Photo credit: Wonderlane/Flickr Creative Commons

Updated: August 11, 2010

Hire Me-NJ Job Search Discussion and Networking
Featuring Absolutely Abby

Sunday, Aug. 8, from 7pm-8:30pm
Location: Nighthawk Book, Highland Park NJ

See more details and info on our Events Page: http://njsocialmedia.com/nj-events

Updated: August 1, 2010

Using Twitter To Get Hired – Free Discussion, Networking Event
Tuesday, August 17, 7:00pm – 8:30pm

Location:  Zebu Forno – Freehold – 2 East Main Street (at intersection of West Main St. and Rt. 79)
Open to job-seekers, freelancers, consultants, and anyone interested in looking for work or new clients. Join Colleen Curry and Eva Abreu and learn more about how to find work through Twitter. Discussion will include case studies, resources, Q&A, networking. Bring resume, business cards and your 30 second pitch. Free WiFi available.
Learn how to: connect with potential employers or clients; find job postings on Twitter; develop relationships that lead to paid work. Free, seating is limited. RSVP email:  confirm (at) njsocialmedia (dot) com
Additional ways to RSVP coming soon…

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Updated: July 29, 2010

Job-focused community collaboration in Somerset County, NJ

In a recent column by Paul Grzella, General Manager/Editor of Home News Tribune, Courier News and myCentralJersey.com, he explained about a new job-focused initiative created by the Somerset County Business Partnership.

Grzella wrote:

“The group’s aim is to know what jobs employers have now, and what jobs they will have in the future, so that the workforce in the region can fit employers’ needs today and five years from now. The group’s goal is simple yet profound — to develop a system so that everyone can work in a productive job and be ready to be retooled if the job market and job needs change.”

Read Paul Grzella’s full column from July 26, 2010 here: http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20100726/OPINION06/100726030/1187

For more information about the Somerset County Business Partnership, call 908-218-4300 or visit www.SCBP.org

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Updated: July 28, 2010

Getting a Job in Social Media, interview with NJ’s Deb Ng

Column in myCentralJersey.com by Eva Abreu features Deb Ng of Hillsborough, NJ; discusses how Deb has landed jobs in social media

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20107280313

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Updated: July 16, 2010

NJ – Getting a job using Social Media

Here’s a great example of the use of Twitter and social networking to land a job.  Interview with Colleen Curry – @currycolleen – Hyperlocal Editor for Freehold.InJersey.com Video by @AsburyPop, VoxPopNJ.com Laura Gesin.

This interview, taped in July 2009, details how Colleen found a job right out of Journalism school through the use of Twitter.

(Video used with permission. Thank you to Laura Gesin at voxpopnj.com!)

Updated: July 13, 2010

From Australia to NY: how graphic designer Jacob Cass was hired through Twitter.

Here is his blog post from July 2009 describing how he received a job inquiry through Twitter: Aussie Goes to NYC
An update: as of today, he’s now searching for another full-time opportunity and has posted it publicly on his blog. Best wishes to Jacob and we’ll keep watch to see if he finds his next gig using social media. Do you know of a similar story of landing a job using Twitter or Facebook? Let us know: email editor {at} njsocialmedia {dot} com

Updated: July 10, 2010

25 Places to Find Social Media Jobs

Looking for a job in social media? NJ’s own Deb Ng shares some great resources in her blog post:  http://kommein.com/50-places-to-find-social-media-jobs/

Updated: July 9, 2010

A New Job Just A Tweet Away

By Sarah E. Needleman, Wall Street Journal Article, Sept. 8, 2009
This article discusses how companies use Twitter to list job openings.
Hat tip to Joseph Cannizzaro (Twitter @Cannizzaro718 ) for posting this on Twitter

Updated: June 30, 2010

Job Search Sites

Here’s a good source for job listings in NJ on www.CNNMoney.com:
http://jobsearch.money.cnn.com/a/all-jobs/list/l-new+jersey

What other job search sites do you think we should add here? Email: editor at njsocialmedia dot com or tweet @NJSocialMedia

Updated: June 29, 2010

Real Simple Article: How to Find a Job (yes, even now)

I recently picked up a copy of the June 2010 edition of Real Simple Magazine on the newsstand (yes, I’m one of the only 2 people left on earth who actually reads a hard copy of a magazine!) I read the following article “How to Find a Job  (yes, even now)” featuring 9 women who describe how they got their most recent job.

I thought it might be helpful to you (whether you’re a man or a women, the same job search strategies can apply to anyone) so I looked up the online edition to post here: http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/life-strategies/job-career

What are your thoughts? How are your job search efforts coming along? Leave a comment below or tweet me on Twitter @NJSocialMedia.  Best wishes –Eva

Updated: June 24, 2010

NJ Wired for Hire

For NJ folks seeking employment, a free 10 week program in Flemington NJ is being offered by MGD Services. They are accepting applications for Wired for Hire, which is part of a national program, visit http://mgdservices.com/career-center/candidate-services for details.

Updated: June 11, 2010
I’ve decided to pull the plug on comments and disable the feature because of the extraordinary amount of spam, until further notice.  Sorry for any inconvenience! Have a question or want to get profiled on this site? Email editor@njsocialmedia.com – Thanks!

Update: May 31, 2010 by Eva~
As mentioned, one of the features of this section is to profile individuals in NJ who are ready, willing and able to work. Here’s our first Hire Me – NJ profile, Kevin Haughwout (his photo is the one that you see featured in our banner above):

Profile: Kevin Haughwout

Kevin Haughwout is a recent MBA graduate from the New York University Stern School of business. He’s a product developer with five years of experience in client-facing roles working with Fortune-500 retail companies on their point-of purchase marketing activities. He’s also a blogger and social media enthusiast. Check out his blog at http://www.freedmarketer.com for samples of his work and a link to his LinkedIn profile. Kevin’s open to new opportunities in branding or social media marketing. You can reach Kevin by e-mail at kevin @ freedmarketer.com,  on Twitter or LinkedIn. (Our previous banner photo courtesy of Kevin Haughwout, who wrote “Hire Me” in bold letters on his business card).

Would you like your profile to be featured? Contact us: editor {at} njsocialmedia {dot} com

Where are the jobs?

Help us develop our local NJ job postings on our site: http://njsocialmedia.com/nj-jobs Would you like to volunteer to help us update the page? Do you know of a job posting to add? Contact us by email: editor {at} njsocialmedia {dot} com

Update: May 22, 2010 by Eva~

What are your thoughts about this article?

