All I want for Christmas (as you probably have already guessed) is a job. Although it would be easy to just sit back and relax during the holiday season, I feel like I need to push on towards my goal of securing employment - still looking, still applying, still making connections.
Don't get me wrong. I'll enjoy the season just as much as anyone else. I do love Christmas. The food. The presents. And most importantly, time spent with friends and family. But during my downtime, I'll be checking out job postings on Twitter, networking with contacts on Linkedin, and updating my portfolio website at HireThatRedhead.com.
The main reason I'll still be job hunting during the holidays is because I am graduating tomorrow with a master's in Integrated Marketing Communication and a certificate in Project Management from Florida State University. Hoping to have a job lined up soon after graduating, I started my job search back in early August. I built my website and my Linkedin profile. I started writing this blog and also posting and connecting with people on Twitter and Facebook. I did all of this to build my "personal brand" (thanks to @ira9201 for this phrase). I also wanted to show potential employers that I knew how to use online tools and social media for communication and marketing purposes, as I learned in my classes at Florida State.
Employers are still hiring during the holidays as well (as long as they still need people), which is good for all of us who are still looking. I found this article on "holiday hiring" quite interesting which was posted by @thejobsguy on Twitter. As long as companies are still hiring, then I need to keep looking and applying. I don't want to miss out on any great job opportunities. The perfect job for "That Redhead" may be just around the corner.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
The Power of Recommendations
I learned in my public relations class that a third-party endorsement can be much more powerful than a company bragging on itself. My professor explained that advertising is a company saying, "Look how great I am." Publicity, however, is someone else saying how great you are, lending the message more credibility. I think a good recommendation works in the same way and can sometimes be more powerful than a good resume.
Like any other job candidate, I am biased about my own skills, education, experience, and potential contribution to an employer. Many times, job candidates have similar education or work experience. Resumes can also be "tweaked" so that candidates look better on paper than they do in person. Unknown discrepancies between "person" and "paper" are why third-party endorsements in the form of objective recommendations are so necessary and powerful.
I once thought that recommendations were only for supervisors. I have since learned that recommendations can come from many different sources. I now have recommendations from professors based on my academic work and from fellow classmates based on our work together on group projects. I especially think that peer recommendations can be enlightening for potential employers, especially if the job requires teamwork or leadership. There's no better proof of how well a job candidate works on or leads a team than a recommendation from someone that has been on a team with the candidate.
Online resources make it easier to ask for and receive recommendations. I use two online resources - Linkedin and this blog. On Linkedin, you can request recommendations for any job or educational experience from any of your professional connections. Traditional recommendation letters sometimes require a long turn-around time because the recommender normally writes a full page or two (which can be hard to fit into a busy schedule). Linkedin recommendations however are usually shorter (a paragraph or two) than a traditional letter. This means you're more likely to get the recommendation in a timely manner (like before that important interview).
For my professional associates that aren't on Linkedin, I have a blog post called "All-Call for Commendations," where they can leave recommendations as comments on the blog. When requesting a recommendation, I'll look for an associate on Linkedin first, but will then email a link to the "commendations" blog post if that person doesn't have a Linkedin profile.
For work supervisors and some special situations, I still prefer the traditional recommendation letter. It's what employers are familiar with, and professional letterhead still has an impact. Plus, it's nice to have a traditional letter to give a potential employer in person. I always make sure to have PDF copies of these letters as well to post on my website HireThatRedhead.com.
I currently have five traditional recommendation letters, three peer recommendations on my blog post, and two Linkedin recommendations (with hopefully more to come). I've synthesized all of my various recommendation sources into one place on the Recommendations page of my website to make it more employer-friendly. Hopefully, with so many other people speaking so highly of me (in addition to my own self-promotion), some lucky employer out there will be convinced to "Hire That Redhead."
Like any other job candidate, I am biased about my own skills, education, experience, and potential contribution to an employer. Many times, job candidates have similar education or work experience. Resumes can also be "tweaked" so that candidates look better on paper than they do in person. Unknown discrepancies between "person" and "paper" are why third-party endorsements in the form of objective recommendations are so necessary and powerful.
I once thought that recommendations were only for supervisors. I have since learned that recommendations can come from many different sources. I now have recommendations from professors based on my academic work and from fellow classmates based on our work together on group projects. I especially think that peer recommendations can be enlightening for potential employers, especially if the job requires teamwork or leadership. There's no better proof of how well a job candidate works on or leads a team than a recommendation from someone that has been on a team with the candidate.
Online resources make it easier to ask for and receive recommendations. I use two online resources - Linkedin and this blog. On Linkedin, you can request recommendations for any job or educational experience from any of your professional connections. Traditional recommendation letters sometimes require a long turn-around time because the recommender normally writes a full page or two (which can be hard to fit into a busy schedule). Linkedin recommendations however are usually shorter (a paragraph or two) than a traditional letter. This means you're more likely to get the recommendation in a timely manner (like before that important interview).
For my professional associates that aren't on Linkedin, I have a blog post called "All-Call for Commendations," where they can leave recommendations as comments on the blog. When requesting a recommendation, I'll look for an associate on Linkedin first, but will then email a link to the "commendations" blog post if that person doesn't have a Linkedin profile.
For work supervisors and some special situations, I still prefer the traditional recommendation letter. It's what employers are familiar with, and professional letterhead still has an impact. Plus, it's nice to have a traditional letter to give a potential employer in person. I always make sure to have PDF copies of these letters as well to post on my website HireThatRedhead.com.
