CKR Interactive's Recruitment Advertising Intern Blog

Goodbye and Hello!

Sat, 31 Jan 2015 2:02:47 PST

When I woke up this morning I was in a gloomy mood because I knew that today would be my last day here at CKR. Walking up to the office seemed like torture because that meant I'd have to say goodbye soon. Goodbyes are always hard for me because I grow attached very easily.

But I have really enjoyed the experience I have been offered here at CKR. This is a great agency and I love all the people here. Everyone is so understanding and helpful. I have truly been blessed with the opportunity to intern for the marketing department. But now it's time to say goodbye to the marketing department…hello creative.

That's right! I have just been offered a second internship for the creative department. When I heard this news I couldn't stop smiling. I'm still smiling while writing this blog. I've been blessed with another internship! :) I'm so excited to start downstairs! I don't have to say goodbye and I get to learn even more about this industry. This is truly one of the best days ever. Although summer is coming to an end and school is about to start I am looking forward to the future. Thank you CKR for this opportunity.

Interaction

Mon, 02 Jun 2014 10:42:44 PST

I bought Just Dance for the Wii a few weeks ago and instantly fell in love. Not only is it fun for all to play but it's a great work out. It's a great way to get a group of friends together and dance all night long. I encourage everyone to play it if you get a chance. All I do when I play is laugh. Every time I play I am still amazed at the fact that your movements are what are gaining you more points. It is almost as if you are forced to interact with the game or else you're going to lose. Quick tip: make sure you have good timing because those movements can be speedy.

I love the fact that the Wii is so interactive. It blows my mind to think how accurate the movements are. Technology is improving at such a quick rate. Who would have imaged twenty years ago that video games would be controlled by your own movements? It makes me think that I am the actual character in the game. I remember when I was younger that I used to play Super Nintendo and move my controller everywhere because it made me feel like it was going to make Mario jump a little further. Little did I know that soon when I moved Mario would move with me. Crazy to think but what a great invention.

Technology + Social Media

Sun, 01 Dec 2013 11:53:04 PST

Happy Friday! :) The weekend is here but the weather isn't the best. It's summer but where is the warm weather? I am really missing the warm sun.

Today I read a really interesting article about a social media site, Talent Maven, that allows models/actors/musicians to connect with talent agents. I immediately fell in love with the idea. I think it's great to allow aspiring celebrities to reach out to the talent pool. I can already imagine how hard it must be to find a talent agent but this site will make life much easier.

After reading this article I started to think how much social media has grown. This makes me think that soon the internet will take over. I mean what happened to writing letters or talking on the phone? Now all you have to do is connect to the internet and write an email or IM a friend. It's scary to think but now we don't even have to leave the house to go visit a friend. All you have to do now is turn on your web cam and connect to Skype. Soon you may even be able to make calls through your Facebook friends list. Technology and social media are growing everyday. I can't wait to see what the future holds for us.

Apps

Mon, 01 Dec 2014 8:28:33 PST

Some days I wish I had an iPhone just for the apps. Throughout the week I have been noticing more and more talk about new apps. Makes me want to go out and buy an iPhone just so that I can try all the cool new apps. There was one, SwingVine Gallery, that I was really interested in. It allows you to send a secret photo message to someone but they have to send you a secret photo message back to be able to see what you sent. I thought this was very cool. Send a photo to uncover a secret. The only downfall is that both senders must have an iPhone.

I also came across a lot of publicity for QR, quick response, bar codes. You take a picture of an ad with this bar code and it sends you to their site. I thought this was very creative. I read an article about Calvin Klein incorporating this into one of their ads in New York. I can't wait for these ads to slowly make its way to the Bay Area.

It Really Works!

Wed, 02 Apr 2014 11:11:47 PST

Last week I found an article on a blog talking about an app Ben and Jerry's has where you can take a picture of the lid of one of their pint sized ice cream and it'll show up as a 3D image on your iPhone. When I read the article I thought it was cool but I wasn't 100% sure how it worked. After I got home from my internship I told my dad about the app and he downloaded it. The only downfall was that we didn't have a pint of Ben and Jerry's ice cream in the freezer. So a few days ago I went to the grocery store and remembered the app. I bought the ice cream just to try it out. I wasn't craving it or anything, just wanted to see if it worked. Went home and sure enough it did. Pretty cool but now I have to buy the rest to start a collection.

This proves that social media works. If it wasn't for that blog post I wouldn't have ever thought about buying Ben and Jerry's ice cream. I read the article, told my dad, who then downloaded the app, went to the store and remembered that I needed the pint of ice cream to try out the app and bought it. I fell for their marketing. Good job Ben and Jerry's!

Obon!

Thu, 31 Oct 2013 11:15:38 PST

This weekend I'm going to the Obon festival in Mountain View. I can't wait! Great food, fun, and company. Every year I go with my family to celebrate my Japanese heritage, however, this year is different. This year I have noticed that the Obon has gotten a lot of media coverage. I have seen news about it on the Internet, newspaper and daily news. It usually does get some coverage but not like this. I think that it's great though because it'll create more awareness. Social media has a lot of power. If something is on Twitter or Facebook it'll be seen by many. Hopefully this Obon will be full of people and lots of sunshine! :)

The Future

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 12:14:45 PST

Today I was reading an article about celebrities commenting on Twitter about an earthquake in LA. I find it interesting how everyday people find the lives of celebrities so fascinating. I am guilty of it as well, but it is interesting how some get their news through a celebrity update. Social media is becoming very large and it is interesting to see how diversely it is used. Some use Facebook to reconnect with friends while others use it to create awareness. This goes for all of the other social media sites as well. The Internet is surrounding us and it is interesting to see what the future will hold for print advertisements, newspapers, and even books. Everything is slowly becoming electronic which leaves me wondering what life will be like in the future. Some guessed flying cars while others thought robots. My guess is that technology will take over. Books/magazines will all be digital, cars will drive on their own, and fingerprints will replace keys. It’s scary to think how different life will be, but at the same time I am excited to see what the future holds for us. Social media is just the beginning.

Twilight

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 1:36:30 PST

This week was a great week for me. I camped out Tuesday night to see the Twilight Saga: Eclipse at midnight. Well worth the wait. I was surprised at how large the turnout was. The parking lot was closed to allow a line to form for the midnight showing.

It's surprising to think that all these fans are willing to wait hours to see a two hour movie. Don't get me wrong...I did it too! But it's a perfect opportunity for advertisers. I was reading an article the day after about product placement and Twilight. There were a lot of big brand names throughout the movie and some that no one even knew. However, the article was discussing how it is good for up and coming brands to place their product in a movie. It creates awareness for a new brand along with high demand.

Think about it. All the fans are watching. It's like a free advertisement basically. Especially since these fans want anything their idols have. Many will go out after they have seen the movie and purchase items they saw Edward or Bella wearing. It's a crazy idea to think that some fans are willing to go all out just because their idol or teen crush has the exact same item in the movie. But, it's great for brands and marketers.

Billboards Galore

Sat, 02 Mar 2013 10:33:39 PST

Back from LA and am exhausted from the weekend, but I had a lot of fun. One thing I noticed when cruising down Hollywood Blvd were electronic billboards. I was surprised to see them. It was my first time ever seeing an electronic billboard and I was a little confused about how I felt about them.