How Facebook Helps with Unemployment by John Douglas Marshall from The Atlantic
Leave a comment below with your thoughts or email: editor {at} njsocialmedia {dot} com

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Update: May 13, 2010, 3:00pm by Eva ~

John Lee, CNN’s 30 Second Pitch

I met John Lee at Fair Media Council’s NJ Connection Day on May 7, 2010 when he spoke on the panel “Pitching TV/Radio Reporters”. I looked up his website for the link to download his free report “How to Pitch TV Reporters“  and saw that he was previously featured on CNN’s 30 Second Pitch segment. I called him up on Wed. 5/12 to ask him about his experience. This is what he shared with me:

John Lee explains:

“CNN’s “The 30 Second Pitch,” is a weekly segment in which three or four folks from around the country get the chance to give their half-minute “elevator pitch” live on TV.   I decided to give it a try, pitched myself to “The Pitch” by email: 30secondpitch@cnn.com and one week later was sitting in a studio in CNN’s New York headquarters waiting to go live with anchor Kyra Phillips in Atlanta.

As someone who includes the word “spokesperson” prominently in his resume, I thought the segment might play to my strengths, but recognized that it was a risky maneuver as the segment is live and you have to memorize your pitch—no teleprompter!  I also saw it as a chance to seek opportunity, rather than just a job, to show I was open to consulting work and gaining more clients as well as a full-time position.

I used social media to crowdsource presentation advice from my network, to let people know when the segment would air and when I had posted the clip on YouTube.

Here are the results:

If you are able to get on “The 30 Second Pitch” my advice is to practice, practice, practice with a stopwatch, cutting back words and syllables until you have your message down to a comfortable half-minute.  As you’d be speaking to a general audience, I’d recommend your goal be to just make a good impression and to leave people with a general sense of what you do, leaving out industry jargon as much as possible.”

Great advice! I’d like to thank John for sharing his experience and wish him the best of luck in his job search.

To reach JOHN LEE
Email: johnlee@johnleemedia.com
Tel. 917-475-6981
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/johnleemedia

Update: May 13, 2010

Getting a Job Using Social Media

On the NJ Social Media Group Discussion Board on LinkedIn, I posted the following question a few months ago:

Q: Have you landed a full time or part time job through your social media or social network contacts? Leave a comment or contact me directly: editor@njsocialmedia.com for possible inclusion in a future business column. Thanks!

We’d like to thank the following LinkedIn members for their replies and their permission to re-post their responses, which we hope you’ll find helpful in your job search –

Rennie Filler
New Jersey
Online Marketing & Social Media Professional
“I was found on LinkedIn by my childhood friend and neighbor who was looking for someone to direct the social media and online marketing initiative at his company. We lost touch over the years and because of LinkedIn, he was able to gain insight into my professional portfolio and contacted me for an interview. In the end, if it weren’t for LinkedIn, I would not have my current job (that I absolutely love!) and most likely would not have had the opportunity to reconnect with my friend.

Amy Vernon
Union County NJ
Writer, editor and new media strategist. And Bacon Queen
“Every job I’ve gotten since being laid off in December 2008 has been through my social media/networking contacts. I have not sought out a single job yet and have found work – contract, piecework and other – for several friends of mine.”

Timothy Mack
Technical Recruiter at TEKsystems, Inc, Parsippany NJ
“I recently placed a few IT and telecom professionals in permanent sales and engineering roles. The skill sets were as vastly different (Nortel Sales Engineering and UNIX Systems Administration) as the organizations that were hiring (a large Avaya business partner and a global financial firm). I would not have been able to network through the different professional talent pools without the use of LinkedIn. In addition, the last few high-level technical people to contact me directly did so due to my status updates on Twitter. I now find that updating my status on Twitter and LinkedIn is actually highly productive. It only takes a few seconds to do and keeps the positions I’m working on in the public spotlight. Because potential consultants or contractors can see that I’m updating several times a day, they know the positions I’m trying to fill are still open.”

Do you have advice to share or questions about finding a job using social media?

• Would you like your profile featured in this section?
• Interested in being a Guest Writer or Associate Editor of this site?

Email us at: editor {at} njsocialmedia {dot} com or Tel. 973-610-5571 or Twitter: @HireMeNJ

Let us know how we can work together NJ, to get NJ working!

Regards,
Eva Abreu, Publisher – NJSocialMedia.com

What are your thoughts?

Recent USA Today article, May 10, 2010, click link below:
“Today’s job seekers add ’social’ to networking” by Julia Schmalz

Socialnomics recently released…
an update to their Social Media Revolution 2 video with the following statistics:

80% of companies use social media for recruitment; the percent of those companies that use LinkedIn = 95%

Here’s the updated Socialnomics video, released May 5, 2010:

April 12, 2010

Introducing… Hire Me – NJ!

A new section devoted to individuals in New Jersey who are ready, willing and able to work, and want to let the world know about it through social networking (or in any other way possible, like in the picture above!).

This idea was inspired by a reader of our website who is looking for a full time job in NJ.

He spoke to me offline and suggested having a section for NJ folks to post their resume, network with others, blog about their job hunting experiences and hold tweetups and workshops to support each other in their quest to be gainfully employed.

• What are your thoughts on how to develop Hire Me – NJ?
• What would you like to see within Hire Me – NJ?
• How would you like Hire Me – NJ to be of benefit to you?
• How do you think social media can help to land you a job in New Jersey?

Let us know what you think by leaving a comment below or send an email to: editor {at} njsocialmedia {dot} com.

Let’s work together NJ, to get NJ working!

Regards,

Eva Abreu, Publisher
NJSocialMedia.com

Addendum: Here’s a little more insight on how this section came to be –

The genesis of the idea started on Friday, April 9th, 2010 while waiting at my child’s school for dismissal. Another parent, a graphic designer who previously worked in NYC and has been volunteering to help me with the print publication of NJSocialMedia, came to me with the idea. He is unemployed and said he would like to meet other unemployed people in the area to network with and have a place on the website to post his resume for other employers to see. He felt that job boards such as Monster.com were too big and you get lost there. He wanted to focus on New Jersey, to go to a site where he can connect with potential employers and others who are local.  In his words, “If I’m sitting home alone and depressed, and another guy is sitting home alone depressed, and others, why not have everyone get together and lift each other up and see what ideas and leads we can help each other with?” He was inspired with the idea after seeing the NJ Jobs section of our site, which I started back October 2009, and he suggested to name this new section “Hire Me in NJ”; he said  “Why not? We’re desperate, we have to be bold.” Plus, he said he didn’t want to commute into New York City any more. He offered to help me with the graphic design once the site was up. I thought it was a great idea, as I was inspired in the past after seeing an idea done in print by a friend of mine, Ron Ostroff, former Operations Manager of the Jewish State, who initiated free ads for unemployed in their newspaper. Another local paper The Crit had done something similar in the past to offer free Work Wanted ads in their classifieds, as well as the Star-Ledger has run profiles of unemployed, and Jack Ellery on WCTC-AM has had unemployed folks call in, as has CNN with it’s 30 Second Pitch segments.

I’ve had it in the back of my mind for a while to develop something like this (I’ve previously managed two temporary employment agencies in the past), so when the acquaintance brought it up, I said I could get it up and running that weekend. We talked about how to monetize the idea (he said, “Well, you can’t do it for free, you have to cover at least some of the costs of running the website”) so we came up with the idea to post free profiles, then, if members finally end up getting a job, they can “donate to the cause” and contribute to our group whatever amount they felt that the group was worth to them during their time of unemployment, as a way to pay it forward. I thought that was a great idea, as I am very much a believer in paying it forward. I then mentioned to him that maybe we could get employers or different services to be paid sponsors as well, for a revenue stream.