I currently have five traditional recommendation letters, three peer recommendations on my blog post, and two Linkedin recommendations (with hopefully more to come). I've synthesized all of my various recommendation sources into one place on the Recommendations page of my website to make it more employer-friendly. Hopefully, with so many other people speaking so highly of me (in addition to my own self-promotion), some lucky employer out there will be convinced to "Hire That Redhead."
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Gainful Employment
Since I had Veterans Day off from classes, I had time to think about the sacrifices of the men and women who have fought and died to protect our rights and freedoms in America. The Declaration of Independence states that human beings are endowed with unalienable rights, and among these rights are "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
For many, happiness is largely tied into employment. We are happier when we are working and able to provide for our needs and the needs of our families. Also, we invest so much time and energy into work that much of our personal satisfaction comes from our jobs. If we have a bad day at work, it can affect us so much emotionally that we take it home with us, which then can affect our loved ones. If we do well at work, we feel better emotionally.
So since happiness is tied so intimately to our work, I thank our veterans that they have served to protect our right to the "pursuit of gainful employment." In America, we have the opportunity to strive for the "American Dream." I see the "American Dream" as everyone having the opportunity to set a personal goal (perhaps a dream job) and live in an environment that encourages personal drive and innovation towards that goal.
I am thankful to live in a country that fosters opportunity and rewards vision, creativity, and personal drive. I am thankful to all the veterans (especially the commissioned young men and women who I graduated with from the Virginia Military Institute) that have served or are serving to protect our freedom to pursue our hopes and dreams, including our dream jobs.
For many, happiness is largely tied into employment. We are happier when we are working and able to provide for our needs and the needs of our families. Also, we invest so much time and energy into work that much of our personal satisfaction comes from our jobs. If we have a bad day at work, it can affect us so much emotionally that we take it home with us, which then can affect our loved ones. If we do well at work, we feel better emotionally.
So since happiness is tied so intimately to our work, I thank our veterans that they have served to protect our right to the "pursuit of gainful employment." In America, we have the opportunity to strive for the "American Dream." I see the "American Dream" as everyone having the opportunity to set a personal goal (perhaps a dream job) and live in an environment that encourages personal drive and innovation towards that goal.
I am thankful to live in a country that fosters opportunity and rewards vision, creativity, and personal drive. I am thankful to all the veterans (especially the commissioned young men and women who I graduated with from the Virginia Military Institute) that have served or are serving to protect our freedom to pursue our hopes and dreams, including our dream jobs.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Twitter Lists Make Job Search Easier
I use my twitter account @HireThatRedhead for job search activities. I started by posting updates about my job search and website, HireThatRedhead.com. I then followed job posters and potential employers. Now with the addition of "Lists" to twitter, those activities have become easier and more streamlined.
I've heard twitter described as a "firehose" of information. This became true of the information I was receiving as I started to follow more and more people. Some people I follow only post jobs. Some post job search tips, but not opportunities. Some post social media or communication articles. Some are potential employers. Twitter lists allow me to break all of these down for easier consumption.
I keep lists now for "postings," "services," and "contacts." "Postings" are those that post job opportunities. "Services" are those that post job search tips. "Contacts" are the people and companies that I have networked with during my job search.
"Postings" is the list I use the most since I am looking for a job. Instead of wading through 150 tweets to find the 75 jobs that posted since I checked yesterday, I now just check out my "postings" list and cut my browsing time in half. I still read through my regular twitter homepage, but it's nice to have a list when I'm only in the mood for job-hunting.
I've heard twitter described as a "firehose" of information. This became true of the information I was receiving as I started to follow more and more people. Some people I follow only post jobs. Some post job search tips, but not opportunities. Some post social media or communication articles. Some are potential employers. Twitter lists allow me to break all of these down for easier consumption.
I keep lists now for "postings," "services," and "contacts." "Postings" are those that post job opportunities. "Services" are those that post job search tips. "Contacts" are the people and companies that I have networked with during my job search.
"Postings" is the list I use the most since I am looking for a job. Instead of wading through 150 tweets to find the 75 jobs that posted since I checked yesterday, I now just check out my "postings" list and cut my browsing time in half. I still read through my regular twitter homepage, but it's nice to have a list when I'm only in the mood for job-hunting.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Personal Branding Requires Personal Objective
When I started my job search, I left the "objective" out of my resume because I felt it would limit my options. I thought to myself:
Should I make the objective sufficiently vague so it fits all the jobs I apply for?
Do I rewrite the objective for every job I apply for?
What if my objective doesn't match the job that I'm applying for?
I eventually decided that the answers were no, no, and "so what" respectively. First, I don't deal in vagueness unless it's used as a specific marketing tactic (think teaser commercials). Second, rewriting my objective for every job seemed inauthentic to who I am. I needed a consistent branding message. Third, I learned that I didn't have to apply for every communications, marketing, or PR job I come across, but that I could spend more quality time on better opportunities.
A professional associate, Ron Sachs (owner of Ron Sachs Communication in Tallahassee, FL) looked over my resume and advised me that an objective is essential. The objective tells an employer who you are and what you want to do. This made me think that a personal objective is also a personal "mission statement."
Taking Ron's advice, I crafted the following objective:
"I seek a position in a marketing and communication office in the healthcare, education, government, or non-profit sector. I want my work to improve and enrich the lives of others. This position should take full advantage of my skills in account planning, market research, strategic planning, social media, and project management."
