Resume Guru

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Robert Dagnall

Being Charlie Sheen’s Social Media Intern

I’ve been quoted in AOL News this morning about Charlie Sheen’s ad for a Social Media Intern, specifically to address whether that internship would make or break one’s career. Of four “experts” quoted in the story, I’m apparently the only one who thinks it could be an asset to the intern’s career.

Here’s why: the intern is going to get a graduate course in managing social media on an epic scale. The numbers are amazing. Apparently Charlie Sheen’s set a Guinness World Record for reaching one million Twitter followers in only 25 hours and 17 minutes; as of this writing, he has 2,265,408 followers and they seem to increase by 2,000 every time I hit ‘Refresh’; and the internship ad itself has 12,326 Likes on Facebook (also increasing by a few hundred every time I look).

The messages might be incoherent, but ‘Team Sheen’ seems to have a coherent strategy in place: “The #TigerBloodIntern is expected to be proactive, monitor the day-to-day activities on the major social media platforms, prepare for exciting online projects and increase Charlie’s base of followers.” Creating Twitter hashtags around this internship makes me think this is all part of the show. And whoever’s running this show is already very savvy about the memes they’ve put in motion online:

Do you have #TigerBlood? Are you all about #Winning? Can you #PlanBetter than anyone else? If so, we want you on #TeamSheen as our social media #TigerBloodIntern!

The intern will be dealing with–and learning from–an unprecedented social media firestorm. If the intern learns to manage even a fraction of it well, that will be a remarkable achievement.  What other client would present a challenge on this scale? Add the media contacts and the recognition (or notoriety) that come with the position. “Social Media Experts” might be a dime a dozen–sometimes it seems every new college graduate publishes a guide upon graduation–but “Charlie Sheen’s Social Media Intern”? There Can Be Only One. Uniqueness opens doors.

Then again, it’s telling that Charlie Sheen’s longtime publicist quit the position a few weeks ago. The Ph.D. in Social Media from this internship might also be an advanced course in enabling someone’s self-destruction. It’s hard to tell how much is publicity stunt, how much is genuine illness. Increasingly, and unfortunately, that’s showbiz.

What do you think?

A Space Cowboy’s Guide to Interviewing

Malcolm Reynolds
Not recommended interview behavior

There’s an insightful interview with actor Nathan Fillion (Malcolm Reynolds on Firefly) about his career, including his mindset for auditions:

“I know now that it’s not about that one role or that one audition. The chances of getting a part are slim to none. Then you get one. It’s a game of numbers. In the meantime, you’re developing relationships. You’re showing a casting director that if he or she pulls me in to audition, I can deliver, I will be pleasant, and I can take direction. So when another thing comes up, they know they can count on me.”

This made me think about attitude in the job search. It’s easy to think that an interview that doesn’t result in a job is a waste: a waste of time, money, energy, opportunity, hope. But there’s a saying: nothing’s neutral. You may or may not get the job, but you will build a reputation–for better or worse–with everything you do.

It’s a good idea to cultivate a mindset that you’re always on stage, and act accordingly.

Under Construction!

Finally, I can say the overhaul of the site is underway. I’ve installed WordPress as a content management system, and ResumeGuru.com is evolving into a resource for delivering answers tailored to your needs and managing your career.

Things look a little bare around here right now, but I’m working hard to finish the foundations. Please ignore the hammering and sawing sounds. Much more to come in a few days.