Into a new act

Before it gets too late, this blogging once again had to be commenced.

So here we go.
It will be a space where I share the progression and expression of something.. Hopefully this leads me to learn more.

I have not decided where to begin and what to write about:
interesting articles with comments, skills, ideas on what...?

Sports, Soccer, Macroeconomics, Coffee, Restaurants.. lol
or just random things?

One thing for sure, no procrastination when I know what to write!

And, not End

Time really flies fast. What a cliche for the last blog.
I heard that time goes faster by geometric progression of you age. That is so true, I do not remember how I spent my time during this semester.  It was hot. Now it is freezing.

This semester was my 3rd semester in both in American and America :)  This class may be one of the easy, fun classes for you, native American.  For me, this was one of the hardest classes.  I wanted to say something, but the words coming out of my damn mouth were not what I exactly meant.  The phrase created by my fingertips went wrong way.  I know that you had hard time understanding me.  Same here, my words confused me, too.  I have become smaller and smaller.

My goal for this semester was to become an American student in the class, not an international student.  I do not appreciate special care for international students.  I just wanted to be same as others because I am here to learn more.  If I get special excuse, that would not help me grow and learn more.  Anyhow, I failed becoming an American student.  It was not because of classmates or professor.  It was rather me.  I was not confident and not fully involved in every class.  I was an outsider, who I abhorred.  

However, this was a very fun, interesting class.  Every single classmate was warm and nice to one another(thank you, guys!), took care of each other, and were enthusiastic.  Every class was full of  laugh and smile.  How delight!  Although I was not sure about myself being a good student, the atmosphere of the class relaxed me and entertained me.  I was just happy that I was there with other smart student.

I experienced American culture of participation, expression, and discussion.  American know how to say what they think and what they want to convey.  To be honest, there are some people who just talked without thinking(who are annoying), but the majority of time was productive. The fact that there are incredibly a lot of communication between professor-student and student-student amazed me.  

I saw the real social networking in the class, although we mainly focused on online social networking.

Although the semester ends and there will be no more class with the exact same people.  But, that is not "end," it is rather "and" because we are going to see each other on campus and say hello or see in other classes.

+) It is quite frustrating that I thought like that about myself.  But I am not depressed.  Instead, I am glad that I found myself in different circumstance.  Yes, it is not the end of myself.  There will be "AND."

Sharing valuable info to expand social networking!

When I was in Korea, the most expensive building called Tower Palace had been constructed by Samsung near home.  It is the hybrid, luxurious residence of apartment and hotel.  Since TP is one of the most expensive residence in Korea, it has drown attention from media and other people.  I lived closed to TP and  I have some friends living there.  One of them has told me the  interesting social networking stuff within the residents.  I don't know where it is or how do they access, but they do have their own social networking site for TP residents. 

When I read  the article from fatdoor, I came up with the idea of "neighborhood social networking."  Also, within that social networking, moms having high school students share information about extra curricular activities, especially hakwon where students study after regular school.  That is, the neighborhood social networking functions as a kind-of-education social networking.

 I thought it was surprising and  I wish my neighbor could have that kind of social networking sites.  I would use it alot and it would be useful in terms of new updates in neighborhood such as the new restaurant or the accidents updates.

And the service like Razoo.com, which looks like the expanded version of Facebook group, is providing would flourish social networking well because the more clear, better information can be shared within the interest group who joined a certain group in Razoo.com and share/compare other information to similar groups in Razoo.  

Well, if the service offered by Razoo is implemented to the normal social networking site, that would be better though...

 

To see is to believe

I have been having fun uploading fun videos from youtube.com. Adding video clip in contents helps a lot understanding the concepts and make it simple as well when there is a perfect video. To see is to believe. Sometimes one video is much better than long long mundane texts/words. And many times the videos from youtube Moreover, it takes less time, but much more effective. The most popular UGC site youtube shows that well. It is much simpler and more effective. Just Easy.

I could understand that a author of Death to User Generated Contents say that the term UGC is not new and horrible. That author says "So what's user-generated content? Junkies robotically filling boxes with packing peanuts. Lovely." 

But I disagree with the author because most of the creator of the video are not junkie. For example, I have a friend who can edit video and I saw her making friend's birthday celebration video as a present.  That video is very unique present and very special. She is not a junkie. Not even her, I know many people who likes youtube and upload fun videos. They are just normal college kids.  

Also, I found video resumes on youtube.  (Here is the one I found interesting because he tried to show his every abilities with the news format) It entertains the audiences and even proves that what a candidate can do.  So, UGC is not just a jucki's robotically filling boxes with packing peanuts.  It means something and it has intentions.

For example, the article Photos: YouTubers spoof and mock tech brands shows clearly that what the creators try to demonstrate in the video. I really enjoyed every video clips and I already saw the many different youtube version of Mac vs. PC.  And the video I found while searching them again, I found the one I liked most. "Computer Sucks" featured with South Park. This video kicks both Mac and PC's ass. I really liked because this is soooo true.

See? UGC is so great to convey the idea simply and instantly.

Online campaign works well?

I guess I talked about Korean presidential candidates' blog in cyworld. And the presidential elections is only almost 40 days away from now(I can vote right after when I get Seoul, Korea). I am so excited that I can vote for something, which means that I am an adult living in democratic world? haha and I had never voted for anybody so far although I could have voted since 2004. So this is the good time to recap what the presidential candidates did for the country, organizations they joined, parties they are with/in.