This statement relates my area of expertise, the sectors I want to work in, what I want to accomplish, and a sample of my skills to potential employers. Perhaps more importantly though, writing this statement focused my personal job search. I now only look for jobs in or related to these work sectors, and I look for jobs where my work would (directly or indirectly) help other people.
With my school and work responsibilities, there's a limited amount of time to spend on my job search. Previously I spent that time finding and applying to as many jobs as possible. I hoped that the more jobs I applied to, the higher the chance something would pan out.
I apply for fewer jobs now, but spend more time on each job opportunity. This results in applications with more detail, cover letters with higher personalization, and more time for follow-up emails and phone calls. Writing a personal objective has transformed my job search from "quantity" to "quality."
You can check out my personal objective as part of my full RESUME on HireThatRedhead.com.
Should I make the objective sufficiently vague so it fits all the jobs I apply for?
Do I rewrite the objective for every job I apply for?
What if my objective doesn't match the job that I'm applying for?
I eventually decided that the answers were no, no, and "so what" respectively. First, I don't deal in vagueness unless it's used as a specific marketing tactic (think teaser commercials). Second, rewriting my objective for every job seemed inauthentic to who I am. I needed a consistent branding message. Third, I learned that I didn't have to apply for every communications, marketing, or PR job I come across, but that I could spend more quality time on better opportunities.
A professional associate, Ron Sachs (owner of Ron Sachs Communication in Tallahassee, FL) looked over my resume and advised me that an objective is essential. The objective tells an employer who you are and what you want to do. This made me think that a personal objective is also a personal "mission statement."
Taking Ron's advice, I crafted the following objective:
"I seek a position in a marketing and communication office in the healthcare, education, government, or non-profit sector. I want my work to improve and enrich the lives of others. This position should take full advantage of my skills in account planning, market research, strategic planning, social media, and project management."
This statement relates my area of expertise, the sectors I want to work in, what I want to accomplish, and a sample of my skills to potential employers. Perhaps more importantly though, writing this statement focused my personal job search. I now only look for jobs in or related to these work sectors, and I look for jobs where my work would (directly or indirectly) help other people.
With my school and work responsibilities, there's a limited amount of time to spend on my job search. Previously I spent that time finding and applying to as many jobs as possible. I hoped that the more jobs I applied to, the higher the chance something would pan out.
I apply for fewer jobs now, but spend more time on each job opportunity. This results in applications with more detail, cover letters with higher personalization, and more time for follow-up emails and phone calls. Writing a personal objective has transformed my job search from "quantity" to "quality."
You can check out my personal objective as part of my full RESUME on HireThatRedhead.com.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
PRSA Fellow Calls Me "Thought Leader"
Dr. Jay Rayburn, director of the Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC) program at Florida State University, refers to me as a "thought leader" among my peers. In a recommendation letter, he states, "In class, I found him to be thoughtful, inquisitive, and analytical. His questions were always on point, and his contributions to the discussion were enlightening. He certainly was a thought leader in the class." He also writes about how fellow students seek my opinions and help in regards to classwork.
Dr. Rayburn, a PRSA Fellow, has been my academic adviser since I started the IMC master's program at FSU. He offers a complete perspective on my work as both a student and graduate assistant. This semester, I am in his Assessing Organizational Communication class. In that class, I am learning how to conduct communication effectiveness studies, which include depth interviews, focus groups, surveys, and material reviews.
You can check out Dr. Rayburn's recommendation of me on the Recommendations page of HireThatRedhead.com.
Dr. Rayburn, a PRSA Fellow, has been my academic adviser since I started the IMC master's program at FSU. He offers a complete perspective on my work as both a student and graduate assistant. This semester, I am in his Assessing Organizational Communication class. In that class, I am learning how to conduct communication effectiveness studies, which include depth interviews, focus groups, surveys, and material reviews.
You can check out Dr. Rayburn's recommendation of me on the Recommendations page of HireThatRedhead.com.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
The Redhead is the FUTURE
At least that's what one of my peers says. Jacqueline Ortiz, a former classmate of mine, states, "Thinking of hiring Chase Porter? One thing you need to know: He is THE FUTURE of Marketing and Communications." I am thoroughly honored by this statement. Check out her commendation on my RECOMMENDATIONS page (once there, you'll need to scroll down just a bit to see the peer commendations).
I worked with Jacqueline on a group project in my Intro to Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC) class. We called ourselves "Humble Pie Consulting" because many in the class called us the "Dream Team." It was an honor to work with such a talented and dedicated group of people.
The team developed a strategic integrated marketing communication plan for the Department of Communication at Florida State University. A copy of the final report is available in my online PORTFOLIO. The final plan included a situation analysis (including a SWOT analysis, communication audit, and competition analysis), research results, creative platform, positioning, measurable objectives and strategies, branding tactics, and program measurements.
I worked primarily on threats (in the SWOT analysis), research results, the second measurable objective (a recruiting program using current graduate students as recruiters), branding tactics for that objective (including promotional materials and events, public relations, internet efforts, and direct marketing), the program review, and the report conclusion. If you check out the final report, I've color-coded my primary material in red.
It was an absolute pleasure working with the individuals of Humble Pie Consulting. Our team produced a blockbuster strategic IMC plan for the FSU Department of Communication and was chosen as only one of two teams allowed to present our ideas to the heads of the department. I gained terrific experience working from start to finish on a strategic planning project with an actual client. My master's education has allowed me to work with real clients often including Mission San Luis and the Oasis Ministry.
