All posts in: LinkedIn

26 Nov 2017

Blog Roundup

– Neopets and its internet girl culture movement [Rolling Stone]

– How to plan a wedding your guests will enjoy [Vogue]

– 5 Different women on getting dressed for work [Racked]

– What the “Stranger Things” logo could have looked like [Vulture]

– If you’re obsessed with “Jelena” like we are, here’s a timeline for every important moment in their relationship that you need to know [Vogue]

– My LinkedIn Photo [The New Yorker]

– 101 Ways to Make a $1000 [Money]

– Apple Park Visitor Center now open to the public [Inhabitat]

03 Oct 2013

Blog Roundup

The Dos and Don’ts of gaining blog traffic [WordPress]

Jet Blue launches a new premium brand called “Mint” [USA Today]

SF Startup HotelTonight on what they look for when they hire. [LinkedIn] As a recruiter, I can definitely attest to these

11 Super foods for your skin and your brain [Brit + Co]

The history of the word “cool” [Slate]

Why we cry on airplanes [Refinery29]

The power of side projects [Start Something]

21 Aug 2013

LinkedIn Lowers Age Minimum To 14

Since I made my LinkedIn profile when I was in high school, it had never occurred to me that the professional networking site had an age minimum. It makes perfect sense though because while I am the biggest advocate for the site, I have seen it be used and abused for dating. Not only is it distasteful that people would do that or that it is my biggest peeve, but it makes people that use it for professional purposes lose their trust in it. Not even they are safe from unwanted advances on LinkedIn!

That would be my biggest concern when I learned that LinkedIn has decided to lower the age minimum to 14. In this day and age, entrepreneurs are getting started younger and younger and that’s great for them! I see them using it as a tool for connecting with those that will help them in their career, finding a mentor, and even learning how to build a resume (a good one!) if they don’t utilize their college resources or have no outlet for that. There are pros and cons to both sides of it. I hope that those at 14 will use it wisely and I hope that those well over 14 will not take advantage of those who are.

[Source]

22 Jun 2013

Google Makes A Shift In Their Hiring Process

For quite some time, everyone has known Google to ask some outrageous questions in their interview process. For example – how would you map out the entire city of San Francisco? Candidates have been prepared for it  – not knowing the question beforehand – but knowing how to respond quick on your feet and logically. An article came out recently that Google has decided to eliminate their brain teasers because there is no correlation between an answer to that type of question and how well a candidate can perform in their job. Instead hiring managers in Google and every where else are digging deeper into their candidates with behavioral questions like “Give me an example when you had to solve a difficult challenge in the workplace” or “What would your current manager say about you as an employee?” Answers to these questions say so much more. So readers, if you’re applying! It’s time to start preparing yourself!

Additionally Google has also come out and said that GPAs are not so much a factor for them anymore. Check out this interesting article here.

21 May 2013

Recent College Grads Equipped With Advice

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I noticed a slight trend today of articles posted on LinkedIn and all of them had to do with advice recent grads should take. Now in my last post, I discussed that advice should not always be taken in at once. For one, it’s too much information. Two, it’s not always applicable, but it will be when the “timing is right.” I can’t even begin to tell you how much I hate saying that last part and how much it has been said to me in the last few months, but in this moment right now, nothing seemed more fitting.

Whether it was a trend on LinkedIn or the fact that my talk is coming up and I am trying to solidify my material, every article I read today on this subject was beneficial. I wish that I had this advice when I came out of college. Would I have taken it as seriously? Probably not. That’s the problem that my professor  who’s class I am speaking to posed to me as a problem. Even though I would have this advice to give to these students, they may not see the value because they haven’t had the year of working experience that I have just had. Regardless, I do hope that my advice will spark something – a change, an opinion, or inspiration.

Here are the articles and posts that I read today:

16 May 2013

Social Media Anxiety: It Exists

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When you say the words, “Social Media Anxiety” out loud, it may sound kind of silly because after all – how can we take social media all that seriously? But it exists. I know because social media anxiety is exactly what happened to me yesterday morning when I was trying to promote a Yow Yow! post on Facebook. First I posted it. Four minutes later I took it down. Then I posted it to a friend’s wall and deleted it. And then I re-posted it to my own Facebook again. It was so ridiculous and I’ll admit I was a little bit embarrassed, but that is in fact what social media anxiety is at its finest. When you know that what you post will be seen by others that you are connected with, it’s hard NOT to feel self conscious. Is the status your posting witty enough? If it doesn’t have enough likes, is that a bad thing? Is my Instagram shot artsy enough? Will my tweet garner any re-tweets or replies?

The Today Show recently conducted a study in which they surveyed 7,000 American mothers and have discovered that 42% of them suffer from “Pinterest stress” – the worry that they are not crafty or creative enough. Yeah, that’s a real thing.

