“A sense of lonely rage, after being mistreated by a big company, is a feeling many can relate to.  Rudeness, poor service or inexplicable disruptions announced by unswervingly unapologetic staff - sometimes minor injustices are the ones that rankle the most.  And, when faced with a seemingly impassive company, the outlets by which customers could seek justice - or at least complain - have traditionally involved sending a letter or contacting a call centre.  But a new trend appears to be emerging in which people are taking to social media platforms to air their grievances.  A survey conducted by communications agency Fishburn Hedges and Echo Research points to this phenomenon.  It polled 2,000 UK adults and found that, in April 2012, 36% had used a social media platform to contact a big company” -- Alexis Akwagyiram, BBC News

How many of you have used social media to complain about poor product or service?  I know I have.  Apparently this has lead to a culture of ‘bash-tagging’ (I’m definitely not cool enough to know that without Googling it) - and by all accounts, it’s works.

Of course companies aren’t going to want loads of negative press - I guess the saying “all press is good press” isn’t true - but by forming a Twitter account or Facebook profile, companies are opening themselves up to public debate.  For example, if I got a coffee from a popular chain and wasn’t happy with the quality, I could @tag them so that everyone could see, and then throw in a mean #’bashtag’ or two.  Of course, it swings both ways and I can honestly say that I have regularly praised good service on Twitter - especially with smaller companies who need the profile boost :)

Social media is a free form of Marketing for companies - it is of course, a variable and unpredictable source; but if you have a good product or service then you don’t have that much to worry about.  And to be honest, even if there is the odd anomaly and something goes wrong, it’s HOW you deal with it that counts....sometimes it’s less about the spill and more about the clean-up.

Follow me and please feel free to let me know how you feel about TC - honesty is the best policy, so if you like us then please let me know; and if you don’t, then let me know why and let’s try to fix it!

“There’s a new product that just came out of Disney Interactive Labs — a video portal for clips, movie trailers, and even a collection of curated YouTube videos, all designed to be watched online or on any of your mobile devices. The new Disney Video site, located at video.disney.com, combines the best of Disney past and present, with a whole lot of content that might not be found anywhere else” -- Ryan Lawler, Techcrunch

Finally!  There’s a great new Disney site for my godson (me) to watch ;)  As an avid fan (clearly I never grew up) this is great news - and also nice to see collaborative efforts from two giants, Disney and YouTube; in going forward.  It’s a great ‘middle-ground’ between things like the Disney Channel, and the cinema...from what I can see; it looks really child-friendly with easy buttons and paths etc - plus the content is flowing fast!  This is a fantastic and most of all SAFE option, for parents to let their kids use - and as it works on all devices, you’ll never have to hear those four words that parents around the World dread...”Are we there yet...?”

“The chief executive of a pioneering technology company has been removed after allegations he falsified his CV with a fake computer science degree.  Scott Thompson, the third chief executive of Yahoo in as many years, will be temporarily replaced by Ross Levinsohn, the internet firm’s head of media relations.  Yahoo announced Mr Thompson’s departure last week, following allegations from activist investor Third Point that he had misrepresented his academic record.  Rather than holding a bachelor degree in accountancy and computer science, as his company biography stated, Mr Thompson only had the former, the investor said -- Contractor UK

Moral of the story?  Don’t lie on your CV.  (Obvious, yet often grossly overlooked.)

CV-scouring is definitely one of the basics of recruitment - to ensure that all information given is verified or backed up with the correct documentation (i.e. degree, qualifications, visas etc.)  This is easier for Recruitment Consultants as it’s the very purpose of the job...however, I feel it’s a little harder for companies who only take direct hires.  If they don’t have an internal recruitment team and the HR department are responsible for vetting the CVs (amongst all their other daily tasks) they may not be able to dedicate enough time to get as much information as perhaps an Agency could (or should...I’m not vouching for all Agencies!)