I worked with Jacqueline on a group project in my Intro to Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC) class. We called ourselves "Humble Pie Consulting" because many in the class called us the "Dream Team." It was an honor to work with such a talented and dedicated group of people.
The team developed a strategic integrated marketing communication plan for the Department of Communication at Florida State University. A copy of the final report is available in my online PORTFOLIO. The final plan included a situation analysis (including a SWOT analysis, communication audit, and competition analysis), research results, creative platform, positioning, measurable objectives and strategies, branding tactics, and program measurements.
I worked primarily on threats (in the SWOT analysis), research results, the second measurable objective (a recruiting program using current graduate students as recruiters), branding tactics for that objective (including promotional materials and events, public relations, internet efforts, and direct marketing), the program review, and the report conclusion. If you check out the final report, I've color-coded my primary material in red.
It was an absolute pleasure working with the individuals of Humble Pie Consulting. Our team produced a blockbuster strategic IMC plan for the FSU Department of Communication and was chosen as only one of two teams allowed to present our ideas to the heads of the department. I gained terrific experience working from start to finish on a strategic planning project with an actual client. My master's education has allowed me to work with real clients often including Mission San Luis and the Oasis Ministry.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Another Peer Commends the Redhead
I received my second peer commendation from a classmate that I worked with on a class project. Phil Crowe and I took the integrated marketing communication capstone course together called "Marketing Communication Management."
We teamed up to develop the concept and create a complete business/advertising plan for an eco-friendly company. I can't divulge too many details since we are in the process of getting our ideas and designs trademarked and/or copyrighted as is necessary. Phil has also expressed interest in perhaps using the plan to start a business after school.
The final plan consisted of a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats), target market analysis, competition analysis, branding, positioning, image/logo, marketing strategy (including cable TV, print, and online/social media), media plan, TV commercial storyboard, two sample print ads, and a website schematic with sample pages.
Our skills and personalities complemented each other quite well. I did most of the research, and Phil did most of the creative. I copy edited, and Phil tweaked logos. We brainstormed creative concepts, but Phil did the design work since he's a Photoshop guru. I did storyboard the TV commercial however. My tablet PC was quite handy for sketching out the different scenes of the commercial.
You can check out Phil's commendation of my work on my Recommendations page on HireThatRedhead.com.
We teamed up to develop the concept and create a complete business/advertising plan for an eco-friendly company. I can't divulge too many details since we are in the process of getting our ideas and designs trademarked and/or copyrighted as is necessary. Phil has also expressed interest in perhaps using the plan to start a business after school.
The final plan consisted of a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats), target market analysis, competition analysis, branding, positioning, image/logo, marketing strategy (including cable TV, print, and online/social media), media plan, TV commercial storyboard, two sample print ads, and a website schematic with sample pages.
Our skills and personalities complemented each other quite well. I did most of the research, and Phil did most of the creative. I copy edited, and Phil tweaked logos. We brainstormed creative concepts, but Phil did the design work since he's a Photoshop guru. I did storyboard the TV commercial however. My tablet PC was quite handy for sketching out the different scenes of the commercial.
You can check out Phil's commendation of my work on my Recommendations page on HireThatRedhead.com.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Revamped Resume & First Peer Commendation
Upon the advice of a new professional associate, I have revamped my resume. I've added an objective and more clearly defined my experiences in terms of accomplishments.
Writing an objective has helped me narrow my focus as well. I am now seeking a corporate communication/public relations position in the healthcare, education, or nonprofit sector. I'm focusing on these three sectors because I want my work to improve the lives of others. I also have experience working in all three.
I also have my first peer commendation from a fellow classmate. I worked with this person on an account planning project to gather consumer insights of Tallahassee residents on behalf of Mission San Luis. You can check out this commendation on the Recommendations page of www.HireThatRedhead.com.
Writing an objective has helped me narrow my focus as well. I am now seeking a corporate communication/public relations position in the healthcare, education, or nonprofit sector. I'm focusing on these three sectors because I want my work to improve the lives of others. I also have experience working in all three.
I also have my first peer commendation from a fellow classmate. I worked with this person on an account planning project to gather consumer insights of Tallahassee residents on behalf of Mission San Luis. You can check out this commendation on the Recommendations page of www.HireThatRedhead.com.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Firefox Hates Spelling Errors
I hate spelling errors too, which is why I love Firefox even more now. If you are applying to jobs or posting resume information online like I am, Firefox is essential.
I first built my HireThatRedhead Google site using Internet Explorer (I also stayed up all night doing so). Unfortunately, Internet Explorer (IE) doesn't show you spelling errors as you type information online. So over the last couple months, I have found two spelling errors on my pages just because I switched to Firefox, which catches spelling errors as you type (like Microsoft Word). IE may have an option or add-on for this capability, but it's native and easy in Firefox. This option is also quite handy when posting to a blog.
I have to remind myself that I'm only human and that I still make mistakes. Actually, it's the mistakes that remind me that I'm only human. It's nerve-racking though to wonder if you were passed over for an interview because of one spelling mistake on a resume or website. I also wonder how many people saw the mistake and didn't let me know, which I would hope is common courtesy to do so. I try to email the webmaster whenever I catch spelling errors on other websites. I also wonder if everyone who has checked out my site is as crazy over spelling correctness as I am.
