Comments on: theSpoke or LinkedIn…? http://www.marcomblog.com/2006/02/07/thespoke-or-linkedin/ Marcom - Marketing Communications :: PR/Marcom Pros Mentoring Students Tue, 06 Jan 2009 05:49:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Tiffany http://www.marcomblog.com/2006/02/07/thespoke-or-linkedin/#comment-1690 Tiffany Sat, 04 Mar 2006 19:01:10 +0000 http://www.marcomblog.com/2006/02/07/thespoke-or-linkedin/#comment-1690 Before reading your post I had never heard of either of these sites. I, like most others I'm sure, have heard of the similar job searching site Monster.com. I visited the LinkedIn site and read a little about it, and it seems to be a great resource for finding a job as well as hiring for a position. I actually joined the site so I could get a better feel and understanding for what it was about. I did a search for PR jobs with the keyword 'sports' and found a number of interesting positions that were hiring. I then went to the websites of the companies that were hiring. These are companies I had never heard of, but seem to have some really interesting positions available. I am not sure I will be playing on the LinkedIn site as much as facebook (it doesn't seem to have the same addicting qualities), but I will be spending some time on it. I am glad you posted about this, because from my experiences and from reading the previous comments, most of us were unaware that these sites existed. I think this will prove to be a helpful tool, if you actually use it. The jobs will probably not come to you, but if you search them out, this site can be a very useful tool. Before reading your post I had never heard of either of these sites. I, like most others I’m sure, have heard of the similar job searching site Monster.com. I visited the LinkedIn site and read a little about it, and it seems to be a great resource for finding a job as well as hiring for a position. I actually joined the site so I could get a better feel and understanding for what it was about. I did a search for PR jobs with the keyword ’sports’ and found a number of interesting positions that were hiring. I then went to the websites of the companies that were hiring. These are companies I had never heard of, but seem to have some really interesting positions available. I am not sure I will be playing on the LinkedIn site as much as facebook (it doesn’t seem to have the same addicting qualities), but I will be spending some time on it. I am glad you posted about this, because from my experiences and from reading the previous comments, most of us were unaware that these sites existed. I think this will prove to be a helpful tool, if you actually use it. The jobs will probably not come to you, but if you search them out, this site can be a very useful tool.

]]> By: Heather http://www.marcomblog.com/2006/02/07/thespoke-or-linkedin/#comment-1549 Heather Wed, 15 Feb 2006 03:47:34 +0000 http://www.marcomblog.com/2006/02/07/thespoke-or-linkedin/#comment-1549 Just like everyone else said, I have never heard of these sites until I read this post. So I went to each site and starting looking around. I found the first site theSpoke to be weird and confusing. I understood the purpose of each of the sites, but the first one had a sort of dark side to it. It was not welcoming to explore and find more about. I think the second one, LinkedIn, was more user friendly and easier to navigate around. I think they are both great ideas for networking and establishing connections that could help in your career. Courtney and Sarah brought up good examples of facebook and monsterjobs.com for more great spots to network. I am more accustomed to facebook because I have used it before and use it frequently. It is essentially a great way to network and stay in touch with classmates after you graduate to build and maintain connections. Monsterjobs.com is another great resource to post your resume and build relationships with possible employers. I am planning on using some sort of networking over the internet to maintain my connections that I have already established and there are many different possibilities out there to choose from. Just like everyone else said, I have never heard of these sites until I read this post. So I went to each site and starting looking around. I found the first site theSpoke to be weird and confusing. I understood the purpose of each of the sites, but the first one had a sort of dark side to it. It was not welcoming to explore and find more about. I think the second one, LinkedIn, was more user friendly and easier to navigate around.
I think they are both great ideas for networking and establishing connections that could help in your career. Courtney and Sarah brought up good examples of facebook and monsterjobs.com for more great spots to network. I am more accustomed to facebook because I have used it before and use it frequently. It is essentially a great way to network and stay in touch with classmates after you graduate to build and maintain connections. Monsterjobs.com is another great resource to post your resume and build relationships with possible employers. I am planning on using some sort of networking over the internet to maintain my connections that I have already established and there are many different possibilities out there to choose from.

