VisitSweden

Sweden’s widely known for its seafood and its hard-to-assemble furniture, but did you know that Swedenoffers boundless opportunities for adventure travel? This has never been more apparent than when the country’s official visitors bureau handed over the “keys” to the @Sweden Twitter account to ordinary Swedes – from an unemployed welder to several outdoor-adventure enthusiasts. The “Curators of Sweden” get to man Sweden’s Twitter account for one week at a time, posting pictures, re-Tweeting – anything that entices tourists. Oh, and that Twitter account? It’s got almost 70,000 followers.

David’s Been Here

David Hoffmann began his YouTube Channel, David’s Been Here, back in 2007 and has been traveling exclusively ever since. Twice a week, David posts informational first-hand videos on his channel to give the masses a taste of off-the-beaten-path travel, and it’s working. Aside from travel, David now makes a business out of selling guidebooks, digital media, and customized tour itineraries to viewers who love his style. The YouTube channel has almost 5,000,000 page views and 16,000 followers and David’s active on Twitter and Facebook, too.

iExplore Adventure Travel

Based in Chicago, iExplore is a relatively large adventure and luxury travel company. They were one of the earliest adopters in the industry of Pinterest, perfect for travel photos, and they’ve got a really robust account with tons of pics to peruse. What are they doing right? They’re using professional photos for their boards which make their pictures stand out among the cluttered Pinterest landscape. A few of their boards including “Beautiful Places” and “Places to Visit Before You Die” have literally tens of thousands of followers.

GoPro

GoPro is paving the way for adventure traveler-sourced content. The insanely popular mountable HD camera (a perfect fit for extreme adventurists) means hours of gorgeously-recorded footage suitable for promotion by the brand. And who doesn’t want to see their travel video on display? GoPro has these user generated videos everywhere: YouTube, Facebook, and on their own website, and they’ve got a sizeable Instagram community too. With over 7 million likes on Facebook, they’re doing something right.

AmtrakResidency

Wait a minute…is Amtrak really an adventure travel brand? It’s all in how you look at it! For some people there’s no greater adventure than riding the rails from state to state and writers in particular love the romantic nostalgia of train travel. That’s why Amtrak has recently announced a writer’s residency program in which they’ll be providing free trips for up to 24 writers who can use their train adventure for inspiration, to relax, or just to ponder the mysteries of the universe. Of course, Amtrak’s banking on these trips being a big hit on social media (the idea came about when an obscure NYC writer Tweeted the thought) and so far they are. Twitter’s the hub for # AmtrakResidency and there are already thousands upon thousands of mentions from perspective residents.

Get Going

Get Going is competing in the highly-competitive online travel space but they’ve got a new idea. Their “Pick Two, Get One” program is just risky enough to attract thousands of potential travelers who want to try their hand at a “random” trip. Users whittle down a larger list of trips they want to take to the two most enticing…then GetGoing.com does the rest. Travelers don’t know where they’re actually going until the trip’s booked so there’s an element of surprise. Get Going is pushing the #PickTwoGetOne hashtag hard on Twitter and they’ve already got over 35,000 likes on Facebook which is highly impressive for a new brand.

Contiki

Contiki’s a brand that’s always appealed to a younger, more adventurous demographic and their last big social media campaign was a winner. Called “Get on the Bus,” the promotion asked potential travelers to create their own virtual “bus” and choose from one of 8 pre-selected Contiki destinations, providing a bus name and even a backstory. Then they were asked to invite up to eight Facebook friends to “ride” on the bus with them, increasing Contiki’s reach and expanding brand recognition among the coveted 18-24 demographic. The most-liked buses were awarded free trips and the contest was such a success the site was temporarily overloaded.

Adventure travel makes for a more relaxed, less polished social media presence among brands which seems to be something customers really respond to. Traveling is no longer driven by guidebooks and travel agents but rather by apps and crowdsourced reviews!

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If you’re looking for a job in today’s market you’re already facing an uphill battle. Don’t let these seven pieces of job search advice from your parents make things more difficult than they have to be.

7. “Always wear a business suit.”

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This job search advice has the best of intentions but simply isn’t appropriate for all job searching situations in 2013. Depending on where you’re applying and/or interviewing, wearing a full business suit can actually make you stand out for all the wrong reasons. If you show up at a web design firm wearing a suit you’re likely going to look like you’re totally ignorant to their corporate culture right off the bat. Of course, if you want to be a hedge fund manager, wear the suit.

6. “Go hand out your resume door-to-door. People appreciate the moxie!”

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Nuh uh. Today’s business world is fast paced and you’re far more likely to rub someone the wrong way by showing up unannounced than to impress them. With hundreds of applicants for every available job, no HR manager wants to have to waste time telling you to apply online like everyone else. No matter how many people consider this to be a beneficial job search advice, just shun it!

5. “Keep your resume to one page, max.”

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Resumes are changing all the time, and there is no “norm” anymore. Depending on what industry you want to work in, your resume’s going to look entirely different. Maybe you’ve got a portfolio instead of a resume, a personal branded website to show employers, or even a standard paper resume that’s three pages long. Within reason, making yourself stand out with your resume is more complicated than ever.

4. “Follow up post-interview with a handwritten note.”

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It is one of the most common job search advice and the sentiment here is great. It’s always appropriate and encouraged to follow up after an interview, but handwritten notes are usually a bit antiquated. A simple email is perfect, and even a phone call follow up a week or so after the interview to check on the selection process make sense.

3. “Don’t forget to boast about your high GPA and Ivy League Education!”

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Your parents will certainly consider this to be an imperative job search advice but a college degree is no longer a pre-requisite for a good job. Many employers are far more interested in what you’ve done than where you’ve gone, so take care to create a catalogue of work and life experiences you can talk about that are more applicable to the job than your summer biology class.

2. “Stop spending so much time on social media and look for a job already!”

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Social media is a great way to find a job! As long as you’re using your time wisely by following and reaching out to industry professionals as well as wringing out your own personal network, you’re on the right track to finding a job the new-age way.

1. “If you don’t fit the job description, don’t even bother applying.”

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The great thing about the job market today is that you’re not just limited to clear-cut, old school employment opportunities. Job seekers are constantly carving their own paths, becoming entrepreneurs, and even finding contract or part-time work where full-time positions don’t exist. Don’t be afraid to look outside the box.

Looking for a job can be challenging and your parents are only trying to help with a job search advice that can mould your career. Problem is, they’re speaking from a time when having a “career” meant far more than having a “job,” and that’s not the world we live in anymore. Don’t be afraid to try something new and break the mold a bit – you never know who might take notice.

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