Monday 26 July 2010

Changes in Recruitment strategies

I have just reading a intriguing article on how the use of micro blogging sites and other social mediums are now the most common sites for recruiting new talent.

In an article written by The Wall, Clodagh Walsh suggests that the wonderful age of the digital is simply not enough anymore to now mass produce a covering letter and just press send on your email web broswer. She goes on to mention that employers are now looking far and wide beyond the digital landscape and utilising Social Networking site such as Twitter and LinkedIn to find the best possible candidate for the role.

Here are just a few handy tips that she recommends to get that dream job by your tweets.

Optimise your profile

If you are serious about your job hunt, the first thing you must do is make sure that your LinkedIn profile is fully optimised. This is essential to getting yourself noticed as the site itself is an internal search engine. Make sure that you use all key words specific to your desired sector and experience to ensure that you are found easily by employers who may be on the look out for new talent. In the same respect it goes without saying to make sure that other profiles connected to your LinkedIn profile are suitable for employers to look through or censored if need be – we’ve all heard the horror stories.

Join groups

Its worth signing up to professional networking sites such as LinkedIn for the discussion groups alone. Thousands of companies and industry publications set up groups that are open to anyone to join. Once you’ve joined, you are effectively given direct access to organisations enabling you to find out what is going on within their business, their ethics, values and even employment opportunities with vacancies posted frequently. By applying for jobs through groups, not only does this show that you are proactive, but also that you have a special interest in that particular organisation.

Follow the jobs

Twitter – a constant stream of status updates and opinions. Yes a lot of it is nonsensical drivel that no one really cares about, however it can be a fantastic resource for job postings, particularly twitjobsearch. This allows you to search the entire twitter network for jobs specific to your sector. Similar to LinkedIn’s discussion groups, by following potential employers you can track their activities and monitor job postings. Recruitment consultancies are an excellent target for this; check out our twitter feed here for the latest creative jobs.

PR yourself and make connections

Before any job interview we always advise our candidates to connect with their interviewer through LinkedIn. It’s great for establishing contact with the company prior to the interview to score a few brownie points and it’s also great for building up your contacts. However, if you’re not at the interview stage just yet and are still hunting then again this is also a great tool for making contact with those already working in your chosen industry and could lead to a recommendation for a role. Recommendations are a fantastic way to PR yourself – if you have good relationships with your previous employers then send them a recommendation request.

To read the article in full http://bit.ly/btar7s

Wednesday 21 July 2010

Nikon D3000 Snapshots

I have been feeling a bit ill recently suffering from a mild headache and hot and cold sweats. But I have had time last week to take my new Nikon D3000 out for a spin (an SLR Camera). Here are just a few snapshots, of a few images I took around where I live.


These are just few snapshots. I am getting into photograph at the moment and want to make it my new hobby combined with golf one day. Lets see how it goes!

Brought to you by Alistair sitting drugged up on paracetomol and lying in his bed waiting until when he feels better.

Monday 12 July 2010

Google Latitude - Amazing Software

Have you heard of google latitude, if not listen up and and pay attention because it could change your life.

Google latitude is Google's new pioneering software that allows you to keep track of your friends through the use of GPS. Why should you listen up; latitude offers so much more than just a a GPS tracking device, for many businesses, organisations, and persons it could be truly life changing. I have highlighted a few examples of how Google Latitude can and will change your life.

Transport: Ever wondered what time that train was coming in or if he was on the train? Well Google Latitude tells you where your friend, girlfriend, boyfriend, partner is.

Healthcare: Imagine the scene its a nice hot day and you accidentally drift off to sleep (ok it might not happen but could), Health and rescue teams could use google latitude to pin point your exact location to find safe and sound.

Personal: Ever had your child gone missing in a big shopping centre (I don't have a child but you might) and your looking down every isle, you don't want to be that person who goes up to customer service "I have lost my children" how incompetent would you look. Google Latitude locates your kid and with built in features you can claw your kid back to safety.

Of course there are numerous other features of how Google Latitude could be incorporated into your every day life. "As they say the possibilities are endless". Google are at the heart of pioneering software for the next generation and have to say if this is just the beginning how many life saving devices could be round the corner.

Oh and yes one more thing: Your girlfriend, boyfriend told you he was just going down the pub, (usual trick to get rid of the other half for a night), but secretly he has gone somewhere else with his "Mates" now you have prove of where he has been and can start a full investigation! Ideal for the other half, not so great if your being followed.

Of course Google's Latitude features is only available on selected android mobiles and devices. I have tried and tested it on the latest Samsung Galaxy S Smartphone.

And just for the record - my girlfriend said she was where she was 100% of the time.

Monday 5 July 2010

Marketing Trends: Social Media

Have more questions than answers about Social Media Find out the latest facts and figures on this useful Slide Share presentation.