Obviously, they caught my attention, which is the goal. However, I felt that it was a big distraction while driving, especially at night with all the bright colors changing constantly. It reminded me of a tv for drivers to watch as they drive throughout LA, which is not very safe in my opinion. The other downfall is the shared space. With the electronic billboards, companies must share the space with others. This allows your ad to be viewed only a fraction of the time it is displayed rather than all the time on a print billboard. Viewers may be lost due to the switch in ads. But on the other side, these electronic ads do grab your attention compared to the standard print billboard. They’re moving, bright and eye catching rather than the still billboards.

After reading an article about an interactive ice cream machine, "Share Happy," I thought about the electronic billboards. I was amazed when I saw them. It is interesting to think what the future will hold for advertising and billboards and now ice cream machines.

LA here I come

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 10:20:45 PST

This week has been great. Not only did I get to work on designing the trade show drop box dice, but I am also putting it together today (we'll be using it for the NAHCR Image conference, which will have a gambling/"royal flush" theme). I can't wait to see how it turns out. I have each side printed out and now it's time to get dirty and piece this dice together. I will definitely be taking pictures to post later.

I look forward to all the upcoming creative projects that I will be a part of this summer. I can't wait to take on more projects because I get to learn new things about this field. As each day goes by I am noticing that I am becoming more comfortable with the idea of graduating.

This week is coming to an end I am definitely looking forward to the weekend. LA here I come...what more can a girl ask for? Celebrating my birthday a little early never hurts.

Stepping Stone

Wed, 02 May 2012 7:26:59 PST

The day has come when my sister graduated high school. Now I am officially old. My little sister is done with high school and is now going out into the real world. Yesterday was a great day though. I feel like now that she's done with high school she'll be following my footsteps and looking up to me as a role model. So much pressure!

But I truly am proud of her. I can't wait to see what the future holds for her. I know when I graduated high school is was excited to "be free" but at the same time terrified of the future. Soon I will be in another graduation but this time it's the big one. College graduation. I'm already nervous for the future but feel more comforted thanks to this summer experience at CKR. I feel that I am getting a little taste of what the future will be like thanks to this internship.

Hi!

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 7:39:27 PST

This has been my first week at the CKR Interactive headquarters in Campbell and I am loving it. The people are great and I love the environment. I am so excited for this summer internship. I cannot wait to get hands on experience and learn more about this industry. I've jumped into the social media this week and even got to help out in the creative department.

With graduation coming up quickly I have been a little nervous about going out into the real world, but I believe that this opportunity with CKR will help me feel more prepared for the future. I cannot wait to jump further into this internship.

-Kimberly Otsuka

Ralph Out

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 12:17:36 PST

Nickname #38 "the intern," a nickname given to me by some of my good friends at CKR Interactive.

My time here at CKR Interactive has been absolutely wonderful. There are so much great people that make up this company and I know they will be around for a while. My learning experience here has been great and is something you just can't learn in school. Leaving this company I truly feel like I have a great understanding for social media and recruitment marketing.

I will miss CKR Interactive dearly and I am not sure what I will be doing this summer. What I do know though is that my knowledge gained here will be reflected in the work that I choose to do. I plan on going camping this summer, maybe even returning to Vegas to try my luck again. I have always been the kind of person to take things one step at a time because life is too short to live by a strict plan. I could be in Japan or Peru a month from now - I really couldn't tell you.

As promised I will be performing my CKR Interactive rap to wrap things up. I was going to post my lyrics here, but I think that would take away from my performance.

I will miss you all

-Ralph "the intern" Leon

Good Bye CKR!

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 10:02:55 PST

Today is my last day as a CKR Interactive Intern. It's amazing how time just flies on by. I have learned so much throughout these past months here, especially about social media. There are so many useful tools out there for businesses from Facebook to Digg to even Yelp! It's amazing how technology is evolving so much and changing the ways we market towards our customers.

Thank you CKR Interactive for allowing me to have a wonderful experience!

Staying Social

Fri, 31 Dec 2010 9:26:19 PST

When you find something you enjoy doing, time seems shorter than ever. Next week will be my last week here at CKR Interactive. While I was sitting at my desk today it really hit me. I started to think about how much I have grown with this company. I started to think back when I first walked into the agency, like a flash back episode on a sitcom. I had drove past the building the day before the interview to make sure I wasn't late. Just before I went to bed I ironed all my clothes, a practice I should do more often, and was ready for the interview. This was the first time I had even stepped foot in an advertising agency so I was more nervous than ever. Luckily everything worked out and I was given the opportunity to work with a great group of people.

One of my biggest focuses here at CKR Interactive has been learning and embracing social media. Before working at the company I saw social networks as just a place for friends and family. After learning more about the recruitment marketing industry, to my surprise, I found that there was more to this social phenomenon that just keeping in touch with people. Conducting business and reaching out to clients were just a few of the many functions of social platforms. After working here for about three months the way I look at social media has changed drastically. In a good way of course. It was similar to when I first started learning about advertising. The more you learn about something the more your perception changes. Social media is not a fad and will be around for awhile. Currently there are no classes that actually teach social media, it's something that you have to learn as you interact more.

It's funny because ever since I started working here I feel that I have become more involved with social media than ever. Just last week I finally turned in my phone, sometimes referred to as the "brick," for an iPhone. I never fully understood the power of mobile marketing, until I got up to date with my phone. I learned a lesson here and it is this: You can not walk the walk unless you are wearing the right shoes.

With that being said I am still writing the highly anticipated CKR Rap that I will probably post on here next week. Until then, stay social my friends.

-Ralph

My Addiction

Sun, 31 Oct 2010 9:40:07 PST

One of my favorite nerdy things to do is Yelp. Yelp is a place where people can find the highest rated restaurants, shops, and any other type of business within the United States. It's where "real people" post "real reviews." I love going on because I can share my dining and shopping experiences with other people. I also enjoy the service it provides to users. With the help of Yelp, I now know where I will find an excellent dining or shopping experience from reviewers.

It's crazy how our society has evolved so much with technology. Yelp now provides a way for businesses to immediately receive feedback about their products and services. Customer reviews inform managers about what their business is doing correctly and things they need improvement on. If used correctly, Yelp can help businesses serve customers better.

What Poker Taught Me About Social Media

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 10:39:51 PST

Just the other day I was browsing the question section on Yahoo! I typed "social media" and a lot more questions came up than I expected. Some of these questions had a pattern, they were about recruiters asking applicants to rank how social media savvy they were. A lot of them were puzzled and unsure how to answer the question. Even though the question seems easy, ranking and measuring social media has proved to be a daunting task. The reason social media is hard to understand is because it is a platform that needs to be learned through experience. Of course you can find great books, but I have found the best way is to just jump right in and engage with other people. I have learned so much in these past months at CKR, but one lesson that proved to be valuable came to me unexpectedly. Ironically I learned this lesson about social media by playing poker and I will explain.

