Hire That Redhead

HireThatRedhead.com Gets Retired Because That Redhead Got Hired

noreply@blogger.com (Chase) — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 19:30:00 +0000

My job search website is no more. I let the domain registration run out. I removed the site from public view. Why? Because I got hired.

I started working at Fry Hammond Barr in Orlando, FL three months ago as an Interactive Strategist. So I don't need the website now.

I also won't be updating this blog or the associated social media channels (besides my LinkedIn - it's just so handy at keeping my professional info up to date). I'll probably take them offline in the near future.

So I bid adieu to HireThatRedhead.com. It served its purpose well.

Help Find Vince

noreply@blogger.com (Chase) — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 15:19:00 +0000

My friend and classmate Vince Binder has been missing since April 2, 2010. He is a graduate student and teaching assistant at Florida State University.

My friend Phil and I built and are maintaining the search effort website with details of his disappearance, including news, updates, social media connections, photos, and videos.

Please check it out at www.HelpFindVince.com and help in any way you can.

"That Redhead" Featured on AOL Careers Online

noreply@blogger.com (Chase) — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 23:59:00 +0000

I am featured in an online article in the "Find a Job" section of AOL Online. Check it out HERE.

The article also features Michael Williams, who started www.joblessredhead.com (and stood with a sign on a freeway exit in California to advertise his website). We were connected through a twist of fate and our shared interest in marketing. You can find out more in the article.

If you need the full link to the article, it's http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2010/03/25/jobless-redhead/. I'm grateful to get some online coverage, and hopefully it will lead to some good job leads. Let me know what you think of the article. As always, also let me know if you hear of any good job opportunities.

Streamlining The HireThatRedhead Site

noreply@blogger.com (Chase) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 02:55:00 +0000

I've made a lot of updates recently. If you've not visited HireThatRedhead.com in awhile, I encourage you to do so.

I added my most recent job experience to my resume - Book Pool Coordinator at Goodwill Industries of the Big Bend. Check out my RESUME to find out more.

I added an option to subscribe to blog posts by email on the homepage, care of www.FeedBurner.com.

I scrapped the old BLOG page on HireThatRedhead (on which I originally embedded my blog site) in favor of a simple link to this blog on the sidebar. I enjoyed the novelty of the former page, but I enjoy simplification and "ease of use" more.

I changed the RECOMMENDATIONS page to more easily exhibit all the recommendations I've received from three different sources - traditional letters, blog comments, and Linkedin.

I've put the website through a process of continual improvement over the last few months. I think it's pretty good for someone whose forte is not necessarily web design.

Let me know what you think of the improvements.

The Redhead is an International Hero

noreply@blogger.com (Chase) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 02:21:00 +0000

Okay, not really, but this is the coolest viral video (interactive no less) that I've seen in a while. It's also a great piece of online marketing. Thanks to Dr. Phil Grise at Florida State University for passing it along. Watch it in full screen for the full effect at http://en.tackfilm.se/?id=1266977465535RA64.

Beyond The Resume

noreply@blogger.com (Chase) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 01:59:00 +0000

It really pays off to get creative during the job search and application process. This holds especially true in the communication and marketing field. Here are three examples of what I've done recently to wow and woo potential employers beyond the standard resume or job application.

In December, I hand-delivered a small gift-wrapped, personalized ornament to a local advertising agency a week before Christmas.

I got it from an ornament kiosk at the shopping mall. I asked the attendant to address the envelope to the agency and write on the front, "A job for Christmas would be nice...". On the back, I asked her to write "... but I guess an interview would suffice." The back also featured my contact information and website www.HireThatRedhead.com.

By hand-delivering the gift, I was able to meet the agency director. I got an interview after Christmas. The director later told me that I would make a great addition to her team, but the economy had the agency in a holding pattern at the moment.

For another local firm looking for a communication coordinator, I created a contest and wrote a custom press release for one of their properties. I've posted that press release in my online portfolio and you can also read it here (I've changed the name of the business and owner). I had two interviews with the firm, and they offered me the job, but I turned it down. Unfortunately, their budget didn't allow for benefits.

Most recently, I sent my resume to a nonprofit looking for a researcher for an 18-month grant project. Instead of just emailing a resume and saying how much I'd love an interview, I outlined a brief proposal about how I would actually conduct the research using in-depth interviews, surveys, focus groups, and on-site observation. The nonprofit's president complimented my insights, and I think I made a great impression on him.

I've also sent hand-written post cards to a few HR managers and marketing directors to set myself apart from the hundreds of other applicants. Post a comment if you've done something creative during your own job search or if you've got any ideas for mine.

