Ask A Progeek – Linked In and Broadcasting Out

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This “Ask A Progeek” question is about something obvious.  Of course it’s not something that’s obvious, but something that’s about the obvious.

So what’s our question?

If you’re looking for a job, is it a faux pas to say so on Linked-In?  If not, what’s the best way to do so?

So let’s look at the obviousness of this question:

If you need to hide the fact you’re looking for work, it’s obvious that you hide it (or at least dissociate the public search from your public identity).  That’s a given.

If you are looking for work and don’t need to hide it, it’s obvious that you have to make it as public as possible.  The more people know you’re looking the more they can help.  The more people that know you’re available, the more people can employ you.

If you’re on LinkedIn it’s obvious your career and employment are important to you.  So it’s kind of assumed by most people there that at any point someone may be looking.  It won’t appear tasteless or to anyone on there.

With the internet available to you, from Twitter to web pages to LinkedIn, it’s also obvious there’s a lot of ways to broadcast your job search.  So go use them.

There’s no reason not to use LinkedIn (or anything else) that you’re looking for work – as long as you don’t mind making it public.

For you, my pro geeks, here’s a few ways to broadcast yourself, obvious or not:

  • Put it on LinkedIn
  • Announce it on Twitter – with regular (but not overdone) updates.
  • Announce it on Facebook – and chronicle your job search (again without overdoing it)
  • Start a tumblr to track your job search and make it interactive.
  • Chart your results and experiences on your blog.
  • Put it on your web page.
  • Form an online group or join one for a job search (pro tip: make sure any job search group contains people who have work and are helping).
  • Use your related skills to chart your job search and announce it – art, web design, writing, etc.

Go on, make your search obvious – if it’s obviously safe.

– Steven Savage

Steven Savage is a Geek 2.0 writer, speaker, blogger, and job coach.  He blogs on careers at http://www.fantopro.com/, nerd and geek culture at http://www.nerdcaliber.com/, and does a site of creative tools at http://www.seventhsanctum.com/. He can be reached at https://www.stevensavage.com/.

Nintendo Versus Everyone

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Some of the new announcements of the Wii U make sense (video streaming), some are a bit odd (Yes, Bayonetta 2, because hey my Mom would love it), some are cool (I am digging the pseudo-tablet) and putting it all together paints a heady picture as the folks at Kotaku found out.

I look at the Wii U strategy and it seems to be focused on:

  • Being a media device much like the X-box has become.
  • Signing a lot of diverse and odd gaming titles.
  • Making up for lost time by having better internet integration.
  • Seriously pushing it’s unusual (and costly) controller.

That’s when I realized that Nintendo has become Sony and is throwing everything at the wall and seeing what sticks.  However they’re doing it in a more . . . precise  . . . manner than Sony.

The Wii U is going to be a media box – and a media box with an interesting peripheral.  The latter may not be the only sales point but considering the Wii’s rep this may be the media box that less-hardcore gamers purchase.  My mother was practically ready to buy a Wii, the Wii U is even more promising.

The Wii U introduces an odd extra control structure with the Pad – one reminiscent of iPad integration and Android Phone integration with other devices.  Nintendo is making a tighter device integration play, and if you don’t think the future DS is going to tie into this or evolve from this, you’re not paying attention.

Nintendo is making up for lost time with assorted internet and social media integration.  This plays well with the Nintendo reputation for accessibility, and connects with the media options.  They just took making up for lost time and took it farther.

So the Wii U is a giant load of everything – but a precise one at that.  I think it gives Nintendo a good market since it’s got a date, it’s got things people want, and it’s got a decent price range ($299-$350).

And it has the usual Nintendo trademark of Being Talked about.  Because I and others are doing it – they got our attention.  Again.

Sure, this will face competition in time, but for now I think Nintendo caught the news cycle, and they caught it with a nice piece of technology.  So game developers pay attention, and see what they do here because if they’re playing catch-up you might have a chance to be caught up .  . .

– Steven Savage

Steven Savage is a Geek 2.0 writer, speaker, blogger, and job coach.  He blogs on careers at http://www.fantopro.com/, nerd and geek culture at http://www.nerdcaliber.com/, and does a site of creative tools at http://www.seventhsanctum.com/. He can be reached at https://www.stevensavage.com/.

 

 

Theoretical And Real Dimensions In Script

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A book is a TARDIS.

Inside is a world much bigger than it’s outer form.

It can lead to you wondrous adventures and fantastic places.

It can hold infinite surprises.

It has infinite potential.

It can enchant you for a lifetime.

It’s best with a companion or two.

– Steven Savage

Steven Savage is a Geek 2.0 writer, speaker, blogger, and job coach.  He blogs on careers at http://www.fantopro.com/, nerd and geek culture at http://www.nerdcaliber.com/, and does a site of creative tools at http://www.seventhsanctum.com/. He can be reached at https://www.stevensavage.com/.