]]> By: peter http://www.marcomblog.com/2006/02/07/thespoke-or-linkedin/#comment-1548 peter Wed, 15 Feb 2006 03:39:57 +0000 http://www.marcomblog.com/2006/02/07/thespoke-or-linkedin/#comment-1548 I really like the concept of LinkdIn - i'm a registered member, etc, but I wish they'd open the services up for free. It could be an extremely successful, broad-reaching tool, especially with the current explosion of community sites (like myspace). I'm currently looking for a MarCom job in VA (I'm currently in FL). It's proving difficult to connect with people up there. Re-connecting with old friends and college contacts has helped, but I'm hoping tools like these will help take it to the next level. If anyone's looking to hire, let me know! I really like the concept of LinkdIn - i’m a registered member, etc, but I wish they’d open the services up for free. It could be an extremely successful, broad-reaching tool, especially with the current explosion of community sites (like myspace).

I’m currently looking for a MarCom job in VA (I’m currently in FL). It’s proving difficult to connect with people up there. Re-connecting with old friends and college contacts has helped, but I’m hoping tools like these will help take it to the next level.

If anyone’s looking to hire, let me know!

]]> By: Carolyn http://www.marcomblog.com/2006/02/07/thespoke-or-linkedin/#comment-1534 Carolyn Tue, 14 Feb 2006 13:08:02 +0000 http://www.marcomblog.com/2006/02/07/thespoke-or-linkedin/#comment-1534 I personally have never heard of either site. I checked them out and they seem interesting, sounds like something i would want to take part in. I especially like the linkedin site, I actually joined while looking at it! One thing is that when you join and say you are a student, out of a huge list of fields, there is no sort of "public relations" you can check, the closest being marketing/advertising. When you are searching for jobs though, public relations is included. I think blog sites like these are definitely worth my time looking at and posting every once in a while. If even one potential employer called me up from something like this, then it would be worth it. It's crazy to think employers are actually finding qualified people for their open positions from these websites every day. We sure are living the life in means of technology! I personally have never heard of either site. I checked them out and they seem interesting, sounds like something i would want to take part in. I especially like the linkedin site, I actually joined while looking at it! One thing is that when you join and say you are a student, out of a huge list of fields, there is no sort of “public relations” you can check, the closest being marketing/advertising. When you are searching for jobs though, public relations is included.
I think blog sites like these are definitely worth my time looking at and posting every once in a while. If even one potential employer called me up from something like this, then it would be worth it. It’s crazy to think employers are actually finding qualified people for their open positions from these websites every day. We sure are living the life in means of technology!

]]> By: Jonathan http://www.marcomblog.com/2006/02/07/thespoke-or-linkedin/#comment-1529 Jonathan Tue, 14 Feb 2006 04:38:25 +0000 http://www.marcomblog.com/2006/02/07/thespoke-or-linkedin/#comment-1529 I've never heard of either of those sites, but that doesn't mean they aren't good and useful. They may just be the best kept secret in job networking. If I'm the one looking for a job, I don't want every random joe on the same networking site as me looking for contacts. I think the internet is a beautiful tool to make contacts and find job opportunities anywhere in the world. What other generation has had the ability to sit in their underwear and find a job on the other side of the planet? It's unheard of, revolutionary, amazing and mind-boggling. I believe this is just the beginning of the online era. Some say we've been in it for a while, but I firmly believe the technology is just getting started. It's still a baby. Who knows what we'll be doing in five or 10 years. I look forward to what they create next for us to communicate with. I’ve never heard of either of those sites, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t good and useful. They may just be the best kept secret in job networking. If I’m the one looking for a job, I don’t want every random joe on the same networking site as me looking for contacts. I think the internet is a beautiful tool to make contacts and find job opportunities anywhere in the world. What other generation has had the ability to sit in their underwear and find a job on the other side of the planet? It’s unheard of, revolutionary, amazing and mind-boggling. I believe this is just the beginning of the online era. Some say we’ve been in it for a while, but I firmly believe the technology is just getting started. It’s still a baby. Who knows what we’ll be doing in five or 10 years. I look forward to what they create next for us to communicate with.

