Today, HLN. Tomorrow, Vermont Radio!

I'm slowly beginning to understand the biggest downside of internet media's viral distribution: the distance between creator and audience. When I first made the music video resume, I had just intended to send it to prospective employers who posted positions that I applied for. So, if they liked it and were interested in employing me, they'd have no problem sending a reply email. However, when the video went viral, I lost that selectivity. I wish I could go back and say:

"I'm simply looking for an entry level Marketing position where I can launch my career."

Maybe I should have included a verse like that in my song:

"I'm just lookin' for Marketing in the entry level,
A position with growth potential I'd surely revel..."

...I highly doubt that an employer will reach out to me in an economy this tight. I still need to apply for jobs until I land one. At least I can still use the video cover letter and the recognition it has received for quite awhile-- that is a huge plus. Also, the news coverage in itself is never bad since it continues the momentum.

Now if I could just get on Conan or Leno... <--- The latter actually went to Bentley University but dropped out after a semester. That fact would definitely be my "in" as a guest on the show. But alas, submitting video to their site is near impossible-- there is very little chance they'd pick my email to read.

But I'm satisfied with all the interviews and blog coverage. It's nice and well done.

Attention? Check. Job? Soon.

The Video-Resume had a bigger impact than I initially anticipated. But now I need to figure out how to utilize what I've created into actually landing a job (believe it or not).

I've got the attention with the video, no doubt, but the toughest part now is actually deciding where to go from here. Do I network more with prospective employers? Do I try to maintain the video's lifespan by continuing its distribution? I think I need to research what others have done.

15 Minutes of Fame

Well that was pretty neat. What began as a supplement to my paper resume ended up as an interview on CNN via webcam. Let me tell you, those gorgeous anchorwomen had me smitten:


The invisible world of viral internet material distribution is fascinating. Who knows how it spread around so quickly and through so many channels. However, I did post it on everything I could to maximize its reach.

All the feedback has been great too. Here are some of my favorites:

• Via Twitter: "HA ck out this guys video resume—hilarious—hire him so he doesnt have 2 write more music!"
• Regarding the CNN webcam interview: "remember, you don't have to wear pants!"
• Comment From Spain: "Ver para creer!! Como hace la gente CVs en Internet"

And about that last one... Apparently, according to Youtube, my video was the #23 ranked "How-To" video in Spain, as of yesterday. I am muy calor in the Spanish world. Maybe I'll have a celebrity status if I ever decide to visit.

Hopefully, all this will net me a job. As of now, I have phone interviews lined up with Monster.com and Sperry Top-Siders. Also, I've gotten about half a dozen emails that loved the video and want to see my actual resume. If this doesn't work in landing me a job, I can always follow through with my plan of creating an off-broadway musical based on my entire educational and work career and begin inviting prospective employers to come see it. Just kidding.

My only regret (CNN spelled "Biedrzycki wrong"-- but they pronounced it correctly!):

Music-Video Resume

Problem: I wrote too many cover letters. After awhile, I wondered if anyone was actually reading them or just crumpling them up into little paper basketballs. I'm assuming it was the latter, because I did get relatively creative with my prose in several of the applications. Creative enough at least to maybe--just maybe--get a human (not automated) email response letting me know my application was received. But no, my thirty-minute generated prose was probably scrunched into a ball and deflected off the wastebasket rim like my hopes (and odds) of scoring a job.



Solution: I made a Musical Cover Letter / Resume!



I remember hearing somewhere that if you want to get noticed, make a music video. I also remember reading about some guy who got hired for a company because he designed a whole website dedicated to why the corporation should hire him. Essentially, he was applying for the job in a unique, creative way that illustrates what he can do for the company. It's really two messages rolled up in creativity. So I was inspired by both ideas and made a music video resume. I tried to balance professionalism with humor (it's basically how I operate anyway) with what I know how to do (write a fairly decent tune).

New Music By Me. Take a Listen!

Here's another by me recorded on Memorial Day. It's called "For Granted." Just click the link below and visit my Last.fm page to listen! Hope you like--
-Al

http://www.last.fm/music/Soul+Proprietor

Subscribe to AlTunes

Now, in my free time of job searching / JET wait-list-waiting / going-nuts-because-my-dad-works-at-home, I've decided to write and record an acoustic album. I've already got a track listing of roughly 5-6 songs that I've written, so it's just a matter of getting out the ol' 8-track, finding my mic, finalizing some lyrics, and doing some recording.

I'll probably release a few songs online to send to people and then burn copies once the album is finished. Friends get free copies! So, if you're reading this and would like one (I'm drawing the album art too-- sweet!) let me know your mailing address. I'll then verify whether you're my friend or not to determine how much you'll owe me (actually, if you're reading this, you're probably my friend anyway). Once they're done I'll mail them out to you, free of charge. Pretty cool, huh? So e-mail me, message me, tweet me-- whichever style you prefer.

SocialVibe

I'm beginning to do some work on SocialVibe for my independent study. It's a social network that integrates Facebook-like features into point allocations that benefit the user and a charity they decide to sponsor. It's a pretty neat idea, since social networks are addictive to begin with. SocialVibe has a point system that reflects on your usage and involvement. People who use the program and its features more are more likely to win prizes since they have more points. Points also correlate to charity donations as well, so there's another incentive to use it (especially if you're that type of person). So yeah, I can earn more points by influencing people to sign up and try it. That's why I posted this:

Handsome Al invites you to SocialVibe.com

So there's not much to lose. You'll give me free points by signing up. Or you can just go to SocialVibe.com and sign-up without my invitation, just to spite me. It's entirely up to you!