Week 5 EOC: Social Networks and Job Hunting

Job recruiting through social networks has a lot of pros and cons. Not only would your job be linked to you professionally but personally as well. Most job candidates may feel uneasy linking the two together because it may feel like an invasion of privacy. Linking a job with any social network platform such as Facebook has its advantages because of how often people are on the site or app. It can be convenient to the employer and the to the employee because of the consistent contact. "Indeed, Jeff Vijungco, vice president of worldwide talent acquisition for Adobe Systems Inc., said that in focus groups, prospective job candidates were sharply averse to being contacted through Facebook for jobs." (Light, Joe. "Recruiters Troll Facebook for Candidates They Like."The Wall Street Journals. Dow Jones & Company, In.). Although LinkedIn specializes in job recruitment as a social network platform, it's nothing but business, unlike Facebook which is usually used personally with friends and family.  LinkedIn is used as a professional networking outlet to recruit knowledgeable candidates with executive experience. Another plus that linked offers that is effective when looking ton fill a position is an access to candidate resumes."Even though LinkedIn is the traditional route to recruiting employers are preferring the connection they have through facebook more."Facebook's use as a job-recruitment tool remains small, but its appeal may be growing. Some recruiters say they have all but eliminated their spending on job boards, which can charge a few hundred dollars per job posting, depending on volume. Others note that while LinkedIn  contains a more comprehensive résumé database, candidates tend to value referrals from their connections on Facebook more." (Light, Joe. "Recruiters Troll Facebook for Candidates They Like."The Wall Street Journals. Dow Jones & Company, In.).
As far as recruiting and employing candidates from social networking outlets companies such as Sony has used brand ambassadors to jump-start the launch of its new (at the time) GPS camera to candidates the personally liked as a company. They hired candidates who travelled frequently, blogged, and took great photographs while they travelled to various locations. Sony used the brand ambassadors to market the GPS camera that draws on satellite tracking technology to let you record the exact location of every picture you take and later map them out online using Google Maps. The wanted the brand ambassadors to show their friends and family, associates, and generally, anyone they could advertise the camera to. "Brand ambassadors programs leverage the power of peer-to-peer communication. Consumers heat about products and brand experiences from others just like themselves- people they trust- rather than from commercial marketing sources." (Armstrong, Gary, and Philip Kotler. Marketing: An Introduction. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2000. Print.)

 

Week 4 EOC: New App

The idea I came up with for a new innovative app is Find My Pet. Find My Pet is a user-friendly app that allows pet owners to track their pets without the hassle of depending on the general public and "missing pet" flyers. The apps compatibility requires iOS 8.0 or later and android compatible. It is compatible with iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and Android users. After downloading with the one-time fee of $2.99 and signing up, the customer will be directed to the Find My Pet website. Within the website, the customers are welcomed with an array of $15 or less stylish collars. Each collar has the capability of being customized and on each collar is a control button that can be pressed when your pet is found. Once the control button is pressed an automated message you create is release and your information is received to the persons who found your pet. Tools that are featured on the app give you a satellite, 3D view of the area you pet is located at. Once you begin tracking the collar the app gives you directions, step-by-step, on where your pet has gone. There is also a feature that allows you to create a pet profile that will link up with all of the local pet shelters and hospitals. With that feature, your beloved pet can be found a lot quicker if he or she is injured or found and the control button isn't pressed. Other in-app purchases can be made and other handy tools to keep track of your pet. 

Week 3 EOC: My Demographics

Being a millennial and reading about all of the characteristics I relate to the title even more. Technology is something that I always had access to even as a baby. Growing up, I had access to computers, the TV, cell phones, and as I got older social media. A recent study found that 91 percent of millennials are on the web. "All generations are comfortable with technology, but this is the generation that's been formed by technology," says Yahoo! executive (Armstrong, Gary, Philip Kotler. Marketing: An Introduction, 10th Edition, Pg. 73). 

There a pros and cons of being a millennial because nowadays conversation is becoming less frequent and there is an absence in conversing face to face but we are intellectually proficient in technology which comes in handy for jobs, school, and personal gain, "One thing that all of the millennials have in common is their utter fluency and comfort with digital technology. They don't just embrace technology, it's a way of life." (Armstrong, Gary, Philip Kotler. Marketing: An Introduction, 10th Edition, Pg. 73) 

Being full force on the internet almost all day the millennials' become a target for marketers. Having the capability to advertise products, campaigns, and even automakers, companies messages are getting across because it is online and they know we, if not most will see it. Sharing capabilities are very relevant on social media outlets so if there is something an individual likes it is easy to share it so then everyone they associate with on their accounts can as well see the advertisement or post, which is what happens for President Obama presidential campaign. President Obama was marketed as a high-end consumer brand, " Young people want to be in control of their relationship with a brand. They want to customize and personalize." Before he was elected president, his campaign site allowed just that, with its use of tagging, discussion boards, photo uploads, and other interactive elements (Armstrong, Gary, Philip Kotler. Marketing: An Introduction, 10th Edition, Pg. 73).

