BlackBerry applications to help you on the job hunt

It can be argued that, when it comes to landing a job, the saying “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know” doesn’t seem to be as relevant anymore. There are fewer jobs available and the demands are high for potential candidates. Companies want to get the most out of each employee and they are expanding the search to incorporate other tools. They also want results and positions filled quickly. The classifieds in the local paper pale in comparison to the online tools both employers and employees can make use of. In your recent quest for a new job, how often have you searched through Craigslist postings and numerous job boards? How many times have you reached out to companies and recruiters on social networking sites, like Twitter, in order to get your online foot in the virtual door?

Several years ago, I responded to a posting that was, at the most, an hour old. The same day I received a phone call for an interview. Within a couple of days from the initial point of contact, I was hired. That’s the kind of results both employers and candidates want and need. The trick is to have the most optimal arsenal in your portfolio, to not only make you attractive, but also accessible.

 

You hear these days, that you have to establish your Brand. How do you project yourself? How is your online presence? When you “Google” your name, what comes up? For me, the first result is my blog here on CrackBerry. The second is my LinkedIn account. Hopefully for you, it’s not an embarrassing photo from college, or an article from the news reporting on your arrest. Employers don’t call up Mommy or Daddy to find out who you are, they go online. They key is to be on top of yourself, your brand and your information. If you want to do that while on the move, check out some applications that may help you.

 

Twitter

Twitter is an amazing way to establish that first point of contact. Through it, you can search through hashtags and company names to find the right people to contact. The openness of Twitter provides a method of communication that bypasses the potential walls employers set up through phone lines. If you can pitch yourself within 140 characters, you stand a good chance of opening up a dialog with the right person. Through the Twitter for BlackBerry app, you can perform searches, lists and edit your profile to make it more attractive (like a cover letter), add links to an online resume and find other Twitter users that can help you land a job.

More information on Twitter for BlackBerry smartphones

 

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is one of the best ways to put your resume, and accomplishments online. It’s a powerful networking tool, if used correctly. You can search and identify people who work for a company that you are interested in. With valuable contacts, you can inquire who the best points of contact are and also use them as a reference. Of course you have to make sure your LinkedIn account reflects who you are and what you are looking for. Make sure it’s complete, as an uncompleted account may show what your work habits are like. Hmm, I should make sure mine is done. The LinkedIn BlackBerry app helps you manage your status, search information about companies, and receive messages/updates from connections.

More information on LinkedIn for BlackBerry smartphones

 

Facebook

More and more companies are using Facebook to connect with customers, as well as potential employees. You can create a powerful portfolio on Facebook- an online collection of accomplishments, photos of your successes and status updates on what you are up to professionally. While your resume may help with your first impression, a properly managed Facebook account makes a lasting impression. The Facebook application puts you in contact with friends/colleagues easily through wall posts, email or private messages. Upload images as they are captured, find useful groups and like company accounts.

More information on FaceBook for BlackBerry Smartphones

More information on FaceBook for the BlackBerry PlayBook

 

Pocket Resume

You’ve toiled over your resume to make sure it summarizes you perfectly. You carefully print copies off and make sure to store them neatly, so there are no wrinkles, folds or creases. You take them with you to drop off to employers or email them off to online postings. You don’t carry them with you at all times, so what happens when you make contact with someone that really needs to see it? Creating, storing and emailing a resume from your BlackBerry can all be done through Pocket Resume. It neatly organizes your information into categories, just as you normally would from your computer. Make it pop with the right layout, font and colour. Your resume and CV can be exported to PDF and emailed right from your BlackBerry.

More information on Pocket Resume for BlackBerry smartphones

 

Confident Job Interview

Sometimes, no matter how much you know you are prefect for the position, you are still somewhat nervous of the interview. Will you stumble on an answer? Can you control your bleeding? Can you stop staring at the booger fluttering at the edge of the hiring manager’s right nostril? Inside the Confident Job Interview, you can look into audio hypnosis sessions that help you relax, work through fears and gain confidence before that important interview. You can also access accompanying videos and interviews to make you understand the process.

More information on Confident Job Interview for BlackBerry smartphones

 

SearchCraig - Craigslist

Craigslist is a free and easy way to post jobs and search for jobs. First of all, it already categorizes the jobs postings and allows you to easily see the dates posted, location and (in most cases) the company in question. To help you sort through postings on Craigslist, you can try SearchCraig. From it, you can also reply to postings, perform advanced searches and perhaps create posts of your own.

More information on SearchCraig for BlackBerry smartphones

 

Interview Practice

They do say Practice Makes Perfect, so you put on your best outfit and look at yourself in the mirror. You rehearse your mannerisms, your tone and that persuasive smile. Do you know how to handle the questions? Do you know how to act in certain situations? Interview Practice does and it’s willing to share some advice with you. Within it are dozens of standard Q & A that you will expect to see and handy Do’s and Don’ts to follow. Get those answers down correctly, as you may not get a second chance.