As many of you know when I am not outside I am usually playing cards, more specifically Texas Hold'em. Now when I first started playing I saw all these young millionaires that made it from rags to riches in a couple of weeks from playing poker online. "Wow!" I thought. This get rich quick feeling soon filled up my head and I played. About three hours in to playing I already had lost some serious cash. Discouraged, I turned off my computer and didn't want to play.

Like poker, social media isn't this get rich quick concept. Though some people, have had this kind of success with social media, this doesn't work for everyone. Social media is about making positive results in the long run. Still I see that a lot of companies just make a page and do not put much time into it. They think their fans and followers will just come to them and the money will start flowing in. Wrong!

So after my bad run in poker I read some books and started to manage my money more carefully. In poker your most important asset is your bank roll. This is basically all your money you have on your account. I started to manage this by only using a certain amount of my bankroll and not putting it all on risk. Since I have done this my results have been much greater.

Building a presence online is hard work and takes time. In the game of poker there are swings, you wont always win every game. Sometimes you will go on long losing streaks that will make you feel discouraged. These same pockets happen in the realm of the social. Sometimes website traffic will be low or you might lose a bunch of followers in a month, but the goal is to hang in there. Keeping working on your online presence and continue to build relationships.

So for all you job hunters looking for a job that requires social media, remember, social media is about the long run. It requires a long term strategy and strong commitment. Your results will only be as good as the quality of work you put into it.

With that being said, continue to learn and don't forget to relax today. It is National Stress Awareness Month! Cheers!

-Ralph

SJSU's PPI's 10th Annual Lu'au!

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 9:34:50 PST

It is that time of year again! San Jose State's Pride of the Pacific Islands will be celebrating their 10th Annual Lu'au Celebration. I am an officer for this cultural club and every year we put on an elaborate show featuring dances from various Polynesian Islands and delicious Hawaiian food. The dances come from the beautiful islands of Samoa, Tahiti, Tonga, Hawai'i, and Aotearoa! We try to keep everything authentic, so the club also hand makes each and every costume! There will also be live music from the Bay Area's own Island Riddim Band and the Manuia Polynesian Revue. Kahiko chanting will be provided by Kaui Isa-Kahaku and dances performed by San Jose State students! This is definitely one show everyone should watch. We have been awarded "Most Outstanding Traditional Program" for two years in a row! =D

When: Saturday, April 24, 2010, Doors Open at 4:30pm
Where: Barrett Ballroom, Student Union

Ticket Price: $25/ general admission, Children under 2 yrs are free!

April Fools

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 1:10:37 PST

Today is the day of pranks. Its funny, looking on Facebook there is a whole load of them. People faking pregnancies, marriages and tragedies. What is funny is some of the reactions to these pranks. Facebook, the once upon a time college based social site, now attracts older audiences that think some of this "news" is actually real. I guess that is what makes these pranks classic. As the intern here at CKR Interactive, I felt an obligation to do a prank myself. Luckily everyone here is truly like family, they really are, which is rare to find in companies. I think this is why I didn't feel like I was stepping out of my boundaries.

So my victim today was Eileen, whose nickname is Ralphie ironically. She was printing a paper and every time it came out I would beat her to the printer and take the paper. "I swear I pressed the button," she would say. Knowing me, I had the biggest grin on my face, but she didn't suspect anything. It wasn't until she started to take apart the printer I yelled "April fools!" We all started laughing and my mission was complete.

Besides April Fool's today was also a very special day for another reason. Today was also CKR Interactive's ninth birthday! Curtis, our CEO, explained life at CKR eight years ago and it was great. I really got to learn and hear some stories about the history of CKR. What a journey I must say. With all that said and done today is not over yet. I have to drive to LA to enjoy the wonderful beaches and spend some time with my girlfriend.

Happy Birthday CKR and Happy April Fool's Day everyone!

Oh, and remember to not go too overboard with those pranks no matter how tempting it is. Just saying...

-Ralph

Sharks Territory

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 9:06:17 PST

It's always a good night when your favorite team wins a game. Yesterday my dad took my uncle, my brother and me to the Sharks game to watch them clash against the Dallas Stars. I was aware that the Sharks had sort of a hiccup after the Winter Olympics. Despite the hiccup, every game I've been to the Sharks have won. Leon luck my dad calls it. So the game was pretty close in the first quarter, it wasn't until Boyle scored the first goal that things began to pick up.

The game ended 3-0 with the Sharks dominating Dallas. My fifth Sharks game had been a success. There were a couple things different about this game than others. First off this is my first game I watched while I was 21. Yum, I could finally enjoy those nine dollar beers haha. This was also the first time I actually had a jersey. Let me just say having a jersey makes the experience better and I will explain why.

Brands have a special impact on consumers. Whether its Apple, Nike, or the Sharks, they all bring this sense of community. Yesterday I really felt the power of branding. While walking down the street to the arena people would constantly honk their horns, shout "Go Sharks!" and give off other friendly gestures. It was great and really helped bring that needed energy to the game.

Now as an advertiser I have always been weird about brands. I was a child model way back when I was eight. I have always felt that a company should be paying me to wear their brand. If I wear a big logo on my shirt I am a walking advertisement right? This is usually why I wear such plain clothes that are for the most part logo-less. Now I think my perception in branding has changed. I will always be a brand conscious person, everyone should. I just think I won't be as hesitant to show support for something I really like anymore. Now lets just hope the Sharks can keep this kind of success up. For those of you who haven't been to a Sharks game...GO!

Reporting Live,

Ralph

Spring Break, You're Almost Here

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 11:27:56 PST

In exactly 24 hours I will officially be on spring break! I can't wait for my two adventures. See you later California and hello to Nevada and New York!

Oh, the joys of being over 21. In Las Vegas, my friends and I are aiming to go to the Wynn's XS Night Club due to its great ratings we found on Yelp. By glancing at the pictures, I discovered that it's an inside and outdoor venue equipped with a pool. Now that sounds like a real club! The only question is...how am I going to get in for free? =D

This will be my first time at the Big Apple! I'm excited to see Times Square, the Statue of Liberty, and Central Park. The city will be beautiful and mesmerizing; I can already imagine it.

I knew I shouldn't have written this blog about my upcoming vacations because now I'm even more anxious for spring break!

Socially Dreaming

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 10:05:32 PST

The weather is amazing, it's Friday, and despite my two hours of sleep I am feeling pretty good. Though I only had minimal sleep I had the weirdest dream. Lately I haven't been dreaming much, so this one really stood out to me.

My dream took place in the desert and I was all alone. I was going about 160 mph in an Audi convertible with no intention of stopping. I had so many questions about my dream, but who could I ask? Easy a dream interpreter. Where could I find one? Would it cost me ?

This is where social media came in. I quickly typed up my question on Yahoo Answers and in a matter of seconds I had received four responses. Two of them were spam, but the other two actually gave me some really good answers. One guy told me that it meant that I have been stressed and I needed to relax. Another poster told me that my dream was about a conflict in my life that I would soon over come. Scary enough both these responses were dead on.

I know my story is weird but beyond its content there is something more significant. The way we find and disseminate information is changing. How we interact, communicate, and even do business is evolving. For the most part these changes have been great, but there is something I have noticed. Though habits are changing and things are becoming easier, the motives are always the same. When it comes down to it business is business, no matter how it's done. Sometimes people can really get lost in this rapidly paced environment and forget the core values and motivations. I know I have.

