Some jobs require Facebook, Twitter experience

Aparna Kalra — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 06:53:00 GMT

My last post on Facebook and productivity made me unpopular in office despite my protest that I wrote being on Facebook increases contacts/ability to strike deals for some. But here's some amazing stuff: it seems there are jobs in advertising, marketing and communications which require candidates to be Facebook and Twitter-savvy.

A Canadian newspaper reports that job postings on a number of Canadian and U.S. websites now ask for Twitter and Facebook requirements from applicants.

So, a senior account executive position at Softscribe Inc. requires "five years Tech PR Agency Record and Twitter."

Mosaic Sales Solutions describes the "key characteristics" of its ideal market training specialist as "an avid user of the Internet, blogs, Twitter and/or has a Facebook page or other social networking account."

Valtech Technologies seeks a scrum master/project manager whose critical responsibilities will include "social collaboration including work spaces like Wiki’s, blogs, Twitter, etc."

The reason I am so impressed is because I am a recent convert to Facebook and Twitter. My colleagues Sidin Vadukut (follow Sidin's blog here), and Melissa Bell (read her view on SRK's airport incident here) introduced me to the joys of Tweeting. A former colleague recently dismissed Twitter as "being for twits" ( a comment which I found funny) but I was already hooked to the microblogging service.

Of course, coming across instances such as an IIT-Delhi student I interviewed who landed a summer internship after getting in touch with a senior on Facebook reaffirms my faith: Facebook, Twitter and work do mix.

Share this post: email it! | del.icio.us! | digg it! | newsVine!

This also happens in India

Taru Bahl — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 01:29:00 GMT

My run-down Santro is shared between the elder son and me and being the good Indian mum, whenever he makes a request, I am quick to relinquish my chauffeur driven comfort and take an auto instead. Our office being right in the middle of Delhi's busy Connaught Place area, means getting an empty auto is never an issue but getting one to agree to take you to your destination most definitely is (beats me how Mumbai is so different in this regard: the guys there never say no to the shortest of distances; they always return the change, even if it is Re1; they go strictly by the meter; they wear a uniform and most importantly, they are clean).

Well, after facing a disinterested No from half a dozen autowallahs, one decent looking chap agreed and I hopped on, trying not to feel guilty about three people standing behind me, hoping he would say no. Mid-way he asked me if I minded his stopping at Nehru Place to pick up his daughter. I hesitated for a moment but he proceeded to explain all the same, "she works in an advertising agency and I usually try to pick her up around 7pm to avoid her taking a bus on what is a very crowded route." He proceeded to add, "you know madam, she is office-going like you and to me the ride back home is so precious, for she updates me on all her office politics and developments and though I have never seen the inside of a swanky office, I can imagine what it must be like." He didn't need much prodding to talk.

As he regaled me with anecdotes of her always winning art/ story writing/ mono acting competitions, the half hour drive flew by till he halted at what looked like a predesignated spot outside a commercial complex.

I saw a tall lissome girl walk purposefully towards us. Wearing a black trouser and shirt with a striped georgette turquoise scarf, she looked a bit like Shilpa Shetty. When she slid gracefully into the vacant seat next to me, for a minute I did a double take. It was only when she wished me and then her father in perfect unaccented English that I realized she was his daughter! (Well, I have been accused of being a bit of a tubelight).

The next 20-minutes flew by as we slid into an easy conversation where I tried not to gush and be overpowered by her charisma and tehzeeb (good manners/ upbringing). She is a creative visualizer with a leading advertising agency. The proud dad butted in, much to her embarrassment, informing me that she was earning a 6-digit salary and was not even 25 years of age as yet.

The girl had gone to a government school where she had, not surprisingly been a topper throughout. Along with an English (Honours) from Lady Shri Ram College she did a few short duration diploma courses in art. And though she has opted for a career in art, her agency wants her to dabble in copywriting too.

Her younger sister is in Pune doing her MCA and no, she has no brothers. The father took a decision of going in for vasectomy once the younger one was born, making a promise to his parents who were still hankering for a boy, that he would give his girls an education that would be just as good had it been sons he had had. He had to sell off his stake in the family's ancestral agricultural land but he has no regrets. Turning around at a busy intersection he quizzed me, "you think any cash crop or bank would have given me better returns?" Still trying to overcome my complete sense of admiration for the duo, I muttered, "ah, no, not at all, especially not with the way banks have kept slashing interest rates on fixed deposits".

A similar story is that of one of our security guards in office whose son has secured a seat in the Delhi College of Engineering. Raising funds has been an issue but so far goodwill has helped him mobilize enough for the first semester. A true democracy, India lives up to its image where extremes thrive. If you have kids like the ones I talked about in my last post (rich spoilt brats, unflinchingly spending their rich dad's money) there are kids like these two who make it on their own steam, rise above their background and earn a place for themselves in society. Apart from talent and determination, equal opportunities for the deserving exist. Reservations notwithstanding.

As I got home that night, I couldn't but stop thinking of my accidental meeting. This story had so many messages for us, people from the seemingly upper strata of society. How many men do I know who would go in for a vasectomy out of choice? How many in-laws would not truly want a male child? How many fathers would let go of an extra income (he could have run his auto for another 2 hours in CP's busy area or later, earning overtime) choosing to spend time with their children? And how many privileged kids would be as respectful as this young girl?

The answers shamed me!

Share this post: email it! | del.icio.us! | digg it! | newsVine!

On The Job : Advertising

Some jobs require Facebook, Twitter experience

This also happens in India