Ah, the power of commercialism... It's incredible how little by little adverts have come to dominate our purchasing choice. It's even come to the extent that now WE have become products ourselves. We market ourselves for everything nowadays. Jobs, love, friendship. What's next? Will we have to attach little tags specifying price and such?
Oh wait. We've already done that.
Even though marketing oneself through social media is wonderful and convenient I found Tom Peter's article The Brand Called You a bit insulting. Yes, I understand what he's saying and it makes complete sense considering this is the direction in which our society is heading towards...but...doesn't this sound a little too Brave New World-ish? Or maybe Wall-E is a better example. You know, that animated movie in which humans have become blobs of flesh who've completely surrendered themselves to commercial power?
Oh well. Never mind. Mr Peter probably had the best of intentions. I personally love all the advantages that social networking brings us. LinkedIn, Facebook, Smallworld...They're all awesome. I just don't like to be compared to an object.
But yeah...we can't ignore that Tom Peter has a point. We are products to be sold. Our skills should be listed on our self-created websites or blogs or twitter accounts like the tags on the back of your sweater indicating the percentage of wool and polyester used in its making.
If we aren't sweaters to be sold, then we are just wool on the back of a sheep. And you know what happens to sheep? They get eaten by wolves.
So I suggest you start looking at the 7 Secrets to Getting a Job Using Social Media.
You're a Brand. Sell yourself.
Alex I have the same opinion as you, both fascination towards Social Media and personal branding, and repulsion.
ReplyDeleteI was so surprised when arriving in DC, in one of my AU couses. I had to sell myself as a brand.
I had NEVER thought of regarding people as brands.
It may be an aspect of the American culture, I guess ?!
It's kind of like going in for a job interview. You have to sell yourself to that company, make them realize that they just can't live without you. Which is why using FB and other SN sites appropriately is so important, one bad picture and your career is at risk!
ReplyDelete