I hope what I am saying is somewhat coherent, which comes to my last and final point. The importance of sleep. With the fast paced lifestyle most people are living, sleep is something that is taken for granted. Sleep helps strength your immune system, helps feel more awake during the rest of the day, relieves stress and can even give you wild dreams that will inspire you to do something.

At least it's Friday and I will be able to catch up on some sleep. Hope everyone has a great weekend and remember to get that much needed sleep!

-Ralph

Alice in Wonderland

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 7:17:29 PST

It was my first 3D movie yesterday. Thanks to SJSU’S Society of Advanced Management club, I was able to watch Alice in Wonderland for only seven dollars! At first I thought the graphics were incredible. My jaw dropped as soon as I put on my 3D glasses and saw text, pictures, and people shooting from the screen. Unfortunately, as time went by, a tiny headache started to formulate. Thank goodness it didn’t ruin my experience. Luckily, closing my eyes for about 30 seconds cured the pain!

Now for a review of the movie; don’t worry, I’m not going to spoil it. It was a bit darker than the Alice in Wonderland that I recall from my childhood. However, Tim Burton was the director so that explained the dim lighting, deranged looking characters, and the pale skinned humans. As always, my favorite character from the movie was played by Johnny Depp. He put on an amazing show as the Mad Hatter. I loved his costume and especially his make up. The one aspect that I enjoyed the most was how the producers did not remake the cartoon version, but instead created a continuation. It was a great way to close the Alice in Wonderland tale.

After seeing this movie, I recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys Tim Burton films. As for the 3D aspect, I would hold off and save the extra three dollars.

The Evolution of Old

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 9:33:43 PST

Old habits are dying out and new social innovations are taking over. This is one of the topics I am constantly reading about on the web. Two major conversations about this topic have dominated the blogging world this week. The first is how the old ways of social networking, like face to face interaction, are not happening as much. Another topic has been how old style job boards are becoming obsolete.

After reading numerous posts about these "dying trends" I started to believe what these bloggers were saying. Then I thought to myself, "I'm more optimistic than that," and came to my own conclusion. The old ways are not dying, they are simply evolving.

It is true, face to face interactions are not happening that much. This can be mainly due to expenses or just people being busy. I related this situation to my family. My dad had told me he was worried that my generation was not going to keep in touch with other parts of the family. His comment scared me at first. I began to think about this and realized our family wasn't "as social" as I remembered it to be. The family parties grew smaller and as I grew older I didn't see my cousins or other family members as often. There was something different though...social media. I began to think how I had a good number of family members on my Facebook network. Though I didn't see them as often I still talked to them and took time to see what they have been up to. Recently I popped my cousin Josh a message. We started talking about family, Macs, work and life all around. He has a lot of projects going on but his main focus is photography (some of his work is posted up above). He also had his own blog so we exchanged blog URLs and I took some time to look at his work. I was impressed. Social media made viewing his work very easy and I was able to do it right from my computer. It was good catching up with him and hey! maybe we will work on some projects together in the future.

Now don't get me wrong, I am not saying social media is taking over and to forget about the old methods. I am simply showing how social media can aid and improve the older methods. Heck if I had the time to visit family I would do it in a heart beat.

As for job boards it's the same thing. Job boards are not going to be left in the dust; they are just changing. I think this kind of change is apparent with new job boards such as tweet my jobs and other similar sites. I would even argue that sites like LinkedIn and Twitter act as a function of job boards. People are always going to be looking for jobs it is just a matter of how.

Change is every where so embrace it. Some other evolutions have been radio to satellite radio, wired phones to mobile, and desktops to laptops. Even print is currently evolving to more interactive e-magazines (thanks tablet PCs).

So with that being said. How has social media evolved something in your life? Has it helped you?

-Ralph

Lay Stress To Rest

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 9:53:06 PST

Have you ever had a melt down? Been on "Tilt"? Ever reached that point of no return where you feel completely burned out. I have. I remember the first time I felt burned out. I was taking 18 units, which I said I'd never do and lied, and had too much on my plate. I had a business paper due the next day, a midterm and a presentation. My paper wasn't going in the direction I wanted it to and it was unfinished. Looking at the clock it was already 11pm. My class the following day started at 7am and I had to catch the light rail which meant I had to be up by 5am. I needed to study, finish my essay and practice my speech.

As I stared blankly at all three tasks spread out on my desk my face began to feel hot. My room began to shrink like a scene from Alice and Wonderland. I found myself huddled in the corner of my room feeling hopeless ready to completely break. Then I realized something. I had to make a sacrifice. Which class was the most important? Which assignment was worth the most points? The midterm was the most important so I dropped everything and studied for it.

The light rail ride the next day felt abnormally slow and I could stop thinking about my classes dreading school. When I entered my building I approached my classroom door to find that my class was canceled. My mood instantly changed, I went from pessimistic to optimistic so fast I felt bipolar. Everything worked out and I vouched to never get burned out again. Since then I have learned several tips to prepare for stressful moments such as presentations, deadlines, midterms, and other situations. Since I am an ad major these kind of moments are unavoidable and need to be faced with confidence. So below I made a list of some tips that I have used to diffuse many of these kinds of situations.

Tip #1 - Sleep - This is important. Get the full 8 hours of sleep you will need this. If you have trouble sleeping try do some stretching or breathing techniques. One that has worked for me is laying flat on the ground with arms and legs spread out. Then take a breath for 6 seconds and exhale for 6 seconds. Do this any where from 5 to 10 times depending on how you feel.

Tip #2 - Eat a great breakfast - Some great power foods to make you feel awake are apples, eggs or a bowl of hearty cereal.

Tip #3 - Dress nice - On test days I find it beneficial to dress better than usual. Put on those true religion jeans or wear a nice shirt. I find it when I am dressed nice I feel better personally and more confident.

Tip #4 - Don't Procrastinate - Waiting till the last minute is playing with fire.

Tip #5 - Stay Organized - Ah my speciality. Spreading out your work load and staying organized will make everything run much more smoothly and efficiently.

So how do you battle stress? Any tips of your own?

-Ralph

The Future of Advertising

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 3:43:17 PST

My brother asked me the other day, "Whats going to happen to advertising?" Though it sounded like a simple question, it was actually quite complex. Its a question that a lot of people ponder about. With newspapers losing their readership and everything shifting to different mediums there definitely is going to be a change. I must admit as an advertising major I was a little worried about the future of advertising. I wasn't completely worried though because I knew almost everything was related to advertising. I was just curious on what advertising might become in two or even three years from now. Well I have the answer...advertising is going to become more interactive! Interactive? Yes more interactive. Let me explain.

When the iPad first came out people were making fun of the design, the name and even the lack of features. Even I joined in on the fun. Then something miraculous happened. Wired magazine, a magazine known for its extensive trend coverage, released a video of its e magazine for the iPad.

After watching the video I had chills running down my back. The interactions with the ads were incredible. Everything I hoped the future of advertising to be. Not only were the ads breaking away from traditional boring print, but they were entertaining. Essentially what I got from the video was that users were able to control the ads via the touch screen. In the video there is a brief segment with a car ad were the user is able to manipulate angles through touching the screen.