First and foremost; a recruiter’s job is to decipher a CV - speak to the candidate and figure out whether what they’ve said is actually true and whether they really can perform the tasks required in the role.  Within the IT field; it’s slightly easier as roles are often quite technical so if someone doesn’t know as much as they say they do, it should be fairly obvious.  There is a certain art-form to getting information from someone - the direct approach doesn’t always work so sometimes going ‘round the houses’ and approaching the CV from different angles is best.  For me, I like to just have a conversation with someone; gauge how passionate they are about their job and a little bit about their character before I can make a judgement on how truthful their CV is.

There is a huge difference between lying and being creative with the truth, for example; if you have 11 GCSE’s all at grade E, it doesn’t look that great on a CV...however, saying “11 GCSE’s” and omitting the grades gives a completely different view.  You’re not lying, just being resourceful!  Of course if you are asked during an interview situation, then ‘being creative’ won’t work - just tell the truth and own it!

I’m not condoning what Mr. Thompson did - I always believe in being honest and truthful; of course, the law is the law and you can’t falsify documents.  However, if we’re thinking a little broader; the guy was the CTO, SVP AND President of PayPal, as well as CIO of Barclays Global Investors...does he really need a Computer Science degree to prove himself?!  That’s like asking Jamie Oliver to whip out his Food Science A-Level.  The proof is in the pudding...so to speak ;)

“With the IT job market steadily improving, tech employees are feeling more engaged with their jobs and more loyal to their organizations. However, companies ought not to confuse that commitment with unyielding devotion. More than half of IT employees are ready and willing to entertain better job offers as they arise, more so than employees from any other sector. Organizations would be well-served loosening the IT salary purse-strings and finding other ways to keep their IT staff satisfied” -- Ted Samson for InfoWorld

So...are you satisfied in your job?  Are you ‘eyeing greener pastures’?  I am keen to find out what makes people stay and what makes them go, and what’s enough to keep someone happy.  I think the four main factors in employee retention are:

• Job satisfaction
• The people
• The location
• The money

Job Satisfaction
Job satisfaction has nothing to do with money - it’s about the feeling you get when you’re on your way into work to continue a project, or have that meeting you’ve been waiting for; or finally getting that release out.  My Dad always said to me to find something that you really love doing, then figure out a way to get paid for it...you’re in a great position if that’s where your career is right now; but remember it’s up to you to make the most out of your job because no one else is going to do it for you!

The People
Even though everyone you work with doesn’t need to be your best friend, in my opinion it’s still important to get on with them and make the effort - yes you’re in work to work and not socialise, but company culture plays a big part in your happiness.  So maybe once a week go out to lunch with someone new, or sit with someone to try and understand what they do in the business...sure you might seem strange at first, but people will appreciate the effort eventually ;)

The Location
You need to be happy with where you work - if you live in Liverpool and you’re trying to commute to Devon every day then obviously that would put a strain on the best of people.  There are things you can do to try and improve things - Kindles, iPads or the good old-fashioned book are some good choices.  If you drive to work, maybe try and carpool with someone else in the office as it will reduce the number of times you’re behind the wheel.

The Money
Everyone’s favourite topic.  To be honest, money should be the last in the list of things that makes you happy about your job...as I’ve said several times before; money might be able to buy you choices which make you happy BUT all the money in the world won’t make your job any better.

If you *have* decided that the job you're in just isn't working, then give us a call...you never know where it's going to lead :)

#Thoughtoftheday
You are the only one who can affect your state of mind; if you’re not happy then make a change (whether that’s a new job completely, or just something different in your current position)

In the article, Bill uses ‘Sean’ as an example - he interviewed for a role, was offered the position (in his words - “he was proud he’d ‘won the contest’”) yet he turned it down.  Why?  He didn’t fit in with the company culture.  It’s horrible to feel as though you’ve wasted time and effort in an application and interview process, only to turn it down...there’s a lot of personal investment that goes into each application, and if there isn’t; you’re doing it wrong.