More information on Interview Practice for BlackBerry smartphones

 

Beyond that, you can also point your browser to sites like Working.com, Workopolis.com and Monster.ca to search for jobs, gain valuable tips and promote yourself. Before you head off to that interview, make sure you put in a tie - if you're not sure, check out How to Tie a Tie. Has your BlackBerry helped land you a job? What apps do you use to get your name out there? Let us know and happy job hunting!

Extra! Extra! Tweet all about it! Are you a BlackBerry Reporter?

The movie Bruce Almighty was on TV recently; a 2003 comedy where a frustrated field reporter was lent the powers of the big G for a week. During the film, Bruce used his newfound powers to become “Mr. Exclusive” – being the first, and the only, reporter on the scene at major news that he himself created. Putting aside the divine powers, it can be argued that almost anyone can become a Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms Exclusive – with the right tools of course.

The way we access the news is continually changing as mobile technology advances. I don’t know how many times I would catch the news on an application such as Viigo long before I would be able to sit down in front of the six o’clock news. Do you even venture to the newspaper stand to pay for a paper anymore? Why would you when you can read it online for free? The news has come and gone long before the paper hits the stands – the term “hot off the presses” no longer applies. Terms like “trends” and “feeds” have easily replaced it as they better reflect that instantaneous access we have. If you have a smartphone (or dumbphone for that matter) in hand, and you’re on the scene, you could potentially become a mobile reporter.

 

The reporter in the field isn’t necessarily on the payroll anymore. All it takes is something as simple as a tweet or status update to start getting the word out. The so called story angle now depends on how many are using their phones to relay what they are seeing. The reporter also doubles as the camera man, as they attach images or even record videos and upload them to sites such as Youtube. Your phone is a lot lighter and more portable than anything a TV News cameraman can tote (I’d hate to see them try to put one in their pocket). It also adds a sense of stealth to mobile reporting, as some situations call for discreet note taking and media recording. Out of many examples, let’s touch upon the riots in London and Vancouver. I first learned about both through Twitter and Facebook. Through Twitpics, yfrog and such, the carnage was captured – raw and without bias. This of course led me to look through hundreds of videos on Youtube on my Torch 9800 and my PlayBook. Eventually, we turned on the TV to watch the news; which more often than not share or refer to Twitter or Videos on you tube. What was once the first point of information now almost comes a final touch point. It’s also the images and videos that were obtained that are being used to identify those involved and will hopefully bring them to justice. Social Networking sites have obviously become more than another way to socialize; they’ve become a reliable hub of vital information.

How often have we seen journalists banned from foreign countries to keep the rest of the world in the dark about civil unrest? The media turned to those who were experiencing it first hand; and those who took part in the movements. Time and again, in Libya, Egypt and other, this movement was dubbed the ‘Twitter Revolution”. Now that really proves the amount of power that can be compressed into 140 characters.

Now I should clarify – I by any means do not think that those in the industry of reporting do not do an amazing job. I’m not saying that they do not work (or have to work) as hard as they do – I applaud them for their continued efforts. What I’m saying is the way we access the news has changed. I still look to them as a voice trying to sort out the chaos of information that is more readily accessible, but is often misinterpreted. Some news channels (such as WBRC) often have applications that allow individuals to submit the news as it happens; “Hot of the Presses” may no longer be relevant, but “This Just In” certainly is. The mobile reporter has become a powerful resource for those who deliver the news to the rest of us. If you find yourself in the middle of a story, you make use of the multitude of apps available from BlackBerry App World or our own CrackBerry AppStore. You can also start by looking at the apps listed below.

Tumblr

Has your blog become a source of up to the nanosecond news? Do the mobile masses hang on your every word? Tumblr, which launched almost 4.5 years ago, is home to over 26 million blogs. It’s designed to make it stupidly simple to share practically anything. Tumblr has a BlackBerry application available that lets you upload information to your tumblelog. In the middle of the action, you can update and post media (video, audio and images) to go along with your uncensored, untamed words of wisdom.

More information on the Tumblr app

 

Twitter for BB

Twitter is, arguably, the fastest way to get the news out there; of course you can reach more people if you unprotect your tweets. Twitter for BlackBerry is a natural choice for a free Twitter app that is available to anyone using a BlackBerry with OS 4.5 or higher. See news by viewing local or global trends to see what can affect you now or later. Share news by easily uploading media to go along with your breaking tweets.

More information on Twitter for BlackBerry

SugarSync

Depending on the situation, it may not always be safe to be caught with recorded media and text. You need a quick method of uploading information safely and securely; sharing with it with someone who can then retrieve and share what you have obtained. Perhaps making use of Sugar Sync as a news stronghold should be considered. Share folders with others that you trust, so they can manage the content when you can’t. Sometimes all you can do is record and relay without compromising your safety. SugarSync has both free and premium account to choose from.