So what does this mean?

It means that ideas are going to have to be more thought out. It means that users are going to become part of the ad. It means that the traditional boundaries set by print advertising have just been broken.

So how do you think this will effect the world of advertising?

I think this is going make advertising more exciting and allow people to get to know the product a lot better before the purchase. What do you think?

It's That Time...

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 7:15:21 PST

Ah yes, I'm almost at the home stretch! In just about two more months I will be ending my final college year as an undergrad. This means it's that time...the time where I am supposed to find a full time job. Knowing this, I attended San Jose State's Career Fair today and I'd have to say it was a bit overwhelming. Everyone was dressed in business attire with their resumes in hand eager to find an employer that would offer them a position. I went up to a few companies that I was interested in and delivered my 'elevator pitch.' It was a great experience and now all I can do is cross my fingers and hope I get a call back!

Good To Be Back

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 9:05:12 PST

So there I was at the final table. I was by far the youngest player there and had just got involved in a crazy hand. The pot was going to cost me all my chips and my shot at the prize. I had one choice. A cold stone bluff. It was just me and an older gentleman left in the hand. The cards on the board consisted of two kings, a five, a queen and an ace. He wasn't betting at all and had checked his whole way through. I didn't have one pair, but I knew those kings scared him. When it was my turn to act I said the words that get every poker players heart beating..."All in." He took his Oakley sunglasses off and glared into my empty eyes. I stared back, not blinking, not moving, not even a twitch. He said "good bet" and then flashed his ace at me. My heart was beating like a humming bird. He folded. Later I went on to take 2nd place and danced around like a little girl when I was walking back to my hotel. I thought to myself "What a way to start off the trip..."

Vegas was filled with so many new experiences, a handful of stories and a video of the trip which I still haven't seen. When I was there I did look at the ads and a majority of them were print. Honestly I didn't see any advertisements that jumped out to me and I was a little disappointed. One thing I did notice though was CRM or customer relationship management. This is something Las Vegas did very well. Each casino and store I went into had some sense of holistic branding. Even the airport in Vegas did this well! This is something that is still relatively new to businesses. Everyone was really nice, patient, and willing to help everywhere. Now I am sure they wanted my business, but isn't that every goal of a company? Each employee of the company represents the company brand in some way, shape or form. Managers in Vegas knew this and it worked. One of the reasons my stay there was so enjoyable is because everyone around me seemed to be enjoying themselves. I can't think of how many times my experience has been ruined on account of poor service. What is your worst customer service experience?

Happy Friday!

-Ralph L

Social Media Here to Stay

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 9:46:58 PST

Isn't it weird how social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter are dramatically influencing the business world? I remember back in high school when Myspace and Facebook was perceived as a waste of time. My brother would always ridicule me for spending countless hours glued to my computer screen. Nowadays, employers are hiring people to build their social media presence. These websites are used by prestige companies and professionals to connect with their customers, advertise their business, and even increase sales! Social media has completely revolutionized the way businesses interact with their market and is definitely going to be here for awhile.

Nickname Vegas

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 8:49:39 PST

Nickname #32, "Brown Man," a name that was given to me my junior year of high school. It was a cold, stormy, grey filled Friday and my friends and I just left our anatomy class. We had just learned about the functions of pigment in the human skin. According to my teacher, darker skin was able to hold more heat than lighter skin due to more pigmentation. Explaining why people get darker after they sit in the sun so much. It was break and we were all huddled around like a prospect football team, joking about the subject. Shivering, we all came to the conclusion that since I was the darkest in the group I was also the warmest. All my friends, six of them, began grabbing my arms to "absorb heat." One of them said jokingly, "you're so warm brown man." Slowly the pigment in my arms began to fade and I was one of them. The nickname "Brown Man" was born.

Next week is my big trip to Las Vegas and I am sure I will come back with a few new nicknames. I am both excited and a little nervous. The place is nicknamed "Sin City." Time to say my prayers.

Since I have been reading a lot about social media, I am curious to see how Las Vegas incorporates it into their mix. Oh, another thing I am looking forward to is the cities advertising campaigns. Hopefully I don't get sensory overload. When I come back I am probably going to have some good stories for all my pals at CKR. I usually am a pretty lucky guy, but this week hasn't been my best. So I am hoping that next week will be different.

Happy Friday everyone!

-Ralph "Brown Man" Leon

A New Beginning

Fri, 31 Aug 2007 8:37:49 PST

Hello! My name is Kristen and I'm the new marketing and design intern for CKR Interactive. It has been my first official week interning here and I'm having a great time. Everyone has been super friendly and I'm excited to work with each of them.

Since I'm new to this team, here are some random facts about me...

I'm a senior at San Jose State University and wrapping up my last semester. (Woo! Go class of 2010!) On my free time I like to bake, explore new places, and search for the best cuisine in town with fellow yelp-ers. I'm also a die hard Disney fan and will be volunteering for their "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day" promotion next week. One thing that i absolutely LOVE to do is travel and immense myself with different cultures around the world.

Phew...so that's me in a nutshell. I look forward to learning new things from CKR Interactive (especially in design) and know that this internship will be an enjoyable and beneficial experience.

Back to School

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 8:20:51 PST

"Back to school...got my shoes tied tight..." is the song that is always playing in my head during the first day of school. This is my second to last semester at San Jose State so I am pretty excited to be finishing up. This semester is unlike my other semesters though because my schedule is lacking exciting advertising classes. I am going to be learning about law and history this semester so no campaigns for me. Luckily I have CKR to feed my creative needs.

Since I have been keeping up with trends and reading about social media, I also have been noticing big changes at school. One thing that I thought was interesting was the number of cellular devices being used. I remember my first semester at state and the numerous laptops scattered around the classroom. That's not the case anymore. I am starting to see iPhones and other smart phones replacing the good ole laptops. I even saw one student, who appeared to be texting furiously, taking notes on his phone and then emailing it out.

This week has been pretty busy with school, work and managing time with my friends and girlfriend. All I know is I survived. Most San Jose natives are use to the busy lifestyle. Some how I managed to escape those pressures till now. I must say, the time sure passes by fast. I am not worried. I know I can keep up.

Happy Friday everyone!

-Ralph

Music and Copywriting

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 9:59:37 PST

It's Friday! Even the rain is gone for the weekend, and I am feeling alive.

So, as some of you know, I love copywriting. How much do I love it? A lot. So much that I take it to the next level. I look at copywriting beyond the print on the ads. I see it as a play with words. I believe copywriting is everywhere, even in music. On my free time, usually on rainy days, I bust out my spiral bound note book and begin to write. My jottings consist of personal experiences, life lessons, funny slogans and lyrics. What kind of lyrics? Something I like to call "copywrite raps". These raps are basically songs that rhyme and are about the most random things. The most recent song is about my birthday.

Music speaks to me and I ask myself "Why not speak back?" Music is something that has been around for generations and generations. Even when new mediums emerge music is alive and well. Music has the power to reinforce a moment in your life, the power to change your mood, and the power to make you move in ways you never imagined (no need for details here). I think one of the reasons I felt so "alive" this morning was because every song I heard on the radio today was one I enjoyed. Oh and I didn't hear one commercial. Still love advertising, don't worry.

