Top Ten Revelations I’ve Learned About Social Media

1. Blogging creates buzz, enthusiasm, and draws attention to topics
– As a fairly new blogger, I never realized big the world of blogging is. There are tons of different platforms to use that make it easy to narrow down topics you are interested in. It’s like a domino effect, once you start reading someone’s blog, it connects you to another, then another, and so on. Blogging is a form of networking, kind of like trying to get a job. 

2. “One of the many things social media in particular has done is give people an opportunity to participate in conversations around a specific product, service, and so on” (pg.245)
– The biggest change social media brought to PR and marketing is the ability for a consumer to connect with a brand on a first degree level. In the past, customers had to write letters, make calls, and wait to hear back for weeks. I tweet at brands all the time, whether it is about a good coffee I just bought from Starbucks or poor customer service somewhere. In the beginning of the semester, I had a question about a book on Chegg so I tweeted @CheggHelp and received a response in minutes. It really is amazing and revolutionary how much social media connects consumers to a brand and helps customer service. 

3. Connect all aspects of social media to your brand/product
– Embedding socia media on a website/blog creates ease for a consumer. Someone is less likely to take the extra time to find a Twitter, YouTube, or Facebook account if it is not right on the company’s website. I love the idea of a Twitter feed on a blog or website. It creates an instant connection and someone can read your tweets to figure out if they want to follow you.

4. The benefits of LinkedIn
– I really enjoyed learning the benefits of LinkedIn! There are so many ways to network your brand and company. I revamped my LinkedIn for this class and have gotten many compliments on it. I didn’t know there was a job search option and you can even apply for jobs directly with your Linkedin profile!

5. Gaining and audience and reach with hashtags
– I made a personal Twitter account for myself where I tweet about social media, marketing, advertising, and PR. I can’t believe the amount of followers I had gained just from using hashtags! I know they are working because people that follow me are in a similar field as the one I an aspiring to be part of. Many advertising and marketing agencies have followed me.

6. Using social media to brand yourself
– I created a certain look and feel for my social media accounts. I use a mint/teal blue and yellow color that is consistent on all of my sights. I even added a teal strip to the top of my resume. Being consistent with a look and feel will help people remember you and they will be more likely to remember you in the future because of the colors you used.

7. Social media is not a toy, it’s a tool
– The book talked a lot about how older companies won’t invest in social media because they think it is a toy. It’s just not with their times. My parents feel the same way, but it’s only because they don’t know the benefits it can bring to awareness, sales, and audience. Yes, many younger users don’t have an account for the same purposes as a company or CEO. However, there are statistics and companies that are experts with social media and can provide results.

8. Social media takes time and investment- it doesn’t grow your company over night
– This statement follows #7. Old-fashioned companies don’t want to invest time and money into social media. They don’t understand that gain and reach doesn’t happen over night. It is a long term investment for your company.

9. Conversation is key when using social media
– Conversation is important on the customer service end of social media. There are a lot of angry consumers out there that tweet or post angry statements about companies. It may look bad for a brand, but it is important for them to open the conversation with this consumer and answer with respect and sympathy.

10. Content and consistency
– Make sure your posts are consistent and relevant to your brand. Yes, posting a lot is important, but so is the content. If a sportswear brand is posting about the Grammy’s, followers are going to become confused and may unfollow. Make sure your content relates to your brand so that followers will retweet, favorite, reblog, or start conversation about it.

#Hashtag Resume

As a soon-to-be college graduate, I have become career obsessed. Whether it is searching every database for my dream job, revamping my resume, or writing my cover letter over 15 times, it’s gotten pretty bad. Who can blame me? Everyone has been popping the big question the past month, AKA the infamous “What are your plans for after graduation?” Hmm…I’ve been wondering the same thing!

With an incredibly competitive job market, the rat race for my generation is exhausting. Every job description states 2-5 years of experience. So you mean you want me to get experience BEFORE I get experience? Sounds impossible. However, having a professional, clear, and experienced resume does make a difference. No, that doesn’t mean dog-sitting for your neighbor is going to land your dream job. My advice to all you college undergrads is one beautiful, 3 syllable word that your adviser has mostly likely shoved down your throat all year: INTERNSHIP.

