Information Overload for Generation Y!

Generation Y consumers are said to be the most technologically advanced and informed of all the generation segments today. This can be a good and bad thing for companies and marketers. Most of my friends and I have smart phones, laptops, iPods, Facebook accounts, cameras, and much more. We have almost TOO much technology at our hands, so we do not always know how to process all of the information. In addition to having all of these products, we are then bombarded by new products/ad/services, etc to add onto our already overloaded set of technologies.

Ads come to my phone (through Twitter text messages, ads on my iPhone apps, and other random advertising messages). They also are all over the internet, no matter what site I am visiting. We are constantly being targeted by Apple, if we already have one of their products, to get more accessories, or the most updated version of their products. Then, when we go to socialize with our friends online on Facebook, we get notifications from them about their new applications and there are also side ads on every page.

So, how do we filter all of this information? We ignore it! I personally just tune out all ads I see when i am overloaded with information, or not in the mood to investigate a new products or service. However, I find Twitter is a great way to reach Generation Y consumers in an intrusive yet acceptable way.

Twitter allows consumers to come to them, which is a great example of pull marketing. If a consumer wants to follow a specific company or person, they can. This means they agree to receive the messages, links, videos etc. that they post, and can decide whether or not they will read or watch what is posted. I personally follow a lot of businesses that I shop at, Dunkin' Donuts in particular. I am interested to see what they are up to, and occasionally click on the links that they post to learn more.

I believe that Twitter is a great solution to the information overload that Generation Y is experiencing. However, there is a set back. The more people or companies that a person follows, the more information and posts they will receive every day. Twitter users do have the ability to create lists and 'unfollow' someone, so they can control the amount of information they are given.

If you can't tell by now, I am a huge believer in what Twitter does. At first I was a skeptic, but after being on it for many months and interacting with several people and businesses, I have concluded that it is the perfect solution for this generation's issue. Now all Twitter has to do is get more of these consumers to create accounts since hardly anyone I know even knows the purpose of Twitter, nor is even considering creating an account.

Stay Positive!

This past summer I read a book called The Secret by Rhonda Byrne that changed my life. No this is not a sales pitch or anything like that; my life really is changed in the best way because of what I learned. This book allowed me to see my life in a whole new perspective which was very positive. Before reading this book, I would allow myself to become upset or disappointed easily when something in life did not go as expected. However, it taught me many ways to 'keep my chin up' when life isn't so great.

My new outlook on life has provided me with the following realizations:

1. Wake up each day with a smile. You will realize such a positive difference on your outlook on the day!
2. After waking up and smiling, tell yourself that "today will be a great day!"
3. Try turning a negative situation into a positive one
4. If you want something, picture in your mind that you already have it
5. If you want more money, constantly think of money and ways to get money. That is what some of the wealthiest people in the world did!
6. If you use negative words such as "I don't want to fail this test" the negative tone in your thought will bring out a negative result. Instead say "I want to ace this test!"

There were so many other pieces of advice this book had that gave me great paradigm shifts, but those six are the ones I use almost on a daily basis. I find that when a friend or family member is down, I try to let them see the positive side of the situation.

Just remember, when life gets you down, keep you head up and smile, knowing everything will be fine as long as you keep a positive attitude!

Life After College

From my perspective, it seems that college students either dread graduation and want to stay another year, or they cannot wait to get out on their own as soon as possible. For me, I was the latter. I felt this way because I knew what type of job I wanted, I was confident in my skills, I knew the right people to help me along the way, and I was ready to start my own life.

The only thing holding me back from being completely stoked about graduating early as I did was the economy. Although the odds are against recent college graduates today, I was ready to take on the challenge. I turned a potentially negative situation into a positive one.

Since graduation three weeks ago, I have been keeping myself very busy. My particular interest, and an area in which I would like to secure a career, is social media marketing. In order to learn the in's and out's of this niche industry, I am networking like crazy and learning how to use Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Google, and Blogger. Updating these sites on a daily basis has become my full time job. Now, that may seem pointless if I am not making money from it, but I see it otherwise. I am learning how to use social media and studying how businesses use it for relationship marketing, and I am also meeting some amazing people along the way. I am looking to secure a job around the Boston area, and have found everyone around there to be more than willing to help me out, whether it is giving me some tips, conducting an informal phone interview with me, meeting up, networking me with someone else in the field, or giving me job leads.

Although I do not have a job as of yet, I am completely fine with that because I am learning so much about the field I want to get into. I find this more than worth the time. My next step will be to attend various events in the Boston area including Tweet Ups and other social networking events. Getting my name out there, building good relationships, and generating tons of content are the three major things I have learned thus far and have made those an imperative for me to achieve each and every day. I know that with hard work and dedication, I will secure my dream job very soon.

Joining the Realm of Social Media

During college, I only used Facebook as a social media outlet. However, after studying various topics of marketing in college courses, and speaking with some amazing people in the field, I have become fascinated and passionate about the social media aspect of marketing.