I listen to alternative, experimental, hip-hop, pop, basically everything and country is actually growing on me! As music grows so does my writing. Who knows, maybe with enough support I will write a CKR rap. Enough of me though, what about you? What do you listen to? What does music do for you?

Happy Friday!

-Ralph

The Aftershock of Social Media

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 10:37:01 PST

The Bay Area has its ups, downs and occasional shakes. We know these shakes as earthquakes. For some reason this week the earth decided to move around its plates more violently than usual. Unfortunately Haiti was struck with a 7.0 earthquake, devastating the world. My heart goes out to anyone who was affected by the quake directly and indirectly.

Now there was something very different about this earthquake than previous ones, it was what I like to call the "aftershock of social media." The Red Cross has managed to raise 3 million dollars (expected to increase) for Haiti through a mobile campaign. Thanks to the help of Twitter, Facebook and other social networking sites the campaign has continued to grow.

Now just by being a resident in the Bay Area we know a thing or two about earthquakes. The big question is: are you prepared? I know I'm not, but my family has started. Luckily I had the privilege to take an earthquake and hazards class at San Jose State. I just have to put that knowledge into use and share.

One reason people fail to be prepared is simply because they don't have space for supplies. My hazards teacher had a simple solution. A trashcan. Yes... a metal trashcan that contains water, first aid kits and canned food. It also helps to have a plan. Where are we going to meet? Who is going to turn off the gas in the house? These are just a few questions that should be answered.

With that being said how are you prepared?

Friday at CKR Interactive

Tue, 31 Oct 2006 10:53:19 PST

I can be found at CKR on both Tuesdays and Fridays from 9am- 2pm. This schedule was created completely based upon the combined availability of my self and the availability of the intern desk (although I have since moved), but i have clearly lucked out. Now let me preface that no day at CKR is a bad day and that everyday is a fun atmosphere, but Fridays are always very good to me.

Every Friday morning employees take turns bringing breakfast for the entire office. Thus far I have been lucky enough to receive in those early morning hours fried rice, breakfast pie, and even La Vic’s breakfast burritos (with orange sauce! woot! woot!) but that alone isn’t the reason Fridays are so amazing. Recently, probably due to the holidays, there has been a pandemonium of special events. My past few Fridays have been as followed:

December 4th:
-Asian fusion taco truck run complete with amazing Korean, Chinese, Hawaiian, and Thai tacos
-Amazing chocolate Whole Foods birthday cake
-Just as amazing Chocolate Whole Foods new citizenship cake

December 11th:
-Bowling Tourny against our friends from “AfterCollege” including pizza, bowling and beer

December 18th:
-White elephant gift exchange where I ended up with two new travel coffee mugs and one travel coffee thermos
-Lunch from Maggiano’s

December 25th & January 1st
-Day’s off and asleep in bed ;)

Now, despite all that play the people at CKR (myself included) still have plenty of time for productive work :)

A Fresh Start

Sun, 01 Oct 2006 9:48:49 PST

It's mind boggling how so much can happen in such a short period of time. During the holidays I finally turned 21, managed to get a girlfriend and hosted a huge New Years celebration. So many changes happened in this past week, I already feel like a new person.

For my birthday I went to Teskes, a German restaurant/bar, located in downtown San Jose. It was a lot of fun, but I realized something. Being 21 is more than just being able to order a drink. It feels like being in a club and I am the newest member. I can go to casinos, wineries, 21+ shows and clubs and BevMo.

Celebrating the New Year, which came by so fast, was a complete success. My one goal was to get a Conga line started because it's just funny to watch a line of people trace the perimeters of your house. I somehow managed to get it going and led it straight to the dance floor...after a couple laps of course. Later that night I found myself dancing to Britney Spears and even being in a middle of a circle at one point. It was grand.

As for the girlfriend, I don't know how I pulled that one off but I consider myself lucky. I am glad to start a fresh new year with CKR Interactive and curious to see what trends 2010 brings.

That New Guy

Thu, 02 May 2019 9:39:30 PST

It's been my first couple of days here at CKR Interactive and I am loving it. I already feel that I am absorbing so much knowledge and still processing some. Everyone here is also very funny and fun to work with. Since I am the new guy here I figured I'd tell you some things about me.

Well my name is Ralph Leon, but I have an abundance of nicknames. I guess I will have to share some of those later. I am Peruvian but was born in San Jose. I like to have fun both indoors and outdoors. Whether its playing poker or going 30 mph down a dirt trail on my white Specialized Enduro, I am always looking for excitement.

Currently, I am advertising major on the creative track. I love coming up with great ideas and being clever when I can. While reading about advertising I came across some great advice from David Ogilvy, who was one of the greats in advertising:

Bear in mind that the consumer is not a moron. She is your wife. Do not insult her intelligence.

Never spend money on advertising that doesn't sell

Remember the old Scottish motto: “Be happy while you’re living, for you are a long time dead.”

Well I am looking forward to my future with CKR. Thanks for having me here! Happy Holidays Everyone!

-Ralph L.

Big Thanks to CKR

Tue, 30 Oct 2018 10:43:46 PST

Time certainly flew by these past few months. I can hardly believe that my internship and final semester of school are complete. It feels like only yesterday I showed up to CKR Interactive being fairly uncertain of what to expect. While at CKR, I enjoyed the opportunity to apply the information I was taught at school. Reading how something works, and actually doing something, provide two very different experiences. It has been fun.

And with my graduation taking place later on this afternoon, it is time to prepare myself for life after college.

Guess it's time to check out BAJobs.com.

USP: The Key to selling an iPhone app

Sat, 01 Jul 2017 9:18:26 PST

One of the first and most important lessons I learned in my beginning advertising classes was to quickly and simply define a product or services USP (Unique Selling Proposition). The USP tells the consumer in the simplest terms what the product does that makes it different from the competitor and a very high concentration of iPhone app websites do this remarkably well.

As an iPhone user myself I know that my decision to buy an app is ALWAYS an impulse buy. The app store might as well be nestled in between the sugar filled candy bars and this month's latest teen people. If you can tell me as fast as possible how your app is going to make my life infinitely (or even mildly) more amazing I'll push that little green buy button.

The following sites do take advantage of their USP and display it in a clean and stylish way.

Firetask
2udoku
Tea Round
Outpost
Bird Brain

A Social Media Genius

Wed, 02 May 2018 10:05:18 PST

I am not really a genius, I just get to play one thanks to work. Prior to CKR Interactive, I had been well versed in social media from a number of my classes at San Jose State. I took the information, understood its value, and recognized that someday the content I studied might find use. Little did I know what was in store next.

Since working at CKR Interactive, the information on social media I took from class has been super helpful. Yet it has been my opportunity to use the tools of social media that has provided me with a far better learning experience. I always read information on tracking analytics, but to actually see the statistics is a different matter. It has also been a challenge attempting to say ahead in the world of social media information via blogs, Twitter, and other Internet sources. I feel as though I have consumed far more information from the Internet than all my days reading text books. Text books do not have the capabilities to stay up to date with this ever changing field.

