potentially going to work for. Again, a bit easier today with the Internet, Facebook, LinkedIn and that Twitter. There is no reason in the world today for someone to take a job at a company that they don’t know everything about.
Using Social Media to enhance your job search comes with specific obligations and responsibility. I’m going to pull some numbers out of my hat. If you read 5 articles about Social Media, I bet that 2 of them will talk about brand. Yes you and I need to think about the image that we paint in the public social space.
I read a great article today by Carrie Wilkerson the @Barefoot_Exec, what she says about your social network and how she draws traffic. It’s the four C’s, character, conversation, content and consistency. You should also apply this to your job search. I think it will keep you from heading down the wrong path.
Great blog here at The Buzz Bin, “Getting Social Media Approved By Your Boss”. Which references the great book groundswell, by Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff.
