Crowdsourcing - you should be doing this!

Ever heard of crowdsourcing? Not crowd-surfing (though Lord knows that's probably more fun), but this new-fangled concept of using the knowledge of a group to find the best solution.

While some have argued that the use of this technique can lead to laziness, I think it's an incredibly useful and important method to use for your own job search.

Let's face it. We're young, we're naive, what the heck do we know about business or the economy? It is to our advantage to use all of the resources at our disposal. Talk to your parents and relatives who are in business (especially if they're in the same industry in which you hope to work), call on old professors for advice and help and don't be afraid to ask anyone you can think of for advice.

I love using Twitter to find people in the industry, strike up a conversation and then send out an e-mail asking for advice. Every time I've gotten heart felt responses hoping to offer me any help they can. Some have asked for my resume to pass on to a friend they know who may need help, others have wondered if I could write a guest blog post for them but no matter what they all can offer words of wisdom.

It may not seem like much, but in this economy you should be looking for all the help you can get. Crowdsource, away!

Everything you do online should be representative of the employee you want to be

In case you haven't heard, nearly one half of employers are now using social media profiles as part of their employee search. Also, about 8 percent of employers have fired their employees based on something they read on social networking sites. So what does this mean to you?

I know we're all used to using Facebook as a way to keep in touch with friends and show off all those wild and crazy parties we're having on the weekend, but if you're serious about your job search, you need to get serious about your profiles.

All of you online profiles should be representative of you and the employee that you want to be. No exceptions. Dan Schawbel has a great blog about personal branding that I recommend if you're unsure how to use social media as a professional (or professional wannabe). He has some great tips about making your image consistent across different profiles, and if I haven't convinced you, he can tell you how important a personal brand is.

Basically it's time to suck it up and throw any other online image out the window. Be you, but be professional.

Don't ever play catch-up!

If there is one this that I have learned from following recent corporate social media crises, it's this: don't ever play catch-up!

I don't know if you've heard about any of these, but as an example, two weeks ago ESPN caused a stir when they first released their employee social media policy. One part was Tweeted by one employee making it appear as though anyone working for ESPN could not blog or Tweet unless it would benefit the company. And we can all guess how that panned out...

It turns out the policy didn't quite say that, but it really wasn't too far off, and in my opinion (and many others) ESPN still got it all wrong.

Why is this relevant to you? ESPN created a plan and immediately had to react to the huge backlash. Better planning and research could have prevented (or at least lessened) this whole thing in the first place. Instead, had they done a bit more research, they would have discovered there were much better alternatives to their proposed policy:

1. Holding an employee forum to discuss what is desired/required in a social media policy.
2. Using other successfully policies as a guide.
3. Including rationale for specific policy rules so as to lessen resistance to outright bans.

Take these lessons and apply them to your job search. The best way to find a job is changing as technology emerges and evolves. Do your research, know what is proper and how best to stay on top of your game. Otherwise you'll be stuck playing catch-up and trying to put out a fire.

Besides, being ahead of the curve (or at least with it) will always make ya look good to potential employers. : )

Remember what D.A.R.E. taught you...just say no!

Do y'all remember taking those anti-drug classes in middle school? I don't remember too many specific details that I learned from D.A.R.E., but I do remember that I learned to say no. And while, yes, the educators fully intended this lesson to apply to drugs and alcohol, I am going to make a pushin'-it analogy to your job search in this wretched economy.

Let's face it, there are two things in this life we can all agree on: in middle school we were dying to be accepted, and this economy so completely blows.

If nothing else, D.A.R.E. taught us that while acceptance from your peers was a good (and healthy) thing, there were certain actions and choices that you should never make to earn it. While few of us followed their advice to the letter, I think we all need to think about saying no.

There are no jobs out there. Anyone who is hiring will obviously choose the candidate who was recently laid off and has five years of experience over you. We seemingly don't stand a chance. So when any job offer, anything at all comes along, it is incredibly tempting to snatch it up before someone else can.

Just say no! If the job seems shady, don't take it just because you're desperate. Even though times are tough, give each job the same consideration you would if you had 10 job offers in hand. I know we may have to give up on our dream jobs at the present, but will that job offer lead to your dream job? If not, then why do it?

Think before you accept. Just because you're desperate for employment like we were all desperate for acceptance as tweens, shouldn't be enough of a reason to say yes.

Beer pong may save your bones

I remember years ago when some doctor declared that a glass of wine a day was actually good for your health. Who knew? I'm sure there were plenty of adults who ran with that one...

Frat boys, here's your red wine. Apparently beer can prevent your bones from becoming brittle and this should only encourage your beer-drinking, pong-playing antics!

Chug on, y'all, chug on!

Are you spending your time wisely?

I wanted to stop in on this lovely almost-Friday and recommend a good read. This article is called Spend your job search time wisely, and it's just as it sounds.

I'm sure you've seen countless pieces of advice about how best to be looking for a job in this economy, but this article was one of my favorites for three reasons:

1. It's the first I've seen which gives advice about how best to divide your time among important job search activities.

2. The article begins by emphasizing that finding a new job or career should be your career in and of itself.

3. Not only is there advice, but encouragement to set your own goals based upon the best way to use your time.

But now you've seen the "expert" advice. What do you think? How do you feel your time is best spent?

"You're right on track."

The economy sucks. Majorly.

Growing up I had certain expectations for myself. I expected to graduate from high school, go on to college, graduate and get a job. Until the past year, all of these expectations were both reasonable and well, expected.

As economic outlook plummeted, so too did my expectation of having a full-time job upon graduation with an undergraduate degree. Last fall when I began my job search in earnest, I had to completely rethink post-graduation plans. And, to be honest, it felt like settling.

I've always done all the "right things." I studied, I went to class, I had internships in the summers and got to know my professors. So why am I only an intern? I went to a good school (a great school!) , took all the right courses and have great experience. Why doesn't anyone want to hire me for a full-time, permanent position?

Does this sound familiar to anyone else? I've struggled not to take this personally. Perhaps I'm too sensitive, but after having expectations of employment for 21 years, it has been a hard transition to accept that I am still just an intern. A former professor and great mentor turned my mindset upside down with these four simple words:

"You're right on track."

We're all right on track. This economy changes everything, and we all need to realize that our expectations have to change, too. Maybe all I needed was some reassurance. Maybe I needed a reality check. Maybe I needed to learn to be patient.

Since hearing those four words, I've tried to talk about my situation with as many people as will listen, and you know what I've discovered? My professor was right. In today's world, I am right on track. As are you. That track may have taken a sharp left since the economy hit rock bottom, but that track will still take us where we want to go.

I hope I'm preaching to the choir, but in case you couldn't help but take this whole thing personally:

You're right on track. And don't ever forget it.