Being involved in social media and getting 'found' online requires a great amount of time and effort. Since about three weeks ago, I have now enhanced my Facebook and have developed a Twitter account. I have learned how to work on Twitter and to network with others through it. I also created a LinkedIn account where I have reconnected with former colleagues, employers, and classmates. This site also allowed me to integrate all of my social media into one platform. I then uploaded my video resume onto YouTube, and plan on making a much more interactive and personal one in the upcoming week. This video has been promoted on both my Twitter and LinkedIn accounts, and I have several views already. In addition, I have created a blog and made a resolution to create at least three blogs per week.

After all this, I then searched for my name on Google. Originally, I only had about two links for my name on Google, and they were on the bottom of the screen. Now, I have 2.5 pages of links just about me! I found this incredible. If someone searches for me on Google now, there is a Google profile which I created that discusses a little more about me.

I have now learned that getting involved in all of these social sites is a great way to get found, but getting found is as easy as getting forgotten. You must constantly update your content to be remembered. This requires adding new Tweets at least a few times a day, developing several blogs a week, and updating your LinkedIn profile. In addition to that, I am beginning to create my own website that will integrate all of my social media outlets into one comprehensive site, and it will also display my passions, ideas, etc.

Networking is the new way to get 'found,' and even to get a job. Having those personal connections and keeping in contact with them is so essential today. I am very thankful to those who have helped me along the way to develop all of this. I hope you find this information valuable and can help you develop your social platform and network like I have. Good luck to you all! Thanks for reading!

Generation Y's view on Social Media

Generation Y is unlike any other generation today. They like information at their fingertips, having cutting-edge technology, and do not like to be advertised to. Being a Gen Y'er myself, I am going to discuss what I have observed about the effectiveness of social media for this generation.

Social media allows us to connect with friends, relatives, co-workers, and even famous people or large corporations. People are exposed to over 3,000 ads per DAY! One may wonder how so many advertisements to an already saturated generation can be effective. Social media is the answer! But, it must be done right. I first viewed social media advertising on Facebook. Personally, I find these ads to be ineffective because they are not flashy and are not a topic of interest for people logging into Facebook. However, giving people the option to interact with a company, star, professional, etc. is a whole other realm of niche advertising. 

I think the emergence of Twitter was the perfect outlet for this need. Twitter has allowed Generation Y to view what stars and companies are doing in real-time, all the time. When someone admires a favorite music artist they are able to see artist updates, interact and engage with them. Engagement is one of the most important aspects of marketing, as it relates to the AIDA model. The ability to comment or re-tweet their message allows Gen Y further interaction than ever before, social media ENGAGED! The same goes for a person communicating with a business. Companies can disseminate information regarding new products, services, events, community involvement, etc. so consumers can easily see what they are doing. 

Traditional media outlets do not capture Gen Y much anymore, so there is little chance we would reference back to newspapers, magazines and even some television for the latest and greatest information. The internet transmits this same information quicker and more efficiently. Radio has been replaced by iPods and radio advertisements by satellite radio. The emergence of TiVo, On Demand, and other television services provide consumers with shows or movies, uninterrupted by advertisements.

It is clear that social media is how to engage Gen Y. With the development of the iPhone and other smart devices, Gen Y can be completely hooked up to their social media sites 24/7. Personally, I have an iPhone with applications for Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and You Tube. This allows me to view messages from all of these outlets, even when I am not at a computer. I find it very valuable to get information when and where I want it. I do not have the time to listen to news broadcasts or read newspapers, so getting a simple message from Twitter linking me to the web site, or  seeing a Facebook update from a company lets me know the news is there if I want it.

So what am I suggesting? It is critical for all companies, stars, professionals, etc. to be deeply involved in social media if they want to capture Generation Y's interest... and keep it. Our age group wants to interact with you, but in a way that fits our needs. Don't assume we will be reading a particular magazines or watching a particular show anymore because there are many other ways we get this information now, social media in particular. Contacting us through social media outlets in a timely manner with quick tid-bits of important information is a highly effective and interesting way to get us engaged. 

Graduating College

I never thought going into my freshman year of college at Western New England College that I would be graduating early, met some incredible friends and an amazing boyfriend, and had great experiences along the way. My 3.5 years in college truly transformed my life.

College brings people to the realization of who they are, what they want to do, and teaches them how to problem solve. It is not about all the technicalities taught in computer sciences classes, cell structures taught in biology, or definitions of every nitty gritty marketing term. It would be impossible and unreasonable to expect a student to remember everything they learned in college. However, the combination of different projects, presentations, problems to solve, and exams all teach students how to THINK.

In high school I was a good student but never strived to be the best. However, college taught me my true potential and I have been working every day to be the best I can be at what I love to do. I love to do marketing and advertising. Marketing Communications/Advertising is my major and I am truly passionate about it.

College also teaches you who your true friends are. You realize that you must surround yourself with those who will have the best influence on you. If you surround yourself with great people, you will be a great person. I have gone through waves of friends both at school and at home and have realized the few, loyal friends that I will hold onto forever. Since students are around each other virtually 24/7, they learn how to get along, how to effectively argue, and how to hold a deep conversation. All of these were not always possible in high school since you don't usually live, eat, and sleep with your friends as you do in college.

