After a year of shoulder shrugs and protesting on behalf of insignificant purpose, I finally joined Twitter--Username: Nicki_elle86, profile pic, followers...the whole nine yards! But as i registered my email address to yet another social networking site, it annoyed me that my final decision to join came down to the fact that numerous job applications require someone who is familuar and active with social networking sites. I have no problem with joining these sites, however to have them listed as part of the qualifications for a job is a tad bit ridiculous in my opinion. Mainstream media takes something that comes natural to our generation and creates a kind of frenzy so that you feel obligated to be involved. They strip away all likeness, freedom and fun from these leisure activities, and turn them into qualifications and requirements for jobs. When i interned at ABC7 about two years ago, I was asked to research several known, as well as unknown, social networking sites and compile a list of what each are good for. Interesting enough, one of the "unknown" sites was Twitter.com. At the time I thought to myself, "this is pointless," yet as i went on to graduate from college and apply for jobs, that list became my main source of reference to social-networking. But what about my REAL qualifications? What about my four years of college experience, in which I have a $40,000 piece of paper as prove? What about my communication skills and ability to learn quickly? All of these are good, but in the world of "New Journalism," they look for more. Publications are looking for people who know how to navigate technology--blog, web design, and now social networking. I mean as if facebook wasn't enough?
All i am trying to say is why does it matter if I have Facebook or Twitter or Linkedin accounts? Shouldn't my passion of the
industry be enough?...
All i am trying to say is why does it matter if I have Facebook or Twitter or Linkedin accounts? Shouldn't my passion of the
industry be enough?...
This may come kind of late, but I have to agree and speak on that. I too am tired of signing my name to every social account there is and realize the only way I'm going to get notice is if I do that and post my multimedia skills every where.
ReplyDeleteIt no longer seems to be a simple resume and some clips to get you in the door it has to be a portfolio and website and then some. I hardly go on facebook and myspace anymore and it's because there is still a lack of professionalism from people. I signed up for twitter thinking 'Ok this seems more of a site to network with some folks' but I'm not seeing the connection to get a job the same goes for linkedin.com. As much as it's designed for it's professional networking to a possible job, it doesn't seem to be helping me professionally.
It just leads me to the way of the world "It's all about who you know!" Unfortunately society has trained us to be this way, and it's like training up a child knowing that they are only going to do what they were taught.
I will say having blogs and places like these to speak your professional opinion, I don't want to see my works in vain. I have an online radio blog I'm doing, that's my way of showing the radio world I can also do this, this and that.
But I digress.
I didn't finish my thought. I was saying having blogs like these to speak your professional opinion is awesome, but I don't want to see my works in vain. Thanks.
ReplyDelete