Richard for real

On Tuesday February 8th my faculty of communication and media sciences at Lund University pulled together a seminar on career opportunities in the field of strategic communication. Here is a summary of some of the insights shared by Inger Larsson (whom I couldn’t find a relevant link to after 5 mins on google), Martina Hansson (she works for Doro at the moment) and Jesper Wendel (PRoperContent):

A manager newer forgets a communication professional who saved them from utter catastrophe.

In communcation, what is true this year might not be true the next.

A successful corporate communicator must know the core business and be able to translate that complex mesh of activities to a long-term communication strategy.

It is important to never forget that the person responsible for communication has the “formulation prerogative” and therefore must “seize the word”.

Dare to be a PITA! Sometimes it is the only way to get what you want.

In an interview for a position in communication, illustrate your love for learning.

And finally, to stay up to date on the (Swedish) digital PR and social media landscape, follow:

doktorspinn.se

jardenberg.se

mashable.com

This is quick summary of presentation I did today at my uni’s study abroad fair. These are basically seven principles for maximing the use and pleasure of a limited period spent in a new location. All based on my personal experience as an Erasmus exchange student in Amsterdam last semester, but it should be applicable for other places and situations as well.

1. Learn the language

Even if English is widely spoken, knowing a few words and phrases of the local tongue will get you long way. It’s also a great of showing respect for and increasing your understanding of the locals you meet.

2. Conscious socializing

The uneasy feeling of not knowing anyone in a new place can easily make you bond with whoever comes in your way. This can lead to great things of course, but there is also a risk that it will keep you occupied from opportunities later on. Try to assess people as you would with anyone back home, especially during the first two three weeks.

3. Spare time occupations

A great way to get involved in a new community is to take up a familiar hobby or sport in the new context. This is a great way to connect with people with whom you have common ground, and a good entrance point to local networks.

4. Be a foreigner

Don’t limit yourself to being just an exchange student or just a guest worker. Frame yourself as a foreigner and you will see a lot more posssibilities. The expatriot community is a rich source of information, services and connections.

5. Bring what you want to be

When you are packing, don’t go for the things you use the most. Go for what you would like to use the most. This goes for clothes (bring more shirts to force yourself into a business look for example), accessories, gadget, books and everything.

6. Makes the most of mobile

I found a smartphone with internet access to be many times more useful in a new place than where I am more familiar. Just time you will by not getting lost is worth the investment in a mobile internet bundle.

7. CouchSurfing

This hospitality exchange community is an invaluable resource of information, events and people. It will definitely help you to get on the fast track to integration.

Wow… eight days on the ground here in the Venice of the North and I’m starting to feel at home. Here is some randomness:

A bike is essential. I was without wheels for about five days, and living some five kilometers from the center of town this was a nightmare. Some three hours of walking a day, in combo with playing indoor volleyball barefoot during exchange student intro week, had my feet pretty destroyed. It’s ok now though. And after an 8 euro spray paint investment I now have one of the coolest bikes in town, albeit an “omafiets” (granny’s bike).

Turktown rocks. I live in the east of Amsterdam, in the Zeeburg region. This is a very multicultural neighborhood and it is awesome. No tourists and genuine shops and restaurants everywhere. Best so far is Bakkerij Oost and their 1 euro turkse pizzas. Get two and it’s like a full lunch.

Couchsurfing here is awesome too, with a load of great characters and a thriving community. I was at my first meeting this weekend and it was crowded, like 50 people. Going there partly to practice Dutch, I ended up speaking a lot of Russian. Well next time… There are also couchsurfing language classes that I will try to attend.

Tot ziens!

I had a rather (for being me) twitter intensive day so far today, so why not give this old draft a brush up and let it fly? Here are the twitter hashtags I’d really like to see in action:

#helpmetranslate – When google translate just won’t do it. Add on the relevant languages and someone will be there in a sec to help you out.

#randomlunch – For everyone seeking new company. Throw in your location and life-changing opportunities may come your way over a bite.

#commuternews - My friend @JonasLundstrom has started this locally in Skåne, Sweden. It’s fun and useful for knowing what trains are crowded, etc.

#BigIn[insertcountryhere] - Let others know what’s on the agenda around you. Help people get more global.

#globalinsight – Along the lines of the above. For the stuff everyone should know.

#twitlation – I often come across very interesting tweets in minor languages. When I do I sometimes translate them to English and RT. But I miss a proper label for this activity.

So what’s your favorite and what do you want to do on twitter?

I’ve read more cultural theory than usual lately and this little observation of mine got stuck my head:

The majority gets uniform uniqueness. The minority gets unique uniformity.

The idea here is that a majority of people in today’s society strive be unique, and have a personal style or whatnot, and in doing so end up looking very much the same, but all with their own little tweaks. Then there might be a smaller group of people who are try to mark their difference to this group that ends up being (almost) all the same. These people will find something that clearly sets them apart from the mainstream and apply this to themselves so meticulously that they end up being more uniform as a group than the mindless followers of trends they are rejecting. The harder the minority try to cut themselves from the hype, thus creating a (counter)hype of their own, the more uniform they become internally as a group.

And while thinking about this, go read up on hipsters as the ”embodiment of postmodernism as a spent force” on Wikipedia.