So, that’s it in a nutshell. This will be a work in progress. If you’d like to be a part of this start-up process, feel free to contact me. I’m very much into collaboration, partnering, sharing ideas, and shining the spotlight on others to help them reach their goals (or, in this case, land a job). Let’s work together NJ, to help get NJ working!

Best wishes on your job search. Let me know how I can help! ~Eva Abreu

Photo credit: Wonderlane/Flickr Creative Commons

“Hire Gary” Creative Commons Photo by blorntso via Flicker

Make new contacts and meet other community members and users of Social Media in New Jersey.
We encourage your support of local NJ businesses, non-profits, and individuals by attending these NJ events.

To add an Event:  email us at editor@njsocialmedia.com or post on Facebook.com/NJSocialMedia. Thank you!

Banner photo by Eva Abreu. Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark NJ, speaking at “Social Media for Public Officials”
March 30, 2010, sponsored by NJ State League of Municipalities Educational Foundation

SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORKING and EVENTS:

Hire Me-NJ – Job Search Discussion with Absolutely Abby and Networking
Sunday, August 8, 7:00pm -  8:30pm Download flyer here

Location: Nighthawk Books, 212 Raritan Ave, Highland Park NJ. Web: Nighthawk-Books.com Tel.732-339-8930
Open discussion for job seekers, freelancers, consultants and anyone interested in helping each other to become gainfully employed. Bring resume, business cards and your 30 second pitch. Free wi-fi. Sponsor by NJSocialMedia.com. Abby Kohut is author of Absolutely Abby’s 101 Job Search Secrets. Visit AbsolutelyAbby.com for more info.
RSVP: Facebook, or tel. 973-610-5571 or email: editor {at} njsocialmedia {dot} com.

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Free Social Media Meetup for Businesses
Thursday, August 12, 2010 from 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Egan & Sons, 104 Harrison Ave. West Orange, NJ

Come and enjoy a drink or 2, some nosh and a meetup with other business people. How are you using social media? How do others? Nothing fancy, just a casual get-together of business folk talking and sharing ideas. Attendance is free, eating and drinking are on your dime    Sponsored by CellCon Consulting  http://cellconconsulting.com, contact Adam Wolf http://twitter.com/awolf12
RSVP: Eventbrite  http://www.eventbrite.com/s/1koy

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Using Twitter To Get Hired – Free Discussion, Networking Event sponsored by “Hire Me – NJ!” NJ Social Media
Tuesday, August 17, 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Location:  Zebu Forno – Freehold – 2 East Main Street (at intersection of West Main St. and Rt. 79)
Open to job-seekers, freelancers, consultants, and anyone interested in looking for work or new clients. Join Colleen Curry and Eva Abreu and learn more about how to find work through Twitter. Discussion will include case studies, resources, Q&A, networking. Bring resume, business cards and your 30 second pitch. Free WiFi available.
Learn how to: connect with potential employers or clients; find job postings on Twitter; develop relationships that lead to paid work. Free, seating is limited.
RSVP Eventbrite http://www.eventbrite.com/s/1mLY or Email: editor {at} njsocialmedia {dot} com or call 973-610-5571

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Making Time for Social Media – Free Discussion, Breakfast Networking Meeting
Monday, August 23, 2010, 8:00 am – 10:00 am Download flyer here

Location: Sertinos Cafe – Emerson NJ – 27 Kinderkamack Rd. Tel. 201-265-5550 Web:  SertinosNJ.com Click here to see Breakfast Menu selection
For business owners, managers and anyone interested in learning how to integrate social media in their busy lives. We’ll have separate small group discussions for beginners and advanced users of social media. Q&A and networking, bring business cards and your 30 second pitch. Free, seating is limited. Sponsored by NJSocialMedia.com and Sertinos Cafe.
RSVP Eventbrite http://www.eventbrite.com/s/1mLr or Email: editor {at} njsocialmedia {dot} com or call 973-610-5571

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Friday New Jersey Open Coffee Englewood
Every Friday, 10:30 am
Location: It’s a Grind (Coffee House), 389 Nordhoff Place, Englewood, NJ
This meetup is open to anyone wishing to attend. We discuss social media, technology, marketing and current topics of interest to the group. Please join us for coffee, networking and conversation. Bring your laptop, your business cards and a smile. Contact: Chris Kieff, Organizer, email: ckieff@gmail.com, tel 201-677-8302 Twitter: @ckieff

BUSINESS AND CAREER EVENTS:

COMMUNITY EVENTS:

Grandma Rocks the Park – Benefit Concert
Saturday, August 21st, 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Horseshoe Lake, Eyland Ave, Succasunna, NJ
Musical Guests: Brian Mcardle, Mef & Angela, Rich LaPierre, Matthew Z, Joseph Cassella, Tom Kildea, Destination Home, & More!
Come for live music, food, games, arts & crafts, and our Rock-a-Thon!
A music festival sponsored by Action Through the Arts as a benefit for Your Grandmother’s Cupboard, an outreach ministry serving families and individuals living in poverty. Looking for food and other local vendors to participate. Also seeking volunteers to assist with the event (e.g. ticket booth sales, water sales, set up and break down, parking assistance, etc). Contact michelle@actionthroughthearts.org for vendor or volunteer opportunities.
Visit Action Through the Arts on Facebook. Hat tip to Dennis M. Paradise for this listing.

2010 Middlesex County Jingle Bell Run/Walk®
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Novita’s – Metuchen, NJ Registration: 9 am
Join the fight against arthritis in children and adults – join hundreds of runners in Central New Jersey as they tie bells to their sneakers and raise money for research for a cure! Children 12 & Under are also invited to participate in our Santa Chase. For more info/to register:  HTTP://MCJBR.KINTERA.ORG/
This event information was provided by Clare Puerzer who is inspired by her son: “My 8 year old has a form of junvenile arthritis called enthesitis-associated arthritis and spondyloarthropy. He first told us about his pain at 22 months, but he was not officially diagnosed until close to his 3rd birthday”

CHILDREN’S EVENTS:

Marlton, NJ – Back to School Skill Building class for 4-7 year olds
9004-F Lincoln Drive West, Marlton NJ
5 week class Tuesdays, July 13 – August 10
Ages 4 – 5 yr olds 9:30am-10:30am; Ages 6 – 7 yr olds 11am-12pm
Get help for your child in developing the fine motor skills that will be needed for school. Writing, cutting, coloring, utensil grasp, coordination and peer interaction will all be addressed. Call Mary’s Place Pediatric Rehab at (856) 988-1160 for more information or email tina@marysplacerehab.com
Mary’s Place Pediatric Rehab is a privately owned outpatient rehab facility specializing in Occupational and Speech Therapy.

