FabriceCalando.com

Using Facebook to find a job

by Fabrice Calando on February 1, 2012

Personally, LinkedIn is still my preferred site to assist with a job search. But denying the impact Facebook and its more than 800 million members can have is ignoring a powerful job finding tool. In many ways, Facebook was the site that helped me land my first advertising job. Facebook is a great way to stay in touch with friends and acquaintances…and that might just be its greatest asset. Here are a few things that have helped me and a couple more tips.

Clean up your profile. The first step is really to clean up your profile. I’m not saying you should sanitize it. Quite the opposite actually, be who you want to be. I remember when I first starting looking for work and read a piece of advice somewhere online (I think it was on Monster or Workopolis, not sure) and it read something like if you’re the type of person who has pink hair, keeping that hair will reduce your chances of finding a job. Of course if you find a job that frowns on having funky hair, you probably won’t be happy there. The same goes for Facebook, if you want party pictures, then go for it, just know that it will limit some opportunities. The question is, do you want them?
Add information. Make sure you fill in your information section — especially the career section. Much like LinkedIn, tell us what the company is and what you do there. Don’t be afraid to add details.
Friend colleagues and bosses. When I say that Facebook’s greatest asset is staying in touch with Friends and acquaintances. The great thing is you can stay in touch with the people you got along with the best or that you have a tie with. It’s not professional; it’s about sharing baby pictures, travels, TV shows and outings. Your basically keeping in touch with weak interpersonal ties and it’s said that most jobs are found through weak ties. Don’t think about future potential — yesterday’s accounting intern is tomorrow’s Finance Director. Even if they’re not in your field, they might be at a company you would like to work at. One prerequisite: Be great at something. No one want to recommend someone who’s average.
Share. Don’t have an empty profile. Share pictures, quotes, videos, others’ stuff — have fun (see point 1 for a similar “warning”)
Go on the offensive. I’ve never really done this, but more and more companies have Pages dedicated to working there. Like the Page and interact with moderators to see what’s available and ask for any advice.
Applications. Consider signing-up to apps like Branch-Out. I’ve never gotten any results from them, but why not put all chances on your side?
Be creative. I’ve talked about it before. We all remember the story of Alec Brownstein who found a job using Google AdWords. Try playing around with Facebook Ads. They have a few different options…have some fun!

Ultimately, I think patience is really going to be your biggest strength. You’ll definitely want to think about this before you need a job.

What about you? Any luck with finding a job using Facebook?

(Photo credit: photologue_np)

Tagged as: acquaintences, alec brownstein, applications, boss, bosses, clean-up, Colleagues, creative, Facebook, facebook ads, Finding a job, Friends, information, interpersonal ties, job search, jobs, LinkedIn, mashable, offensive, pages, photologue_np, profile, share, weak ties

{ 0 comments }

Hack Your Life Project | Do

by Fabrice Calando on January 30, 2012

This past week’s challenge was about setting up a happyness meter (remember, I spelt it with a y for a reason). Recent events have confirmed to me that being happy with what you’re doing right now is the most important thing you can achieve. It might not have been the most difficult challenge, but definitely the most important. If you aren’t thrilled with what you’re doing now, what’s the point?

I chose to implement a metric like Steve Jobs describes in his 2005 Stanford Commencement Address. Every morning for the past week, I’ve asked myself

If this is my last day of my life, would I want to do what I’m about to do today?

I’ve recently realized just how quickly your life’s goals and plans can change and so I asking myself this question each day allows me to make sure I limit my regrets. Of course, this is something I’ll keep around all year.

I hope you were able to do the same.

#HYLP Challenge #5: Do

This week is about doing. If you’re anything like me there are a few things that are on your “to do” list and they’ve been there for quite a while now. Life can change pretty quickly and there’s really no reason to hold on to “to do’s.”

Why?

We postpone doing stuff for two reason:

They’re really not that important
We just don’t want to do it right now

According to Seth Godin, the reality is you don’t want to get more things done because

You’re afraid. Getting more done would mean exposing yourself to considerable risk, to crossing bridges, to putting things into the world. Which means failure.

So here’s the deal, if it’s not important, don’t do it or get someone else to do it, don’t let it clog up your “to do” list. If you don’t feel like doing it, schedule it. Each day this week, I’ll set aside at least 30 minutes to do things. It can be something big or something small…it doesn’t matter. What’s important is do. There always a good reason not to do something: too tired, too rainy, too cold, etc. The problem with excuses is that things might never get done at all…

This week I’ll be doing and shipping.

Past challenges

If you’re new here, on the first week of January I started the Hack Your Life Project. Each week I challenge myself to explore the details of the programmable system that is my life and stretch its capabilities, as opposed to most of us, who only prefer to learn the minimum necessary. I no longer want to breeze through my life, but take control of it.

