Thoughts on Chris Brogan Closing His Linked In Account

As most of you branding and social media mavens know, Chris Brogan closed down his LinkedIn account this month.

I want to say a few words about it.

I agree that it's very hard to get above the noise. I get irritated when I see people posting the same thing to 10 different groups, especially when it's something that's not even relevant to the purpose of the group.  And I find that the people who engage are mostly people who want a job, more so than movers and shakers with a real desire to share.

BUT... If you're looking for a job this is where you have to be.  And if you passively want to hear about the most perfect job when it opens up, you have to be connected on LinkedIn.  Simple as that.  It's the number one place where every recruiter and talent acquisition manager conducts their research.

Also, if you are up for some new business and a potential client wants to know about you, they will look on LinkedIn.  If you're not Chris Brogan, and and people want to find out about you, that's where they will go to see how well you shine.

So I'm staying on LinkedIn, and I suggest you remain on it too.

Baby Boomers Want to Work

The US was built upon the realization of the dreams of immigrants. This is our heritage and our future. I agree that we need to keep the well educated and entrepreneurial immigrants here and that this will protect our economy and may also help with the down-trending of our education statistics.

But there was a statement in the recent report (Coming to America, Why the US is Falling Behind in the Global Race for Talent) by the Partnership for a New American Economy that piqued my interest. The report states:
" The US population is aging, baby boomers are retiring en masse, and the growth in the US labor force has slowed to historic lows of less than 1 percent."

As a recruiter, I see hundreds of baby boomers that want to work and can't get a job.  They have been looking for months and months.  In the PR field where I recruit,  I see that most job descriptions - even for Directors and VPs call for ten to fifteen years experience tops.  Job descriptions show the number of years required remarkably low - Managers:  3 to 5 years and Directors 6 to 8 years.  Meanwhile, talented professionals in the 15 to 25 year (or more) bracket are getting whatever freelance work they can, going into other fields or being forced into early retirement.  I believe that working keeps you healthy and alive so this is not good news.

So I don't believe this rationale of baby boomers retiring 'en masse' is an accurate picture of the professional baby boomer scene.  In fact, Transamerica's Annual Retirement Survey reported: "More than half (56 percent) plan to work past age 65 or do not plan to retire." Some of this may be because of the many people forced out of their good jobs in 2008-2009 -- without sufficient retirement reserves and some could be because baby boomers are living longer, healthier lives.  Whatever the reason, the baby boomers want jobs and they want to work.

And although I agree that changing the immigration laws will help our future, I'd like to see some changes occur now, for the boomers who want jobs.

Healthcare PR - Top Boutique Firm in NYC

Join a company that has a history of developing strategies that produce measurable results.  Clients really see the impact that the firm has on their business.

Steady growth of the healthcare practice has given riser to two new opportunities:  Sr AE and AS/AVP.  The division specializes in medical technology, biotech/specialty pharmaceuticals and healthcare services IT.

We are looking for creative and strategic professionals who love to delight their clients with results. Work with some of the best in the business to develop and implement programs to raise visibility in key markts, educate patients and create meaningful partnerships.

The right candidate will have experience working within an agency setting on clinical trials, advocacy relations, digital marketing, medical meetings, marketing of healthcare services and products and traditional media.relations

Account Supervisor or AVP - Financial Services: Phila

Top rated PR marketing/PR agency in the Philadelphia area that is known for it’s creative and strategic approach to marketing, PR, and crisis communications looking for a sharp Account Supervisor/AVP with 6 to 10 years of demonstrated b2b PR experience with a focus on financial services.  Experience with financial services is a must.

Looking for savvy. high-energy news hounds, who are on top of today’s business issues, ideas and trends.  Must have superior business writing skills and strong structured verbal skills.  Must possess a natural ability to uncover or create news hooks that carry key marketing messages – and pitch and place stories with print and broadcast media. 

This role includes working in all areas of marketing and PR so we’re looking for someone with strong basic business fundamentals.  You’ll be writing releases, plans, blogs, op eds, video and news release scripts, web and brochure content.

This agency has several specialty areas and this person will be running the accounts in the financial services unit, reporting directly to one of the partners in the business.

It’s a fun environment, with a great work/life balance. 

This is one of the fastest growing PR firms.  The firm’s modern and collaborative office is located in downtown Philadelphia.  Clients are leaders and innovators in the b2b, public policy, technology, financial and professional services sectors.

Competitive salary and excellent benefits, with outstanding opportunity for advancement.

I have always wanted to see one of these!!

The Ladders did a study using eye tracking technology to monitor where recruiters focus in the six seconds that it takes them to decide if the resume is a match or not.

It shows where the recruiters' eyes focused to digest the information they needed.  Notice how no one spent any time looking at the bottom of the resume on the left.  That's because it's got too many words crammed together.  People like space.

Like I always say:  simplify it, shorten it, give it space.

How'd it Go?

Experience has taught me: 

"It went well" means it went great.

"I think it went well" means it went well.

