The Future is Mobile, Local, and Social

A few weeks back I had the chance to attend the Dreamforce event in San Francisco. One of the highlights from the conference was listening to the keynote speaker. Google Executive Chairman and former CEO Eric Schmidt said technology is at a crossroads and the next game changing shift will comprise of mobile, local and social technologies and will create an environment that unfolds in true real-time.

Companies that do not become Social Enterprises will not survive this economic cycle. Becoming a Social Enterprise is, however, more than just having a Facebook page or a Twitter account. It is a transformation in how your business thinks, decides, works and collaborates. Brought into the enterprise by the Gen Y generation, social media has since redefined relationships within, between and among enterprises from the bottom up.

It was, however, the Millenniums who forced enterprises on the path of change. As they entered the workforce en mass, their refusal to use non-Googlesque technology and blindly follow processes dictated by corporate systems was the spark of the revolution. The rise of mobile as the new computing platform fueled the transformation to the Social Enterprise.

Not every company is ready to become a Social Enterprise. How can you tell if you’re ready? Does your company see social media and mobile as a way to help people do their job faster and easier?

7 Different Ways To Find A New Job

The old days of finding a job right out of school and sticking with it until retirement are certainly in the past. In these modern times, people have become more adept at locating new job opportunities. But some of the more traditional tactics have started to fade in popularity; no longer are people looking solely at the newspaper want-ads to find their dream jobs. Job seekers are becoming more creative and utilizing new strategies in moving their careers forward.

1. Networking
It is said that the majority of job vacancies are never advertised, often referred to as the "hidden job market." To land these jobs, seekers will need to find a way to get a foot in the door. Networking can go a long way in locating job opportunities; even if no one you know directly has knowledge of a job opening, there's a chance they know someone who does.

Networking can be done both in person and online. You can join professional associations, attend events for graduates of your school, or aim to connect with professionals who work in your field. Various online tools also exist, such as LinkedIn, which allow you to network with other professionals and learn out about possible job openings. You may also be able to meet other professionals through social networking sites like Facebook or Twitter.

Quite often in networking, it's not who you know, it's who knows you. So when it comes to positioning and top of mind awareness, take the time to get involved both in person and online.

2. Referrals
Referrals also come from individuals you know, however, this method may get you an invitation to apply for a position without actually searching for a new a job. Some employers offer incentives to their employees for referring a successful candidate to their company - a win-win situation for everyone. You get a new job, and your contact gets a finder's fee for attracting a top-notch employee.


3. Job Fairs
Job fairs are typically targeted toward specific industries, though some job or recruitment fairs are more generalized. These ads will usually come with a list of the organizations that will be present. Investigate any companies that interest you, bring a number of resumes and be ready to sell yourself. Consider any conversations with recruiters as mini interviews that can set you apart from other applicants. Some organizations may even offer on-site interviews to candidates that match their requirements. (Weren't successful? Find out why. See 5 Reasons You Didn't Get The Job.)

4. Company Websites
If you already have your dream employer in mind, why not go directly to the career section of their website? If you watch for openings on their site, there's a chance you'll find just the opportunity that you've been waiting for. Create a list of employers that you'd like to work for and visit their websites often. If you're really set on working for a specific company it may take some time to find just the opportunity that fits your skill set. But if you've got the luxury of time, this might be the optimal method for finding your dream job.


5. Head Hunters and Recruitment Agencies
If you're looking for some professional help in your job search, head hunters and recruitment agencies can definitely lend a hand (though in some cases it may come at a price). There are a number of organizations that hire through recruitment agencies because it helps to streamline the lengthy process of locating and interviewing candidates. Head hunters locate individuals to fill a specific vacancy within an organization or find a position for a job seeker who has hired their services. Payment is often based upon commission. Keep in mind that many high schools, colleges and universities have job placement services that can help new graduates to develop their resumes and assist both current students and alumni with their job searches.

6. Temping or Internships
Sometimes temporary employment can lead to permanent positions. If you're without work, finding a temporary position with a great company is a great way to get a foot in the door, or provide you with useful business contacts to call upon in the future. Many recruitment agencies can assist with locating temporary or casual positions and contract work. Internships are a great choice for students who are just graduating from college and many schools' job placement services can connect students with opportunities. Volunteering can also be a great method for gaining valuable industry contacts.

7. Creative or Outlandish Tactics
In a competitive job market, some job seekers have moved toward more creative methods for drawing attention to themselves. You might try using video email as a new technique. Recording a thirty second commercial can be transparent and quite different from those other job seekers.

The Bottom Line
In the modern job market, finding the very best job opportunities often requires a combination of methods. Always keep in mind that there are a variety of methods available for finding job opportunities, all with their own strengths and weaknesses, so don't be shy to experiment with a variety of techniques.

Who Wins?

The Old American Dream

Keep your head down
Follow instructions
Show up on time
Work hard
Suck it up

The New American Dream

Be remarkable
Be generous
Create art
Make judgement calls
Connect people and ideas

All of these attributes are choices, not talents, and all of them are available to us.

Stewardship

What type of leadership is present inside your company?

As a leader, the one thing you can't delegate is the responsibility for making sure the company has a single culture, not several competing ones. I've experienced this first hand inside our organization at Morales Group

My friend and business advisor, Dale Needleman (really smart apple), stated today that "In the absence of leadership, people will listen to whoever is talking". And sometimes these people who are talking have no understanding of how to run a business. That's a scary thought to consider.

Thanks Dale for the fantastic insight. We've got our work cut out but I know we're up to the challenge.

Are You Indispensable?

People under the age of 20 only know the Internet as their prime source of communication, purchase, and download. Get used to it, get over it, understand the sales opportunity that it creates, and take advantage of it. If you don't, society will take advantage of you.

Now is the time for salespeople to study the marketplace, make an assessment of where they feel their best long-term opportunities lie, combine those opportunities with selecting something that they're passionate about or would love to do, and DIG IN.

Morales Family Farm

Think of the sales process like farming. You prepare the soil; you plant seeds; you water, weed, nurture, and cultivate. In other words, follow through. Not every seed takes root; it may be only one seed in ten, or one in twenty.

Which connections will bear fruit, and when? It depends; different relationships and situations take different amounts of time. Just as with the farmer's partnership with the soil, sun, and seasons, the exact timing is not up to you.

But know this: if you prepare the soil well and are careful in your cultivation, you will reap a harvest - silos full.

Galatians 6:9 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up"

Linchpins and Leverage

Forty years ago, Richard Branson, who ultimately founded Virgin Air, found himself in a situation in the airport at the Caribbean. They had just canceled his flight, the only flight that day. Instead of freaking out about how essential the flight was, how badly his day was ruined, how his entire career was now in jeopardy, the young Branson walked across the airport to the charter desk and inquired about the cost of chartering a flight out of Puerto Rico.

Then he borrowed a portable blackboard and wrote, "Seats to Virgin Islands, $39." He went back to his gate, sold enough seats to his fellow passengers to completely cover his costs, and made it home on time. Not to mention planting the seeds for the airline he'd start decades later. Sounds like the kind of person you'd like to hire.

(Excerpt taken from Seth Godin's new book Linchpin)