Wow, It has been awhile hasn't it. My Blog has seen better days and I miss corresponding with my friends in Blog land! So have no fear I am on the way to rectifying the lack of posts on my site.
It has been a tumultuous few weeks. I recently got laid off from my full-time position of the last twelve plus years. Yikes! (Thanks Economy!) And now I'm in a position that I need to figure out what direction I want to go from here. That thinking process and mining the area I live in for potential employment has eaten up all my time and energy. While I have yet to come up with a definitive solution, I have decided that being let go is an ample opportunity. If there was ever a time in my life for me to decide what it is I want and what I want to do, THIS IS IT!
I have a hunger to break into the children's industry and I also have a desire to see what it's like to work in other artistic environments. (I also have a large desire to pay my mortgage and bills!!) What's it like to work surrounded by another group of artists, in a different Art Dept. with different goals, ideas and expectations. How exciting and fun could that be!? Well in the process I have run across a new resource that I want to post here for everyone's use.
Linked In is a networking site that I actually signed up for a long time ago. I just never really invetsigated it or kept up with it. Well, I have found out through further investigation that it has a lot to offer. I was surprised to find how many past clients, colleagues and friends are a part of this network. I've been able to look at friends past clientelle and their contacts. I've also been able to get lists of businesses local and nationwide that deal within the specific industry I am researching. And get specific names of contacts at that company, be it through a friend who has worked with them or sending a letter to someone who used to hold that position at the company. Great asset when used creatively!
Their are also a number of groups within the LinkedIn system. A number of which are dedicated to the Children's Publishing Industry. I have yet to search for groups dedicated to apparel, could be interesting! I myself am a member of 9 groups. One of which happens to be SCBWI, yes they have a prescence on LinkedIn as well.
There are also jobs listed that you can search by your chosen profession and also a notice that tells you how many people have looked at your profile in the last 15 days. While it doesn't tell you specifically who, it does tell you where and what industry they are then and then lets you search those specifics to see whom the possible viewer might be. ;)
Here's a link to my page on LinkedIn. If you sign up feel free to link up with me! Hopefully we can all help each other to do better!
I'll be back with more later folks! Wish you all the best!!
-Wilson
