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What Prospective Employers Like to See on Socnets

Buck — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 14:44:02 +0000

According to a recent CareerBuilders survey of 2,600 hiring managers, almost half use online social networking sites to research job candidates. Yesterday we looked at the types of content that will cause an employer not to hire a candidate. In this post we look at the types of online content that can get you hired.

Social media provide job seekers a means of advertising their skills and experience, and 18 percent of employers reported they found content on social networking sites that caused them to hire a candidate. Top examples:

Profile provided a good feel for the candidate’s personality and fit within the organization – 50 percent
Profile supported candidate’s professional qualifications – 39 percent
Candidate was creative – 38 percent
Candidate showed solid communication skills – 35 percent
Candidate was well-rounded – 33 percent
Other people posted good references about the candidate – 19 percent
Candidate received awards and accolades – 15 percent

DOs and DON’Ts to keep a positive image online:

DO clean up digital dirt BEFORE you begin your job search. Remove photos, content and links that could work against you in an employer’s eyes.
DO consider creating your own professional group on sites like Facebook, LinkedIn or BrightFuse.com to establish relationships with thought leaders, recruiters and potential referrals.
DO keep gripes offline. Keep content focused on the positive, whether that relates to professional or personal information. Make sure to highlight specific accomplishments inside and outside of work.
DON’T forget that others can see your friends, so be selective about who you accept as friends. Monitor comments made by others. Consider using the “block comments” feature or setting your profile to “private” so only designated friends can view it.
DON’T mention your job search if you’re still employed.

New Year’s Eve in Key West

Andy — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 03:41:18 +0000

Photo by Andy Newman

My son, Alan, called me Dec. 30.

He was in Raleigh, N.C., on his way back to Boone, N.C., after spending a week with me and my wife.

“Dad, I’m going to spend New Year’s Eve watching an acorn drop here in Raleigh,” Alan said. “And you’re going to be in Key West watching a drag queen drop!”

He was absolutely correct.

It was my third consecutive New Year’s Eve in Key West working with our account executive Carol Shaughnessy to assist CNN’s live broadcast of the Big Red Shoe Drop at the 801 Bourbon Street Pub complex on Duval Street.

Eleven years ago, bar owner Jimmy Gilleran came up with a crazy idea for female impersonator Gary Marion who portrays “Sushi.”

“I had this vision to put ‘Sushi’ in a huge facsimile of a woman’s high heel and lower her to Duval Street as the clock strikes midnight,” Gilleran said. “Only in Key West could you do something like this.”

Each year the crowds get larger and the media attention grows. New Year’s Eve 2008 featured the fifth consecutive time that Sushi has appeared on the 90-minute CNN New Year’s Eve show anchored by Anderson Cooper. And the photos we shoot and release immediately after the drop are well received by various news wire services and other media venues.

“In Times Square, they drop the ball,” Sushi quipped. “In Key West, they drop the shoe, with Sushi in it.”

A Medical Emergency at Sea Expertly Handled

Andy — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 05:16:46 +0000

Photos by Andy Newman

It was my final day at sea aboard Carnival Inspiration earlier this week and I was busy shooting a series of editorial pictures of the ship’s new WaterWorks, a sprawling water theme park–like complex that occupies much of the aft deck.

I saw several of the ship’s security guards quietly speaking to guests and watched as the guests packed up their belongings and left the area. I asked one of the guards why they had to depart and he said, “A helicopter is coming to airlift a passenger who needs medical attention.”

One of my table mates who is a registered nurse remarked how comforting it was to know that a serious medical emergency could be handled so professionally hundreds of miles away from land.

After the guests left the area, deckhands arrived and cleared away all the chaise lounges and removed rigging that would normally support the ship’s dress flags. Then fire safety crews deployed on deck near the pickup zone as a precautionary measure.

About 15 minutes before the U.S. Coast Guard helicopter arrived, cruise director Risa made a general announcement to inform guests of what would take place and why: a guest who was experiencing a cardiac emergency was to be airlifted from the ship for medical treatment.

The chopper came and lowered a rescue diver to the deck. By then, the victim was positioned in the shade, close to the pickup area and under the watchful eyes of the ship’s medical staff.

The rescue diver confidently briefed Carnival staff and the victim about how the airlift would be executed.

All was prepared and a transfer basket was lowered. One of the ship’s nurses was the first to go up (left photo) to accompany the patient to a Tampa Bay–area hospital. Next, the patient himself was gently hoisted aboard the big chopper.

Although all of the ship’s passengers had been cleared of the transfer zone, they lined the midship and forward decks (right photo) for a great view of the Coast Guard helicopter’s maneuvers.

After the chopper retrieved the rescue diver off Inspiration, the watching crowd broke out in applause.

The ship’s staff and Coast Guard crew deserved the recognition. The whole exercise was incredibly smooth and extremely professional. And the helicopter pilots demonstrated flying expertise I had never seen previously.

Later that night, in the dining room, one of my table mates who is a registered nurse remarked how comforting it was to know that a serious medical emergency could be handled so professionally hundreds of miles away from land.