]]> By: Amy http://www.marcomblog.com/2006/02/07/thespoke-or-linkedin/#comment-1526 Amy Mon, 13 Feb 2006 21:53:07 +0000 http://www.marcomblog.com/2006/02/07/thespoke-or-linkedin/#comment-1526 I, like many of the others that have commented on this blog, had never heard of either of these sites until I visited the links that you had included. I visited thespoke first, and I really don't see how a website such as that would help bloggers create meaningful relationships with potential employers. After reading a few of the entries, it was obvious to me that it was just another typical blogging site that college students usually participate in such as myspace or the somewhat outdated livejournal. Most of the entries that I read just served as an outlet for frustrations with school and relationships or as a way to share with the world their favorite movie or what they planned to do for Valentines. While there is nothing wrong with participating in a blogging site such as this, I don't understand how it would help with a job search. If I were an employer, I would probably view reading these blogs as a waste of time for the purpose at hand. I, like many of the others that have commented on this blog, had never heard of either of these sites until I visited the links that you had included. I visited thespoke first, and I really don’t see how a website such as that would help bloggers create meaningful relationships with potential employers. After reading a few of the entries, it was obvious to me that it was just another typical blogging site that college students usually participate in such as myspace or the somewhat outdated livejournal. Most of the entries that I read just served as an outlet for frustrations with school and relationships or as a way to share with the world their favorite movie or what they planned to do for Valentines. While there is nothing wrong with participating in a blogging site such as this, I don’t understand how it would help with a job search. If I were an employer, I would probably view reading these blogs as a waste of time for the purpose at hand.

]]> By: Christina http://www.marcomblog.com/2006/02/07/thespoke-or-linkedin/#comment-1519 Christina Mon, 13 Feb 2006 18:48:04 +0000 http://www.marcomblog.com/2006/02/07/thespoke-or-linkedin/#comment-1519 While I have read the comments and have absorbed the positives and negatives of such sites as theSpoke and LinkedIn, I have to say that I believe they are beneficial. They give students (and veteran professionals) the opportunity to have another resource to network. I work in the Career Services office on campus and we always stress to students the importance of networking and putting themselves out there for a job. I believe that it is to the student's advantage to use all resources given to them. I also believe that they are not "coping out" by using a resource like the two sites to maybe get them ahead in the job search. Do I believe that the sites will miraculously grant eager students a job right out of college? Unlikely, but it never hurts to give myself options. I personally will not use these services. I will probably do my networking the old fashioned way: face-to-face, e-mails and phone calls. I will use my new tool of blogging to my advantage for networking as well. I think that will be the best way to put myself in the most positive light possible, and when I look for a job that is precisely what I want to do. I have to agree with Crista in her view that with sites like LinkedIn and theSpoke, there is a definite need for in-person interviews as well. I appreciate that there are others out there who are giving students like me a heads up as to services offered to make the job search less stressful. I will continue to keep my eyes peeled and hope that all goes well. While I have read the comments and have absorbed the positives and negatives of such sites as theSpoke and LinkedIn, I have to say that I believe they are beneficial. They give students (and veteran professionals) the opportunity to have another resource to network. I work in the Career Services office on campus and we always stress to students the importance of networking and putting themselves out there for a job.
I believe that it is to the student’s advantage to use all resources given to them. I also believe that they are not “coping out” by using a resource like the two sites to maybe get them ahead in the job search. Do I believe that the sites will miraculously grant eager students a job right out of college? Unlikely, but it never hurts to give myself options.
I personally will not use these services. I will probably do my networking the old fashioned way: face-to-face, e-mails and phone calls. I will use my new tool of blogging to my advantage for networking as well. I think that will be the best way to put myself in the most positive light possible, and when I look for a job that is precisely what I want to do. I have to agree with Crista in her view that with sites like LinkedIn and theSpoke, there is a definite need for in-person interviews as well.
I appreciate that there are others out there who are giving students like me a heads up as to services offered to make the job search less stressful. I will continue to keep my eyes peeled and hope that all goes well.

]]> By: Monica http://www.marcomblog.com/2006/02/07/thespoke-or-linkedin/#comment-1513 Monica Mon, 13 Feb 2006 03:15:07 +0000 http://www.marcomblog.com/2006/02/07/thespoke-or-linkedin/#comment-1513 Like many of the above commenters have said, until your post I was neither familiar with theSpoke nor was I familiar with Linkedln. After looking at both of the sites, Linkedln seems more user friendly to me. I could be very wrong with my first impression, but theSpoke seems more geared towards those interested in the technological work field than any other. However, I think that both of these websites are a great idea for those, like myself, that are graduating soon and looking to start the networking and interviewing process. As my graduation date looms close in the future, the most reoccurring piece of advice I hear, is: network, network, network. Professors, PR professionals, and family friends all say getting a job depends on who you know. However, my only concern is, are the big public relations agencies and corporations (that are looking for PR professionals) visiting these websites on a regular basis? And if so, are they considered to be of credible source to employers? I am new to this concept, and perhaps that is why I feel skeptical about the idea. But like some of the above repliers have said, it appears like pretty much anybody could create a username and profile. Like many of the above commenters have said, until your post I was neither familiar with theSpoke nor was I familiar with Linkedln. After looking at both of the sites, Linkedln seems more user friendly to me. I could be very wrong with my first impression, but theSpoke seems more geared towards those interested in the technological work field than any other. However, I think that both of these websites are a great idea for those, like myself, that are graduating soon and looking to start the networking and interviewing process.