This might sound crazy but at the end of my freshmen year in college, I planned out the next 3 years. I knew that in order to be successful right out of school and land a decent paying job, I would have to work my toosh off  by juggling 5 classes and an internship. I made a promise to myself that starting fall semester of junior year, I would have a new internship each semester so that my resume would be top of the line once graduation came.

Today, I can proudly say that I didn’t break that promise. My resume is rich in different types of experience. I’ve worked in a big-shot corporate setting and a small town mom and pop store. Companies want to see that you are self-motivated and care about work. Internships also display that you have good time-management skills. Once they see you have taken it upon yourself to go above and beyond, you will stand out. Hiring managers want to know how you made a difference at a company. Include specifics and numbers in those bullets on your resume. Did you answer 5,000 e-mails a day? Tell them!

I recently gave my resume an Extreme-Makeover: Job Application Edition. My internships were the golden ticket, but the format of my resume was bleak. It had too many bullets under each job, left out really impressive tasks, had very broad statements, and the list goes on. My boyfriend sat down and helped me revise it for over an hour. Not to brag, but the finishing product looks awesome. I uploaded it to a few career websites and the next day I had people contacting me on behalf of my resume. They had found it online and were seeking me out to work for their company. I felt accomplished and satisfied that my hard work had paid off.

If you still have time to complete an internship(s) or a related job before the real world, start now! I promise it will pay off. It will get exhausting but in the end be so worth it! Your resume will beat out more people than you think.

For more tips and career convo, follow me on Twitter @aileencasmano

How to Become a Snow Fashionista

How to be a Snow Fashionista by spoonfulofserendipity featuring an infinity scarf

In the cold winter months, it’s always hard to put a fashionable outfit together when all you want to do is stay in your PJ’s. This board is some outfit inspiration to still be warm and cozy while looking cute !#fashionista #winterweather #snowbunny

Love & Anthropologie

I hope everyone had a weekend full of rest and relaxation! I spent mine with my guy and girlfriends. I gave him the Trader Joe’s card that I had tweeted about a few days ago and he loved it!!

He got me the most AMAZING smelling candle from Anthropologie for Valentine’s Day! The scent is Capri Blue. The candle is in a metal casing and there are spots that light up when it’s burning! The aroma is very strong and makes the room smell good instantly!!

       

Along with the candle, he gave me a an envelope with a cute little phrase written on it! We had a casual night that consisted of making homemade macaroni and cheese which was DELICIOUS (a jeans un-buttoner if I may say so myself) and grilled chicken. The meal was so satisfying and filling that we didn’t even make it to dessert! However, I did make a heart shaped fudge brownie and guilt free chocolate chip cookies that he LOVES! I substitute butter with greek yogurt and use half of the sugar that the recipe calls for.

                         

We decided to stay in because dining out can be such a rip off! Restaurants make special menus with tailored prices to make you spend more and anywhere you go is crowded and loud! So we opted to stay in and have a relaxing, intimate night together. All in all, I think our first Valentine’s Day together was a success!

Intern Life: 12 ways to get the most out of an internship

This generation of young professionals face a competitive job market. Companies that are hiring interns or full-time employees are looking for the cream of the crop. They hire someone with the mindset that it is an investment for their company. When choosing between candidates, the HR director will choose someone that stands out from others because of their skills, broad experience, and communication skills.

Making yourself a marketable job candidate doesn’t happen over night. Why do you think the Career Development offices and advisors stress an internship so much? There is a surplus of career-seeking individuals with a limited supply of spots.

This is why you need to make yourself STAND OUT! And this all starts by getting an internship, but doesn’t end there. Sure, you have a good resume with a bunch of volunteer experience and job references that can land you an interview. Making the most out of these opportunities is really what counts- not just showing up. Being a good intern doesn’t mean making the coffee and arriving on time. I am going to provide a list of tips that I have learned throughout my internship endeavors. I’ve worked in different types of companies (corporate, mom and pop, start up) and have gained a pretty solid foundation of how to not only be a good intern, but gain knowledge and skills from an internship along with building professional relationships that will help you network and market yourself in the long run.

1. First & foremost- COMMUNICATE! COMMUNICATE! COMMUNICATE! If you don’t know how to do something or are unsure, ASK. Your supervisors don’t expect you to know the in’s and out’s of the company on the first day. In fact, they probably are too caught up with their own work to realize they gave you a task that you haven’t been trained in yet. Also, they rather you do it the right way the first time than have to re-do it five other times.