I haven't got to the point that I can compare each American politicians online. Well, especially AU where the school is popular/notorious?/famous/ for its high political interests among students I could overheard that what American politicians are doing, however, differently, I had no chance to hear about their online community or blog. So I just looked them up this time through How the Facebook change the Politics? by Pickled Politics.  Those all were interesting because I could find the similarities of the candidates' blogs that the candidates put their opinions much freely and frequently/anytime they want.  The public has an access to it and can get to know the politicians in terms of personality, political opinions, and the party's directions in campaigns. Because social networking site is EASY to everybody, it has been worked well. And the rate of using online social networking will be increasing. No doubt.

However, still there is one big problem.  

As online Activism: the Media Stereotypes and the Rise of Smart mobs by Robin Good indicated, the online campaign has been work well and strong enough to persuade?/influence people.  Yes it is good.  But, who are using Internet all the time and who are trying to find the interesting stuffs more and more frequently?  It is the young people. 

Since the young people don't usually judge the situation well in terms of politics (no offense here), their mis-judgement did hurt the whole organization.  For example, the current Korean president Roh, Mu Hyun got attention and credits from the college students, who just got their rights to vote.  At that time, the conservative old people didn't in favor of Roh because of his promises, campaign platform, background and so forth.  Well, I don't know exact reasons, but he wasn't leading candidate and nobody expected him to win the election.  The big reason that he got is online community among young people.  Apparently, the current Korean president's reputation has been fell on the ground long time ago, which means that the majority of Korean people doesn't like him. The rate of the favor of him is actually lower than that of the actual vote during the elections.  The further information/expression would be very biased. haha. anyhow, he didn't do well during his term like hurting diplomatic relationships.  So, this is kinda a hope  that the other one could do better than him. Also, if the young people weren't influenced well the other can be elected...

ok anyway, online campaign seems very strong. :)

p.s I am adding the funny video of Korean president Roh I found on youtube.

Network, or not work?

Network, or Not work?? well,,, it is true... but..

This is what my professor from Advanced Career Development  said last time when we talked about networking and referral.  Yea, who you know would be very crucial to find a job or start a career like 6 degrees of recruitment by Nikhil Menon from The Economic Times india and  Using Social Networking to Fill the Talent Acquisition Pipeline by Fay Hansen from Work Force Management said.  Both agree that networking works well in recruiting in terms of quality and price.  Because it is more accountable and cheaper actually (is what they say).  It is a good news for job seeking seniors that there is a better way with high probability.  However, this benefit applies when one has a good network.   What if one doesn't have any network like me and one seek for job? Then, I'd better be a better, outstanding candidate with unique resume attracting hiring manager's attention.  It doesn't mean that one without network cannot find a job or career opportunity.  It is just hard for one.  Otherwise, it is just a little(maybe big) advantage for another with good connection.  

However, getting an offer or referral doesn't confirm you a job because 1) you have to be at least more than average to be referred.  Otherwise, a referrer wouldn't recommend you to a certain person because a bad candidate can ruin all the relationship and reputation of the referrer.  2) And also one or more referral doesn't secure a position.  After your resume is passed to hiring manger with your referrer's name, you still have to have sufficient qualities as the job  or position requires.  A company or a person from that company wouldn't hire you if you are not good enough to fill out the position.  So, network doesn't do everything for you.  3) Moreover, you had to do your homework by yourself as well such as making a good resume and cover letter as researching the company and the position you are applying.   If you are not ready to be referred, the whole network is meaningless. 

And both article pointed that online networking site and referrals are very useful in filling the senior level position.  So, for now for us as a entry level position seeker, it would be better to focus more on basic requirement we have to do.  I am not saying network is useless.  Network is good and useful when you are fully ready.

p.s.  Since network is still important later, it is good to learn how to network from "how not to network" video.  There are 5 more "how not to network" series at YouTube.  

A nerve, there we go, you got a network.

It is very controversial that online professional networking site are worthy.   Two articles supports totally different sides about job seeking in online professional networking site like LinkedIn: "Search for a name and these profiles generally show up in a search engine's top 10. This is a low-stress way to control your image and, incidentally, make yourself a passive job seeker (It's not just who you know by David Lidsky) and "applying networking skills is truly the way to an active, productive job search" (Networking for students by Priscilla March). But both still admit that it is a convenient, useful tool when you use it properly. 

Yea, that's the problem.  To what extent it could you PROPER?  Who knows? everybody is different... thinks differently.

Well, in my opinion, if you want to expand/discover your network through online professional social networking site, you would have to be a nerve unless you know somebody veryveryveryvery well.  

Ok. For example, can you add your professors of currently taking courses at LinkedIn or Ziggs? Ummm, this might be a hardcore.  The reason I found out LinkedIn was that I googled my one of my previous professors a while ago.  And I figured out that whenever I googled a name, Linkedin was one of almost top 5 results.  I joined LinkedIn made account.  But I couldn't ask them to accept my request, no I never requested it.  Although the person I wanted to add and I  knew each other and I was a good student(really? haha) it is never easy to ask. Another instance,  I interned at AU athletics last summer and I found my boss(director of marketing, promotion, and sales) at LinkedIn.  I could haven't send him a request for a long time after I knew that he had used it (to be really honest, everybody like me!! and I worked hard!!! no kidding!! I worked overtime.... without getting paid!!!).  I was a bit scared what if they think that I am using them for getting a job or something like this.  It could be a guilty conscience, but if it really happens I would destroy the good relationships.  And what if I asked them in person(not online) and they rejected it... It could hurt the relationships.

You can add your close co-workers there, but what about other people working at the same place, not from the same team but just same company or neighbor teams, can they be a network? So hard to define "network" itself.  

I am still confused and don't know how to use.  Ah, yea I am not still out there in the  competitive job market.  But still, it seems to be hard after I graduate the college.  I hope there is a specific situational tutorial in using those sites.  To be honest, the stuffs in Networking for Students aren't new.