Monday, February 22, 2010

MeetUp.com

Have you heard about MeetUp?

It is a great online resource to find groups, organizations, happy hours, etc. with people in your industry! MeetUp today!

Disney Internships

Disney Professional Internships: Apply Now!


We wanted to make you aware of some exciting news! The recruiting season has officially begun for Disney Professional Internships and you can start applying for internships in which you are interested today!

Disney Professional Internships are available at the Walt Disney World® Resort, Disneyland® Resort and Walt Disney Imagineering. Each of these unique areas of our global company offers students the ability to apply classroom learnings while networking with Disney professionals, gaining valuable experience from a Fortune™ 100 Company and having fun!
Internships are offered in a wide range of areas, including but not limited to:

Disney's Animal Programs
Art and Graphics
Communication
Education
Engineering
Entertainment
Events
Finance
Horticulture
Human Resources
Information Technology
Labor Operations
Management
Merchandise
Operations/Guest Relations
Sales and Marketing
Sports

Visit disneyinterns.com for more information and to apply!

Disney Professional Recruitingwdw.disney.interns@disney.com



Friday, February 5, 2010

"Me 2.0" by Dan Schwabel



Check out

"ME 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand To Achieve Career Success"


#1 Career Book for 2009 - New York Post

It was an honor to have him speak on a conference call that I was a part of today. Dan Schawbel is profound and inspiring! I highly recommend you go to your nearest bookstore and buy this book.

Some highlights from the book include:
- A proven 4-step process for building a powerful brand (discover, create, communicate, maintain).
- Tips on using social media tools for personal empowerment, confidence building, and professional networking in order to attract jobs directly to you, without applying!
- Tested advice on how to create an online and offline presence for career protection and self-promotion.

Bottom line:
This is the handbook for surviving and thriving
in the digital age !

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Building an Online Portfolio -

Whether you're a new media professional or in the marketing or communications field, it pays to put your work on the Web. Your online portfolio holds the advantage of showcasing your services 24/7, enabling potential clients to find you with just a few clicks. When building a website, keep in mind that anyone can visit it at any time before contacting you. Therefore, a key goal should be to provide enough information about your services to convince prospects to take the next step: making personal contact. Following are six essential elements every site should have to ensure a positive user experience:

1-Home page. Some visitors may not go any further than your home page, so make sure it clearly conveys who you are and the services you offer, and provides complete contact information.

2-Biographical information/credentials. Your visitors will want to know about the person behind your website. A brief professional biography gives clients a snapshot of your qualifications, experience and expertise.

3-Printer-friendly resume. This is especially necessary if you're looking for a full-time job, so make sure it's easily accessible and ready to print. (PDF files work well for this.)

4-Work samples. The primary reason anyone will visit your website is to see your work, so give them enough to look at - but not too much - and organize your pieces strategically. Be sure you have permission to post any work that belongs to clients or employers.

5-Partial client list. Include a list of your past employers and clients (with their permission). Testimonials lend even more credibility.

6-Contact information. Make it as easy as possible for anyone with the slightest interest to reach you. Give them as many options as possible: phone, fax, e-mail, mail - and make the contact information accessible from every page on your site.

Here are some additional tips for creating an effective online portfolio:

* Keep it clean and concise. The best web portfolios are succinct and straightforward. You risk irritating visitors by showing too many samples or requiring excessive scrolling and clicking. Include only your best pieces and make them prominent or easily accessible from the home page.

* Make it "mega-lyte." All your files should be sized appropriately for the Web. The last thing you want to do is cause a prospective client's computer to crash.

* Tell the story. Just as you must clearly label the pieces in your print portfolio, you also should describe the samples you post online. For each item, provide the client name (with their permission), your role in the project, the date, and any software or special skills used.

* Take it a for a test drive. Make sure your e-portfolio can be accessed using a variety of platforms and browsers before directing anyone to your site. Also, check that all URLs you post are still active and displaying your work.

Contributed by The Creative Group

Networking Event -

(click to enlarge)