I have learned my lesson. First, Firefox catches spelling errors (you can get it at www.firefox.com). Second, always have someone else check important information that you're posting for hundreds to see (I'm over 400 hits now on www.HireThatRedhead.com). We are blinded to our own mistakes because we are biased. If you're job-hunting like I am, maybe you can learn something from my mistake.
I first built my HireThatRedhead Google site using Internet Explorer (I also stayed up all night doing so). Unfortunately, Internet Explorer (IE) doesn't show you spelling errors as you type information online. So over the last couple months, I have found two spelling errors on my pages just because I switched to Firefox, which catches spelling errors as you type (like Microsoft Word). IE may have an option or add-on for this capability, but it's native and easy in Firefox. This option is also quite handy when posting to a blog.
I have to remind myself that I'm only human and that I still make mistakes. Actually, it's the mistakes that remind me that I'm only human. It's nerve-racking though to wonder if you were passed over for an interview because of one spelling mistake on a resume or website. I also wonder how many people saw the mistake and didn't let me know, which I would hope is common courtesy to do so. I try to email the webmaster whenever I catch spelling errors on other websites. I also wonder if everyone who has checked out my site is as crazy over spelling correctness as I am.
I have learned my lesson. First, Firefox catches spelling errors (you can get it at www.firefox.com). Second, always have someone else check important information that you're posting for hundreds to see (I'm over 400 hits now on www.HireThatRedhead.com). We are blinded to our own mistakes because we are biased. If you're job-hunting like I am, maybe you can learn something from my mistake.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Another New Recommendation
I just posted a new recommendation letter from a former supervisor at the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) office at Florida State University. I recently posted a letter from another supervisor (Nik Bogdanov) from that office. I worked on projects for both of these gentlemen as the IT technician for the ERP office.
Randy writes about my strong skills in customer service, project management, and analytical thinking. He uses the ERP office-wide computer refresh project that I worked on as an example of these skills. You can check out this new letter on the Recommendations page of HireThatRedhead.com.
Randy writes about my strong skills in customer service, project management, and analytical thinking. He uses the ERP office-wide computer refresh project that I worked on as an example of these skills. You can check out this new letter on the Recommendations page of HireThatRedhead.com.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Know Your Salary
I learned today that it's important to know your salary, current and future, when applying for jobs. Many companies want to know not only what your current salary is, but also what you want to make if they hire you. This presents a problem for those who know their hourly wage, but not their annual salary. It's also a problem if you'll be fresh out of school and don't know what salary you should be making in a new job. I found a couple resources online to solve both of these problems.
To determine my current annual salary, I used the salary calculator at http://www.grossing.com/Salary-Calculator.htm. It allows you to enter your current hourly wage (perfect for me since I currently do contract work at an hourly wage), and it computes your yearly salary for you. Since I don't work a full 40 hours every week, I used the second calculator on that page which let me enter wage and hours per week.
To determine what I should make in a new position, I used the "Salary Wizard" at www.Salary.com. You put in a job title and zip code, and the site shows you average salaries for the position (or similar positions) in that geographical area. You can drill down even further by entering your level of education to get an even clearer picture of what you should earn.
There are other tools online that perform similar functions, but these two served my purposes after finding them with Google. If you're looking for a job or even asking for a raise, maybe these tools can help you too.
To determine my current annual salary, I used the salary calculator at http://www.grossing.com/Salary-Calculator.htm. It allows you to enter your current hourly wage (perfect for me since I currently do contract work at an hourly wage), and it computes your yearly salary for you. Since I don't work a full 40 hours every week, I used the second calculator on that page which let me enter wage and hours per week.
To determine what I should make in a new position, I used the "Salary Wizard" at www.Salary.com. You put in a job title and zip code, and the site shows you average salaries for the position (or similar positions) in that geographical area. You can drill down even further by entering your level of education to get an even clearer picture of what you should earn.
There are other tools online that perform similar functions, but these two served my purposes after finding them with Google. If you're looking for a job or even asking for a raise, maybe these tools can help you too.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
A New Way to Celebrate Labor Day
I'm applying for my first round of Twitter job postings tomorrow in honor of "Labor" day (quite appropriate I think). I sorted through about 40 postings today and found eight that intrigued me enough to bookmark in my "Apply" folder. I'll read the full job postings tomorrow and apply to the ones that peak my interest a second time.
The jobs included public relations reps and advisers, marketing account execs and directors, and some jobs seeking project management experience (convenient since I'll graduate with a certificate in project management in addition to my marketing/communication master's degree).
I also built a profile today on the Florida State University SeminoleLink website and a "career portfolio" on the FSU Careers page. I'll post links to those once I've finished them. I mainly just provided links back to my official job search site at HireThatRedhead.com.
The career portfolio however has a very intriguing option to build a "skills matrix." In this matrix, one axis features "experiences," such as jobs, internships, and volunteer work. The other axis lists different "skills" such as leadership, research, and life management. You add items at the cross-points showing what skills you developed in which experiences. I'm looking forward to building my matrix and providing a link to it on HireThatRedhead. It seems like a very creative way to showcase one's work and life skills to potential employers.
The jobs included public relations reps and advisers, marketing account execs and directors, and some jobs seeking project management experience (convenient since I'll graduate with a certificate in project management in addition to my marketing/communication master's degree).
I also built a profile today on the Florida State University SeminoleLink website and a "career portfolio" on the FSU Careers page. I'll post links to those once I've finished them. I mainly just provided links back to my official job search site at HireThatRedhead.com.