All of this web browsing and social media following has also crowded me among my friends as the social media genius (or big mouth). I am not necessarily at fault for being a addict, but all of the information I receive has to go somewhere. And the real point is that if any of my messages reach one new individual, it has succeeded.I successfully spread the word of a company to someone who might have have originally received the message.

Social media is a tough thing to follow, but well worth the investment.

Final Stretch

Sat, 30 Dec 2017 9:36:12 PST

Four weeks from today will mark my graduation from San Jose State University. Each day seems to fly by as I count down to December 17th. I am not overly excited about leaving school, but the freedom of not having a weekend filled with homework or late nights in the library studying for a midterm or final seem fairly enticing.

My classes this semester have not been very difficult, yet with each paper and test that passes, I feel as though if I don't do well I'm going to end up staying in school. There is a finality in knowing these will be the last examinations I have to take for some time. I am confident in graduating, but it is nerve racking not knowing what is ahead of me.

San Jose State has done a great job in preparing me for work after school. My school, as well as my fraternity, have both provided me numerous opportunities to develop into a well-rounded graduate. This doesn't mean I'll necessarily find work immediately post college, but I feel confident enough that I have the skills to find something.

Here comes the home stretch.

Shady Tipping

Wed, 01 Mar 2017 7:45:47 PST

So after much deliberation, the discussion of dinner leads you to your favorite Italian restaurant. As you take your seat, the server walks up and asks if there were any beverages or appetizers he could start the table off with. Everyone chooses to decline ordering any appetizers, and coincidentally all choosing to drink water. The evening carries on, with the food and atmosphere exactly as you remembered it last time. With a no on dessert, the server drops the check off to your friend sitting on the outside seat of the booth. As everyone attempts to put their fourth grade math into effect determining how to split the check, the issue of how much to tip is what befuddles most patrons.
Tipping a restaurant server should be at the least 15% of the pre-tax total. I can not stand it when friends of mine wish to leave less. If you had a problem with service, then go talk to a manager. Providing a server with a bad tip will probably only make the service for the next guests just as poor. If you make special requests such as split checks or food substitutions, take note of that in the tip. If you decide to go out to a restaurant but intend to be stingy on tipping, then don't go out at all for dinner or learn to spend within your means (try a McDonalds). Stiffing a check does not prove a point, either talk to a manager or stick to 15%.

Autumn Can Go Home

Fri, 30 Oct 2015 8:34:45 PST

Another Autumn has arrived. The dread most people reserve for the cold winters, I hold towards Autumn. It is this season that deceives me from proper layers of clothing. Can I survive in a t-shirt all day? Is a jacket necessary? Whichever option I choose, it always ends up being the wrong one.

Autumn also welcomes the first days of waking up in a cold room with warm covers. Overcast skies only reconfirm that staying put in bed is a far better option then deciding to get ready for the day. I lay in my cave determining that the only outcome of today if I leave bed: I will catch cold.

Ah yes, the 'cold.' People start catching it. People start feeling it. People just hate it. The cold becomes the excuse of the Autumn season. Don't feel well? I had a cold. Didn't want to go to the football game? It would be too cold outside.

Autumn allows the sun to still shine but reclaims all of its warmth. Autumn takes the leaves from trees. Autumn is the robber of energy and enthusiasm. In winter people expect cold. In summer people expect hot. And as for Autumn, the unpredictable season that can not make up its mind, you just find that simple pleasure in tormenting me with neither. Your indecisiveness wakes me every morning with that debate of whether today I stay in bed because I've either got a cold or will get cold.

Oh what a long season awaits.

Getting that Friday Feeling

Fri, 01 Jul 2016 10:35:46 PST

Well this week seemed to fly by just as quickly as Monday showed up. I start each Monday at CKR and end each Friday at CKR. In between these events I have plenty of school and work to occupy my time. This week featured some events worthy of sharing. Monday [as previously posted] was the incident with the car breakdown. But Monday wasn't an absolute loss; later that day the mechanic repaired my car free of charge because he believed the problem was a faulty alternator [an alternator he installed in the past two months]. Then later that evening many of my friends went to a bar to help celebrate my birthday.

Now we come to Tuesday, my birthday and campus wide furlough day - a day which I spent enjoying the opportunity to sleep until noon. There was little excitement surrounding the second anniversary of my twenty-first birthday.

Wednesday and Thursday were completely squished together. Classes just seemed to never end, and neither did the assignments to complete. So as stressed as things became, both of those days finished, and now I reached Friday. It is the finish line of the week. All the hours since Monday have paid off, and the weekend is finally within my grasp. So with this post, I conclude my second week at CKR Interactive.

I can see your concern, but do not worry; in three days time I will be back to start off yet another Monday.

Just Another Monday

Tue, 01 Mar 2016 9:02:02 PST

In an unusual turn of events, I decided to wake up early and get the day started on the right foot. After a decent breakfast and cup of coffee, I was on my way to CKR way ahead of schedule.

The radio was blabbering over who was the best quarterback on Sunday, but my head was simply turning over what my plans might be for my birthday tomorrow. Would I go out tonight to celebrate knowing that San Jose State has a campus wide furlough, or would I just drive to the beach tomorrow afternoon with a few friends to enjoy the sun and sand?

Well, neither of those may happen, for my car was thinking of sabotaging my entire operations. After only ten minutes of driving, every needle on my dashboard thought it was time to flat line. Deciding to follow the crowd, my radio turned off and guess what... so did my engine. My radio no longer spoke of quarterbacks. The only noise coming from my car was that of my emergency hazard lights clicking. And clicking.

After an hour of waiting, the tow truck arrived. So off my mess of a car went to the service mechanic. It was there, where my dad met me to exchange cars and send me off back to Monday and CKR.

So my moral of this story: never try to go to work early.

Thank You CKR!

Sun, 30 Aug 2015 10:29:34 PST

Today is my last day at CKR Interactive, and it is a bittersweet feeling. I am only leaving my wonderful internship because I am taking off for Spain. I will be living there for four months while I study and attend the University of Alicante. As excited as I am to absorb all the riches of another culture I am sad to leave my desk here in Cupertino, CA.

I cannot say enough good things about the people here at CKR. They have made my experience as an intern a splendid one. Each day I came in and would be greeted by pleasant conversation, weekend stories and witty comments. Above all, I learned a lot about working together, networking, social media, blogging, marketing, etc. I was given responsibilities and tasks, but received the help I needed and constant encouragement.

I have had the pleasure of working with some truly bright and creative people, and can only hope that in the future I end up in a career with similar people surrounding me. I may be leaving today, but I am leaving with more knowledge and experience than I had two months ago. Thank you CKR for providing me with such a great experience and opportunity. If it wasn't for Spain you guys would have to pry me out of this seat to get me to leave :)

Stranded in Sonora

Mon, 02 Mar 2015 10:18:45 PST

Have you ever heard of Sonora? I sure didn't until I was stranded there overnight because my trip to Yosemite with friends went from bad to worse.

We left at 3AM Tuesday morning to get a first come first serve camp ground. Soon after entering the borderline into Yosemite a car hits us. After five hours of waiting for a tow truck, my friends and I were forced to split up as the truck could only drive two out of the four of us. Then the truck had to drive us 86 miles to the nearest body shop. This was already bad...but wait- when we get to the car rental place we are told we cannot rent a car because we are not yet 21 years old.

