Recently by Jennifer van Amerom

Last week I was very privileged to attend a one day workshop on social media. Here's my plug for Michael Seaton: the dude is awesome. I've heard lots of speakers and their take on what social media is and how to use it but no one simplifies it like Seaton. If you get a chance to get a brain dump from this guy, take it. Oh yay, Michael didn't pay me to say that. I really think he's awesome but as a side note, I did learn that bloggers should always announce when they get paid to plug someone, a product or a service.

So, what else did I learn?

The CMA social media course covers the following things:

• an overview of how our culture has shifted with the use of the internet, specifically with the use of social media tactics
• what social media really is with a look at existing trends
• some specific tools and real examples, and
• some real business applications including how social media can illustrate ROI

My parents are digital immigrants but even they are being influenced by social media. I've had to decline a few friend requests on Facebook from my Mom. And let it be known that awareness doesn't always mean credibility. Social media has really changed the power shift where consumers can spread either a positive or negative message about a brand faster than you can blink 10 times. (My Mom decided against one chinese take out joint over another because of something she read on a blog.) The big thing is that "everybody's doing it" but we shouldn't. Be wise about how you use social media but most importantly, make sure you have a good answer to why.

If you're looking for more on social media, you should call me or you can read Socialnomics by Erik Qualman. And oh yay, Erik didn't pay me to say that. I paid for the book and waited a week for it to ship to my house.

Even on an early August day that is dark and dreary, the Toronto weather still hasn't dampened my spirits for the job landscape.

I know it's hard to believe, but some organizations actually saw success through this economy because consumers shift their spending to small items (think books and coffee) boosting some profit growth in the double digits. In true Canadian fashion, these organizations were polite about their success. If we were to personify these companies, they'd actually say sorry. Thankfully the Bank of Canada released their Monetary Policy Report - identifying that the recession, at least here in Canada, is over. Although this won't happen overnight, I was pleased to see the confidence return as employers, who could hire now, put an action plan together and those employers who wanted to, had already decided what they needed. Further to that, PM Harper declared today that the worse of the recession was officially over. Don't expect spending to happen overnight but let's all do our part and be positive that change is on it's way (I'm taking it upon myself to try and boost the economy with our house reno spending).

The search space has seen significant growth as of recent. From the SEMPO State of Search Engine Marketing 2008, the recession has had both good and bad impacts to the space, including good: that search marketers had to start demonstrating accountability/results and bad: that there seemed to be a drop in inventory in certain categories as spending scaled back. Even Foresters identified that online marketing opportunities would double over the next 5 years.

So what?

Well, candidates should get prepared...NOW. While job seekers continued to pass out resumes and apply to every posting, don't forget that many others spent time upgrading their skill set with various programs, certificate courses and interning, thus doubling the competition you'll likely have when things turn around. If you haven't done so already, go outside. Networking can be fun despite popular belief that meeting a room of strangers is intimidating and awkward. Be PATIENT. That's most important. I swear employers can smell desperation like it's a pair of really dirty socks. And be honest. Employers know that not just the team slackers were cut through this economy. Besides, no one likes a liar.