The career portfolio however has a very intriguing option to build a "skills matrix." In this matrix, one axis features "experiences," such as jobs, internships, and volunteer work. The other axis lists different "skills" such as leadership, research, and life management. You add items at the cross-points showing what skills you developed in which experiences. I'm looking forward to building my matrix and providing a link to it on HireThatRedhead. It seems like a very creative way to showcase one's work and life skills to potential employers.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
New Recommendation Letter
I've got a new recommendation letter from a recent supervisor posted on my website. You can check it out on my Recommendations page on HireThatRedhead. The letter comes from Nik Bogdanov, Senior Systems Administrator for the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Office at Florida State University.
I worked part time for ERP as an information technology technician, providing the primary source of general computer hardware and software support. Nik writes about my promptness and thoroughness in serving ERP and also commends my project management skills. I enjoyed working with and getting to know the people at ERP, and I wish them all the best.
I worked part time for ERP as an information technology technician, providing the primary source of general computer hardware and software support. Nik writes about my promptness and thoroughness in serving ERP and also commends my project management skills. I enjoyed working with and getting to know the people at ERP, and I wish them all the best.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Progressively Linked In
I created a Linkedin profile last August, but didn't do much with it. When I started working on my profile today, it had one out-of-date job and no other experience/education listed. My profile "progress" was dismal. I'm proud to say it's all up to date, and now my progress is 85%.
The site has an import resume option, but I didn't notice that until I had all my information manually entered. I did find the import contacts option quite handy however, inviting quite a few people to connect that I had in my Gmail address book. On a side note, I love having my Gmail addressbook automatically synchronizing between Gmail (online), Thunderbird (on my laptop), and my Windows Mobile phone (anywhere I go). I also love how Gmail imports so easily into other online applications like Linkedin.
If you want to connect, look me up at www.linkedin.com/in/hirethatredhead. I've also now placed a Linkedin button on my the sidebar of my main job site at www.hirethatredhead.com. I've been told that getting a job is all about networking. I figure it's important then to use as many tools and opportunities to network as possible, as long as it's still manageable.
The site has an import resume option, but I didn't notice that until I had all my information manually entered. I did find the import contacts option quite handy however, inviting quite a few people to connect that I had in my Gmail address book. On a side note, I love having my Gmail addressbook automatically synchronizing between Gmail (online), Thunderbird (on my laptop), and my Windows Mobile phone (anywhere I go). I also love how Gmail imports so easily into other online applications like Linkedin.
If you want to connect, look me up at www.linkedin.com/in/hirethatredhead. I've also now placed a Linkedin button on my the sidebar of my main job site at www.hirethatredhead.com. I've been told that getting a job is all about networking. I figure it's important then to use as many tools and opportunities to network as possible, as long as it's still manageable.
Monday, August 24, 2009
The Importance of Informational Interviews
I'm in my last semester now at Florida State University. I'm taking three courses this fall - Assessing Organizational Communication, Systems Thinking (which goes towards my project management certificate), and Analysis of Communication Theory. Over the summer I finished up Cases in Public Relations Management, Advanced Topics in Project Management, and Marketing Communication Managment (my capstone course). Taking a full load in the summer allows me to finish my master's degree a semester early.
I also have a meeting at Ron Sachs Communication (ranked in the top 100 public relations firms) next week. I met Mr. Ron Sachs a couple months ago, and he invited me to visit the office. Unfortunately, he doesn't have any internships left for the fall, but I will still go for an informational meeting to learn more about the agency and the work it does. I've done the same at Moore Consulting (also in the top 100) recently. Moore didn't have any openings either, but the internship director there has been quite helpful since then, passing my resume to some of his other contacts and informing me of other internship opportunities.
I have learned that informational meetings, while they do not carry the same weight (or stress) as a job interview, are invaluable for gaining insight into a company's work environment, processes, philosophy, and values. Such meetings are also great for networking (and hopefully opening some doors). I do not underestimate the value of informational meetings because you never know what opportunities they could lead to down the road.
I also have a meeting at Ron Sachs Communication (ranked in the top 100 public relations firms) next week. I met Mr. Ron Sachs a couple months ago, and he invited me to visit the office. Unfortunately, he doesn't have any internships left for the fall, but I will still go for an informational meeting to learn more about the agency and the work it does. I've done the same at Moore Consulting (also in the top 100) recently. Moore didn't have any openings either, but the internship director there has been quite helpful since then, passing my resume to some of his other contacts and informing me of other internship opportunities.
I have learned that informational meetings, while they do not carry the same weight (or stress) as a job interview, are invaluable for gaining insight into a company's work environment, processes, philosophy, and values. Such meetings are also great for networking (and hopefully opening some doors). I do not underestimate the value of informational meetings because you never know what opportunities they could lead to down the road.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Check Out the New Fan Page
I've built a Facebook fan page for HireThatRedhead at http://www.facebook.com/pages/HireThatRedhead/162561190608. This should increase my website's online reach and give interested individuals yet another way to connect to HireThatRedhead and keep up with my job search activities.
I've learned about Facebook vanity URLs today too. You have to build up a base of at least 100 fans to get a shortened, more user-friendly Facebook website address. I've also read that some people browse forums looking for "fanners" to build up to 100 fans easily. I'm not too comfortable with that, but I do have a button on the sidebar of my website http://www.hirethatredhead.com/ that should make fan-building easier.
