Could you find your next new hire on Twitter?

If you have the time, Twitter could be a very cost-effective recruiting source. More employers are incorporating social media in their recruitment strategies to keep costs at a minimum. Plus, using social media is an easy and fast method to build an extensive network.

In addition, because of the increased use of technology in the workplace, employers are looking for employees who are tech savvy. If they are on Twitter and using other social media to find jobs, then they are forward thinking, may consider cost containment (since they are choosing free options to find jobs), and should bring fresh ideas to your company. They also will be more willing to embrace the online job application process, requiring less maintenance through the hiring process.

Misuse of technology, Internet security, and other information technology issues are of great concern to employers and might be barriers to utilizing social media tools. However, nowadays, I think employers can worry less about irresponsible use of technology in the workplace. I do not currently have the data, but from my own observation, workers are more aware of the dangers and consequences of misusing technology in the workplace.

Some freedom to network online might prove beneficial to the employer. As for the job seeker... read this story on CNNMoney.com on the positive outcome of tweeting: Hired! I got my job through Twitter

Taking the Elevator Speech Online with Twitter

Social media is all the rage. First there were blogs, wikis, forums, RSS... Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, and now Twitter... of course, there are others out there in cyberspace.

How do businesses use Twitter effectively? What can you say about your business in 140 characters or less? I think that preparing your message for Twitter calls for the same techniques as the 30-second elevator speech.

Happy pitching and tweeting!

Procrastination

Procrastination is not only the thief of time; it is also the thief of ideas. As the fourth quarter of 2008 approached, I started thinking about what to write in the last issue of the RH Business Support newsletter, Business Briefs et Cetera, to wrap up 2008. I thought I would title the issue “Home Stretch.” A few weeks later, I was watching CNN and saw that they were referring to their segment with the presidential campaign as the “Home Stretch.” There went my idea. So, I decided on “The Last Leg.”

As a virtual assistant, I operate as a "solopreneur" with a few associates to call on when needed. This is the case with almost all sole proprietorship. Hence, we spend most of our time making sure our clients' needs are met, while our own operational tasks get pushed back. Some of these tasks are often very mundane but absolutely necessary for the business to function successfully. Therefore, in order to remain in business and serve my clients effectively, I have scheduled time each day to perform my own business functions. This helps me better manage my customers and my business at the same time.

Of course, there are times when it is just impossible to stick to the schedule. When this happens, I have to make a decision based on value and/or priority. Always, my clients come first.

Now, I am learning to manage procrastination or "structured procrastination" when it comes to my mundane tasks by acting into a feeling. When I must complete these tasks and would really rather do something more exciting or creative, I just start acting out the steps... go through the routine, as they say. Eventually, I develop the feeling for the task and soon it's over in less time than I had anticipated. Also, when I have a creative idea, I take steps as soon as possible to research and develop it. How many times have you seen a new invention or service and remember that you had written down that same idea a few years ago?

So let's not defer our ideas and important tasks to a different time... or year or decade.
Let's not procrastinate in 2008... I mean 2009. If that fails, try "structured procrastination".

Check out the Psychology Today blog and this essay by John Perry .

Workforce Development Gone Virtual

Out of Madison, WI, according to CompNewsNetwork: Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development has decided to take a virtual approach to meeting both jobseekers and employers' needs. "The combination of consolidated offices, mobile staff, flexible office hours and the virtual job center will help all job seekers get connected to all of the assessment, re-training support and placement services they need," said Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Roberta Gassman.

The new virtual job center is expected to "greatly upgrade the capabilities of the state's current online job website. The virtual job center will offer features such as posting of resumes and job orders; initial screening of job candidates; online personal job search assistance and job interviews; online job fairs, workshops and seminars; and, videoconferencing."

Read the full article here

Original post 7/12/09

Virtual Assistance is Here to Stay

Have you used a virtual assistant lately? If not, you will soon. As a business owner or manager, you will hear more and more about this invaluable resource. With new technology and forward-thinking executives and entrepreneurs, staffing or contracting virtually is the human capital trend.

While companies right size or relocate, the virtual assistant can play a vital role during the transition process. Additionally, virtual assistants can be an as-needed resource to support the in-house team.

Virtual assistants are self employed and provide primarily administrative support from a remote location and charge for only hours worked. This saves your company time and money... and you do not have to miss a beat in keeping your customers happy.

Networking and the Entrepreneur…We Must Work the Room

As an entrepreneur, I carefully execute my marketing and promotional strategies due to budget and time constraints. Besides email campaigns, select direct mail, cold calls, and ‘free’ publicity, my other source for getting the word out about my business is through networking. Virtual and face-to-face business socializing is a good way to build relationships and successfully sell my services. I find that getting out and working the room is even more productive than most of the other forms of marketing and publicity.

Lately, I was at a networking event where I found out from an author that she had just been invited to attend a large event in London to promote her book. This event was to be held in one week and she needed 2,000 postcards to help with her marketing. She had already spent hours that day trying to find a local or online printer and trying to upload the images, which was posing a problem. She had taken a break from her efforts to attend the networking event. She expressed that, although she was excited about her venture, she was overwhelmed with all of the activities involved in preparing for her London trip. I calmly said, “I can help you,” and gave her my business card. I was able to do this because I was working the room.

The next morning, before 8:00 a.m., her email was in my inbox. Attached were the text, an image, and her vision. I quickly started the tasks to fulfill her order. By the end of the day my new client received a draft of her postcard by email. She approved, and two days later, the box with 2,000 postcards arrived at her doorstep.

At the following month's event, she expressed her happiness to have met me through networking. As the guest speaker at this event, she also took time up front to relay to the audience the important role her “new virtual assistant” played in her marketing efforts.

We both realized the benefits of networking!

Visit my new client at her Web site: www.writeanalysis.com

Make it Happen networking event is by KYMS Image http://www.kymsimage.com

Defining Public Relations

"Public relations helps an organization and its publics adapt mutually to each other." This is the definition given to public relations by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). Along with the definition, the society’s website further explains that the use of the word “organization” encompasses the essential management functions: research, planning, communications, and evaluation.

Yahoo! Education’s definitions are: “1) The art or science of establishing and promoting a favorable relationship with the public. 2) The methods and activities employed to establish and promote a favorable relationship with the public. 3) The degree of success obtained in achieving a favorable relationship with the public.”

Some organizations retain public relations departments that handle all of the communication observed by their internal and external publics. Small businesses and independent professionals hire consultants to handle their communications. Public relations utilizes a mixture of professional communication skills to implement integration both internally and externally.

What are your thoughts?