Week 5 EOC: Job Recruiters Turn to Facebook to Find Candidates

As an industry professional I work as an engineer’s assistant/ master control, therefore part of my job consists on being up to date with the news in the world, and as a consequence of watching a constant news feed, I watched an news package about the way that people acquire jobs nowadays. I wasn’t surprised when they stated the importance of having a web resume, as well as a web portfolio (when it applies); however they could not stress more the importance of online networking.

When I hear that word the first thing that comes to mind is LinkedIn, however a recent article called Recruiters Troll Facebook for Candidates They Like by Joe Light, states that “More companies are trying to tap Facebook Inc.'s 750-million-plus user base to find new employees, threatening traditional job boards and competing with LinkedIn Corp.” And I being a user of both I could not comprehend why this phenomenon is happening; up to this point I understood that everybody else (just like me) would like to keep their personal and professional network separate. Confirming the previous statement is Jeff Weiner: “When asked for comment, LinkedIn referred to its chief executive's remarks from last week's conference call to discuss earnings. During the call, CEO Jeff Weiner said users tell the company they want to keep their personal and professional networks separate”.

 

“A consumer’s behavior also is influenced by social factors, such as the consumer’s small groups, family, and social roles and status”. I believe that the answer lies in todays’ social factors as important or as insignificant as social networks. “Where people socialize or exchange information and opinions”, has never been so critical or had such importance for marketers as in recent times, and job recruiters know that. Nowadays “Consumers hear about products and brand experiences from others just like themselves—people they trust—rather than from commercial marketing sources”.

Week 4 EOC: Business to Consumer vs Business to Business Marketing

In explaining the difference between business to customer and business to business marketing one must first understand the meaning of both. One supplies for the needs of the many establishing a fad and selling to a large number of small sellers; while the other one confirms the capability of management in a larger scheme and selling to fewer large buyers. Business marketing or business-to-consumer (B2C) marketing sales are made to individuals who are the final decision makers, though they may be influenced by family members or friends. A consumer marketing or business-to-business (B2B) marketing sale is made to a business or firm. “B2B markets to individuals acting on behalf of organizations, while consumer marketing targets single individuals who pay for their own transactions”.    <http://digitalbookshelf.artinstitutes.edu/books/9780558851903/id/pg159>

Business to business marketing is relationship driven, with a small focused target market, and a multi-step buying process, with longer sales cycles. Also promotional channels such as events provide ways for B2B sellers to move prospects along the buying process. On the other hand business to consumer marketing is product driven, with a large focused target market, and with a single step buying process, and shorter sales cycle. “B2B markets to individuals acting on behalf of organizations, while consumer marketing targets single individuals who pay for their own transactions”. <http://www.slideshare.net/wynnaaron/business-to-consumer-marketing-b2-c-presentation>

Whereas emotional factors play a large part in a consumer’s decision to purchase a product, B2B purchasing decisions are less emotional and more task-oriented. Business customers tend to look for specific product attributes that will deliver efficiency, productivity, and quality. B2B purchasing decisions are more rational than consumer decisions, since organizational purchases require more money and more risk for the organization. However they also have similarities such as: Successfully matching product or service strengths with the needs of a specific target market. Positioning and pricing products or services to align products and service offerings with the market. And communicating and selling products or services so that they effectively demonstrate value to the target market. “Marketing to a business and marketing to an individual are similar in terms of the fundamental principles of marketing”. <digitalbookshelf.artinstitutes.edu/books/9780558851903/id/pg159>

 

 

Week 3 EOC: My Demographics

My demographic would happen to be a Millennial, also called Generation Y or the echo boomers. Born between 1977 and 2000, these children of the baby boomers number 83 million, dwarfing the Gen Xers and larger even than the baby boomer segment. This group includes tweens (aged 9–12), teens (13–18), and young adults (19–32). With total purchasing power of more than $733 billion, the Millennials make up a huge and attractive market. I was born in 1990, so I’m just around the middle to last generation of Millenians.  

One thing that all of the Millennials have in common is their utter fluency and comfort with digital technology. They don’t just embrace technology; it’s a way of life. Absolutely, I couldn’t agree more with the previous statement. I had always thought of how for me Technology was a given feature, I don’t think about it, I kind of just do it. Also I feel praised for having a niche at just picking something and learn it with ease, without being afraid of failure like older generations. A recent study found that 91 percent of Millennials are on the Web, making up 32 percent of all U.S. Internet users.

Marketers of all kinds now target the Millennial; however, the Millennials are bombarded with marketing messages coming at them from all directions. And rather than having mass marketing messages pushed at them, they prefer to seek out information and engage in two-way brand conversations. Thus, reaching these message-saturated consumers effectively requires creative marketing approaches. Yet again another clear example of how accurate my description is. I do see a lot of ads targeted directly to me almost to a point that they are trying to talk to me in particular. However I am very good at personally talking face to face to get my message delivered and to successfully listen to absorb what is being sent to me. Due to this nature I fall easy for a good salesman, but only very creative advertisement gets through to me.

Week 3 EOC: Making Money for Good

PAWS Chicago is the city's largest no kill humane organization, focused on implementing solutions to end the killing of homeless pets. It is truly tragic how people can just abandon an animal and leave it behind after the move simply because they can’t find a better solution. Since PAWS Chicago's founding in 1997, the number of homeless dogs and cats killed annually has dropped more than 60 percent: from more than 42,000 homeless pets killed in 1997 to fewer than 18,000 killed in 2011. “PAWS Chicago is thrilled to be included in The Chicago Tribune’s roundup of charities that received top performance ratings from at least two independent charity evaluators, which review charities based on their efficient use of donor funds.” –Chicago Tribune.

