Hi, it is a while back that I posted my last blog. Some of you might know that in addition to my role as Associate BM at RB US I am the founder of Career Rocketeer and Launchpad.

I wrote about the professional social networks Beknown and LinkedIn on my blog recently which I think is worth sharing with you as well:

Should you BeKnown or LinkedIn?

LinkedIn has long been the leading personal branding and professional networking tool and network online for professionals and students worldwide.

However, Monster.com just launched BeKnown, a professional networking app for Facebook that dramatically changes the way Facebook users can leverage this traditionally social network to establish their personal brands, develop connections and advance their job search and careers.

Many careerists have leaned on LinkedIn as one of the few effective tools for personal branding and career management, sharing concerns about conducting their professional networking and job search on Facebook due to the more social nature of the network and in some cases, due to the potential liability their profile content may be to them in their career.  As a result, they have done everything from censoring their profile photos and details, hiding their Facebook profiles from non-friends with increased privacy controls, and even creating separate Facebook pages for their professional selves.

With BeKnown, these concerns are no longer an issue and such counter efforts are no longer necessary.  BeKnown is an app that brings the power of professional brand building, career networking and job searching to Facebook while simultaneously keeping them as separate from your social profile, connections and activities as you feel comfortable.

On BeKnown, you can:

• create a professional resume profile with their step-by-step guide, importing your current information from your Monster, Facebook and/or LinkedIn profiles
• make selective career connections from both your social and professional spheres
• follow companies and stay up-to-date on their activities and job postings
• search jobs posted by your connections and via Monster.com
• review job listings tailored specifically to your listed experience, education and skills
• and much more…

Supported by both Monster.com and Facebook, BeKnown is already big and is just going to get bigger, conveniently consolidating all of these top features and benefits on the most popular social network on the web.

But, as per the post’s title, now that BeKnown is available, should you BeKnown or LinkedIn?

Honestly, my recommendation is that you be present and active on both.  The launch of BeKnown is very exciting and offers professionals and students a new and powerful tool to leverage in their career progression, but by no means negates LinkedIn or anything you have already done to build your brand and your network on this platform.

LinkedIn still provides incredible value with highly-search-engine-ranked profiles, a network of millions of professionals, networking groups and Q&A, a comprehensive company directory, its own job board with unique listings and countless other features and benefits.

I know that there are tons of different tools and networks available to you and it can be overwhelming to look at them all and decide where to dedicate your time and efforts for maximum career ROI.  BeKnown and LinkedIn are easy to start, build and regularly maintain, are definitely worth the investment and will undoubtedly serve you in your career moving forward.

What do you think about BeKnown?

I’m a few weeks behind on sharing the news due to all the projects going on here in Parsippany, but I am excited and proud to announce the launch our new RB About FMCG website.

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to brainstorm some new ideas with both HR and the Corporate Communications team on some new ways Reckitt Benckiser could increase its visibility and its own corporate brand awareness both within the FMCG (or CPG as it is often called in the US) industry as a whole and within the graduate and undergraduate spheres.

One of our ideas was a comprehensive guide for students and professionals interested in launching careers within this high-profile industry.  We saw an opportunity for such a resource after searching the web and identifying only a few other websites and networks offering any real insights into the FMCG/CPG career path.  And having recently been a graduate student seeking this exact sort of information, I was thrilled to help develop such a website for RB.

A team from around the globe worked on it together. It includes a section on the FMCG/CPG industry and trends, a section on FMCG/CPG careers and one featuring additional resources to check for more details and news about the sector, the companies and employment opportunities.  It already offers a wealth of information and insight into what to expect from FMCG and it’s only the beginning of what’s planned for future resources and offerings!

I am really proud to have had the opportunity to have worked on this great site. I have been exceptionally busy and most of this work has been done on top of my normal brand manager workload, but it has really been worth it when you see the final product.

If you’re considering a career in this fast-moving consumer goods industry, I recommend you check it out.  And while you should definitely seek an opportunity with a company that’s right for you, don’t miss out on all of the opportunities that RB has to offer.

As you can see from my own story, RB is a place where you really take part in the company’s success and growth from the start.  Visit the RB careers site today to learn more about a future with one of the leaders in the FMCG industry.

This is the story of Marc Fonzetti, Head of Media at Reckitt Benckiser.