2. Be friendly & social in the workplace- Yes, at first the CEO and big shots might be intimidating in passing, but ALWAYS say hi or smile at staff! They will notice and start smiling/saying hi first! I co-interned with a girl that would look at her feet when she passed every full-time employee in the company. One day, I was in line at Starbucks across the street and two employees didn’t know I was behind them. The entire time they were on line, they talked about this intern, how she never smiled, and had terrible communication skills. People notice!

3. Tasks will be assigned to you that have nothing with your position. Just do them. You’re not going to love every assignment you are given- but if you accept without hesitation, it shows that you are flexible and are willing to go above an beyond for a job. This will benefit you tremendously in the long run if you need references/recommendations for a full-time position!

4. Keep an extra set of headphones in your desk drawer. An office can have a lot of background noise that goes unnoticed until you are trying to concentrate. It can be very distracting, especially if you overhear people’s conversations. Music helps me tune into whatever I am doing. However, I have two sets of headphones because I used to always bring mine home at the end of the day to workout and then forget them the next day! Working all day without my choice of music was torture!

5. Never put your intern position above school. School comes first! Occasionally, your supervisor may ask you to work a few extra hours a week if the company is busy. In my case, I interned in the fashion industry and took 5 classes (not to mention was commuting 1 hour to NYC). My supervisors would ask me to help host several events that fell on class days. I wanted to accept SO desperately! Not to only show how committed I was, but it seemed so glamorous and fun! I skipped class one time to attend a Fashion Week Event…which consisted of me standing at a door way with a fake smile for 6 hours. I ended up missing a really important lecture and totally regretted it. The point is, you are not a full-time employee, you are a full-time student. Classes and school should come first. If you have a huge test one week, cut down your hours one day to study. The staff will understand! They know you have other responsibilities, the internship isn’t supposed to suffocate you.

6. Always double check/read things over before you hand it over to the person that assigned it. A big part of being an intern is doing small tasks that help the company’s big plans come alive. For example, inventory lists, spread sheets, data entry. All of those duties are actually really crucial to the company and if they are entered wrong, can cause many problems. I always double check the work assigned to me. Also, Re-READ E-MAILS BEFORE YOU SEND THEM! The generation above us seem to be sticklers for good grammar.

7. Be a Leader. You may be working on a team of interns. Don’t be afraid to take charge and input your own ideas. Companies like to see that individuals can work well with others and facilitate group work. However, it is easy to become friendly with the other interns and get caught up in goofing off. This is certainly appropriate on a lunch break or once work is over!

8. Don’t show up hungover. Everyone you are working with was 21 once. They know what a hungover college student looks like when they see them. Save it for a day you have a later class or the weekend. You choose to make this internship a commitment. It looks irresponsible and immature when you come to work still drunk from the night before. They’ll notice and assume you don’t take work seriously.

9. Offer help if you have nothing to do. If it’s a Friday afternoon and you still have 2 more hours left, shoot out a group e-mail to your department reminding them that you are there and have time to help. I’m fairly new to my internship this semester, so people in my department forget I am there. The past two days, I haven’t received many tasks. I decided to send out an e-mail saying that I was working until 3 p.m if anyone needed help with anything. Immediately, I received two replies from employees stating that they didn’t know the hours/days I worked yet and forgot to ask me.

10. Don’t panic or become stressed out. If you work for a corporate company, multiple people may assign you tasks. Half of them probably aren’t as important as they seem or don’t need to be done immediately. Find out which tasks are of highest priority and go forth. Again, you are not a full time employee– therefore you should not be overwhelmed with work!

13. If you have an office space, make it unique! Bring some pictures of friends and family, post uplifting quotes, and keep some snacks for yourself! It will keep you relaxed and happy when you glance over and see a picture of you and your best girlfriends having fun!

12. Lastly, be willing to learn! Being an intern is a very valuable opportunity that will prepare you with skills that will be valuable to you in the future! Ask questions, be open-minded, and keep a positive attitude!!

He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not- My Guide for College Relationships

This couldn’t be more true. Excellent points and truthful!

Talk Writing To me

ATTENTION: Before you read any further, please note that I am not a trained relationship therapist, I am not a love guru, nor do I have the most perfect relationship in the entire world.