Bill notes that when applying for a new role, you should ask the following three questions; ‘What should I learn’, ‘How should I learn’ and ‘When should I learn’.  I urge that you read his brief conclusion under each point, it may really help you in your job hunt, to find the perfect place.  Following on from this, here is my list of things to check for when making sure this is the right place for you:

1. Did you get on well with the people you interviewed with?  Chances are you'll be reporting into them, so it's great if you don't detest them from the get-go
2. Were you shown around the offices?  No?  Then ask!  It's great to be able to meet the people who work there...if they're all red-eyed and lack-lustred then you know that perhaps there's a problem
3. Do you have a job check-list?  You should!  Write down what you do and don't want, then just as on a job description - write 'Expected' and 'Desireable'.  The longer you're out of work, the more you are likely to cave on what you want (i.e. sector or location) - but hold fast, you don't want to be in a job where you wish you were anywhere else but there
4. The very last point to consider post-interview, is salary.  If you interviewed somewhere then you already know the salary and benefits etc, and you chose to attend so even though there is often room for negotiation; be aware of how far you push.  All other 'happiness' bozes need to be ticked before considering salary - all the money in the world won't make a bad job any better.

Of course there are exceptions to every rule - everyone has bills to pay or a family to support, so there's no shame in taking a job in order to get these things done...just remember how many people suffer if you're unhappy.

Good luck to all the job hunters out there - if there's anything we can do to assist then please let us know :)

“Thought leaders are big-picture thinkers able to look beyond current projects and deadlines and sketch out a blueprint for the future. Thought leaders can shift both corporate perspectives and institutional capabilities to bring about game-changing outcomes for their organizations.  Do leaders are detail-oriented planners. They have the ability to meticulously and relentlessly push a project to completion. Do leaders can instinctively identify risks and devise mitigation plans. They set firm goals and can be intensely focused on getting to the next objective” -- Jascha Kaynas-Wolff for Mindjet

This article was brought to my attention by twitter-buddy @Ernie_Jacko as part of his ‘Jacko’s Tech Daily’ online paper.  I loved it because of the idea that thought leaders and do leaders make the best teams, the easy-to-understand way it’s worded; and also because of the super cool infographic!

“No two business relationships better epitomize the thought leader / do leader synergy than Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer, and Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak”

Never was a truer word spoken (well, written, but you know what I mean!) - the partnership of these two powerhouse couples has resulted in multiple amazingly insane products which the World, quite honestly, wouldn’t be the same without.  The best thing about the article is that it’s not saying that one is better than the other, or is more productive...it’s saying that they work beautifully together - even in just one person.  Personally, I think there are a lot of people who show traits of both; and this is echoed in the article - I think I am more of a thought leader, but also show some traits of a do leader...I guess you’d have to ask those around you for their opinions as well?  Let me know what you think you are!

“Mobile phone maker Research in Motion has kicked off its annual conference by handing out thousands of prototypes for its next line of smartphones.  The devices - dubbed Blackberry 10 Dev Alpha - also offer a sneak preview of RIM's new operating system.  Both the OS and the new range of handsets are seen as hugely important as RIM struggles to compete with Google's Android and Apple's iOS.  RIM hopes it will inspire developers to create much-needed apps” -- BBC Technology News

Despite the negative press surrounding RIM and Blackberry 10 at the moment; this is a pretty great idea.  More often than not, new handsets are shrouded in secrecy and only revealed at the last minute - but by RIM releasing their new version of the Blackberry, they allow app developers to see the OS and work with it to create bigger and better apps, in time for the official launch.  It really creates an inclusive atmosphere and treats developers as part of a larger team (whether they work directly for RIM or not), rather than just the afterthought of people who make the ‘extras’.

Good luck RIM :)

“Albert Einstein’s was estimated at 160, Madonna’s is 140, and John F. Kennedy’s was only 119, but as it turns out, your IQ score pales in comparison with your EQ, MQ, and BQ scores when it comes to predicting your success and professional achievement.  IQ tests are used as an indicator of logical reasoning ability and technical intelligence. A high IQ is often a prerequisite for rising to the top ranks of business today. It is necessary, but it is not adequate to predict executive competence and corporate success. By itself, a high IQ does not guarantee that you will stand out and rise above everyone else” -- Keld Jensen for Forbes.com

Phew.  So it turns out that all those days I skipped school and refused to open a book or do any homework, weren’t a complete waste (only kidding Mum.)