I completely agreed with her.

Climbing the Carnival Funnel

Andy — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 08:45:15 +0000

Photos by Andy Newman

The distinctive red, white and blue winged-funnel (left photo) on Carnival Cruise Lines ships is a company icon.

The top of it almost served as a photo platform for me last week.

I was on the Carnival Inspiration to produce an editorial photo library of the 11-year-old ship that had undergone significant refurbishments, including the addition of a WaterWorks theme park at sea on the ship’s aft deck. A facet of the line’s “Evolutions of Fun” program, WaterWorks features three huge water slides, one that winds high above the aft decks.

I envisioned a bird’s eye perspective of the entire complex and thought shooting from on top of the funnel might offer that angle.

Escorted by Inspiration’s staff captain, after a rather arduous climb up three sets of vertical ladders inside the funnel we emerged out of the top, some 165 feet above the water. But other than the view, the exercise was futile. I discovered it would be too difficult to safely get to the back edge of the funnel to shoot straight down as I wanted to do. So, I settled for a ladder positioned at the top of the slide and my trusty full-frame fish-eye lens to capture (right photo) an image to help communicate the ship’s new feature.

I’ll try my original vision in the future, from a more comfortable and safer position — in a helicopter.

Key Deer Refuge: Celebrating Saving a Species

Andy — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 08:07:36 +0000

Photo by Andy Newman

When the National Key Deer Refuge was established in 1957, its first manager, Jack C. Watson, sometimes employed unorthodox tactics to discourage repeat poachers targeting the diminutive deer under his protection.

In the mid 1950s the Key deer population was less than 50. Today, the herd size is estimated at around 700.

“If he found somebody’s car parked and knew they were hunting, he would politely leave a message telling them not to come back again and disable the car, putting a few bullet holes in the gas tank or the engine,” said Watson’s son, Jack “Kip” Watson.

In the mid 1950s the Key deer population was less than 50. Today, the herd size is estimated at around 700.

Though Watson’s John Wayne-like style would never be acceptable today, NewmanPR quickly identified it as one of the foundations for news story suggestions to herald the 50th anniversary of the National Key Deer Refuge that protects the diminutive deer on Big Pine Key and other islands in the lower Florida Keys.

The 50th anniversary story was carried nationally in print and broadcast venues that included a Nov. 27, 2007, segment on “NBC Nightly News.”

Photographing a Coast-to-Coast Walker

Andy — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 21:37:30 +0000

Photo by Andy Newman

In September 2006, Matt Gregory left his Bellingham, Wash., apartment for a little walk. He never turned around, but kept walking and walking and walking.

I first learned about Matt’s marathon trek across the United States from a “Miami Herald” story that detailed the 28-year-old’s steps for cancer research mission. At that point he was in Delray Beach, Fla., and within the final 200 miles of his goal — Key West, Fla., about as a far as anyone can walk or even drive from Bellingham in the continental United States.

Well before I shot it, I envisioned a photo of Matt walking across the Seven Mile Bridge.
— Andy Newman

Well before I shot it, I envisioned the above photo of Matt walking across the Seven Mile Bridge, the longest of 43 spans that compose the Florida Keys’ Overseas Highway. With a bit of coordination with Matt and a lot of help from Monroe County Sheriff Rick Roth and Deputy Luis Blasco, I positioned myself at the top of the bridge’s highest point as Matt walked toward the camera.

The resulting photograph was used by the Associated Press, Reuters and other news wire services. Two days later, Matt ended his 14-month-long adventure in Key West. Our ace Key West–based account executive Carol Shaughnessy and videographer Steve Panariello of Digital Island Media were with me to chronicle Gregory touching the Southernmost Point marker and then splashing into the Atlantic Ocean to celebrate. The resulting images and footage played in newspapers, Web and broadcast venues around the U.S. and internationally.

A Birdseye View of the Key West World Championship

Andy — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 14:49:44 +0000

Photo by Andy Newman

Photographing offshore powerboat racing is not only quite risky, it can be quite noisy. Flying, in a helicopter, at more than 100 mph, 15 feet above the water with a high-speed offshore powerboat out your open door and so close that you can touch it, is almost deafening.

I imagine that’s why one day, several years ago, I told the pilot to climb 500 feet and just chill out for a few minutes. I just had to get away from the action and the noise.

But as I looked out and saw the boats coming in and going out of Key West Harbor I saw an incredible sight and knew that would be a great overall scene setter. I’ve done similar photographs every year of the season-ending Key West World Championship. A full-frame fisheye lens on my Nikon digital camera helps to gather in the entire race course to capture the subtropical island and its most popular sporting event for media points around the globe.

Andy Newman Photos in Time Magazine and on Fox News

Steve — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 18:59:50 +0000

These photos taken by Newman PR Vice President Andy Newman at Hemingway Days in Key West were picked up by both Time Magazine and Fox News.

Andy’s photographs of Newman PR clients, particularly those of the Florida Keys & Key West, and Carnival Cruise Lines, have been published around the world.

Hemingway Days are held every July in Key West.