Day 655! Wishing, waiting, anticipating

I remember when I wrote my blog on day 600. I was thinking surely I would not have to be sounding like a broken record by day 650.

But here it is, day 655, and still waiting! Oh, not just waiting. I don't just sit around and hope a job comes to me because of this blog. This blog is to just highlight the problems job seekers face. And although I am waiting to hear back from a couple positions I am really keen on, I am not depending on them (obviously history has showed me not to), and I am still job searching and applying left, right and centre.

I have finished my editing job though that I have mentioned before. I enjoyed it! Sadly, it was a one-off, but it is something I would be happy to do again. I cannot depend on something like that to be the steady income I need right now, but it is certainly something to consider in the future! It was something that took a lot of self-discipline and personal deadlines (because the author was in no rush to get it done but I wanted to complete it in a timely manner), but I am very proud of the work I undertook.

Sadly now that means I am without anything to do again! This week I will attend a meeting about a volunteering role and hope that something comes form that to keep me busy and out and about in the community, as well as a potential to continue to develop skills. It's an exciting project, one that I have had experience in before, but I will talk more about it when it is up and running.

I mentioned before that I had applied for a couple positions that I am anxious to hear back on. One I know for sure I would absolutely excel in: working on creating content for the website, assisting in marketing and working with the public. That deadline closed Friday, so I hope right now HR is looking at my CV saying, "She's perfect! Let's get her in for an interview now!" Haha, if only! Perhaps I should send them the Ten Reasons Why I Should Be Hired post, just in case!

In addition to that, I have made my CV available for "temporary" work on some of the recruitment sites. I am happy to undertake temp work as long as it adds to my experience!

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Before I sign off before going back to job searching, I want to say a big THANK YOU to those who have "liked", "shared", or "retweeted" my blog on social media. others have sent me links to potential jobs, and I really am thankful for it. I may not have found that job yet, but it has helped spread my message and exposed the blog to potential employers. I appreciate all of it! You never know...it might actually lead to that elusive job one day!

Don't forget: e-mail me, follow me on Twitter or connect with me on LinkedIn!

Day 627: Training, editing and possible ugly Christmas socks!

So we're on day 627 now. I wish I could say during this time I have been busy! I have tried to be but the biggest reason for my absence has been coming down with sinusitis and labryinthitis (a lovely condition of the inner ear that leaves one feeling dizzy for days on end)! I couldn't even read e-mails or anything, let alone job search. The condition leaves you almost feeling hungover, and it would not have been a great impression at any interview I may have been lucky to land! I'm definitely on the mend now though so it's back to the traditional job search, but here is what I have been up to in the meantime:

Last week I attended a training session with Sporting Memories Network at Lancashire County Cricket Ground. This included how to start and successfully deliver reminiscence groups using sport as the driving force for the older community. This is essentially what I have done during my time at Everton, which you can read more about the programme and my role here! While this is just for a possible volunteering opportunity, it was great to network with people from different backgrounds all together for the purpose of bringing joy to the elderly community.

I have also reached the halfway point in the last course of the Social Media Marketing specialization course by Northwestern University I have been taken via Coursera. This course so far, The Business of Social, has been about data and analytics, and how to understand your campaign's strengths and weaknesses. This specialization has consisted of five courses (and an optional Capstone Project which I will undertake), and I have obtained four certificates so far from it. It's been really insightful, and I recommend Coursera to anyone who wants to learn a new skill, ether related to your field or just for fun (because classes can be taken for free, or if paid for if you want the official certification).

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I also have been asked to do a bit of side work editing a play! I have a meeting about it this week and to be fair, I am really excited! It is not related to digital media, but it's about effective content, and I still enjoy that whether digital or print. I will keep you all updated how that goes. It just may open the door to more opportunities...

And as a side note, I have also been learning new knitting techniques and have been knitting away on an awesome scarf. Yes, it is just about summer, but it has been an enjoyable and even stress-relieving pastime.

However, if I don't get a job, then it will be knitted scarves and socks for everyone this Christmas! Haha! I'm sure the family would much prefer it if someone would Hire Me instead!

Day 603: "You're just overqualified."

Day 603 of the job hunt. I feel like it has been a slow start in the job hunt since my "break", but it will start to pick up steam soon (I hope!).