People deal with stress in different ways. Some people might go for a walk or a run, others might have a stiff drink or use cannabis from sites such as Area52.com. This can be taken in many different forms, but most people will choose to smoke it from a joint or through a bong. Of course, there are other options and each can produce slightly different results for the user, which is why it is always recommended that you speak to an expert in this field before trying it for yourself. For instance, another option is to try using a dry herb pen and more information about this can be found at https://www.kingspipes.com/blogs/news/yocan-evolve-d-plus-instructions-how-to-use-it. Natural remedies like CBD oil or medicinal marijuana are becoming more commonplace in treating stress and anxiety and may suit your needs. More people are looking into it as it becomes available to them. People are now simply searching online for marijuana seeds and gaining access to the product in order to assist them with their anxiety symtoms. If these kinds of remedies or the dry herb pen are someone you would want to look into why not try some search terms like “Am I allowed to smoke weed in [my area]” or “how to grind weed without a grinder“. If a lot of your stress comes from social media, it could be beneficial to treating your anxiety directly. Though dealing with stress this way can be a different matter. Many people may choose to just avoid it completely. While a little break from social media can be good for you, it can also be very isolating. I find the answer is to simply not care what other people think. Post what makes you feel happy, and don’t worry about how many likes you do or don’t receive. Easier said than done, I know.

Or you can read these articles for some more advice. New York Magazine just wrote up an entertaining piece about the 6 Major Social Media Anxieties and it couldn’t be more spot-on. Check it out here.

15 May 2013

Is There Ever A Right Time For Advice: Post-Grad Edition

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If I have learned anything about advice giving and advice taking this year it is that the person who is receiving the advice is never obligated to take it all in. It is, in fact, their decision to pick and choose what is best for them and sometimes advice that is given can be accepted not right then and there, but at a later time when it is more appropriate and comprehensible.

As I mentioned awhile ago, I will be speaking to a class of business management students next month and ever since I learned that I would have this opportunity, I have gone back and forth about what I was going to say about post grad life. Would they consider me enough of a reliable source since I just graduated less than a year ago? What can I say that will sound relatable and not pretentious? How can I make my explanations clear enough so that they translate and resonate with these students?

I have been catching up with friends, writing notes, and taking bits and pieces from articles that I’ve read to compile this short list of what will probably make up my talk to these students.

  1. Upon graduating, you are too young and too inexperienced to have any sense of entitlement. My dear friend Megan gave the same talk to students in her major earlier this year and as soon as she said this piece, I was convinced that it was true. While I love my alma mater to pieces, coming out of a small community where you thought and knew anything was possible can leave students jaded about expectations that they have for themselves after graduating. There’s already a notion going around that the 20-something generation is entitled; why feed into that? The saying is true – you must pay your dues. My friends have told me that in their companies, they have often times wished that they could speak out about their opinions and implement changes, but when you have not established any credibility other than you “think” that your idea is better, then you have no grounds to base it on. It is better to learn – to soak up all of the knowledge that you can and then when you have proven yourself, you will be given that opportunity. It will be much more justified and satisfying.
  2. Be kind to everyone. Everyone you meet could have an impact on where your career will lead you so be open and inviting towards others and always be kind no matter what. If you were a mean girl in high school or college, know that those days are behind you and won’t get you anywhere in post-grad life.
  3. Network. This and the step above kind of go hand-in-hand. When I was in college, I wish I would have taken advantage of the opportunities I had on campus or even in my internships to meet everyone. As a college student, I understand how this can be a little intimidating, but the best thing that you can get out of this is practice, practice, practice. You flubbed up with a recruiter at a networking opp? It’s okay – on to the next. The more you practice, the better you’ll get and the more comfortable you will be. This is even more important if you’re looking to start your own business, and you can find more advice online at sites like https://www.ewa-ha.com/ who cover startups, networking, and so much more.
  4. Business Ethics. As a Seattle University business student, I was required to take a Business Ethics class. At the time, I didn’t feel like I could ever relate to these situations and I didn’t feel like it would impact my future career path. I remember thinking to myself when I got asked to take part in the class that I would’ve rather spent the time studying for something else. I have seen many online training classes relating to business that appealed to me more, and they were ones that I think could’ve benefited me going forward. But little did I know how important the area of ethics would be for me and my career. I’ve chatted with many students in post-grad life that have listed this as being a very important factor for them when they are searching for new opportunities. Though this may not be a selling factor for you right away when you are interviewing with a company or starting your first day, it is something that you will definitely recognize pretty quickly. Find a company that you believe in – that you are passionate about – that you support and that you are proud to represent because their business values align with your own personal values.
  5. First impressions. I’m not sure if this is a no-brainer, but it’s an important tip that I have always kept close to me. When you are interviewing with a company, know that every person you interact with whether it’s over the phone, a receptionist, a recruiter, a hiring manager etc is an interview within itself. Each one of these individuals is aware of who you are and together their experience with how they interacted with you could be a contributing factor in determining if you belong with the team.
  6. The hiring process is still formal. I was surprised when I read this article about how some millennials believe that is appropriate to respond to a text or answer a phone call in the middle of an interview. Just because we live in a more modern time does not mean that these types of behavior are acceptable. Resumes still need to be formatted correctly and you can still create a good cv with little professional working experience so that’s no excuse. Cover letters need to be taken seriously. And phone screens and interviews are times when you need to turn on your professional game.
  7. Fine-tune your LinkedIn profile. In my spring quarter of senior year, I was required to create a Linkedin profile, but I wish I would have been told about this opportunity sooner or been urged to make one. I actually had a profile while I was still in high school, but deleted it after I realized I was too young to find a true use for it. The professional social networking website had changed so much in between that time and now as a post grad and a recruiter, I operate on LinkedIn every day. It’s such a great source for learning more about companies that you are interested in and “networking” virtually with people you already know or people you would like to meet. I will say, however, that LinkedIn is not a dating site. Please don’t use it for that. Along with the LinkedIn profile, you might want to update other networking sites that you use for professional use. For instance, if you are a writer, you might have a word press website that you use for showcasing your writings. In that case, you may need to ensure that you have managed updates for WordPress. If not, you can also take the help of a professional to do it.
  8. Don’t Stress. As graduation nears, everyone will start to ask you what your plans are after snagging that degree. If you don’t know quite yet, just know that everything will work itself out. Yes, that is some universal advice right there that people say for almost every situation imaginable, but it’s true (even if you don’t always believe it.) Remember that this is a time to DO YOU. Focus on yourself and what makes you happy. If you want to travel, start packing your bags. If you want to move and start with a clean slate, go for it. Do you want to work right away? Do you want to volunteer and give back? Do you want to have one last summer? Only you can make the right decisions for yourself so don’t be intimidated by everyone else’s plans because even if their plans sound exciting on the surface, it might not be the right plan for you. You are going to be okay. Remember that this is your senior year and that every day is one less day that you have in your undergraduate career so take advantage of the sunny days, the happy hours, the college parties that you maybe stopped going to after sophomore year, but have an urge to revisit. The bars will always be there. Do all of the things that you know you may never have a chance to do again and participate in that one event that is legal on that one day at that one time on campus. Seattle University students – you know I don’t even have to say it.
23 Aug 2012

