Smarties not so smart?

Don’t ask me how, but I stumbled upon a “pr dilemma” Smarties candy faced in March. Smarties are the little sugary disks that come in all different colors, and they’re pretty yummy. There had been word that kids are crunching up the little candies and “sucking them in their mouths which turns them into smoke, yeah a little confectionery Puff the Magic Dragon action going on for fifth graders.”

Apparently a couple YouTube videos had circulated, as well as a Fox News piece. Parents were claiming that this little act with the Smarties had them wondering what the kids will be smoking next. They think it’s a logical progression into more serious drugs. I think it’s really far fetched.

The “dilemma” then was that Smarties hadn’t confronted the issue on their home website. They made a few comments on Fox News, but they made no other attempts to address the issue. Should they have tried to reach out to parents first hand instead of through other networks? Let them know they’re aware of the issue and don’t support it? Should they even have done anything at all? Is it something that just passes with time?

I think Smarties would have been wise to at least let people know they were aware of what was going on and they didn’t support it. Whether they agreed with the idea that it would lead to other smoking habits or not, it would be wise to acknowledge the idea, especially on the sites that were promoting the act.

Landing that Dream Job you’ve Always Wanted

Congratulations seniors, you’re a few weeks away from being a college graduate.  Maybe you’re one of the few who found their dream job straight out of college.  Chances are, with the way the economy is going; you’re not one of those lucky few.  You are probably stressed to the max sending out dozens of resumes and waiting for an offer on a new job.  Admit it, it’s scary.  You’ve typed countless papers, drank countless Starbucks and studied countless hours on this college journey.  And after four years (or more) your college days are over and you’ve got a piece of paper to prove it.

In Jed Hallam’s blog, The Three R’s to being Recruited, he explains plain and simple the necessary steps to getting a job.  It’s crunch time, so if you’re one of those people shaking in their boots trying to find a job, here’s some tips:

1.)    Research

I’ve come to realize how important it is to take the time to look into the company you want to apply to.  That can mean even as something as simple as searching for them on Google.  Have a clear understanding of the company’s objective or mission.   When you are ready to send in your resume and cover letter, make it specific to what they are looking for in the job description.  A generic cover letter won’t win them over.

2.)    Read

After four years of college, we should be champion readers.  Although it can be tedious, it simply cannot be overlooked.  It is crucial to know the foundation of the company you’re interested in.  Get to know who they are, what they represent and what they are looking for.  This will impress them when you go in for your interview.

3.)    Really try bloody hard

Get noticed.  Set up a Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, etc.  Do whatever you can to get your name out there.  Then, go out of your way and make an effort to get that job.  Jed Hallam is a good example of this:

“Well I forced my way into the Twitter clique, set up a blog and got noticed. Then when I got back from traveling I started creating relationships with the influential people in the industry and then got them to sign up to a Facebook group I’d started describing the reasons why I thought Wolfstar should hire me. The people I asked to join then posted lovely things about me (purely coincidental, I swear) and Wolfstar invited me in for a chat.”

So, there you have it.  Keep your spirits high and you’ll find a job that’s meant to be.  Good luck job hunting.