I actually got my first rejection this week since re-starting the job hunt. It was the wonderful "You're just too overqualified for this position" rejection. I didn't want to come back and say "I've been job searching for over 600 days, so please reconsider!" Although I understand the reasoning, I hate getting that reply. Jobs were hard to come by when I finished my Bachelor's degree. I somehow thought doing a Postgraduate degree would help my employability, along with some part-time work for experience. This is proving not to be the case though! Basically though, I would take any opportunity available to me that I know I would do exceptionally well in, so please still consider me!

I also find that people do not quite understand my qualifications. I thought I would take today to explain more in-depth about my education.

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Straight out of High School in Florida, I started taking classes at St. Petersburg College. I have to say that I loved it. The staff were always really nice and approachable, there was a wide array of classes and the campus in Clearwater is lovely. I started with a basic degree (Associate in Arts), where you study several subjects such as English Composition, Ethics, Humanities, Mathematics (Algebra and Statistics in my case) and Science (I chose Earth Science). I also took classes towards an Associate in Science degree, this included Hospitality and Tourism Management classes, however I went back to an AA degree after deciding I wanted to study abroad and the AA path would be best.

This proved to be true as I got accepted to Liverpool Hope University's Media Studies. I chose this course because I wanted to learn more about the ever-changing ways sports are using media. I was a fan in America of a Premier League team in England and depended on many media sources to keep me up to date with my team. This was my chance to learn more and hopefully be part of that process. Unlike other American students I came across, I did the whole course (three years) at Hope University, which was an experience being so far away from home! I started working at the university though, and I made a lot of friends through my course and work. They made it easier for me! The course covered many aspects of media including journalism (print and broadcast) and public relations. I graduated with a 2:1 in 2012.

I felt like I still had a lot of opportunity in front of me in England. I was convinced by my tutors to go for a Master of Philosophy degree in Media. I also considered a Master's programme at another University, but Hope gave me the opportunity to go further and had faith in me to go for the Postgraduate Research. I went for it, and with that help of a fabulous tutor I obtained my MPhil degree in Football, Media and Fan Relationships in December 2015. This degree included writing a thesis that looked at the history of football and media's relationships and how a symbiotic relationship helped the two sectors grow. However things have changed dramatically in the digital age. Clubs are now keeping tighter control on their brand, deciding what news goes out to what source, and using their own media to connect with the fans. Supporters no longer need to depend on the newspaper the next morning to get news on the game form the night before and clubs no longer exclusively need the newspapers to connect with fans. My research used different case studies to show the change in relationships and what tactics are being used now to connect with their fans and market their brand.

Although my research specifically looked at football, the same concepts can be applied to many companies who are wishing to connect with audiences. To strengthen my position, I enrolled with Coursera's Social Media Marketing Specialization through Northwestern University. This has included lessons in analytics, listening to your audience via social networks, different marketing strategies, the importance of keywords, and blogging. There is also a Capstone Project that I will undertake after the fifth and final course, which will finish in June. This will give me the opportunity to showcase the skills I have learned in this specialization. I have obtained four out of the five certificates you can earn in the specialization so far, and I am loving the course!

During my studies, I have also worked part-time and volunteered, doing everything I can to keep learning and gain more opportunities. If you think you could give me my next opportunity, please send me an e-mail, tweet me or connect with me on LinkedIn.

Day 600! Yes, really!

The title is sadly right.

I started my job search for full-time work 600 days ago. SIX HUNDRED DAYS. Ugh.

Am I feeling a bit defeated? A bit, but now that I have ore freedom as to who I can work for and at what salary, I am hoping that this job comes soon! In fact, I am a bit confident that it will do.

So what have I been doing in these last 600 days? In the beginning I was working part-time for both my university and a football club in the community sector, as well as in the middle of my Master of Philosophy degree. You can find out more in detail about my research and education here.

In October 2015, I decided to focus on my research, and after a few years of hard work and dedication, I was granted the award of MPhil in December (graduated January 2016), and what an accomplishment it was! I am in the process of seeing how to get my work published as well, but in the meantime, there is a copy available in the university's library!

What else have I been doing to keep me busy? Well, as we all know, social media and new media are constantly changing. I have been taking courses through Coursera for a certification in Social Media Marketing, so I can stay up-to-date on the latest techniques being used. So far the course has been quite enlightening, and we have been asked to create a blog, and identify key influencers on social media platforms where our target markets would be the most active. I have really enjoyed it and hope to complete the last course in this certification in June!

I have also been staying busy being very crafty! I have discovered a love for knitting (yes, knitting!) and have also learned that blackboard paint is amazing (I painted champagne glasses for my wedding where guests could write their names on the and keep. It was a great hit!).