PAWS Chicago is working to build a no kill Chicago - a city where pets are no longer destroyed just because they are homeless. PAWS Chicago will find new homes for more than 5,000 homeless pets this year at the state-of-the-art Lincoln Park Adoption & Humane Center. The PAWS Chicago Lurie Spay/Neuter Clinic, the largest free spay/neuter clinic in Chicago and the nation, will sterilize more than 18,000 pets of low-income families this year. “We are happy to announce that for the ninth consecutive year in a row, Charity Navigator has awarded PAWS Chicago with a 4-star rating.” – Charity Navigator.

 The best solution to the homeless pet problem is to successfully educate people about spaying and neutering their pets. It is relative inexpensive and the benefits are of a lifetime, not to mention that .your pet will not have mood swings and whatever aggressiveness (if any) will quickly faint away. “Every year, millions of cats and dogs of all ages and breeds are euthanized or suffer as strays. These high numbers are the result of unplanned litters that could have been prevented by spaying or neutering.” -  ASPCA.

Week 2 EOC: Boston Consulting Group - Video Games

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It was usually misbelieved that the video game industry would always have a high demand and a set market; due to the fact that every single new game that would come out is priced at $65 to $75 dollars, without even mentioning all the bonus features and special editions available within the release date at the cost of a few bucks more.

“Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed 3 sales, along with those for other third-quarter releases, including Far Cry 3 — raised selling expenses and led to a current operating loss of €58.1 million ($74.4 million)”. http://www.polygon.com/2012/11/6/3609614/ubisoft-financials-assassins-creed-3-first-week-sales

That is taking into consideration that Ubisoft manufactures games for both the Playstation 3, and the XBOX 360. However the Wii doesn’t fall too apart from the tree “hardware sales, including Nintendo Co.'s Wii console, plummeted 38%. The steep drops came on top of a gradual sales decline that began in March”.  http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124865158612682399.html

Personally I rather Playstation and or Sony, as my company of choice; due to the highly anticipated inclusion of the touch pad in the controller of the Playstation 4, seeing how they are trying to appeal to the evermore interactive touch screen market, recently exploding from the introduction of the new Windows 8 operating system. Revolutionizing the all-in-one computer market, that unfortunately falls as a Dog, a choice taken due to the conclusion that all-in-one desktops are but a glorified tablet.

“Videogame hardware, software and accessories in U.S. retail stores fell 25% to $810 million from $1.09 billion the same time a year prior, according to surveys from market researcher NPD Group.”  http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20130314-714946.html    

To that fact I would categorize Playstation in the question mark, with low market share but high market growth rate, in the Boston Consulting Group Approach.  Xbox to begin with monetizes its users to play online, not to mention that the Kinect is a rip off from the Wii. I have to say that Xbox has also fallen to a Dog, however reinventing the Kinect and making it more customable to its users is foreseen as a possible outlet from their damnation.  

Week One EOC: Great Customer Service

I remember when... I was doing some research for my next laptop. I pride myself for being a careful buyer, therefore I always do my research on the web, however, I rather my experience being more hands on, and what better place than Amazon's show case; Best Buy. I am ashamed to say that it's sad but true, I know a lot of people that will go to department stores, interact with the gadgets they are looking for and just end up leaving because the item is slightly cheaper online. They have no sense of belonging, no pride for supporting or representing a brand. Take it or leave it, that's just an opinion.
The minute I entered the store I was welcomed promptly and gladly. The girl directed me in the right direction without hesitation and I was introduced to a Blue shirt employee.
The gentleman was quite knowledgeable; from experience I knew that one of the companies promises is "Unbiased and impartial advice on the latest and the greatest" and he showed cased it no problem!
 I told him: "I needed an i7, with a 2GB dedicated Graphics card, 1TB Hard Drive, 8 GB RAM, back-lid keyboard, with a numeric pad, and has be light weight and thin enough for me to travel easily with it, also touchscreen would be nice but is not necessary, I'm not brand particular, and it can be either Mac or PC".
I would be lying if I say that I wasn't shocked when he knew exactly what I was looking for! The associate was very polite, answered every single question (absurd or not) that I had, and helped me break it down from five possible choices, to three, to one ACER that was absolutely EVERYTHING I was looking for with every single detail included; definitely the Best Buy.
“For us, we’re willing to lose that sale, that transaction in the short term. We’re focused on building the lifelong loyalty and relationship with the customer.”  (Armstrong & Kotler (2011) Page 4)

Week One EOC My Voice

As a Professional Production Team you will be Delighted...

My fascination with sound is not momentary, neither was it born out of desperation. Being a naturally analytical individual, it was only a matter of time for me to find my pathway.

From understanding a waveform, to mixing a feature film, to going through all the stages of pre-production, and post-production; my production works on principles that speak with confidence, and that show professionalism.

From my humble beginnings of pretending to play guitar on a broom, to composing the soundtrack of a feature film; I have always strived to achieve every single thing I have set my mind to. The key to this process is on of my most inspirational quotes “One step forward, two steps back, three steps forward” –Dez Fafara.

I am skillfully adept with the guitar, bass guitar, and the keyboard; as well as with Pro Tools, AVID Media Composer, and the Adobe Suite. My compositions are deliberately abrasive to the unchallenged listener, both inspiring terror and wonder.

I have the rhythm inside, I see in frames, and poetically profoundly feel. My creative pool is endless, but not as much as my drive to succeed. I take pride in finding new ways to express myself successfully; if you are looking for the traditional production house experience, then you are looking to the wrong production team.

Ethically correct and morally right are second nature of my work policy. I adapt quickly to stressful situations where a decision has to be made within seconds. I am experienced with successfully meeting deadlines on time and in a professional matter. 

Modesty, efficiency, and innovation are my strengths; perfectionism, competitiveness, and outspokenness are my weaknesses.