So if you like the posts, the concept, or even just the name HireThatRedhead, check out the fan page to give a redhead a hand.
I've learned about Facebook vanity URLs today too. You have to build up a base of at least 100 fans to get a shortened, more user-friendly Facebook website address. I've also read that some people browse forums looking for "fanners" to build up to 100 fans easily. I'm not too comfortable with that, but I do have a button on the sidebar of my website http://www.hirethatredhead.com/ that should make fan-building easier.
So if you like the posts, the concept, or even just the name HireThatRedhead, check out the fan page to give a redhead a hand.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Confessions of a Twitter Newbie
I resisted twitter for as long as possible - mainly because I'm already on Facebook and it takes up too much time as is. I actually gave up Facebook for this past Lent, so I weaned myself off overuse, and I'm much better now.
Since learning more about twitter in one of my classes and now implementing it into my job search site http://www.hirethatredhead.com/, I've learned that it is a great networking, research, and informational tool. I'm using it to post updates about my job site and my job search, hoping my journey will be informative for others looking for work as well.
I've quickly learned that one of the keys to twitter is following to be followed. As of this post, I'm following 43, mostly employment opportunity posters. This is a great resource to see the latest job openings in my desired fields (advertising, marketing, communication) across the nation (and even in other parts of the world).
What pleasantly surprised me is that the more people you follow, the more people follow you. I've got 17 following me now (and growing). I've also been posting some website updates and links for Hire That Redhead on my Facebook page. Recently a friend I went to college with at the Virginia Military Institute saw my website link on a Facebook post. He loved my website name so much that he posted it for his twitter followers (all 121 of them).
I just looked him up to follow on twitter. I'm sure he posts great stuff since he introduced me to a great email philosphy through a Facebook status update. He posted about Inbox Zero, which has forever changed the way I handle and respond to email. Check out my enlightening VMI friend Jason Long at http://twitter.com/longjasonm.
Since learning more about twitter in one of my classes and now implementing it into my job search site http://www.hirethatredhead.com/, I've learned that it is a great networking, research, and informational tool. I'm using it to post updates about my job site and my job search, hoping my journey will be informative for others looking for work as well.
I've quickly learned that one of the keys to twitter is following to be followed. As of this post, I'm following 43, mostly employment opportunity posters. This is a great resource to see the latest job openings in my desired fields (advertising, marketing, communication) across the nation (and even in other parts of the world).
What pleasantly surprised me is that the more people you follow, the more people follow you. I've got 17 following me now (and growing). I've also been posting some website updates and links for Hire That Redhead on my Facebook page. Recently a friend I went to college with at the Virginia Military Institute saw my website link on a Facebook post. He loved my website name so much that he posted it for his twitter followers (all 121 of them).
I just looked him up to follow on twitter. I'm sure he posts great stuff since he introduced me to a great email philosphy through a Facebook status update. He posted about Inbox Zero, which has forever changed the way I handle and respond to email. Check out my enlightening VMI friend Jason Long at http://twitter.com/longjasonm.
All-Call for Commendations
If you have worked with me in a professional capacity (work or school), please post a commendation based on that experience as a comment to this blog page for potential employers to see. Include your first and last name, professional title, and company/organization. Please note if you are a classmate as well. Thank you for your help.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
The Terrific Twitter Tool
Phase 2 of using Twitter as a job search tool is now underway. The first step was posting tweets of my job search site announcements and updates. I'm now following about 28 different "tweeters" who post job opportunities (and will continue to search out more). I searched for:
marketing jobs
advertising jobs
ad jobs
public relations jobs
pr jobs
branding jobs
new zealand jobs
The last one may seem odd at first, but my fiancee Leigh Ann is very fond of New Zealand, having spent a semester of college there. I've only seen pictures, but it looks beautiful, so I wouldn't mind spending some time there. Plus, Leigh Ann has told me that advertising and marketing is quite different (and in some cases much more fun) than in the US. Our parents might not be too pleased though, but at least they'd have a gorgeous country to visit us in.
marketing jobs
advertising jobs
ad jobs
public relations jobs
pr jobs
branding jobs
new zealand jobs
The last one may seem odd at first, but my fiancee Leigh Ann is very fond of New Zealand, having spent a semester of college there. I've only seen pictures, but it looks beautiful, so I wouldn't mind spending some time there. Plus, Leigh Ann has told me that advertising and marketing is quite different (and in some cases much more fun) than in the US. Our parents might not be too pleased though, but at least they'd have a gorgeous country to visit us in.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
On Monster
I've registered on http://www.monster.com/ to expand my job search. I've got a resume and some experience posted so far, but I've still got some work to do on my profile.
I don't know how effective the site is for employers searching out potential employees, but it should be a good tool for me to search out job opportunities. I haven't researched it yet, but I'm hoping the site has an option to email me every couple days automatically with communication and marketing opportunities.
I'll register soon on other job sites like Yahoo Hotjobs and perhaps The Ladders. I realize that The Ladders is only for jobs that pay $100,000+ but you never know what might happen.
I don't know how effective the site is for employers searching out potential employees, but it should be a good tool for me to search out job opportunities. I haven't researched it yet, but I'm hoping the site has an option to email me every couple days automatically with communication and marketing opportunities.
