Aaron Strout : Citizen Marketer

Hiring in a "2.0" World

• Open a job requisition
• Write job description
• Post job description
• Take in resumes
• Call/e-mail back potential candidates
• Interview leading candidates
• Hire the best candidate (in a perfect world at least)
  

• Why not see what my friends have to say about me on LinkedIn?
• Look at what's been written about me (good or bad) on Google search results.
• Check out my writing style and thought process on my work and/or personal blog.
• See who my professional and personal contacts are on Facebook.
  

• Can eliminate at least two or three steps from the hiriing process.
• Don't need to pay a broker - I can post on my communities (Facebook, Twitter and Craigslist)
  
• Should have a much higher success rate with whomever I hire because I'll already know a lot about them.

• A competitive salary
• A great job in a hot market
• 401(k) plan
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• You get to work with me!
  

1. No resumes. At least not the kind written in MS Word.
2. If you want to get me your background, do it in the "community way." Either blog about why we should hire you or get me to your profile on LinkedIn (or your preferred social network.)
3. DON'T e-mail me. If you are a community-centric person, connect with me on Twitter or Facebook - you can DM me on Twitter or email me through Facebook.

• Be a great writer - prove this to me with your blog. If you don't blog, your chances of getting this job are slim. The reason you need to be a good writer is that you will be:
• blogging
• writing presentations for various C-level executives
• podcast write ups
• session descriptions
• internal communications
• weekly columns
  
• Be detail-oriented - this doesn't mean that you keep all your pencils and notepads on your desk at a 90 degree angle but it does mean that you are VERY organized and that you don't let important items slip through the cracks. You'll be focused on:
  
• event logistics
• updates to the We Are Smarter site
• Love social media! A good lithmus test is whether or not you're active in FB, MySpace, Twitter, or some other social network (company communities/SN's count). LinkedIn and Plaxo sort of count but not as much as some of the others I've mentioned.
• You will help us evolve our Facebook, Youtube and Twitter strategies
• You will also be one of several company members that is visible in the social media community
  
• Bring High energy! I don't want you bouncing off the walls like you just pounded four cans of Red Bull but you need to be on your game most of the time.
• Be a hard worker. I am an always on kind of person (just ask my wife.) If this scares you, maybe you shouldn't apply. We promise not to chain you to your desk (that's why God invented laptops and WiFi) but don't expect 9-5 either.
• Have some marketing in your background. Ideally 3-5 years of experience at a big brand or start up. B2B marketing is a plus.
  
• Knowledge of conferences/live events/webinars. We speak and sponsor at a lot of events. Part of this job will be helping with presentations, manning the booth, and pressing the flesh.
• Podcasting skills or a desire to podcast (this is a nice to have not a need to have.) At a minimum, you will help with podcast production for the "We Show".
• Have an interest in being a community manager.
  
• A bachelors degree (can't get rid of all the "old school" requirements completely.)
  
  
  

• Also be a great writer. Blogging is nice but you should at least be able to give us several writing samples that you'r proud of.
• Be able to collaborate with our executive team to establish PR/AR goals, objectives and metrics (no small task.)
  
• Manage our PR agency relationship (yes, you get a team to help you). Focus is on:
• Developing corporate a communications plan
• Writing and editing press releases including regular company communications, technology launches, customer case studies, partner releases, etc. (yup, back to the good old-fashioned boring stuff.)
  
• Conceive, write and edit bylined articles about relevant technology topics (do it well and you get to be famous!)
  
• Track competitive developments and craft creative responses, positioning, depositioning (translation = we measure stuff)
  
• Build and maintain relationships with technology, trade, bloggers, podcasters and business reporters in print, broadcast and online media - if you don't understand the term "don't pitch me bro', you may not want to apply."
  
• Build and maintain relationships with industry analysts; craft regular communications to key industry and technology analysts
  Manage incoming media requests and conduct/staff interviews  (translation = sucking up is highly encouraged - as long as it's legal.)
  
• Develop and manage speaking opportunities, develop speaking platforms for key Mzinga technology and business spokespeople - ideally you can trick our PR agency into doing this for you.
  

• Minimum of 6-8 years of experience in PR and analyst relations roles, preferably in enterprise software / B2B high-tech companies, with knowledge in the areas of software, Web 2.0 and emerging technology(but we're open to creative experience)
• A bachelors degree (can't get rid of all the "old school" requirements completely.)
• Proven, measurable success in achieving positive PR and AR outcomes (there's that "measurement" word again.)
  
• Experience in working with technology media, business/consumer media and industry analysts required
• Experience in managing external PR agency (this should be easy - you get to tell other people what to do.)
  
• Excellent verbal, interpersonal and written communication skills (translation = you must be able to write good & speak good)
  
• Demonstrates a sense of urgency and a sense of humor (are you getting the sense that a sense of  humor is a must?)
  
• Outstanding, detail-oriented writer and critical editor (yup, no 90 degree angles with pencils and pads but can't let the important stuff slip.)
  
• Expertise and success with blogs, social media and other “web 2.0” technologies as PR enablers essential. (Maybe it is a good idea if you know how to blog after all.)
  
• Ability to manage and execute multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-moving and competitive environment (if you can juggle - especially stuff that's on fire - you'll be a perfect fit.)

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