I have come out of college as the best person I believe I can possibly be at this time. I have found my true passion for marketing, I have developed great friendships, and met the man of my dreams. I had no idea I was going to find all of this at such as small college. I am ambitious, I love to learn, I am passionate about what I love to do, and I always put in 110%.

I also love to help out others. I have learned that you can get no where in life if you are truly selfish. To give is to get. I love to give to others. Whether it is advice, a couple bucks, a ride somewhere, or a shoulder to cry on, it matters. The people in your life will shape who you are and bring joy to your everyday life. So cherish each and every person in your life. I do.

I hope almost every college student gets out of college what I have. Learn what you love to do, develop and keep those meaningful relationships, and work hard every day!

Tips for Finding a Job Today

It is quite evident that today's economic environment is not favorable for anyone, especially for newly graduating college students. However, there is a bright side. Below we are going to give you some tips of how to effectively search for jobs by knowing your strengths related to the marketplace and job and which industries to focus your efforts on.

How to Select a Future Company:

1. Research, Research, Research!

Know everything about the company, its clients, products, services, etc. Know how the top management functions and how the overall company operates.

2. How do you get along with the boss and employees?

Search for information on company culture, yelp.com entries, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn profiles of employees to determine their work ethic, habits, etc. to get a good feel of the company and employees. Getting a good feeling from these people will determine how you will fit in and how comfortable you will feel working here if employed.

3. Determine if the organization fits YOU!

Research company culture, values, mission, vision, etc. to determine if their work and work ethic is something that interest you and is something you can truly be passionate about.

What to look for in a hiring company:

1. What makes employees join this company and stay?

2. How are people treated?

Benefits, company outings, socials, etc. to establish positive work morale.

3. What are the unspoken rules?

4. What happens when people make mistakes?

What are their problem solving methods?

5. What is a typical week like?

Look for employee videos on the site or daily descriptions about the company to get a feel for daily job tasks. Also, this question can be asked during an interview.

How to find a job:

1. Maintain a personal network

Keep in contact with important contacts, constantly search for opportunities to network

2. Join a career bank

Get your resume out to professionals in the field and get recent job news

3. Do volunteer work

This can be a great filler when you are unemployed. It can also give you self satisfaction and you can meet some great contacts through volunteering at local organizations. Never underestimate the power of a good deed.

4. Re-evaluate your goals and strategy

Know what types of jobs you are looking for and decide if you want to broaden your job search for unseen opportunities. Also constantly evaluate your job search tactics to ensure you are doing everything in your power to advertise your skills and meet the right people.

5. Stay organized and disciplined

Keep your contact information in order, keep records of where you apply, who you talk to, etc.

Top 3 Industries to get into today:

1. Healthcare: 30,000 new jobs

2. Education: 11,000 new jobs

3. Federal government: 16,000 new jobs

Top 10 Jobs in 2010:

1. Accountant and Auditor: 18% increase

2. Database Administrator: 29% increase

3. Electrical Engineering: 6% increase

4. Financial Analyst: 34% increase

5. Management Analyst: 5.4% increase

6. Marketing Manager: 14% increase

7. Mechanical Engineer: 4% increase

8. Network Systems and Data Communications Analyst: 53% increase

9. Personal Finance Advisers: 41% increase

10. Sales Managers: 10% increase

Top 10 Companies Hiring Today:

1. Sears

2. Avon

3. AT&T

4. Quest Diagnostics

5. Family Dollar

6. UPS

7. Olan Mills

8. Kmart

9. Pizza Hut

10. Sun Microsystems

Most Recession-Proof Jobs:

1. Nursing, as baby boomers age

2. Health Care, 597,000 added jobs

3. Occupational Therapists

4. Seasonal Retail work

5. UPS driver during holidays

6. Financial Advisors for Wall Street

7. Sales and Marketing

Go Green Jobs:

8.5 million Americans currently hold "green collar" jobs in renewable energy or energy efficient industries. This number may grow to 40 million by 2030

Top Green Jobs:

1. Wind/Turbine

2. Auto Retrofitters

3. Sustainable Architects

4. Energy Systems Manager

5. Environmental Engineer

Jobs that Do Good AND Earn Well:

1. Fire Chief

2. Nonprofit Executive

3. Continuity Planner

4. Grant Writer

5. Public Defender

After your job search, make sure to maintain job stability!

-Become an integral part of the core business to sustain your value to the company and enhance that value when you can

-Know how you support the core mission of the business to know your true value, defend your job, and understand how you can delve deeper into the company's mission to further continue their success and yours

-Know your value and refine your contacts and portfolio so that you can maintain good networking and let others know of your critical skills in relation to the company.

-Update your skills with accreditations and extra education to enhance your value and knowledge

Summary:

Even though the job market is tough today, don't let that discourage you! Look for opportunities wherever they may be, know and enhance your skills, and be confident! Practice interviewing, polish up your resume, maintain a good network of people, and devote good chucks of time to job hunting and applying. Good luck!