Trenton, NJ – Summer Art and Theater Camp at Ellarslie For ages 6 – 13
For more information visit www.ellarslie.org or call: 609-989-1191 for an application.
Two weeks: July 26 – August 6, 2010. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Bring your lunch)
The Trenton City Museum, Ellarslie Mansion in Cadwalader Park, Trenton, NJ
Fees for two weeks: $200 for museum society members, $250 for nonmembers. Scholarships available
Students will explore, build, and expand their skills in the areas of visual and performing arts. They will learn basic techniques of drawing and painting and learn about the theater arts progression. In addition, students will develop poise, discipline, teamwork, and self confidence. Experienced and talented educators will guide the students through the process of developing, writing, and acting out their own theatrical production. Students will also design and create their own scenery, back drops, and props. All are invited to a performance on the Saturday following the final camp day: August 7, 2009 at 3:00 p.m.

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PREVIOUS EVENTS:

NJ Social Media Conference
“The Role of Media in Social Media”
Friday, June 18th, 2010, Time: 8:30am – 2:30pm
Crowne Plaza-Somerset, 110 Davidson Ave, Somerset NJ 08873
See full conference description at NJSocialMediaConference.com
See Conference Recap with photos, video and blog postings here: http://njsocialmedia.com/nj-social-media-conference-recap-2010
Future NJ Social Media Conference Partnership/Sponsorships Available: Email for more information

Gourmet Library Open House and Live Tasting and Tweeting!
Wednesday, April 14, 2010, 6pm-8pm, Free
Wine Library, 586 Morris Ave, Springfield, NJ
The Gourmet Library, located at Gary Vaynerchuk’s Wine Library will be hosting a live gourmet food sampling, focusing on five of the top American-made products. Join Justin and Everett as they lead this tasting, giving information and background on each of the items. The best part? You get to taste unique and unusual cheeses and gourmet goodies! Plus, we’d love to hear what you think as you’re tasting and will be tweeting live and reviewing at the same time. Use hashtag #glib in your tweets. Bring your video cameras to record and upload your personal food reviews and recommendations directly to the www.GourmetLibrary.com website. See you there!

Tweetup at College of Saint Elizabeth
*New Date: Wednesday, March 3, 2010, Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm
RSVP: Contact Michael Szarek tel. 973-290-4112 or email: mszarek@cse.edu
Location: 2 Convent Rd. Morristown, NJ, Santa Rita Hall – Riordan Board Rom
The theme is “Sharing Ideas, Building Community” where Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn users can meet other local business, academic and student contacts in the area.
Moderated by Eva Abreu, this free networking session is open to everyone in the community and will also include an optional break-out session for Educators in Social Media, led by Dr. Brian Friedlander, Assistant Professor at the College of St. Elizabeth. Free admission and parking, light refreshment provided.

Have an upcoming NJ Event that you’d like to post?

We’d also like your contribution and suggestions to create a comprehensive listing of NJ Events. We’ll accept any type of event, either social media-related or non-social media, such as local, community, or special event in New Jersey.  Help Wanted! We need someone to volunteer to help keep this section updated; WordPress experience required.

Thanks to John Knoeppel @EatontownBB for suggesting the idea of adding NJ Events section!

Header Photo by Eva Abreu, NJ Social Media: Newark Mayor Cory Booker, March 30, 2010, NJLM Social Media for Public Officials Conference

Leave a comment below with your upcoming New Jersey Event Listing or
Send Email:  editor {at} njsocialmedia.com and we’ll add your Event at no charge.
Thanks for your support!

Promoting all things New Jersey, using Social Media. Looking forward to seeing you at a NJ Event one day!

Eva Abreu, Publisher/Editor
Email: editor {at}  njsocialmedia {dot} com
Twitter: @NJSocialMedia
Facebook: NJ Social Media
Tel. 1-877-708-0884
Mobile 973-610-5571

Published by:
Eva Abreu Productions LLC
1308 Centennial Ave, Suite 407
Piscataway, NJ 08854

NJ Photo Credit: Bob Jagendorf via Flickr

August 2, 2010 – Westfield Concession Management, developer and manager of Continental Airlines’ Terminal C concessions program at Newark Liberty International Airport, proudly announces that Terminal C’s concessions are now communicating with customers via Facebook and Twitter. This new social media campaign marks the first of its kind at a Westfield-managed concessions program, and will communicate new store openings, promotions and sales, travel-related news items, and other fun and interesting happenings at EWR Terminal C.

“Because the Continental passenger is extremely savvy and connected, we are confident that they will engage in a fun and informative dialogue with Terminal C’s concessions through Facebook and Twitter,” said Ken Buckner, Senior Marketing Manager, Westfield Concession Management.

Terminal C’s Facebook page, facebook.com/ShopNewarkTerminalC, will direct customers to the latest sales and specials, alert them of new merchandise, and provide opportunities for passengers to post concessions related comments such as their favorite pre-flight meal or the best place to get an afternoon snack.  All Facebook posts will be simultaneously tweeted via twitter.com/ShopEWRC, where relevant airport/airline related news and other interesting information will also be tweeted or re-tweeted.

In addition to Facebook and Twitter, passengers can also utilize FourSquare (available as a free application on Blackberry and iPhone) to “Check-In” in at various Terminal C concessions, post comments, and get helpful tips from other users.

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Westfield Concession Management, a division of the Westfield Group, is one of the largest and most experienced airport concession developers and managers in the United States. With more than 550 tenants encompassing over 515,000 square feet of retail and food & beverage services, Westfield managed airport locations generate more than $700M in annual sales. Westfield’s airport retail portfolio consists of some of the nation’s top transportation hubs including: Boston Logan International, Newark Liberty International, JFK International, Ronald Reagan Washington National, Washington Dulles International, George Bush Houston Intercontinental, Orlando International and Miami International.

Photo credit:  Newark International Airport Terminal C; Creative Commons Flickr/kawanet

Updated Aug. 1, 2010

Manager, Social Media Communications – Full Time
TD Bank, Mt. Laurel, NJ
Manage end-to-end process of social media engagement as it relates to listening / monitoring, engaging content development / modification and relevant conversations, and measurement for successful outcomes. More info, to apply: visit CareerBuilder.com job posting #235797: http://shar.es/0nFYH

Updated July 27, 2010

Executive Director for the Citizens’ Campaign
The Center for Civic Responsibility (the Citizens’ Campaign) is seeking an Executive Director to manage day-to-day operations. Experience in managing people and in large donor and foundation fundraising is required. The Executive Director will report to the Chairman and Board of Directors who will set the over-all strategic direction. Salary will be commensurate with experience. More details here:  http://www.jointhecampaign.com/about-current/job-listings.html

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Development Manager (Full Time, Entry Level)
Junior Achievement of NJ – Princeton, NJ
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
•    Stewardship
•    Reporting
•    Acting JANJ Liaison to JA Worldwide on grant applications and reporting
•    New Business Development
•    Special Events
•    Acting Liaison to Program Department on behalf of Development Department
•    Coordinating one JANJ Newsletter from concept to completion
•    Coordinating District Board Quarterly Meetings
•    Managing Constant Contact for Development Team
•    Assist in Campaign and Appeals
•    Assist in Website Maintenance
•    Assist in creation of Annual Report
•    Assist in Press Release writing and distribution
Must be/have:
•    Proficient in Microsoft Office and data management
•    Excellent writing skills
•    Strong communication skills –A people person
•    Highly motivated and enthusiastic
Submit resume with writing sample and cover letter to Dawn Schwartz, dschwartz@ja-nj.org. No calls please.