New Year Job Search Resolutions

noreply@blogger.com (Chase) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:55:00 +0000

The New Year is a time to look back at your lifestyle, find the things that you want or need to change, and strive to make those changes. I've been actively searching for work since August of last year, and I have learned a few things along the way.

So I resolve to do (or not do) the following in my job search from now on:

1 - Stop the Resume Blasts

No more will I email or apply online for every (and I mean EVERY) job that my qualifications seem to fit. I know this seems counterproductive at first, but hear me out. Some think (as I once did) that you should apply for as many jobs as possible because it gives you more chances to get a job (like playing multiple lottery tickets). A job search is not a raffle however. I think it's better to focus more time and energy on jobs my qualifications fit better and that I actually find interesting. This gives me more time to focus on an opportunity and to follow up with the hiring manager. I've found a personal objective to be invaluable in choosing job opportunities.

2 - Leave Time for Follow Up

In the past, I was applying to so many postings that I sometimes left out this crucial part of the process. I think the most important time spent in the job search is getting your name "branded" in the mind of the hiring manager. This is done with email, phone calls, or even just dropping by the office to briefly introduce yourself. It's amazing how much more a manager will remember you (and your resume) if you can just attach a face to your name. I'm not suggesting attaching a picture to a resume however. I'm also not suggesting you pester the hiring manager into knowing you. There's a fine line between persistence and nuisance.

3 - Continually Improve

I have gone a couple weeks in the past without reviewing or updating my resume. Considering this is the most important document in my job search, I probably want to look at it more often. I might catch a spelling or grammatical error that I just didn't see before. I might find a word or phrase that I can craft better to reflect my skills and experience.

4 - Get a Second Opinion

I am convinced that people are biased towards the "perfection" of their own work. So I suggest that you shouldn't be the only one besides the hiring manager to see your resume and cover letter. We are less likely to catch our own mistakes. A friend or family member however will probably catch our typos and let us know what words or phrases are confusing.

5 - Get Personal

Take time to personalize your correspondence to each company and to each hiring manager. If the cover letter looks "cookie cutter," then you're less likely to get noticed. Go to the website and find out more about the company. Include what aspects about the company interest you the most. Relating some knowledge of the company exhibits that you're at least interested enough in the job to do a little research.

6 - Keep at It

It's important to always be looking, networking, and applying. You can't wait to start applying for the next job until hearing from the last job application (this is not resume blasting however). That's how you miss opportunities. It's also important to catch opportunities that aren't in newspapers or on websites. These are jobs that you hear about from friends, family, past coworkers, or even waiting in line at the grocery store. Post on Facebook or Twitter that you're looking for work (and what kind of work you would like). Ask past professors and coworkers to let you know if they hear about opportunities. You might just get a few people out there looking for you too.

Good luck to you in the New Year if you're looking for work. Let me know in the Comments if you have any other tips for job hunters to make their searches more effective.

Tis the Season to Find a Job

noreply@blogger.com (Chase) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:37:00 +0000

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.

The Power of Recommendations

noreply@blogger.com (Chase) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:49:00 +0000

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."

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Gainful Employment

noreply@blogger.com (Chase) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:01:00 +0000

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.

Twitter Lists Make Job Search Easier

noreply@blogger.com (Chase) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:07:00 +0000

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.

Personal Branding Requires Personal Objective

noreply@blogger.com (Chase) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:35:00 +0000

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.

PRSA Fellow Calls Me "Thought Leader"

noreply@blogger.com (Chase) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:37:00 +0000

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.

The Redhead is the FUTURE

noreply@blogger.com (Chase) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:12:00 +0000

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.

Another Peer Commends the Redhead

noreply@blogger.com (Chase) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 01:48:00 +0000

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.

Revamped Resume & First Peer Commendation

noreply@blogger.com (Chase) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 04:20:00 +0000

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.

Firefox Hates Spelling Errors

noreply@blogger.com (Chase) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 20:16:00 +0000

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.

Another New Recommendation

noreply@blogger.com (Chase) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:13:00 +0000

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.

Know Your Salary

noreply@blogger.com (Chase) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 23:41:00 +0000

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.

A New Way to Celebrate Labor Day

noreply@blogger.com (Chase) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 01:53:00 +0000

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.

New Recommendation Letter

noreply@blogger.com (Chase) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 08:28:00 +0000

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.

Progressively Linked In

noreply@blogger.com (Chase) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 20:07:00 +0000

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 Importance of Informational Interviews

noreply@blogger.com (Chase) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 02:52:00 +0000

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.

Check Out the New Fan Page

noreply@blogger.com (Chase) — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 19:44:00 +0000

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.

Confessions of a Twitter Newbie

noreply@blogger.com (Chase) — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 00:06:00 +0000

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.