Up until about nine months ago, I was your average 21-year-old female who was convinced she was never getting married or would never find love. I failed miserably during my first three years of college in the love category. My heart was broken, I may have broken a heart or two- it was simply a mess! Well, much to my surprise, the impossible happened! I had a major crush on one of Susquehanna’s track stars, and with a little confidence (and a two and a half week service trip to New Orleans), I was able to get to know my crush and have him fall madly in love with me- muahahahah my plan worked! YOU’RE MADLY…

View original post 917 more words

Where blogging happens…

 

 

 

We Meet Again…

Spin For Your Soul

Monday is hitting me hard this week for some reason. I couldn’t get out of bed this morning- snoozed the alarm THREE times. Left the house without my coffee and iPod aka my lifesavers throughout the workday. Talk about starting your day on the wrong foot! All of this snow is really throwing me off schedule. I think the two snow days last week really threw me out of whack. The snow has taken over everything but the roads. I am so sick of being cooped up inside every weekend!

The mix of stress, lack of sunlight/fresh air, and weather has such an effect on my mood. I’m sure this applies to others as well. Whenever I get overwhelmed, a run outdoors always refreshes me. However, that is not possible unless I want to break a hip on ice. When the stress began to hit me last week, I made it a point to hit the gym despite how tired I was. I took a spin class for the heck of it and felt AMAZING afterwards. My spirits were high and head was clear. I went home, showered, made a delicious, healthy dinner, and RELAXED (something I haven’t been able to do in my free time). Any down time I have had recently, I keep finding myself worrying about things. Whether it is school related, work, money, or friends- I could NOT turn my mind off obsessing over these things!

Anyway, the spin class really eased my mind. It was 45 minutes of me time. There was no one I had to text back or e-mail. I took the time to challenge myself to leave all of that stuff outside the room. Not to mention the instructor was awesome, had a great playlist going, and turned the lights off. During one of the routines she even had us close our eyes and focus on breathing (kind of like a yoga technique).

Unfortunately, she only teaches one class a week that fits in my schedule. I enjoyed her class so much that I e-mailed her to see if she could send me the class routine. She sent it to me and the next day I cycled by myself while following her routine. It was awesome! My goal is to workout at least 3 times a week. There are days that I have absolutely NO motivation, so I just need to remember how exhilarating the post workout feeling is! Also, spring break is coming up so I should really get in shape (even though it is probably too late).

If you haven’t taken a spin class, I highly suggest it. If you have a good instructor, he/she will PUSH you all the way until the end. There were so many points where I wanted to give up, but she kept me going by talking to us.

Anyway, those are my thoughts for the day 🙂 I’m hoping to have enough time in between my internship and night class to hop on a bike today 🙂

– A

Battling Your Enemy: The Winter Sniffles

When the cold weather rolls around, it doesn’t come empty handed. For us nor’easters, mother nature has definitely brought it’s share of snow so far.

Between shoveling and being cooped up in the house when work/class is cancelled, I’ve caught a bad case of the sniffles 😦 Vitamins, tissues, and tea just aren’t making the cut. Just when I think they have gone away for good, the next morning I wake up sniffling away. 

Good news.

There IS hope! After reading around on the internet, the trick is pretty simple and cheap! EUCALYPTUS OIL! It is an all natural essential oil that can be found in any health food store and most supermarkets. For our online shoppers, Amazon obviously has it (click here). 

Here’s what you do and will need:

A bowl, Eucalyptus Oil, Spoon, TISSUES!

1. Boil/microwave 1-3 cups of water

2. Once the water temperature is hot enough to let off steam, put it in a bowl 

3. Add 2-4 drops of Eucalyptus Oil and stir with a spoon. MAKE YOUR YOU WASH THIS SPOON VERY WELL. Essential Oils CANNOT be digested and will make you very ill. Never drink them or put them on any food.

4. Once the oil is stirred in, inhale deep breathes of the steaming water through your nose. You will instantly feel the steam clear your airway. Blow your nose every few times you inhale. If you do this religiously for 2-3 days, your sniffles WILL go away! 

Note: I like to do this before bed. That way, your nose is clear for the night and the mucus (hate that word) won’t get stuffed up again!

Conquer those sniffles!!

 

-A