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May 02, 2006

When It Comes to Your Career, It Never Hurts to Ask

Here's a job search story worthy of Horatio Alger  -- but with a sort of slacker Internet twist. It seems underemployed blogger (San Diego Serenade), social activist (National High Five Day ), cartoonist (Permanent Tanooki) and video game hacker (RBI Sixth Game) Conor Lastowka decided to create a viral video about Bill Buckner's infamous blooper in the sixth game of the 1986 World Series between the New York Mets and the Boston Red Sox. I don't need to retell the gory details of this story. Suffice to say Bucker's error -- not to mention pitcher Calvin Schiraldi's woeful performance -- is widely thought to have cost the Sox the game and eventually the World Series.

According to this item in Yahoo Sports, Lastowka was motivated by a $25,000 viral video contest sponsored by YouTube. After hacking the antique 80s-era video game RBI Baseball to re-create an animated version of the horrific 10th inning debacle, complete with the original audio from sports announcer Vin Scully, Lastowka submitted his creation to YouTube, only to learn it was too long.

Now here's where our hero's Alger-like qualities kick in. He could have edited the eight-minute video down to meet the contest's three-minute limit in pursuit of fame and lucre. Instead, savoring the purity of his creation and dedicating it to National High Five Day, he set it free on the Web, where it ended up among the most popular viral videos on sites like Google Video. Susan Olney, an executive at Legend Films, discovered the video thanks to the National High Five Day dedication and contacted Lastowka to learn more.

At the last moment, Lastowka asked Olney if they had any job openings at Legend. She said no, but Lastowka sent her a link to the video anyway. Olney called back offering him a job as a production assistant with a specialty in guerrilla marketing.

Lastowka's story is proof of the adage "it never hurts to ask," even if your interests seem to have no connection to the world of paying work. You just never know.

Check out more ways you can be creative and do the unexpected to boost your career:

Exciting news: Monster Career Advice has been nominated for a Webby Award! Don't forget to vote for Monster Career Advice in the Employment category before May 5.   

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Posted by Ryck on May 2, 2006 at 12:28 PM in Job Search , New Media | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)

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Comments

A new history about video work its like others
histories I am not see a large difference with
others people trying do the same

Posted by: domain name | May 20, 2006 2:33:04 AM

I work as a rental agent, I can deal with everyday issues without a problem I think, but my supervisor as he stated in my review he thinks that I am not potraying the best professional attitude with people who come to the office, and its not true, I get frustated like anyone dealing with obnocious and unrespectful people. He also stated that I don't have initiative. I question him on that because I surpass myself in initiativeness. Well the problem is that he don't want me to stop not even for a minute and continuosly work. I do all the work at the office and keep everything in a timely manner and on top of that he wants me to do his part of the job so he can go golfing, doing personal errands, etc.while I am at the office doing everything. I don't know if its me or is it really that I am such a failure like he point. I have many years of experience and this is the only time that a supervisor address me in that way, and expect me to be a slave in the job. I am schedule to work 5 hours daily I work 5 1/2 hours without a break or lunch at the end of the day I only sign out for five hours not five-and a half and he has the odosity of complaining because one day he found me just sitting doing nothing just waiting for the phone to ring and he got upset for that. I am so disgusted that I want to leave. What do you recommend?

Posted by: Vilma | May 24, 2006 5:13:05 PM

Dear Vilma,
First and foremost, take an English course and learn to use the language to your benefit. Second, when you are dealing with the public and leasing them ... something, anything ... you need to be the professional. No matter what they do, you keep your cool. You do everything in your power to make things work out right. You might get frustrated, but you don't show it, you act in a professional manner. Third, on the subject of your boss, that is what he is. If you are really good at what you do, you will surpass him. You won't go anywhere by whining or feeling sorry for yourself. It might "feel" unfair when he is golfing while you are working, but you are in a position to make professional contacts and make a name for yourself. If your boss is the owner, you will eventually have enough customer goodwill to open your own leasing office. If your boss is an employee, like you, someday you could be his boss. IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMAIN POSITIVE. Negativity will only hurt you, just you, no one else. Positive attitude, positive behavior, positive work habits will put you in a position to move ahead. The other will do the opposite. Hang in there. On a final note, maintain an active personal life. Never forget that there is more to you than your work life. Enjoy life. It is too short to get microscopic in focus.

Posted by: jac | May 25, 2006 9:30:25 PM

please sent some campus recruitment requirements to me

Posted by: chennammadevi | May 26, 2006 12:05:09 AM

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