blUGCs

derek powazek lambasting the term 'user-generated content' reminds me of my complaints about the term blogs. obviously his is much more clever and he actually suggests an alternative.

however, calling things authentic is too much of an endorsement for my liking. i happen to like the term user-generated content. that's exactly what it is. because of all the linking and tagging, one has to question how much is so 'authentic'. 'user-generated' lets you know someone is behind the work and that it truly is generated--that is, it may not be totally original or authentic, but someone has put their own spin on it and put it out there for the world to see.

honestly i think user-generated is a friendly term for some of this. generated implies that something has been created. what does a blog imply? someone was finally motivated enough to put their moans and groans in writing?

people love to name and re-name and nickname the most obscure things, so, with a movement as large as the now infamous UGC, i'm sure some alternatives will start to pop up. so until then, hang in there derek.

social (cause) networking

after reading the article on teens who raised money through other social networking sites, i was inspired to write about it. i almost couldn't believe it when i logged in and saw this.

if we use the web to do everything else, why not use it for some good?

while we sit and nod our heads, nick anderson and ana slavin did something about it. they did a lot about it.

i can remember the fundraisers and charity causes at high school and maybe sometimes we combined with other local schools. but to coordinate such a large-scale effort as they did is amazing. also, considering it is supporting a cause most high school students probably knew little to nothing about. they were successful because they connected to their audience through accepted mediums, and also mobilized them. or, basically every marketers dream. i doubt either of them will have trouble rounding out their college applications in the next year or two.

with any technology there's benefits and drawbacks. you love to see this, but i can only shake my head in disbelief of the stupidity of those who use the technology for things such as flash mobs.

in any case, i admire those who use the web to amass fortunes, look down upon those who use it for stupidity, and respect those who can simply create solely for the benefit of others.

picking a winner

in the day and age of entrepreneurship and development, new jobs are created all the time. these jobs are not the kind you talked about with guidance counselors back in high school or the kind that show up in generic job-type surveys. so how can you know if you're a potential fit, and if so, how can a company find you?

the answer is social networking and its convergence with recruiting.

it's one thing to solicit resumes from those actively seeking jobs, but often times it is the people who are in another job currently that are most desirable. this is the attraction to these sites. recruiters get a look at a variety of people and those same people are at a no-loss position by merely putting their resume on display...if they hear something fine, if not they'll stay where they are. it's a good situation for both parties.

i like that the article mentions using discretion when looking for prospects and realizing a subtle tie may not be the most viable option. it's important to realize the potential of these types of sites but also to recognize their limitations.

as this sector further develops, recuriters will become more savvy in employing these techniques and job seekers will also refine their methods of use to maximize exposure and attractiveness. these can certainly be a valuable tool for students at a school like AU where there are not a ton of recruiters coming to campus. certain fields also lend themselves to this more than others. for example, extremely technical fields where concrete, black and white skills are the primary requirement are the best fit. a recruiter can see what a person knows (or says they know) and more or less make a decision. something in a more personal field will require more face-to-face analysis.

all in all, these can be a great tool for people looking to make a career move and those looking to employ them. i'd still take a generous, well-positioned alumni base with hiring power over all the expertise in the world on these sites though.