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Updated July 7, 2010
Talented Sous Chef for Crowne Plaza Somerset-Bridgewater
110 Davidson Avenue, Somerset, NJ, 08873. Tel. 732-560-0500
The position is part time 20-30 hours per week. An absolute must is cooking from scratch! Anyone interested, please email resume to tvetterl@cpsomerset.com or visit Crowne Plaza Somerset-Bridgewater Facebook Page

Sales Account Executive – Trenton NJ
Posted by Purple Stripe Productions more info here:  http://bit.ly/psp-salesexec
Looking for an energetic, motivated Sales Account Executive with a proven track record of successful sales to sell our company’s services and products.  Purple Stripe specializes in interactive media marketing, including social media strategy, content management systems, and digital brand management. This position requires the ability to work off-site (telecommuting) , but candidate must be available to meet at our Trenton NJ office twice a week.  The Sales Account Executive position is being offered on a generous commission-only basis.

Updated July 6, 2010
Job: Northern NJ Media Sales Consultant, outside advertising sales position for AT&T Interactive Yellow Pages. See Monster.com job posting

Updated: June 24, 2010
For NJ folks seeking employment, a free 10 week program in Flemington NJ is being offered by MGD Services. They are accepting applications for Wired for Hire, which is part of a national program, visit http://mgdservices.com/career-center/candidate-services for details.

Updated: June 11, 2010
I’ve decided to pull the plug on comments and disable the feature because of the extraordinary amount of spam, until further notice. Has anyone else done the same thing? Sorry for any inconvenience!

Although this next posting isn’t a job, I thought to post it here as FYI:

Clinical Research Study
Smoking Cessation Laboratory, Rutgers University Dept. of Psychology
Offers $20 compensation per visit, up to $130, plus a chance to earn up to $578 in bonuses
Contact: Danielle E. McCarthy, Ph.D., Tel. 732-445-1382 Rutgers Dept of Psychology
Are you ready to quit smoking? If so, consider taking part in a research study that: Provides nicotine lozenges at no cost to you, provides one-on-one counseling at no cost to you, tracks your thoughts, emotions, choices, behavior, and performances while you quit. Requires visits to our office in Piscataway NJ. Must be over 18 years old.

Here are job listings that I discovered when stopping by or walking past their window in and around town:

Vintage Vinyl Records
Hiring part-time retail position, 10-15 hours per week
Tel. (732) 225-7717
51 Lafayette Road, Fords, NJ 08863-1046

Wayne’s Wash World III, Highland Park NJ
Hiring: Laundry Attendant, $8/hr, part-time nights 5pm-11pm & fill-in
435 Raritan Ave, Highland Park (across from Stop & Shop)
Tel. 732 317 8616
Wi-fi, TVs, Air Conditioning

Aldi, South Plainfield and New Brunswick, NJ – Full Time Cashiers $12 per hour (20-40 hours per week)
Apply in person:  Aldi Grocery Store, 1620 Park Ave, South Plainfield NJ 07080
Potential for advancement, shift schedule between 5AM – 10PM, 7 days/week, must have high school diploma or GED, be at least 18 years old, be able to lift up to 45 lbs, pass drug screening and background check.
Web: www.ALDI.com

Sonic Restaurant, 3331 Rt. 27 (at Vliet Rd), Franklin Twp. (Somerset), NJ
Tel. (732) 951-8000 or email: sonicoffranklin@gmail.com
Search other Sonic locations opening in NJ
“It’s a very fun work environment, more in the entertainment than the food industry”, says Robert Mascia, Sonic franchise owner. (As reported on Oct. 15, 2009 at MyCentralJersey.com)

A. Harrington Limousine Service is NOW Hiring Experienced Chauffeurs
A CDL with passenger endorsement is required.
Send your resume to: work@harringtonlimo.com or
visit us at 54 Ethel Road, Edison NJ
We are ANYWHERE YOU NEED US TO BE!
(as posted on A.Harrington Limo Facebook Oct. 23, 2009)

Do you have a success story finding a job in NJ using Social Media or through your social networks? Please leave a comment or email: editor at njsocialmedia dot com. We’ll post it on our new section: Hire Me NJ

Credit: Photo by CarbonNYC on Flickr

Thank you to our television media partner:
ICEPN-TV

Here is the first of three videos produced by ICEPN-TV.
Eva Abreu introduces Keynote Speaker David Mathison, author of “Be The Media“:

Additional videos and links to be added…

* * *

Thank you to Elizabeth Williams, Photographer
Girl + Camera LLC

Click on the screen shot below to view NJ Social Media Conference photographs by Elizabeth Williams on her blog.

* * *

Thank you to Kristin Weinstein for speaking at our Conference

…and also blogging about it!

Click on pic below to read Kristin’s blog post:

* * *

Thank you to Karma411 for sponsoring and speaking at our Conference!

…and also blogging about it!

Click on pic below to read Karma411 blog post:
http://www.karma411.com/blog/2010/06/23/355/

* * *

Thank you for helping to spread the influence and benefit of social media in New Jersey.

Do you have a favorite NJ blog? Do you know of a NJ blog not included which we should add (including your own)? Please leave a comment below to let us know or send an email to: editor {at} NJSocialMedia {dot} com. (sorry, due to extraordinary amount of spam, we’ve had to close comments on this post.  Sorry for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding).

Business:

Freelance Writing Gigs by Deborah Ng
The number one online community for freelance writers

In The Money by Asbury Park Press Business writers David P. Willis, Michael Diamond, & Business editor Dennis Carmody
A look at how business news affects your world

Pachter’s Points by Barbara Pachter
Workplace blog providing business etiquette tips and career suggestions

The Freed Marketer by  Kevin Haughwout
A fresh look at marketing practices for the layman and the professional

Food & Beverage:

Gonzo Gastronomy by Katie Pizzuto
The Angels & Demons of Food & Wine

Jersey Bites by Deborah Smith
A Quest for Food with Attitude

Jersey Girl Cooks by Lisa
A recipe & cooking blog which includes local NJ ingredients; also covers Lisa’s foodie adventures

John and Lisa are Eating in South Jersey by John & Lisa Howard Fusco
Our eating adventures in and around South Jersey!

NJFoodie by Jane
Honest, non-biased opinion of local restaurants in the beautiful state of NJ (and maybe a few in the NY and Philly area)

Simply Beer by Peter Kennedy
This home brewer loves his beer!