I'll register soon on other job sites like Yahoo Hotjobs and perhaps The Ladders. I realize that The Ladders is only for jobs that pay $100,000+ but you never know what might happen.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Changes and Reposts
I've completely revamped how my announcements and updates are posted. I wasn't satisfied with posting announcements to the site, a scraping program pulling an RSS feed from the announcements, and then the RSS feed posting to Twitter. Dates were wrong, items were posted out of order ... basically just not good enough.
I have created a blog at http://hirethatredhead.blogspot.com to handle all updates, announcements, news, etc. I'll post to the blog, the blog will show up on the main site at www.HireThatRedhead.com/blog, the blog will create a feed through www.feedburner.com, which will then show up as headlines on the homepage. Feedburner will also create the RSS feed (in a much sleeker format now).
I'm getting happy with how it's all working now. The twitter piece of it should fall into place soon as well.
Since I've reworked the system I've labeled all the old posts as "Reposts" since they were first posted on my Announcements page on the main site.
I have created a blog at http://hirethatredhead.blogspot.com to handle all updates, announcements, news, etc. I'll post to the blog, the blog will show up on the main site at www.HireThatRedhead.com/blog, the blog will create a feed through www.feedburner.com, which will then show up as headlines on the homepage. Feedburner will also create the RSS feed (in a much sleeker format now).
I'm getting happy with how it's all working now. The twitter piece of it should fall into place soon as well.
Since I've reworked the system I've labeled all the old posts as "Reposts" since they were first posted on my Announcements page on the main site.
Repost: Visit to Moore
I visited Moore Consulting this afternoon on the invite of my friend and classmate who works there. I spoke with the senior director and also met the internship director. I found out that the agency has one internship open for the fall. I'm quite interested since it would be terrific experience, and it's only five minutes down the road from where I currently live. The internship would also take the place of one of my fall classes.
I thought it was cool that Moore often works with healthcare and nonprofit organizations. I was the assistant director for a nonprofit ministry and also worked later for a hospital (which was later bought out by a nonprofit organization). It seemed I just couldn't escape nonprofits. I think that my inside knowledge of these fields would be a plus in a possible Moore internship.
I thought it was cool that Moore often works with healthcare and nonprofit organizations. I was the assistant director for a nonprofit ministry and also worked later for a hospital (which was later bought out by a nonprofit organization). It seemed I just couldn't escape nonprofits. I think that my inside knowledge of these fields would be a plus in a possible Moore internship.
Repost: Twitter Up
My "Announcements" to RSS to Twitter is now working. Sign up using the button on the sidebar if you want to get tweets of my job site updates. Or if you prefer sign up for the RSS feed or for email announcements (sent weekly).
Repost: GPA Up
I made all A's in this past summer term in my IMC master's program, so I've updated my GPA on the RESUME. It's now a 3.94, up from 3.91 previously. I told a friend from high school (the only one I still really keep in touch with) last night, and he wasn't surprised.
Repost: Now by Email Too
I've set up the option for interested parties (or individuals if you're by yourself) to sign up for weekly announcement updates by email. The sign up is located on the sidebar or you can sign up at signup@hirethatredhead.com.
Repost: RSS Feed Update/Twitter
I've switched which site I use to transform my Announcments into RSS posts. I'm using www.feedity.com. I found out that www.feed43.com only updates every 6 hours, which just isn't good enough for my tastes. Especially since I'm working on a way to automatically post my RSS updates on twitter (using www.twitterfeed.com). I'll have that twitter link posted to the sidebar as soon as I get it working.
Repost: Twitterific
I'm working on getting twitter updates of my "Recent Announcements." Not an easy process, but I should almost have it going. The button on the sidebar is good (pointed to www.twitter.com/hirethatredhead). I've got www.feedity.com scraping my homepage to pull the recent announcements into RSS. Then I'm using www.twitterfeed.com to turn the RSS into twitter posts. The whole process should be working now with some announcements posting by tomorrow. Sign up now though if you want the twitter updates later.
Repost: Sharing is Caring
I've now got a SHARE option (Facebook, Favorites, Twitter, Digg, etc) and an RSS option on the sidebar. The buttons come from a great site that makes sharing and RSS buttons super easy - www.addthis.com. I first came across this service during my Marketing Communication Management class. Actually getting the RSS feed to work by "scraping" my announcements page (using www.feed43.com) wasn't so easy. It's amazing what you can learn and accomplish with a couple Google searches, a little determination, and a lot of trial and error though. Oh, there's a hit counter on the sidebar too (set to not count when I check the page so there's no cheating). A hit counter's not necessarily essential nowadays, but I think it's kind of tech retro.
Repost: Going Viral
I just posted my website link www.HireThatRedhead.com on my Facebook status. I plan on sending it to some of my key "friends" as well, especially professional contacts. I'm going to look for other viral distribution channels as well.
Repost: Go Live
The Chase Porter "Hire That Redhead" site is going live to the public. It's a resource for potential employers to easily access my resume, portfolio, and recommendation letters to find out more about me as a potential hire in a marketing and/or communication position.
I'll be posting a couple more recommendation letters from recent supervisors soon to the RECOMMENDATIONS. I'm also planning to post my references on the RESUME page once I can confirm some information.
If your an interested employer, the best way to get me is though email at cporter@hirethatredhead.com. Have fun getting to know me.
I'll be posting a couple more recommendation letters from recent supervisors soon to the RECOMMENDATIONS. I'm also planning to post my references on the RESUME page once I can confirm some information.
If your an interested employer, the best way to get me is though email at cporter@hirethatredhead.com. Have fun getting to know me.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)