However, I am needing that perfect job that will allow me to utilise all these skills (ok, maybe not the knitting) and allow me to prove to be an asset to your company. Think your company can give e that chance? Why don't you send me an e-mail and we can get discussing how I can do just that!

Day 599 - A MAJOR update!

It's been quite a few months since my last post! Is it because I found a job? I do wish! But something better has happened!

To make a long story as short as possible, my boyfriend proposed at Christmas (yay!) and I had to travel back to America for a short while before coming back to the UK. After a lovely wedding day and time off for the honeymoon, I am ready to start looking for work again, and I have no restrictions as to who I can work for. No sponsorships needed! I have updated my FAQ's to reflect that here!

Since I was only able to start looking for work again as of Saturday, I am starting again from scratch. I have updated my CV, and I will be back on Indeed, LinkedIn, Reed, and anything and everything I can find. I will also soon be in contact with recruiters again to update them as to where I am at on the job hunt.

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Just a reminder you can find our more about me and my skills here, as well as my education and my experiences.

If you are on the hunt for a highly organised and extremely motivated person to bringing something new to your company in terms of digital media or want to find better ways to connect with your customers, send me an e-mail, or find me on LinkedIn or Twitter.

Don't forget you can also share this blog within your network!

Day 468 - Hello...is it Bri you're looking for?

Day: 468
Jobs applied for today: 0
Jobs heard back from today: 0


It's been a rough one the last couple of days! I've not found anything suitable to apply for, even after going on actual company sites to see their own listings rather than just relying on job listing sites - is this the beginning of the end for 2015? Oh don't get me wrong, there are a few digital marketing jobs out there, but I found that many of them are for applicants with an abundance of experience!

Which brings me to a point: I read a tweet from a sport recruitment page that read: "What's the most important feature when looking to start a sports career? Ambition? Qualifications? Experience? All of the above?"

I thought about it and realised if you are starting out your sports career, shouldn't the most important factor be ambition? I find that experience is hard to come by if all jobs want someone with experience. May be this is why I am still waiting for my big break. I can proudly say I have ambition though, as well as educational qualifications. If you missed them, you can have a look at my educational background here. And if you think I might be what your company is looking for, contact me!

Of course, feel free to disagree with me! What do you think is the most important feature when looking to start a career?

Source: GlassDoor.com

My Education

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." - Nelson Mandela

My education is something I have worked very hard at, and the hard work has certainly paid off. An in-depth look at my studies can be found here, but I have briefly outlined my academic achievements below:

Liverpool Hope University 2012 – 2015

Liverpool, England

Master of Philosophy in Football and Media Relationships

·         Degree awarded December 2015.

• ·         Studies include research into past and existing relationships between media and football and how the changes, if any, are affecting the industries. This looked at expectations of the club for the media and media partners and vice versa, as well as expectations of the now ‘active’ fans through new media.
• ·         It also involves how clubs use their own media (social media, website, applications, etc) to promote their brand and to develop a relationship with fans.
• ·         A strong focus was made on football clubs communicating directly with their fans and local communities and the importance of fan engagement.
• ·         Student Representative on Politics, History, Media & Communications Departmental Review.

Liverpool Hope University 2009 - 2012

Liverpool, England

BA with Honours in Media Studies (2:1)

• Including Print/Broadcast Journalism, Marketing and PR and Political Communications.
• Student Liaison/Representative for Media Students for all three years.

St Petersburg College 2004 - 2009

St Petersburg, Florida, USA

Associate in Arts Degree

Part-time

In addition to my studies at university, I aim to continue my professional development in this constantly changing sector. Below demonstrates my accomplishments in this:

Northwestern University November 2015-February 2016 (Projected end date)

Social Media Marketing Specialization Certificate

MOOC consisting of five courses to further develop skills in Social Media Marketing, including:

• ·         How to develop social strategies using effective methodologies
• ·         Building strong relationships with target audiences and partners
• ·         Content, advertising and social IMC     

Wharton, University of Pennsylvania (via Coursera) November 2015
Introduction to Marketing

Using a massive open online course (via Coursera), I have been able to complete additional courses to further develop and learn new skills through top Universities and also stay up to date on the latest techniques used in the industry. Skills acquired through Introduction to Marketing include: Building strong brands, identifying target markets and aspects of promotion.

You can always look at my LinkedIn page for more information!