South Jersey Locavore by Robin
A place to find information about sources of local food, wine and beer and the restaurants and events that support local foods

Going Green:

Leafygreen.info by Mike
Green Product Reviews for a Green World

Life:

An Englishman in New Jersey by Graham Gudgin
Graham shares his experiences as an ex-pat Brit living in the United States

Italian American Girl by Margaret
A cultural blog about growing up Italian American in the USA

Karma Cooler by Rebeca Trautner
Inspiring people to spread good karma around the world

Moms, Dads, & Family:

NJ Playgrounds by Sheila @njplaygrounds
Your complete guide to NJ Playgrounds

NJ Towns:

Bergenation.com by Mike
Bergen County Blog covering all 247 Square Miles

Freehold in Jersey by Colleen Curry
A place for you to find out about anything and everything going on in Freehold, NJ

Metuchen Living by Valerie and Ernie Agtarap
People, Events and Places in the “Brainy Borough”

Here in HP by Leora W.
A potpourri of: Highland Park; Jewish topics; Central New Jersey; art, Twitter, WordPress, health, web design, gardening …

Non-Profit:

For GrantWriters Only by Melanie R. Negrin
For those interested in nonprofit/philanthropy and fundraising/grant writing

Special Olympics New Jersey by @SONewJersey
Our mission is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities

Photography:

Scott Wyden Imagery by Scott Wyden
Blog by Scott Wyden Kivowitz, New Jersey based photographer

Sports:

Ice on Broad St by Cody Gray
Daily blog about NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers
“I am a senior in High school,  I’ve been following the Flyers as far back as i can remember and love to give my opinion and share the latest news, but my girlfriend didn’t always want to hear so i thought that starting a blog would be a good idea.” -Cody Gray

Technology:

Attention Digital by Johnny Makkar
A blog about digital marketing, mobile trends, and the social web

Digital Duels by Cavaughn Noel
Blog about digital competition and strategies

Things to Do:

NJ Hiking by Tom & Dawn
A blog about hiking in New Jersey, with trail info, photos, and videos

Videography:

Quintanomedia by Anthony Quintano
Blog about media, videography, photography and news-related happenings in the North Jersey area

Weddings:

NJWedding.com by Erik Kent
A new blog by NJ Wedding.com, helping New Jersey brides & grooms plan their wedding

Add your NJ blog to our Directory!

Feel free to add your info in comments below or send an email to: editor {at} njsocialmedia {dot} com and we’ll update our listing with your NJ blog.

Please include the following info:
- URL to your blog
- Your name (and Twitter username)
- Brief description, NJ location (or tag) for your blog

(Hat tip to Deborah Smith, Social Media Consultant for the suggestion to add this new NJ Bloggers section!)

NJ Bloggers!
We also recommend creating an Expert Page for yourself on this site :  SelfGrowth.com (created by NJ resident David Riklan). SelfGrowth.com is the most complete guide to information about Self -Improvement, Personal Growth and Self Help on the Internet. It is designed to be an organized directory, with articles and references to thousands of other Web Sites on the World Wide Web.

Volunteer Help Wanted!
If you have WordPress programming skills, we’re looking for volunteer assistance with updates / RSS feeds. Please contact us if you can assist. Thanks!

Regards,

Eva Abreu, NJ Social Media
Email: editor {at} njsocialmedia {dot} com
Tel. 1-877-708-0884
Facebook: NJSocialMedia

Photo by: Annie Mole via Flickr

Craig Reiss, author of the blog post, describes 7 Post-Old-Spice Principles of Social Media Marketing, which he explains, any of us can apply — even if we’re not Proctor and Gamble and  “don’t have a big-time ad agency writing on-the-fly copy” (referencing Wieden + Kennedy, the ad agency behind the Old Spice social media videos).

In principle number 6 (Keep the videos simple and short), Reiss gives a nod to New Jersey’s own Gary Vaynerchuk:

Vaynerchuk, too, is a great example of minimalist consistency. His winelibrary.com videos are all shot straight on in the dingy, poorly lit conference room of his wine store in New Jersey. Doesn’t  matter. He became a self-proclaimed $60 million wine shop and a frequent guest on Leno and Conan O’Brien. Don’t let the setting or the production distract you from putting across the persona.

Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at a taping of an episode about AOL for GaryVaynerchuk.com in Gary V’s office. As you can see, the production elements are basically just one guy (his cameraman Mott) with a video camera on a tripod, an extra light on a stand in the background, and a clip-on microphone on Gary, who is sitting at his desk. (The camerawoman, who is not usually a part of Gary’s daily tapings, is Lauren Saffa who was there for the day, shooting bonus video footage for the Vook version of Gary’s book Crush It!) This was filmed during a NJ Tweetup that I coordinated at the Wine Library on July 20, 2009 with social media users from NJ, NYC and Philadelphia  (behind-the-scenes footage by Eva Abreu):

Here’s a link to the actual video on GaryVaynerchuk.com http://garyvaynerchuk.com/post/145699373/aol-doing-things-i-think-many-people-should-be

So the point is, we all have a shot at becoming the next Old Spice Man or going global like Gary V. did from his father’s original Shopper’s Discount Liquor store in Springfield NJ.

What are your thoughts or questions about using video in social media? Leave a comment below or send a tweet or Facebook.

Talk to you soon,

Eva Abreu, NJ Social Media
Email: editor {at} njsocialmedia {dot} com

Congratulations to all!

We’d like to thank all the finalists, inductees, judges, their friends and followers and everyone else involved for their participation in this First Annual NJ Social Media Hall of Fame. We’d like to get your input for how to improve upon this for next year. Contact us via email: editor@njsocialmedia.com with your ideas, thoughts and suggestions.

Also, please join us on June 18, 2010 to meet some of our inductees, finalists and judges at the NJ Social Media Conference, Crowne Plaza Somerset NJ. We look forward to seeing you there, or at one of our other events, or at a business, event or location in New Jersey, in support of others in NJ who use social media.  ~Eva

———————-

Last few days of voting !

Update: 4/23/10, 3:00pm: Polling via Twtsurvey voting opens today!
Update: 4/20/10, 9:45am : YouTube and BlogTalkRadio voting opens today!

10 Finalists: (alphabetical order by Twitter name)
@AmyVernon, @hhrmediagroup, @jerseybites, @jessicalevin, @leoraw, @lynetteradio, @njfamilymag, @njplaygrounds, @podcaststeve, @tweetamar

Public Voting for #NJSM09 Hall of Fame Inductees will roll out in phases, across multiple platforms, over the next 2 weeks, including:

• Blog Comments Voting begins Tue. April 20. To vote: leave a comment on YouTube #NJSM09 Finalist Video and/or BlogTalkRadio #NJSM09 Episode (must be registered users of each site). Limit one vote on each site, must include reason for vote.
• 
  
• Facebook – Voting begins Mon. April 12. To vote: leave a comment on the#NJSM09 Voting wall post at www.Facebook.com/NJSocialMedia (must be a Fan)
• LinkedIn – Voting begins Tue. April 13. To vote: leave comment on #NJSM09 Event Listing (must have LinkedIn account)
• 
  
• Polling  via Twtsurvey Voting begin Fri. April 23. To vote: choose one Finalist at http://twtsurvey.com/ff01yf. Limit 1 vote per IP address / account.