These are the past challenges:

Tagged as: #hylp, afraid, be happy now, challenge, do, doing, doing more, get rid of excess clothing, hack your life, hack your life project, happy, happyness meter, hello stranger, past challenges, right now, Seth Godin, stanford, steve jobs, turn off the electronics

{ 1 comment }

Happiness and anger

by Fabrice Calando on January 25, 2012

After going through a major event, like a stabbing, building a house, getting a promotion, losing a job… you constantly find yourself flipping back and forth between pretty dark thoughts and very positive ones.

You’re happy the cops got the guy; you’re angry he got to plead guilty before being able to tell your side of the story to get a lighter sentence. You’re happy that the whole thing is over and you can get back to a “normal” life; you’re angry that the whole thing happened because of something so stupid as a few dollars. You’re happy you get to continue living your great life…

It’s really a question of extremes — from really dark to really light.

It happens to you everyday

The thing is, you’re exposed to similar thoughts each day.

You’re happy for her, because she got the promotion she deserved — you’re jealous they didn’t pick you
You love your job — you’re jealous of her’s because the pay is higher
You’re happy for her, she got the courage to quit her job to do something she loves — you’re angry you can’t get yourself to do the same
You have the perfect house — you wish it was more like the one on TV
You’re happy for him, he got the top grade in the class, he studied so hard — You wish you had the top grade, you studied too
You’re ecstatic you lost the 10 lbs. — you’re upset you celebrated with a few doughnuts
You’re happy about your New Years resolutions — you’re upset you haven’t done anything about it yet
You’re happy for him, he got a public speaking gig — You’re angry you didn’t get it because you know much more about the topic

It’s what you do that matters

What I’m trying to say is that we’re all struggling with darker and lighter thoughts. It’s normal. What comes next — the most important part — is action. What you decide to act on is what’s going to set you apart. It’s not a matter of ignoring one thought or the other, it’s a matter of acting on what will make you better and stronger. Your move.

What are you going to choose to act on? The dark or the light?

(Photo credit: Mariano Kamp)

Tagged as: action, anger, dark, day-to-day, everyday, extremes, happiness, happy, light, mariano kamp, negative, pick, Positive, thinking, thoughts, what are you going to do

{ 1 comment }

And then…everything changes

January 23, 2012

You know that feeling you have when everything is great? You feel immortal. That’s how I’ve been feeling lately. I have a perfect girlfriend, an awesome new job, great family and friends. I really couldn’t have been happier, things couldn’t have been better. And then, on Tuesday, everything changed… I got stabbed and mugged by [...]

20 comments Read the full article →

Hack Your Life Project | Hello Stranger

January 16, 2012

If you could find an extra 7 hours a week to read, spend time with loved ones, reflect and exercise, would you take them? That’s what I did last week. One hour before going to bed, I shut off all electronic devices — TV, mobile phones, laptops. It was great. It was hard at first…like an addict [...]

7 comments Read the full article →

I’m too tired

January 11, 2012

“I’m too tired!” That’s what I told myself before writing this post…until I just sat down and wrote it. You might be telling yourself: It’s too nice outside, It’s too rainy, It’s too late, It’s too early, I don’t have time, It takes too long, It’s too far, It’s too heavy, It’s too cold, It’s [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

Hack Your Life Project | Tune out

January 9, 2012

Last week was spent getting rid of excess clothing. Like some of you, this wasn’t the hardest challenge to execute, but it was definitely interesting. While you were decluttering, did you notice how easy it is to attach value to random objects? I was constantly reminded of past Summers, trips, projects, road trips, friends and [...]

9 comments Read the full article →

My 3 words for 2012

January 5, 2012

Most new year rituals include planning for the upcoming year. There are resolutions, promises, plans and wishes. Traditionally, I’ve divided up my new year planning into four pillars: Career, work, family/friends and personal. I set goals for each pillar. 2011 was a pretty successful year. Most goals were met or exceeded, but some didn’t quite [...]

1 comment Read the full article →

Hack your life

January 2, 2012

One morning in 2011 I was in the shower asking myself the same question so many of us do. I really don’t want to go to work today, why do I have to? It’s really not that I didn’t want to work, it was more the idea of having to GO TO work that wasn’t [...]

24 comments Read the full article →

My 2011 influencers

December 30, 2011

Like a lot of you, I spend the closing weeks and days of the year looking at what went well, what went not-so-well; if I’ve accomplished the goals I had set out for myself and who has helped me — directly or indirectly. In other words, my influencers. I’m lucky enough to have a lot of [...]

6 comments Read the full article →

← Previous Entries