Tuesday 29 October 2013

Social media for job hunting - help!

Right so things are stepping up a gear... November is near and that means it is only one month before my job searching takes the next step!

I am really hoping to use social media in my job searching, but would love some direction/guidance on how to do this - how cheeky can I be? Do you think using social media such as Twitter is appropriate? I have LinkedIn and this is a brilliant tool...!

Any suggestions or guidance that anyone has would be greatly received! If you have any tips please tweet me or email me



So this week is manic - so much work to do! Today I finished my first assignment of this year and now can move on to the next - it is all go this side of Christmas with deadlines every few weeks! I am really enjoying this year though, even if it is hard work! My next assignment is a product concept on a new product idea...! Wish me luck!

This Thursday is Halloween! I am still unsure if I will be going out or not (it's not my favourite night of the year, I get a bit scared!!) but we are going to be doing some scary-themed food! I am going to dress up as a bat! What are your plans for Halloween? Love it or hate it?!


Ciao x

Monday 28 October 2013

Heard of #Northantshour?

Right so anyone who takes part in #Northantshour on Twitter will know alllll about this...and if you don't where have you been?! (Obviously only if you live in and around Northants)

#Northantshour takes place every Thursday evening between 8pm and 9pm on Twitter and is regularly trending!

Anyway...
This December the people who take part are coming together for, what I imagine will be, a fabulous charity evening!

The event is taking place at the Black Bottom Club, Northampton on December 5th 7pm-10pm. The evening is an opportunity to meet other tweeps who participate in #Northantshour and raise money for a local charity - Niamhs Next Step. The charity was voted for by those who take part in the hour.

Participants have come together to advertise and organise this event - along with raffle donations, local bands performing, and the poster for the event being designed! (hence this blog...)

Fancy going along? A £5 donation to the Just Giving page is required (be sure to leave your name so that you are on the guest list!)

Sadly, due to being in Sheffield I am not able to attend this event but I hope everyone has a lovely evening and raise a lot of money for this local charity!

Enjoy! x

Wednesday 23 October 2013

Deadlines are looming...!

What a week it has been! I have been so busy with deadlines looming, lots of research and assignment writing has taken place!

I have read SO MUCH this week it's untrue but I have loved it all! So much knowledge has been taken in! And as a plus I got three of my course textbooks so I now don't have to rely on the library! Happy days!

So my favourite book at the moment is:

Marketing Management by Kotler, Keller, Brady et al.

Highly recommend this for everyone who wants to read more about Strategic Marketing Management. 

The focus this week has been on two things: 1. Researching how to enter a new product into an existing marketing 2. Carrying out a career plan.

The first of these has been tough... I really struggled to come up with an innovative new product that would fit in with the assessment criteria! But I think I may have finally cracked it! (Happy days!) Now I just have to hope that all my primary research works out okay...

The second of my main tasks was a lot easier! As part of one of my modules I have to create a career plan, which is something that is fairly clear in my mind anyway! I am hoping to start applying for jobs in December... so watch this space!

This week has required some extra effort because I wanted the weekend off (It's my birthday on Saturday!) and I fancied celebrating! (Better get cleaning before my parents come up!)

Hope everyone has had a lovely week!

Ciao x

Thursday 17 October 2013

How social are you?

This week has flown by, nearly didn't have time to write an entry!

One of my tutors recently said that people choose how much information they give away about themselves on social media sites, which I found really interesting and it's been at the front of my mind for the past week or so.

I believe that I am fairly open with information if someone asks me for it via social media. I have this blog, Twitter and LinkedIn - on all of which people can contact me! I like to keep my Facebook private because that's only for my close friends to see all the pictures etc of me!

However, some companies are very closed off when it comes to using social media for doing exactly what it is meant to be for.... being social! I think companies should adopt their social media strategy so that customers are easily able to approach them for information etc. Being creative in how social media is used within an organisation really sets them apart from competition. Personally, I use Facebook and Twitter to ask companies questions, let them know when I am unhappy with them etc. I mean why not?! But you would be surprised by how many do not even reply over this channel! I am not going to name and shame these companies but I am sure you have had similar experiences!?

On the other hand there are those organisations which are incredible with being social with customers and I LOVE IT! <3 Thumbs up to them!

So things that have happened this week include:
  • Lots of reading (but now I can actually read with my new glasses!)
  • Assignment has been fully planned and is now in progress...
  • Enterprise Society Launch - I am on the committee and we had a fantastic launch night with lots of budding entrepreneurs attending! Some brilliant entrepreneurs from Sheffield came along to tell us about their start ups - check out their twitter pages here: Big Live Event and The Expo People.
  • The job hunt continues...!
I have training for becoming a student rep tomorrow as well which I am looking forward to! Then getting the train home for a Mexican Fiesta birthday party for my friend! (It's all go!)

Hope you have all had a fabulous, albeit drizzly, week!

Ciao xx 

Tuesday 8 October 2013

Just a short post...

A pretty early blog post this week... But I have more time at the beginning of the week so hey ho!

A quick summary of the past while:
  • The cold has almost gone - hurrah!
  • Uni is well and truly underway
  • My room is pretty much finished with pictures/posters etc.
  • I have become obsessed with Pinterest
  • There is a need for more music in my life to keep me going through assignments - suggestions welcome!
  • And finally... I have drunk thousands of cups of tea!
So at the moment I am working on my Creative Management and Professional Development assignment - which looks at my work placement and focuses on the skills I developed during that year. One thing that I always find hard is 'bigging yourself up' without sounding big-headed! But it is a good assignment because it really helps identify the areas that I need/want to work on this year!

I have spent a small fortune on books as well this week - a classic student complaint about the price of them!! But I am sure they will help in the long-run - there's just a lot to be reading!

Just a short one today - lots to be doing!

Ciao x

Wednesday 2 October 2013

The Quest for Employment....

October is here already! It is time for dark mornings and even darker evenings...!

I have started back at uni now and so far this year looks like it is going to be a good one! All the modules look very interesting and I can't wait to get cracking on the reading!

The graduate job search has started as well... There are a lot of Graduate Schemes that have a closing date of the end of October/November! It is so scary to think how quickly we have had to start applying/searching since returning to Sheffield! I spent last weekend getting my CV fully up to date and ready for potential employers - along with signing up to several job sites!

And this has got me thinking...How far can social media be used in recruitment? I know that without a doubt LinkedIn is brilliant when it comes to looking for jobs/recruiters/interview prep. I have also been tweeting about my job search and this has led to recruitment agencies following me and consequently I have then had a search on their websites! When it comes to my job hunt I am potentially being a bit cheeky in asking about jobs (if you don't ask, you will never know!) - tweeting about vacancies isn't a cop out, I am just aiming to reach out to employers through their social channels and be a bit different to the other thousands of graduates!

Anyway, for now I am going to continue to apply for jobs online, keep my eyes peeled for all things marketing....

....BUT if you have read this and are thinking "Hey she sounds interesting, I wish I knew more about her..." then please feel free to take a look at my LinkedIn profile here 

:)

Ciao from a drizzly Sheffield x