You are allowed only one vote per each platform above, per user account.

Please explain the reason for your choice when you vote on YouTube, BlogTalkRadio, Facebook and LinkedIn voting platforms.

All voting, across all platforms will remain open until 11:59pm EST Sunday, April 25, 2010. Any votes received after that time will not be counted.

Limit one vote per user account per platform for the duration of the voting period

• i.e. You can only vote once on Facebook, once on Twitter, one Blog Comment, etc., only casting 1 vote for only one Finalist per platform.
• The first eligible vote cast from a user’s account will be counted; additional votes cast from the same account on a specific platform will not be counted and will be disqualified and/or flagged for removal.
• NJSM Hall of Fame Finalists are not eligible to vote.

After voting period ends, all votes, across all platforms, will be reviewed, tallied and recorded. Inductees will be selected based on voting data, voting verification and quality of comments. Originality counts!

• Note: Flame wars, derogatory or defamatory remarks will not be tolerated and comments may be subject to removal without warning. The discovery of bots, auto-generating apps, multiple voting abuse, rigging, intimidation or any other form of vote tampering, including offers of cash, incentives or compensation in exchange for votes may result in immediate disqualification of the votes and/or candidate.

Inductees:

• Three (3) Inductees will be chosen and announced at the NJ Social Media Luncheon in honor of all Finalists on April 30, 2010, 11:30am-1:30pm Crowne Plaza, Somerset NJ (open to the public, $35 per person, RSVP here).

Voting is open to the public, globally.

Thank you for your participation! Any questions, please email: confirm {at} njsocialmedia {dot} com

***

Update: 4/7/10 – After a LONG delay, we’re announcing that public voting will take place starting at 11:59pm EST on Sunday, April 11, 2010 until 11:59pm EST Sunday, April 25, 2010. Winners will be announced at a special NJ Social Media Luncheon in honor of all the NJ Social Media Hall of Fame Finalists on Friday, April 30, 2010, 11:30am-1:30pm at the Crowne Plaza, Somerset NJ (which will take place instead of the full NJ Social Media Conference which has been postponed to June 18, 2010). Voting details to be announced shortly.

Update: 1/14/10 Our apologies–have been working out technical+copyright issues. Will be updating very shortly… Thanks for your patience! ~Eva

Updated 12/7/09: We’re pleased to announce our Top 10 Finalists!

(Here are all 10 Finalists, in alphabetical order)

@AmyVernon

@hhrmediagroup

@jerseybites

@jessicalevin

@leoraw

@lynetteradio

@njfamilymag

@njplaygrounds

@podcaststeve

@tweetamar

Congratulations to our Finalists! We’ll be posting their photos and profiles shortly, plus feature exclusive interviews with each Finalist. They will advance to Phase 2 of our Public Voting Process , along with Judge’s Choice Finalists (to be announced). We’ll ask for your help to determine who will be voted in as Inductees to the NJ Social Media 2009 Hall of Fame!

Thank you to all of our Nominees, Finalists, Judges, Advisory Panel, Voters, Friends and Supporters for your participation in the first round. We look forward to your participation in Phase 2, which will be announced shortly.

Updated 12/5/09:
All Top 10 Finalists have now been contacted via Twitter Direct Message or Email. We will announce their names after we receive their Acceptance. They will advance to Phase 2 of the Public Voting Process for consideration as Inductees into the NJ Social Media Hall of Fame! Congratulations to our Top 10 Finalists and thanks to all of our Nominees and voters for participating!

Updated 12/2/09: Finalists have been chosen! We will contact them individually before we release their names publicly.
Finalists will have the opportunity to move on to the next phase, which will take place by public vote, to determine who will be Inducted into #NJSM09 Hall of Fame. Every vote counts! More details to be announced shortly….

NOMINATIONS are now closed for NJ Social Media 2009 Hall of Fame!
#NJSM09 Hall of Fame

Updated:  11/29/09
The NJ Social Media 2009 Hall of Fame was created to recognize the influence and contributions of NJ-based individuals, businesses and non-profit organizations in their exemplary use of Social Media.

Added 11/30/09:
Ten Finalists will be selected by our Panel of Judges from the list of eligible Nominees, based on the following Criteria:

• Quality of Nomination Tweets
• Social Media Presence
• Quality of Online Postings and Social Media Conversations
• Use of Social Media to Represent a Unique Personality or Brand

Announcing our Panel of Judges:

• Eva Abreu
• Deirdre Breakenridge
• Brian Donohue (added 12/2/09)
  
• Chris Kieff

Advisory Panel:

• Liz Pullen

I invited a diverse group of individuals from different backgrounds, career and life experiences to participate as members of the Panel of Judges or Advisory Panel, who I felt were fair, objective and had a strong understanding of Social Media who could share their expert opinions. In addition to the list of Judges above, also invited were Gary Vaynerchuk and Mayor Cory Booker, but they were unable to participate due to their schedules. ~EA

Nomination Period:
Starts at 01:00 am EST on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009.
Ends at 11:59 pm EST on Monday, Nov. 30, 2009

Quick Rules: (see Full Rules below for details)

• Vote via Twitter-only
• Use hashtag #NJSM09
• Explain in your tweet WHY this user should be included in NJSM Hall of Fame.
  
• Limit one vote per day
• Anyone can vote
• Nominees (winners) must be NJ-based
• Do NOT nominate: @NJSocialMedia or @Eva_Abreu @dbreakenridge @ckieff @nwjerseyliz (they are Administrators/Judges and not eligible)

Full Rules: (updated 11/24/09 at 9:30am EST)

1. You can nominate yourself or any individual, business, or non-profit organization based in New Jersey. Anyone can nominate; but all Nominees must be NJ-based (currently living or working in NJ or located in NJ for at least 30 consecutive days during 2009).

2. Nominees must be on Twitter and have a Twitter user_name.

3. Nominations accepted only via Twitter, posted as a public Twitter post (i.e. Tweet), in 140 characters or less, and must include hashtag #NJSM09 at the beginning of the Tweet.
–#Note about hashtag: Make sure to enter “09″ as numbers, as in the numbers zero-nine; don’t enter the letter “O” because if you do, your Nomination Tweet won’t show up in the #hashtag search)

4. Nomination Tweets should be in this format: (do not include quotation marks)
“   #NJSM09 @user_name because he/she/they are  { __fill in the blank why you nominate this user___}  ”

5. URLs, including shortened URLs, may be permitted in the Nomination Tweet, just as long as it links to something related to the Nominee and why they should be included in the #NJSM09 Hall of Fame. Examples of acceptable links include original blog posts talking about the virtues of the Nominee, or original videos, audio podcasts, pictures, or articles on the same subject. If the URL has nothing to do with that specific Nominee or the #NJSM09 Hall of Fame Awards, or could be considered spam, then that specific Nomination Tweet will become void and will be disqualified. *Note: Negative campaigning and flame wars will not be tolerated: any Nomination Tweet that is derogatory or defames another Nominee will be void and disqualified. Play nicely please.