Week 3 EOC: Making Money for Good

In the fashion industry, there is always opportunities to give back and contribute to the community. It is very important as an employer to instill a great social responsibility policy and for the employee, it is great to work for a company that has values. LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE, better known as LVMH, is a European multinational luxury goods conglomerate. The LVMH group withing its company comprises 70 exceptional house and is the only group present in all five major sectors of the luxury market. The luxury market includes Wines & Spirits, Fashions & Leathers, Perfumes & Leather Goods, Perfumes & Cosmetics, Watches & Jewelry  and Selective Retailing. As a major company within itself and a parent company for the luxury houses, they make it a priority to give back to the community and to be socially responsible. "LVMH is committed to exemplary social responsibility. This commitment is based on the fundamental principle of respect for people, and making excellence a lever for social and professional inclusion, in solidarity with our host communities." (http://www.lvmh.com/group/lvmh-commitments/social-responsibility/) 

 One of the social responsible acts that LVMH gives back to is the 'Fight Against Sickle Cell Anemia', and LVMH donates money and holds gala's to raise money for the Robert Debre Pediatric Hospital in Paris to sickle cell disease research. LVMH has been donating to the hospital since 2011 and has enabled the team to pursue their research and improve the quality of patient care. "LVMH's patronage has provided key impetus for several important research projects that would otherwise have lacked resources." said Doctor Malika Benkerrou, head of the sickle cell disease center at Riber Debres Hospital (http://www.lvmh.com/group/lvmh-commitments/social-responsibility/the-fight-against-sickle-cell-anemia/) 

 Being a well-known company that has major, successful businesses within its own it is extremely important to be a part of a project or organization that was created to do good and give back. In 2015, LVMH confirmed they would continue to support the pediatric hospital and the research with open-ended support, " When you are fortunate to work in a privileged enviroment, a universe marked by dreams, sharing with the community is something we all feel very strongly about." Chantel Gaemperle, the Group Executive Vice President Human Resources and Synergies, emphasized (http://www.lvmh.com/group/lvmh-commitments/social-responsibility/the-fight-against-sickle-cell-anemia/).

Week 2 EOC: Boston Consulting Group - Video Games

The video game industry was once simply known as the,"downturn-resistant", but now is showing significant market growth. Newzoo, game market research projects that the video game industry will boost sales, "9.4% year-over-year and worldwide revenues will reach $107 billion in 2017"(http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2015-04-22-gaming-will-hit-usd91-5-billion-this-year-newzoo). Companies who specialize in producing and selling game consoles, such as Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox 360, Sony's Playstation and Nintendo Co.'s Wii, are making mass profit off of the consoles they sell, and even making mass market percentage growth with business partners such as, EA, Activison, treyarch, ubisoft, sledgehammer games, and nintendo. "In 2019, the traditional gaming market is expected to account for $65.91 billion, with digital distribution of traditional games making up almost 20 percent of that total." (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2015-06-03-global-gaming-market-to-hit-usd93-billion-by-2019-report) Not only are game console systems and the video games for those systems racking up heavy amount of revenue and market percentage, but PC and mobile games are also a big hit, "Newzoo expects that mobile games will generate $30.0 billion worldwide." (http://fortune.com/2015/01/15/mobile-console-game-revenues-2015/)

Week 1 EOC: Great Customer Service

Worst:

My sister and I needed to pick up some household items so we decided on Wal-Mart. It was around Christmas time so they were heavy on the security. We spent about 30 minutes shopping in the home department and couldn't find any assistance, as usual. After we gathered everything we went there for we stood in line for checkout. We purchased a new trashcan, trash bags, kitchen essentials, and also bathroom supplies. Reckon it was the Christmas season and everyone is shopping at once. So, after we checked out we made our way towards the exit where security is checking everyone's receipts and bags. Once it's our turn for the security man to scan over our receipt he brings to our attention that the trashcan is not on the receipt. We try to explain to him that we paid for it and there's no way for us to steal a trashcan that is bigger than the shopping cart. The security starts to get loud with us and is accusing us of stealing and that if we don't want the consequences to go pay for it or deal with him. We go back to the register that we purchased our items at and told the cashier that the security guard said we didn't pay for the trash can and it's not on the receipt. The lady working checkout scanned the item then told us that we should have been better customers and to put all of our items on the conveyor belt. My sister and I looked at each other and couldn't believe what she said. Being the person I am I told her, "Being the employee at Wal-Mart, you should do a better job at making sure you scan all of the customers items before they leave." We took our receipt and walked away, I know all very dramatic but true.

Best:

One of my best customer service experiences happened about 2 months ago when I needed some new boots and a friend referred a clothing and shoe website to me. I checked out the website and it seemed pretty legit and they had great comapny reviews. So I then ordered a pair of boots and a pair of jeans from the online site called, Cicihot.com. The standard shipping for your purchase is 3-7 days and when I finally received the package, the box along with shoes were damaged. Not only was I upset with the way I received my product but it took my shoes a whole week to come, and they were delivered to me damaged and not up to my standards nor any other paying customers. Immediately after I received my shoes the way they were, I emailed the company the same day to let them know that when I received the package it came to me ruined and in worst possible shape ever. Only one of the shoes were damaged but I have two feet so I had to send them back, but my jeans were perfectly fine so I kept them. Two days after I emailed the company they sent me a, "I'm sorry for the inconvenience", email and the company offered to send me a new pair of the same shoes free of charge and a 25% off coupon code for my next online purchase. After the company sent the new package they sent me an email again stating how they appreciate my service as a customer and sorry for the inconvenience once again. Ever since the company took care of the mishap extremely well and gave me a refund, I continue to shop through their website and luckily I haven't had another damaged package or product.