And What do We Have to Show for It?

I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. This year, while at the table, I was waiting for the conversation of the evening to some how turn towards social networking and all the new things going on in the cyber world. Guess what? It never did. It wasn't until after dinner that it even surfaced. I guess all of this talk of internet connections in class made me think that everyone was talking about this kind of stuff. Although it was refreshing to be reminded of what I used to talk about before I took on the IT classes.

After dinner I started making fun of my cousin for finally joining Facebook and telling her boyfriend to get in when he told me he refused to "sell out". That's a whole other topic for another time and if anyone is in the mood for a good Facebook rant make sure and hit me up. It was at this time that my aunt commented in how it changed the whole way we now connect with each other. The woman is absolutely right.

Things like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Delicious have changed the ways we keep in touch, look for jobs, and even find entertainment or news. While our generation may not have any physical thing to show for it, we certainly have made in impact on how the world runs. (Not too shabby for a bunch of computer nerds.) We are now out there creating content for ourselves and others, and turning to this user generated content rather than the same old advertising, agenda pushing sources from before. Sure everyone is trying to get our attention but we have much more variety than we used to. It's a new time and I'll bet the advertisers are panicking now that I can get someones attention just as fast as any of them, although I can do it on a students budget. (That would be $0, for anyone who was wondering...)

Join Facebook, Make My Day

When reading "How the Web Polarized Politics" I have realized what a huge impact the Web is going to have on potential candidates this election. Gerry McGovern, an author focusing on this exact topic, points out that those who will be looking out for candidates on the internet are "waiting for them to slip up".

McGovern could not have said it any better. A particular blog entry, "How Facebook Will Change Politics", written by Sunny caught my eye. The blog points out that while the Internet has the opportunity to bring us together politically, it does a better job of polarizing us. Candidates have, hopefully, figured this out by now. So being the tricky little devils that they are they will probably try to utilize that medium as much as possible.

I would caution for them to watch out. If I see these suckers on Facebook I'm going to stalk them as much as I do everyone else. (Don't roll your eyes, you know you do it too.) These people better hire some people who know what's going on in the Web, which I know they can afford to do. Because like McGovern said, I am just waiting for the next UTube video or dumb statement to come out so I can use it as one more reason to vote for the person that I dislike the least.

I assume that using social networks on the Web would want to target college age people if they are using mediums such as Facebook and with programs such as Rock the Vote encouraging us to vote, candidates have to understand that we won't be so easily convinced. I guess what Big Brother didn't anticipate is that we would be watching "him" right back. We are a passionate age group and chances are we are online so the best strategy for potential candidates this year would be treat your PR online as you would any where else because it will come back to haunt you faster than ever imagined. (I know I still remember Howard's Dean battle cry from back in the day...)

My Fantastic Resume

Is anyone else confused? While job hunting and taking this Social Networking course I am beginning to wonder about the value of my resume. I have had this remarkable piece of paper since middle school and now when I need it, I fear no one else cares to look at it. Reading articles labeled "The Blog is the New Resume" and "Six Degrees of Recruitment", I am quickly approaching the conclusion that this job search is becoming less about what I know and is more tied to who I know.

Well isn't that disappointing for anyone else? I have worked my entire educational career about building up experiences that would hopefully one day land me a job where the interviewer would take one look at this baby and say, "Wow, I gotta hire her." Apparently I was wrong. And it still doesn't seem fair. I can have all of the experience but if the other candidate knows someone I don't I think can safely assume that the battle is almost over. That is almost, I have decided to continue to believe that all of that work has to be impressive to someone. Unless you know someone I can contact, do you think they would want to read my resume?