More information on SugarSync

 

YouTube

Sometimes, a single image cannot convey a message as clearly as a video can. What better, and bigger, place is there to upload/download a video to/from than Youtube? If you’re at the scene of an emergency (and making sure someone has called 911 first) you can upload a video of the action before help even arrives. You can also see what's happening around you so you know where you need to be. Check out m.youtube.com from your BlackBerry browser

 

Evernote

Sometimes, the action is happening so quickly, you just need to keep up with it. That may mean jotting everything down first and sorting through it later. You spend too much time tweaking what you have and you may end up missing a bigger story. Evernote is a great option to have; as it is easily accessible everywhere. You can note anything you need on the scene, then go back to your desk and go through your findings on your computer. The advanced search options allow you to browse by tags, keywords, titles – even hand written notes.

More information on Evernote

Consider your BlackBerry armed with the power you need to report the news. Please remember to keep yourself out of harms way; your life is much more valuable that the story. That and you don’t want to end up being the story either. It’s time to hit the streets, so make sure your BlackBerry is fully charged (or at least keep a spare battery in your pocket). I’m Ryan Blundell and that’s the way the cookie crumbles. Back to you.

Connect Facebook, Twitter, and BBM to your BlackBerry Contacts

 

I think we can all agree that a BlackBerry has one primary purpose: communication. Text messages, emails, and that wonderful keyboard all come together to make the BlackBerry a hub of communication. In these new days of social media, those aren't the only way to talk to others. Facebook, Twitter, and BlackBerry Messenger are just three newer ways to connect to the world around you.

The contacts application on your BlackBerry isn't just a place to store your friends' and family's phone numbers and email addresses. Anniversaries, addresses, and birthdays are in there too, but that's not what I'm talking about. Using the official apps for Twitter, Facebook, BBM, etc., you can link people you know from these social applications to their contact on your BlackBerry.

"Oh, cool." you think to yourself as you throw confetti ironically into the air. "Yay," you add. Hold off on the ironic confetti-throwing and sarcastic cheers for a moment, this is actually pretty cool. Linked to Facebook, Twitter, or BBB; your contacts' pictures can be updated with their avatar from those services and app.  Opening the person's BlackBerry contact gives you a quick look at the person's last few tweets, emails, or wall posts. After finding your contact - in the address book or through universal search - a touch of a button is all that is required to instantly message a contact in a variety of ways. See? Not too shabby; read on to find out how.

 

 

That's a good question. To answer it, I say Why not? "That's a good reason for almost anything - a bit used perhaps, but still quite serviceable." More than that, BlackBerry is about choice. Just about everything you do on your BlackBerry can be done in more than one way. Think about the clock; there are at least three different ways to get to it. While you may not use every option, it's still nice to know that you have a choice.

Consider this situation. Yesterday in the US was Father's Days. Millions of people around the states watch Big Daddy and are reminded just how much their dads mean to them. Okay, not really, but it's a day to give thanks for our dads. To wish him a happy Father's Day, I first found my dad in my visual address book. A touch and hold (on the Torch, it's click and hold on other OS6 devices) of his icon opened a popup window with all the various ways I could contact him.

I sent my dad a text message, an email, a BBM, and posted on his Facebook wall all from clicking that one icon. If he was on Twitter, you can be sure he would have gotten a push notification about his new mention. Oh, and I called him, too. But that goes without saying.

 

Open BlackBerry Messenger and find the BBM contact that you would like to connect to your BlackBerry Contacts. Highlight the contact, and press the menu key to choose "View Contact Profile." Inside the profile, press the menu key again and select "Link with BlackBerry Contact." Select the contact you wish to pair with BBM. You'll get the option to use your contact's BBM avatar as the picture in your BlackBerry Contacts. 

 

 

Using the offical Facebook for BlackBerry smartphones app, this is very similar to connecting a contact from BBM. You'll start by going to your list of Facebook friends. Highlight a friend that you want to connect to your BlackBerry contacts, and press the menu key. Just as before, you'll choose "Link with BlackBerry Contact

 

 

In Twitter for BlackBerry, view a person's profile. Could be a follower, someone you follow, anybody; just view their profile page - the one where you can choose to follow or unfollow someone. Press the menu button and select "Link with BlackBerry Contact" From here....ah, I think you've got it from here.

 

 

 

 

These are just a few of the ways you can add contact options to your BlackBerry...well, contacts. After making all of these connections, you can use the contacts application to view that person's most recent conversations. It won't matter if that conversation was by email or Twitter, it shows up inside that person's contacts.

Universal search makes linking your contacts that much more attractive. Search for someone's name in universal search, and one of the first options will be their BlackBerry contact. Touch and hold (click and hold) this icon for a moment to get the popup window with messaging options. And there you have it: a multitude of ways to contact someone all at the push of a button.