As my graduation date looms close in the future, the most reoccurring piece of advice I hear, is: network, network, network. Professors, PR professionals, and family friends all say getting a job depends on who you know.

However, my only concern is, are the big public relations agencies and corporations (that are looking for PR professionals) visiting these websites on a regular basis? And if so, are they considered to be of credible source to employers? I am new to this concept, and perhaps that is why I feel skeptical about the idea. But like some of the above repliers have said, it appears like pretty much anybody could create a username and profile.

]]> By: Lindsey http://www.marcomblog.com/2006/02/07/thespoke-or-linkedin/#comment-1512 Lindsey Mon, 13 Feb 2006 02:58:23 +0000 http://www.marcomblog.com/2006/02/07/thespoke-or-linkedin/#comment-1512 This is a very interesting tool that I have never heard of. I explored both sites, but was immediately turned off by theSpoke. I found that LinkedIn was more instantly informative and appealing. I did the flash tour that is available and really felt that the information given was good. It is definitely nice to see that there are sites out there that are better than spending hours on the facebook. I mean, lets face it, you are not going to get a job from the facebook, and probably won't from either of these sites. But at least these two sites can possibly put you in touch with people that may be able to help you get a job. These seem like very positive tools that I am considering becoming a part of. Thanks for bringing these sites to my attention. This is a very interesting tool that I have never heard of. I explored both sites, but was immediately turned off by theSpoke. I found that LinkedIn was more instantly informative and appealing. I did the flash tour that is available and really felt that the information given was good.

It is definitely nice to see that there are sites out there that are better than spending hours on the facebook. I mean, lets face it, you are not going to get a job from the facebook, and probably won’t from either of these sites. But at least these two sites can possibly put you in touch with people that may be able to help you get a job. These seem like very positive tools that I am considering becoming a part of.

Thanks for bringing these sites to my attention.

]]> By: Crista http://www.marcomblog.com/2006/02/07/thespoke-or-linkedin/#comment-1511 Crista Mon, 13 Feb 2006 02:46:25 +0000 http://www.marcomblog.com/2006/02/07/thespoke-or-linkedin/#comment-1511 I had never heard of either theSpoke or LinkedIn, but when I went to visit the two theSpoke seems to be more like the currently popular Facebook or MySpace online profile/networking. The only thing is theSpoke was somewhat confusing to me. I was not completely impressed with the layout and the site itself is not appealing. With that said, I'm sure it could be a great networking opportunity dispite my opinion. That seems to be what these sites are being used for lately. A way for graduates to make connections, find jobs, reconnect with people, but how can anyone really know who a person is just by seeing a few pictures or reading someone's profile. I've always thought of these online profiles as being funny and I'm sure people say amusing things that make sense only to them and their friends. It is scary to think future employers are looking at these profiles and judging who they feel will be the greatest asset to their company. I think if their are company's reviewing these online profiles they should take them with the grain of salt and still meet the person behind the website. I had never heard of either theSpoke or LinkedIn, but when I went to visit the two theSpoke seems to be more like the currently popular Facebook or MySpace online profile/networking. The only thing is theSpoke was somewhat confusing to me. I was not completely impressed with the layout and the site itself is not appealing. With that said, I’m sure it could be a great networking opportunity dispite my opinion. That seems to be what these sites are being used for lately. A way for graduates to make connections, find jobs, reconnect with people, but how can anyone really know who a person is just by seeing a few pictures or reading someone’s profile. I’ve always thought of these online profiles as being funny and I’m sure people say amusing things that make sense only to them and their friends. It is scary to think future employers are looking at these profiles and judging who they feel will be the greatest asset to their company. I think if their are company’s reviewing these online profiles they should take them with the grain of salt and still meet the person behind the website.

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