"I couldn't tell how it went" means it was not so good.

Senior VP - West Coast Consumer PR Agency

Exciting, top ten independent PR agency is looking for a creative and talented VP or Sr VP to head up a major consumer account. It's a growing consumer practice with some giant name brands.  

This person will serve as a strategic advisor to internal teams and clients for development/execution of consumer campaigns.  He/She will maintain an in depth knowledge of the clients' business and culture, competition and latest business and marketing trends.


We are looking for someone with proven experience in bringing to market a top consumer brand, who is creative and innovative and understands how to create successful campaigns that move the needle by creating new trends and establishing consumer desire.


The right candidate will have strong business and marketing know how and is connected to strong influentials in the consumer world.  Exceptional problem solving and strategic thinking skills.  Capable, confident and persuasive presenter with some new business experience as well. 


Strong team leadership is important since this person will manage a team of approximately 15 people.

Senior Vice President - Public Affairs (Top PR Firm - West Coast)

One of the most innovative and well run PR agencies in the country is looking for a smart and experienced leader to head up the public affairs group.  This person will work on primary accounts of the agency, which have been with the firm for over 15 years.  It's a stable and successful team of 15 to 20 staff at all levels and this is a new role.  This Senior Vice President will work with internal teams on the development and execution of integrated communications strategies targeted to consumers, policy makers and business decision makers.  To accomplish great things, the Sr VP will maintain an in-depth knowledge of the clients' business and culture, policy positions,  competition and latest industry trends. This key role also involves participating in talent management and retention, leadership groups and integrated communications counsel to different teams across the entire agency.  He/she may also assist with relevant new business opportunities.  We are looking for someone with a minimum of ten years of issues communication experience, including work on political or issue advocacy campaigns, experience with corporate communications or public affairs in-house or at another agency.  Possibly someone within a federal government agency who works regularly with Fortune 50 companies.  We need to see a proven record of developing and executing communications campaigns designed to influence government policies and regulations or encourage action by the public and also this person will have experience designing effective social media strategies.  The right person has also worked on cause marketing and new business development and has a record of achieving high client satisfaction.  This person should know their way around DC and also have a broad global perspective with experience on large international companies. Senior staff at this firm are strong team leaders with excellent management experience including financial management and strong analytic skills.  So the right candidate will have experience working with large teams and large budgets. This person should be a capable and confident presenter with demonstrated expertise using influence, interpersonal and communication skills and is a strong counselor to senior executives.

If Unemployment Is So High, Why Is Hiring So Hard? - Robert Moritz - Harvard Business Review

If Unemployment Is So High, Why Is Hiring So Hard? - Robert Moritz - Harvard Business Review

‘Til death do us part: PR Pros and their Phones

“Frankly, I can’t imagine a world without a smart phone,” wrote Matthew Kirdahy, account director at Bliss PR, in response to an e-mail from us asking for his thoughts on mobile devices.

The pervasive presence of mobile technology has changed the way we live, no doubt. It might be a certain addiction to games or text messaging that makes us wonder if certain people’s phones are physically attached to their bodies, but in the world of PR, there is a livelihood tied to mobile e-mail, texts and social media.

We at Charet & Associates wanted to know how mobile devices impact both the personal and professional lives of those in PR, so we e-mailed a few practitioners in the industry to find out.

Where do pros draw the line? Is there a line at all?

“The reality is that the news cycle is 24/7 so all communications professionals need to keep that in mind and be as flexible as they possibly can,” wrote Dean Mastrojohn, communications director for Reckitt Benckiser. “Social media has added an additional wrinkle as a crisis could erupt at any hour of the day or night and a communications pro needs to be prepared to deal with it.”

But Mastrojohn also adds that there does need to be a line between work and personal life because “it’s very easy to become completely consumed by the day-to-day.”

Flexibility is the watchword when it comes to taking calls and responding to e-mails. Some rely on a constant flow of e-mails and limit phone calls to keep the channels open.

The use of Caller ID is also taken to another level in the PR world. Everyone chooses to take important calls and ignore others depending on the circumstances, but some PR pros will go the extra mile and leave the shower to take an important call from a journalist. Others will pay that extra subway fare or pull off the freeway to get good reception and be able to focus on a key conversation.

So is it worth it after all? Or have mobile phones become too invasive?

Matthew Kirdahy makes a good argument when he points out the benefits of being able to address important tasks, right then and there.

“It’s an awful feeling returning to work after days of being out of touch to find even one important missed e-mail,” Kirdahy wrote. “In this day and age, that problem should be nearly resolved by the time you get back to your desk.”

Most PR Pros would agree that while mobile devices have changed the way we work, there is little nostalgia for the days of pay phones, beepers and letters, and there are more positives than negatives to being reachable outside the office.

“PR is all about accessing information, and now, that information is at my fingertips when I need it,” wrote Karen Sperling, chief conversation officer at Sperlingreene PR and Marketing Communications. “I use my phone as a communications tool, but also as a reference tool, a portfolio of my work and a vital lifeline.”