Kerisma

So as you are playing with Facebook, or other websites online and you come across things such as RunKeeper.com and say to yourself, “That’s cool – why didn’t I think of that!” I took that opportunity and meet with Jason Jacobs, who created this service among other webpreneurs that are diving into the digital world hoping to Google their way to the top and gain popularity with others. You’d be surprised how many people got their start in this space right in my own backyard of Boston. Whether I consult people, start a site of my own and become a Webpreneur, I enjoy helping to shape that goal for myself and others. Boston’s Mayor Menino and other professionals are taking strides through the launch of the BostonWorldPartnerships.com with an interest to help others promote entrepreneurship building a bridge for the future of business in this area.

Last night, Doug Levin, an entrepreneur and advisor coordinated a speaking engagement to discuss The State Of the Consumer Internet. Welcomed at the event was a select group of individuals that listen attentively to a group of webpreneurs on a panel which included Dave Balter – CEO of word-of-mouth agency BzzAgent, Jeff Bussgang – General Partner of Flybridge Capital, Jeff Taylor – CEO of Eons.com, Tributes.com and founder of Monster.com, Scott Savitz – CEO of Shoebuy.com and newcomer CEO Brad Rosen, of Drync.com which provides a new iPhone application for wine connoisseurs. Among the crowd was Mr. Dan Bricklin, someone we all need to pay homage to for inventing the first spreadsheet.

We’re Making History Baby!
The event was held at The Vilna Shul, a historic Boston synagogue located in Beacon Hill. The environment provided a backdrop with an interesting blend of two worlds mixing the old with the new. As we sat in the temple, one could appreciate the restoration process that was being used to discover the true beauty in the art found behind the walls, while the audience was able to network and learn about the beauty from within each individual. The audience listened with admiration to the executives recounting  their experiences, while some individuals were hoping to make history one day themselves.

Dan recorded the event (MP3 Audio File), so I would like to share it with all of you. Some of the people you hear in the crowd could be the new webpreneurs of tomorrow experimenting in this space, seeking answers from those that have had great success. Who knows, you may learn something of your own, or say, “I use that application on my iPhone, Facebook page, or that’s really neat.” You may want to be apart of that new business development happening, or one day look back on some of the ideas discussed today and say, “I knew them before they were stars,” in the digital space.

Okay, so you’ve been terminated from your employer due to lay-offs and NOW WHAT? For more and more professionals it’s becoming a reality one has to face each day. Don’t despair; people may want to help you just when you think the world maybe turning its back on you. First thing to do after it all sinks in, get out there and NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK.  Do whatever it takes to STAND OUT IN THE CROWD and make yourself known, and take the time to contemplate more about your personal goals, interests, dislikes and what may make you happy.

I am one of the many that has been laid-off in the last few weeks and I feel that keeping my options open to a few different career paths is important. I have been fortunate to be given opportunities in previous roles that I had no prior knowledge about that particular industry. Whether it was learning about the teen market, the B2B space, or how to send the best email campaigns to avoid Spam and much more. An individual was willing to give me a break, the chance to prove myself with my transferable skills and thankfully I had achieved success and recognition. In the past, I’ve noticed that anything I’ve applied myself to having little or no knowledge, I make it a concerted effort to surround myself around a particular topic, understand the industry and become known as an expert for others to turn to for guidance. It shows that my hard efforts, focus, research skills and drive can be applied to achieve a particular goal.

After being laid off, this is the perfect time to evaluate who you really are and where your future career may bring much joy. Ask your friends; ask your colleagues for a recommendation, you may realize that certain individuals have noticed your hidden talents that you may have never thought to promote.

Job Search & Professional Trade Journals
There are many good tools online that can start to spread the news about you. Yes, one can turn to Monster.com, Careerbuilder.com, Hotjobs.com and so on. Yet, turn to others sites, such as Indeed.com, a search engine for job seekers of all types. This site allows you to put in your preferred job role and it will crawl the web for all sorts of postings relevant to your interests. Try also finding an association or trade magazine that is specific to your industry to learn of opportunities available. For example, GPS WORLD specializes in helping professionals in an industry focused on navigation. They have recently launched the GPS Career Locator which provides niche specific industry job postings.

Blogging
Here is your chance to write your own blog and provide your accomplishments to others directly online. Look to see what the buzz is about in your industry, write your thoughts and respond to other blogs contributing your ideas. Believe me, someone should notice your responses and here is your opportunity to reach out to others.

Business Cards & Other Online Resources

Don’t forget to create business cards and make sure your resume has links directly to your blog, LinkedINprofile, Facebook page, or any other resource that can get your name out there to STAND OUT IN THE CROWD, as well as highlight examples of your work. You can also add any important links featuring your work and personal messages about your search on many social media community sites. For example, rather than just writing on Facebook, “what are you doing now?,” use that opportunity as a billboard to promote your search!

Check out mine:Keri’s Facebook page, Keri’s LinkedIN profile

If you like to explore another new phenomenon, start using Twitter.com to reach out and follow others, while also respond to their daily postings, or share your work on SlideShare.com to offer examples of your presentations from the past.

Cover Letters, Resumes and Get Out There!

Don’t forget the traditional ways of perfecting your resume, cover letter, making phone calls, as well as making a point to go to networking events in person are key to building relations and making yourself marketable. Check out Meetup.com, or try MarksGuide.com, as great alternatives to finding out where and what’s going on in your neighborhood to connect with individuals that share similar interests and backgrounds. You could not only meet new people, but also explore new things that actually could add a new dimension to your world.

Your Next Job: Looking for Work

Looking for work is a full-time job, especially in a competitive marketplace. It does add a lot of responsibility to make an effort to update your online profiles, seek out others via email, phone, or social communities, and look for  the many new ways to get noticed. I have a lot to accomplish and hope my efforts pay off to get recognized once again by my next employer.