Hard Work Is Hard Work

“As soon as you are lazy, someone who is willing to work harder than you will take your place.”

I know I have mentioned this before, but the time in between my graduation and today seem worlds apart. It’s only been two months, but in that time span, I have worked that 7-4 so regularly that college is now kind of a distant memory. I’ve noticed recently that my interests in reading material has changed slightly. Back then, when I had a moment from all of my extracurricular activities, I would peruse my Twitter feed and gossip sites (how else do you think I get some of the material for Yow Yow!) and fashion and lifestyle blogs. These days, I still peruse Twitter feeds, but I follow very closely the advertising agencies that post articles telling me how to better utilize social media and tell me how people perceive the work ethic of my generation. I sift through the articles highlighted for me on LinkedIn to learn how to hire extraordinary employees (so that I can be one of them.)

It’s interesting how when I was a college student my day-to-day activities consisted of class, work, class, work, home,  dinner, meeting, homework and now that just isn’t the case. Today, it’s strictly business and it’s strictly work and I’m okay with that because I’ve been working since I was 16 so I’ve prepared myself with a marathon beforehand, but for some of my friends (and okay me too) this period in our lives will come as a shock. My close friend the other day admitted to me that he got by in college by cutting corners (who didn’t?) but now that he is in a work setting, he just can’t do that. I bet right now, you’re thinking to yourself – DUH, but think about yourself and your situation – growing up, we’ve all learned to take some shortcuts in one way or another. If it wasn’t in your current workplace, it was in your previous, and before then it was school.

So the point of this is hard work shouldn’t scare you. In fact, it should drive you. It’s the work that will push you to become better and put you above all of your competitors. At my previous workplace, my mentor told me that in my first job I had better be the first one in the office and the last one out. It’s a simple piece of advice,  but it speaks volumes to the person you want to be recognized as in the workplace. I’m pretty curious as to what kind of advice you all have received from your previous mentors so share your best ones below!

And also for you, an interview from Felipe Memoria – a partner at an advertising agency that I admire, HUGE Inc.

09 Jul 2009

What does your favorite social network say about you?

This is probably the most interesting article I’ve read in awhile. The article by Advertising Age focuses on four different social networks and what this reveals about your personality as well as the usual statistics and facts. There’s no denying that social media is taking over the world, I just read an article today that by the year 2014, Social Media Marketing will hit $3.1 billion.  [Article here] Probably a good idea that my intended career path will touch on this.

– Facebook

– MySpace

– Twitter

– LinkedIn

Check out the article here and see what it says about you! It’s pretty lengthy but I bet you could use the summer read.