An Australian CEO sees a description of himself in an ad for his own job, Chuck Norris predicted to win the MLB Home Run Derby, and why Miami rapper Pitbull is headed to Alaska.
While the advent of social networking opens doors to crowdsourcing job candidates, connecting media companies directly to their readers, and establishing a brand’s identity, these campaigns can and have backfired on the companies crafting them. It is refreshing to see people using social networks to create their own amusement, especially at a time when the internet troll’s livelihood appears to be at risk.
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First, in Australia, The Age reports an apparently disgruntled employee at a nonprofit based in Melbourne posted a job ad seeking a new CEO, which remained live on the job site long enough for the organization’s existing CEO to see it. In a not-so-subtle shot at her management style, the job post claimed the company was in “desperate need” of a new CEO, and proceeded to list what the employee considers the existing CEO’s faults:
“Are you single-minded, arrogant and unable to keep your staff engaged?” read one part of the ad; “Then we don’t want you!”
In order to publish a job ad for the company, the user needed the password to the account, leading the CEO to believe it was posted by either a current or recently departed employee. To her credit, the report claims the CEO has received support from several board members at the organization.
Separately, two major U.S. corporations saw social campaigns become much more interesting than they had intended. ESPN posted a poll on its Facebook page that asked whom readers expected to win Major League Baseball’s Home Run Derby, which will be held tonight. Their mistake? Leaving the answers open-ended. Here are some of the best responses:
- “Brian Scalabrine,” NBA player
- “that’s a clown question, bro.“
- “Tim Tebow,” NFL player
- “Chuck Norris,” Walker, Texas Ranger
- “Batman,” fictional vigilante
- “Mitt Romney,” Republican Presidential candidate
- “A flying prolapsed unicorn”
- “Josef Stalin,” deceased former Russian dictator
- “Nic Cage,” actor from such films as Ghost Rider, Season of the Witch, and The Wicker Man.
- “The European Union.”
And, finally, when Wal-Mart decided to launch a campaign to juice its number of Facebook “likes” for its local outlets, the Boston Phoenix newspaper intervened. The contest offered to send Miami native “entertainer” and “rapper” Pitbull to the Wal-Mart location whose local Facebook page garnered the most likes. After some persuading by the Phoenix, some users decided that the Wal-Mart in Kodiak, Alaska deserved the visit most. Eventually, 60,000 agreed, and Pitbull was set to make the 5,000-mile trip from Miami to Kodiak.
For better or worse, everyone has a voice now.
