Media Socialized

So it had been just over a year since (July 2013) I had made my LinkedIn stock purchase.  I have been a LinkedIn user for at least 4 years and came to realize that the website had failed me and truly must be failing others that needed the job-hunting tools it solicits.  Yes, I became (luckily) apart of the U.S. downsizing (telecom) machine this past year.

After my shift each day, aside from applying for positions, I went out of my way to put my feelers out there more and more... And well, thinking LinkedIn was the perfect place I spent $29.95 a month to reach out to (when needed) 5 people a month via "Inmail".  I tracked the ratio of responses and it wasn't good.  Less than 15% of my messages sent out to headhunters/HR reps received responses.  

Sadly, with this low response rate I felt my future with LinkedIn was over.  Yes, I realized that the LinkedIn tools and connections heavily favored the headhunters and minimally the true consumer, which is the job-seeker. 

HR Tip 101 - Get with the program.  Today everyone feels short on time, make sure (at least) you don't waste yours.

We have a problem creating jobs - our politicians are so focused on the middle east (better check yourself before your wreck yourself) that they don't realize they could create jobs easily - give tax incentives to companies for every job they bring back to the United States.  

Many corporations are getting bad press with (APPLE) the mistreatment they do to their workers abroad and they still don't seem to lobby to get tax breaks.

For now, I will continue to buy local to support small business in the U.S. - Hello?! Please join me and countless others!

Looking forward to catch "Get On Up" (heard Mick Jagger had a lot to do with the music side as a producer).  James Brown had one of the most unique drummers (double kick) and horn sections early on and held his bands to a high standard.  I am surprised I haven't seen a lot more advertising on this movie.  It will be nice to learn about his upbringing and what made him "tick".

Trade Opinion:

*Winners- @RedSox (picked up power lacking from last year with Cespedes) @Angels (picked up a needed closer Houston Street) @Mariners (picked up a great grit/clutch player in Chris Denorfia) @tigers (picked up David Price) @Yankees (received money and Chase Headley for Solarte - Padres should not have given money 1Mil to the Yankees) 

*Losers- @Padres (got nothing truly in return with prospects that will never be developed) @Athletics (Didn't need more pitching and needed Cespedes) - Tampa Bay sent away David Price for 2 prospects.

Don't forget to go to at least 1 small business to make your purchases (per week).

So if Walgreens and many other large companies have no reason to stay in the U.S. why would anyone else feel the reason to stay?  We are seeing a problem with Globalization right before our eyes and Washington just watches as our infrastructure leaves us along with tax money.  

Full story courtesy of yahoo.com:

After learning about the death of Tony Gwynn on June 16, I never realized how important he was as a person (i.e. helping the community, donating to the SDSU baseball team, being personable to fans) off the field as he was on the field.  Even as nice as he seemed during interviews.

I always knew that he was the best franchise player the Padres would ever know (possibly the best MLB ever knew in the last 30 years for staying with the same team and taking a pay cut for doing it), but didn't realize how much he gave back, especially early in his career.  When I personally would hear him get interviewed, he always seemed to be a nice guy to interview, and this was evident for the person doing the interview...  Almost every person that was able to interview (when people  spoke on the radio about how Tony was as a person off the field) him came to tears about how nice he was.

In fact, the MLB 330.+ average hitter for 20 years had people talking about him as a nice, informative and importantly humble guy, rather than how amazing it was to be consistent at staying above a 300. batting average every year he played.

Well, now today's ball players can use Tony as a reminder on how important it is to be nice (like Tony was) and when possible give back to the community (as Tony did).

The Padres too can takeaway from Tony on how to have their young call-ups make hitting adjustments (as Tony did by using a small bat) from the beginning.

The public can be reminded (as I have) on how important it is to be nice to everyone, regardless of what age or title they carry in society.

Thank you Tony. 

Here is a takeaway from the article - The U.S. has an issue with addressing it's own people (unemployed and homeless) : "Sweden in particular must be doing something right: In the recession of the early 1990s, it was one of two European countries that saw suicides fall even as unemployment rose".

See the full LA Times article here:

Comment Posted To A Lifehacker.com Article (All HR units should see this)

WHY I WONT APPLY FOR YOUR JOB..

1 - require me to fill out your company's "application" that simply repeats all the information that is on my resume. Why are you showing me that your company is more interested in busywork than skills? You will never even look at the "application", it is a waste of everyone's time.

2 - Require yet another login to post my resume to your company's website. your company is not special, why are you cluttering up your own servers with the silly logins for people that will never be used again? Hire some competent IT people and design a resume submission system that does not require a un-needed login for them to have to remember. The best one I have seen emailed the submitter a pincode and allowed them to login with their email and pincode if they ever needed to update the resume.

3 - Post ridiculous requirements. 30+ years in java, astronaut that has been in space 10 times, has god's cellphone number. If you are letting the idiots in HR write the job description at least take some time from golf or your fantasy football to proofread the job position. It just makes you look like a very uneducated manager, a big red flag for the real professionals.

4 -Do not post a salary range. You want me to waste my time to find out you are paying 30% under industry average? Be honest and post the salary range so you get real professionals that don't want to waste our time to apply.

The above are the reasons that most companies get 5000 resumes or more for a single position that are not what they are looking for. Mostly because the hiring manager is incompetent at writing a proper job posting. The HR department think they are godlike. And everyone thinks their company is so good they don't have to give any real information about the position.

Want a better list of hires to choose from? Do the above and look like a respectable company to work for.

The latest trend of Linkedin.com's growth is only going to gain more steam.  Make sure when you do join it that you get a picture up as soon as possible (people want to know you really do exist), and yes make sure you smile as well!

If you are interested in getting noticed more make sure you have a good headshot and maybe even pay little bit for it.  

There is a photographer in southern CA that will charge you $40.00 for a professional (with a colored backdrop) photo that will be meant for LinkedIn/Facebook/Twitter (whoa!).

You can go here for this (go to the Contact section to schedule an appoint/ask questions): 

'Back Bum Soap' is a new company that is thinking forward... Their natural/organic/non-detergent soap is not only using biodegradable packaging (they state you can plant the packaging and it will bloom into flowers!), but is also geared to help people (with their patent pending Soap-On-An-Extender /getting hard to reach areas).

This is surely placing passion with future thinking and it seems their  (Aloe Vera/Cranberry Seed exfoliation Soaps) soaps are priced well below most natural soaps sold on Etsy etc.  Now you can purchase their products direct via Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/BackBumSoaps?v=app_251458316228

I am looking to catch the movie on Steve Jobs soon. Just not sure which review to believe yet.