6. Ten (10) Finalists will be chosen from all the Nominees and will be announced on Wed. Dec. 2, 2009.

7. Every Nomination Tweet will be reviewed, just as long as it contains the hashtag #NJSM09 at the beginning of the Tweet. Finalists will be chosen based on quality of Nomination Tweets received (emphasis on QUALITY, not quantity). In other words, this is not going to be a popularity contest. The total number of Nomination Tweets received for a user will NOT be the deciding factor on who gets chosen as a Finalist.  What we’re looking for in quality Nomination Tweets are thoughtful, well-worded Tweets about why you think this Twitter user deserves to be included in the NJ Social Media Hall of Fame.  What this means is that a Twitter user who receives just 1 meaningful Nomination Tweet may have a better chance of becoming a Finalist, as compared to the user who receives 10,000 Nomination Tweets that all say, “pick me!” or “because they deserve it”. Sure, maybe they DO deserve it, but explain to us in your Tweet exactly WHY they deserve it.

8. Only one (1) Nomination Tweet per day will be accepted from one Twitter account. In other words, you can only vote once per day. If more than 1 Nomination Tweet is submitted by the same Twitter account on the same day, we’ll only count the first one of the day. The Nominee can receive unlimited Nomination Tweets in one day, just as long as each Nomination Vote is an original, single vote of the day from a specific individual Twitter account. Updated 11/29/09: Hint — Originality counts! Judges may choose not to include a Nomination Tweet if it contains the same exact wording repeated in a previous Nomination Tweet. In other words, tell us something new and different about the Nominee in each Nominee Tweet and why we should consider this user.

9. Re-tweets (RTs) will NOT be counted. All Nomination Tweets must begin with #NJSM09 and must be an originally written Tweet.

10. The following Twitter users will NOT be eligible for Nomination: @NJSocialMedia @Eva_Abreu @dbreakenridge @ckieff @nwjerseyliz (additional names may be added). These individuals cannot be included in the Nomination for NJ Social Media Hall of Fame, due to their direct affiliation.

11. Finalists will have their name, photo, contact information and bio/description posted on the NJ Social Media website and also included in written promotional materials and publications related to the “NJ Social Media 2009 Hall of Fame”, and will receive a “NJ Social Media 2009 Hall of Fame” certificate. Additional prizes may be announced. Sponsorship inquiries are welcome.

For additional Questions or Sponsorship Opportunities:
Send a Tweet or DM to @NJSocialMedia or leave a comment below, or email: editor {at} njsocialmedia {dot} com.

Best wishes and have fun nominating!

Regards,
Eva Abreu, Publisher
NJ Social Media

Photo credit: bpende

Added 11/30/09:
Background:
I created the NJ Social Media 2009 Hall of Fame concept, loosely based on a variety of different awards, contests and ceremonies that I’ve observed in the past (both web-based and offline too), such as:

140conf/NOW Awards (Jeff Pulver): http://140conf.com/blog

Mashable’s Open Web Awards: http://mashable.com/owa/pages/rules

PRSarahEvans Top 50 Tweeple: http://prsarahevans.com/2009/08/the-top-50-tweeples-to-follow-2009-edition/

Shorty Awards: http://shortyawards.com/about/

Webby Awards: http://www.webbyawards.com/about/

NJ Hall of Fame: http://www.njhalloffame.org/factsheet.htm

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: http://www.rockhall.com/inductees/induction-process/

I’ve also worked behind the scenes on large scale awards ceremonies such as Grammy Awards, Tony Awards, MTV Music Awards, etc. and wanted to bring a little bit of that excitement to this process and to NJ as well. So, that’s my motivation : ) ~EA

Most people have heard of LinkedIn, but it’s just as important to know how it can help you as well knowing what it is. Before using LinkedIn, it is recommended to have an updated resume and know proper email and phone etiquette.

LinkedIn (http://www.LinkedIn.com) is a professional networking website where members search and connect with other people to find people, jobs and business opportunities. It’s primarily focused on the business community. You create an individual network of your immediate connections, and two other levels of people connected to any of your connections. There’s no fee to join but you can upgrade your account to access other features.

Let’s get started.

You build a profile of yourself, what you do, who you work for, etc. Consider this like an online resume builder. It is worth spending some time to fill out your profile fully, because you never know who you’ll find you online – a business contact, ex-colleague, prospect or even a potential employee.

One of the biggest mistakes people make when joining LinkedIn is that they sit back and wait for something to happen, which is only natural. Any form of networking needs you to be proactive to grow your network. LinkedIn makes this very easy for you to do.

Here are some basic ways to start growing your LinkedIn network:

•    Take out your business card collection, or use your email contact list. Go through each one and do a quick search on LinkedIn, and if you find them there, contact them first and ask if you can send them an invite. Make sure you personalize the invitations.

•    Spend some time and think of people you have worked with during your career, and if you find them, link to them. They may have gone to the same school, college or university, or perhaps you worked with them at your current or previous organization. You might be surprised at how many of these people are on LinkedIn.

•    Each time you get a request to join a network, either accept it or archive it. If you choose the response ‘I don’t know this person’, this will count against the member. If a LinkedIn member receives five of these type of responses, their account is Restricted.

•    If you do find someone in your expanding network who you would like to connect to, but don’t have an email address for, then you can still contact to them by requesting an introduction through someone in your network who is connected to the person

•    Ask current colleagues, ex-colleagues and business partners, etc for recommendations on LinkedIn. That will help build your profile further.

Future articles will build on the basics of LinkedIn and other business networking websites.

Kenneth Lang is a Social Networking Project Manager based in New Jersey who develops clients’ on-line profiles and business plans. He has more than 15 years of Information Technology experience working for Fortune 500 companies, non-profit companies and small businesses. Kenneth can be reached at kennethlang@optonline.net or view his LinkedIn profile at http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/langk .

How was your July 4th Weekend? Let us know what you did by leaving a comment below or on our Facebook Page or send a tweet on Twitter or send an email: editor {at} njsocialmedia {dot} com.

Here’s a video that I produced from the July 4th weekend: Fireworks in Highland Park NJ, July 3, 2010 for NJ Social Media.

Special thanks to Leora Wenger for her Facebook and “Here in HP” blog post, which is how I originally found out about the fireworks returning back to Highland Park.

Posted July 2, 2010
What events are happening this weekend? What are your plans for July 4th Weekend in NJ? Social Media related or not, let us know what’s going on in the state of New Jersey (or globally!)

Enjoy, have a safe holiday weekend, check back in with us again next week!

Talk to you soon,
Eva Abreu, NJ Social Media

(Photo credit: Bain Collection, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA, hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print)