This is an interesting take on the ‘IQ beats all’ theory; I have always believed that there are other factors involved in the success of people - EQ, MQ and BQ (Emotional Intelligence, Moral Intelligence and Body Intelligence) are all excellently described in this article, as factors that contribute to success.  And when you actually think about it, they’re right...obviously it would be amazing to have a phenomenally high IQ, but often people that intelligent find it harder to socially interact.  Taking care of your mind, body and soul is the way forward!

“Mom and Dad, it's a dangerous Internet. You like it and you use it but you don't understand it. I totally get that. I don't understand plumbing. I know that the sink drain goes into the bendy thing and then into the wall. After the pipe hits the wall, as far as I know, it's turtles all the way down. I assume the Internet feels about the same to you.

I don't want to condescend or imply that the web is a series of tubes. You're not interested in knowing all the details and I'm not a plumber, but there's a minimum amount of stuff you should know to be safe. You don't need to memorize this stuff, but it's nice to know generally where the pipes go and when to call a plumber. Or me.” -- Scott Hanselman’s Computer Zen

This article was recently shown to me by a Twitter buddy (@craig_pilgrim) and apart from causing raucous laughter around the office, it actually rings true.  My Mum, despite being a highly intelligent woman; is nervous when it comes to shopping online because she thinks tiny evil robots are going to get a hold of her card details and start buying all-inclusive six-week trips to Barbados.  Sorry Mum.  However, having spoken to other people in the office; I’ve come to the conclusion that she’s not alone in her thinking *slowly putting down phone to the men in white coats*.

In the latter part of this informative article, Scott Hanselman notes these series of bullet points to help the slightly more nervous amongst us when it comes to online shopping (I urge you to read the entire article, which delves into each of these points in more detail)

• Does the address for this website look correct?
• Does the site look real? Have I been here before?
• How did I get to this site? Did I use a bookmark or did I click on an email from a stranger?
• Is there a lock in the address bar?
• For banks or finance sites, is the address bar green? What does it say when I click on it the lock?

The article is entitled “What geeks need to tell our parents about shopping online safely and securely” - so whether you’re a ‘geek’ or a ‘parent’ (theoretically speaking) or something in between, there are some great phrases and pictures to help you understand and teach others, about using the internet safely.

This broadcast has been brought to you by your friendly neighbourhood Spidergirl (and her Mum)

“Mobile devices have exacerbated an always-on work culture where employees work anytime, anywhere. They've contributed to the blurred distinction between when you're "on the clock" and when you're not. Service industry professionals are especially tethered to these devices. There's an assumption that using smart devices boosts productivity, since they allow us to work constantly. But, we're also jeopardizing long-term productivity by eliminating predictable time off that ensures balance in our lives. Is the obsession of regularly checking email really helping anyone's bottom line? Are the unrealistic expectations these devices facilitate not setting staff up for burnout?” -- Ndubuisi Ekekwe for HBR

So how does everyone feel about this?  I can only speak from experience - and as someone who gets their work email to their iPhone and who take calls over the weekend, I can attest to the fact that it can be a little stressful.

I think it’s important for people to have that time to relax and recharge, as well as have something to look forward to.  I personally can’t stress the importance of a good ‘work-life’ balance strongly enough; it’s great to be able to spend time with friends and family and I think that more and more these days, people are made to feel guilty for wanting that instead of working 24/7.

Personally, if I partake in little bits of work all weekend then I feel grumpy coming into work on Monday morning as I feel as though I’ve cheated myself out of time I could spend with my friends and family (or let’s be realistic...shopping and eating out.)  So how about everyone just try it - over this weekend, just turn off the various devices and chill out - see how you feel come Monday morning?  You *might* just be a little more refreshed, you would have had a chance to think about those problems rather than making a snap decision; plus you won’t look quite so readily available which is a good thing :)

Happy Monday!