If you are a graduate looking for inspiration or proof that one person really can make a difference, then the details of his career climb is something you should read. I’m writing this for the blog because it’s a perfect example of how one person is able to make changes within a huge FMCG. It shows how, if you have the passion and the drive and if you are a risk taker, you can succeed. And it also highlights one of Reckitt Benckiser’s Core Values: Ownership

Four years ago Marc joined the company as head of digital and was responsible for everything from RBs websites to building our digital media footprint. But he had joined a large corporation where digital was not a core consideration.
However, not to be deterred, he spent time talking to people, getting to know their needs and seeking out those who shared an interest in digital advertising and could prove to be an advocate in the future. Then he set about understanding: meeting key players, working side by side with people, digging down to the nitty gritty of what was needed to make this work. It led to an Ad Age Media Maven Award in 2009 and a promotion earlier this year to his current role as Head of Media for RB North America.

So how did Marc do it?

In his own words there were 4 key elements:

1. Passion. You cannot evoke great change alone; so know your passion will drive you, will be infection and will get others to follow.
2. Vision. Know your work and stay ahead of the curve.
3. Small wins. He started by getting peer support and learning their business. Then he worked his way up the ladder, using what he had learned and made what he was doing measurable and accountable: “It’s hard to ignore strong results, no matter how small at first . . . ”
4. Bridge the knowledge gap. Where two groups of people speak a different ‘language’, be the translator so both groups understand each other properly.

This is what RB is all about: Giving people the opportunity to take the initiative; to develop the way you want and to place your career firmly in your hands.
As I said previously, one of RBs Core Values is ‘ownership’. That means ‘people are given the latitude to do what they want to, within a framework for success’.

To read more see Marc’s interview at Forbes: Reckitt Benckiser: Creating A Game-Changing Media Strategy. And if you want to learn more about our core values and how they drive our success take the Core Values Challenge! and discover if you are an RB person.

Have you ever watched The Apprentice (or a similar business-related TV show) and thought to yourself ‘I could do SO much better than them?’

How would you like a chance to prove that in a virtual environment: To test your sense of business judgement; progress in your career; spot golden opportunities – beat your friends!

RB has just launched a new online game to find the hidden gems of the business world. Those people who have what it takes to shine in a tough, corporate world. Those who can prove their mettle and progress up the career ladder.

Of course, you’ll also need to ensure you have the right office environment to work in too: There’s no point securing that vital piece of work if your desk has the wrong pot plant on it…

poweRBrands is a new virtual reality business game on Facebook, which will see you pit your wits against colleagues to see how far you can progress through the company. You will be given various tasks and projects to complete and have to prove you can make good decisions quickly and efficiently. You will be able to travel, recruit friends and even have the chance to upgrade your office.
All of this without leaving the comfort of your chair!

Players will start off with a basic office: Desk, computer, phone and some decorative elements. And depending on your career progression you will be able to ‘upgrade’ parts of your office – a new chair, executive toys, plants etc.
And you can also visit your friends’ offices.
Your various tasks and challenges will be sent to you via email or phone and you can get help from virtual colleagues if you need to.

So why should you join in?

Well, if you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time you will stand a great chance of progressing – reading how RB employees interact and about our core values and culture here should give you a good insight into this sort of challenging career.

So, if you’re bursting with potential, with a real thirst for knowledge and are motivated to get real results in a dynamic environment, here is your chance to get with the best.

Play poweRBrands at: http://apps.facebook.com/poweRBrands

If so, you’re probably looking to pursue career opportunities in challenging, fast-paced work environments. 

But what sort of things are you looking for from your employers that will meet your thrill seeking expectations? 

Anyone who works at RB will tell you that they thrive in the tough, challenging environment here. They choose to work here for that very reason. And they shine because they have what it takes to shine here. Of course it’s not for everyone. 

Leaping into a career which moves at breakneck speed can be overwhelming – especially if you’re a graduate just taking those tentative steps out into the career market. 

But what about if you do want something a bit more thrilling? A bit more challenging? A bit more . . . bold? 

At RB you are given real responsibility from day one. You will be expected to make a difference and share the passion and sense of purpose to drive results. 

You are expected to push the boundaries of convention, take the initiative and set the pace. 

It’s fast and demanding and the career progression can be swift. 

Right from the beginning. 

This is why working here is like a thrill ride! But don’t take my word for it – read our success stories to discover for yourself 

Of course the question is, would it suit you? 

You can get a sense of the sort of on-the-job challenges you could face at RB with our virtual career game which presents you with a range of career-critical scenarios and if you make the right choices you could enjoy quick promotion.

OR you could really step up to the challenge and immerse yourself in our exciting new Facebook game . . . coming soon. 

Watch this space and find out how you can prove your worth in a virtual RB environment!

In the meantime: Get into the spirit of the world cup and play RB’s ‘Time to Shine’ penalty shootout game. Enjoy!