This is how I got stuck in Sonora.

No car. No Yosemite. Missing two of our friends. In the middle of nowhere.

So this whole adventure really got me thinking... How did our trip go so wrong? I mean, a car accident ruined our entire 3 day trip. This car accident left two teenage girls homeless hours away from home and their friends. Shouldn't there have been some back up plan? Some way around the age for renting a car?

This situation is actually a common one. Not in the sense that many people get stranded in a place like Sonora, but in the fact that people don't see an accident happening and the consequences of it. Our whole trip was planned around getting to the campsite and getting there by a certain time. Many companies and people are on these deadlines and plans, but time for accidents and repairs need to be considered. Not everything is going to run smoothly and for this reason there should always be a plan B- and always be checking your mirrors for that unexpected car!

Oh, The Places You'll Go... (With the help of YouTube)

Wed, 02 Jul 2014 1:59:52 PST

Over the weekend I played around with Photoshop and some other applications. I know that once you play around with them and use them for long enough, you will be able to learn all the ins and outs and be able to make neat graphics and whatnot. Nobody tells you how hard it is to "get used to" though. I have a new found respect for all those web and graphic designers out there that learned on their own! There are so many buttons on either side and I am sure there are a million things I can do to my photos, but so far I have figured out how to change my dog's black fur to look as green as the Hulk's.

Yes, I am frustrated, but I know it can be done and this is something I really want to learn. I spoke with the CKR designers and they all said it takes time, but they love what they do now. They are encouraging and to see them enjoying what they do motivates me. Plus, nobody said doing what you love was going to be a breeze! In order to give it a proper try I am willing to put time into learning the programs. So, in my spare time you can find me glued to the computer screen following online tutorials (At times like these I am forever thankful for YouTube).

Test the Water Before You Jump In

Mon, 30 Dec 2013 10:17:28 PST

As an intern here at CKR Interactive I make Twitter updates, comment on appropriate blogs, read updates on recruitment marketing, advertising and branding, and make a presence for CKR online where it may be helpful.

This week I was given the chance to work closely with some of the creative design team. Today I was given the chance to help with making a banner for a client. Although I am far from being able to drive these projects, it is great to see exactly what these people do everyday. I particularly found the web designing fascinating! I love how you can put your own creativity into the work. Being a Studio Art Minor, I love to design and put together pieces.

This is the great thing about being an intern -- You can test out the waters. I have landed on a major and minor for my studies, but I do not know yet what I want to do with this knowledge I am gaining. This internship has really helped me explore the field of marketing, advertising, recruitment and branding. I have also been able to see the works behind the scenes: the designing, brainstorming, building, etc.

I know that most of my peers in college do not have their lives planned out, or their careers. Jumping into the water may work for some people, but it usually helps to stick a foot or hand in first and see if it is right for you!

Hard Times Out There for College Grads...

Sat, 30 Nov 2013 3:33:33 PST

This morning I was talking to my sister (a recent college grad) about what her friends were doing for jobs and how their job searches were going, when she told me an unbelievable story involving her boyfriend.

Carlos, who graduated from Princeton, lucked out in the job search while he was still in school. He got a job offer from a consulting firm and was all set to start this summer. As his start date approached, he received a call from the recruiter telling him that his start date had to be pushed back to a later date. Considering the current state of the economy and the job market, this was not so surprising. When he got another call later with the same message, he started to get a little worried about what could happen to his offer – would the firm take it back based on the lack of business needs, or would it get pushed back yet again? To be on the safe side, Carlos began applying to other jobs. He once again lucked out by landing an interview at a coveted company. He was ecstatic – this job could put him on the path to get his dream job. After several rounds of interviews, Carlos received the highly anticipated call... He got the offer!

Although I wish this was the end of the story, I am afraid it goes on. This job would require Carlos to relocate into New York City; not a far relocation from a suburb in New Jersey, but a very large commitment nevertheless. The city is huge and living costs are incredibly high. Carlos knew he wanted to accept the job offer, but he had a lot to consider. During the week after he received the offer, he kept in touch with the company so that he could ask questions about the job and company. When he called to officially accept the offer, he was told that it was clear he did not want the job bad enough because he took longer than 24 hours to accept, and that the offer was no longer on the table. Just like that, his offer was taken away!

Having been in a recruiter role in my past job, I find this story to be unbelievable. I can understand a company taking away a job offer and offering it to someone else if they had not heard back from the candidate by an established deadline. However, in this scenario, no timeframe in which Carlos had to make a decision was communicated to him. Is this a final test that employers pull on job applicants to test their “commitment” to a job? If so, I think it’s completely unreasonable for the applicant. By doing this, the company and employees are also shooting themselves in the foot. Not only can a company be losing a valuable, high performing employee, but they are ruining what could have been a very positive relationship. In today’s world, we know that word of mouth is a huge factor in decision making. By taking such an unprofessional action, the company is losing the respect, and consequently, any free advertising/recommendation that Carlos and others could have provided to grow the business and bring in more talented employees.

To me this story is a great example how any minor interaction in the hiring process can have a huge impact on how a company and its brand is perceived. If a company wants to hire the best of the best, then it must show all applicants the respect and professionalism the company claims is practiced in employee relations and on the business side. If there is no consistency, it is definitely not a company I want to be involved with!

Even though Carlos was upset, he at least realizes that it is better that he found out the company’s personality this way rather than when he began working there, when it could have been too late, and I completely agree…

Social Media

Sun, 01 Jun 2014 10:13:06 PST

I remember back in college when Facebook first came out. As my friends were creating profiles, I refrained because I just did not understand the appeal. Yet, anytime my friends would be looking through millions of pictures of their friends, I would be right next to them looking at all the pictures. In a way, I was as much involved with Facebook as they were, but I remained behind the scenes. All my friends would beg me to join Facebook, and I guess it got to the point where I decided that I was going to boycott it. My explanation was that I am in contact with all the people that I want, and there is no need for me to be on there. I stood my ground for over 3 years defending my position to all my friends over and over again. Eventually, I finally gave in and joined Facebook in May this year. Now that I am in the loop, I can see the many benefits that Facebook and other social media channels can bring.

During this week’s Get Smart session, Melyssa Bernstein talked about Social Media and how it could be used for recruitment purposes. In today’s reality, people spend a huge part of their day on the internet. It makes complete sense to follow potential hires to the sites they frequent most often like Facebook, Twitter, etc. As Melyssa said, this should not be the only way to reach out to candidates, but it as an excellent means of attracting traffic to a company website. Now that I am much more informed about the value that social media can bring at a reasonably low cost, I am able to relate this information to many school projects and tasks assigned to me during my internship at CKR. The Get Smart session was very informative and it definitely shed some light as to how any company can make social media channels work for them.

Midnight Milky Ways

Fri, 02 May 2014 1:14:03 PST

I would not have known how much I like Midnight Milky Ways if I had not been surrounded by mini candy bars to try at lunch today. Unfortunately, I missed Monday's National Junk Food Day, but even though it is Thursday there have been plenty of leftovers. Now I can't help but sneak over to the conference room and grab a few Midnight Milky Ways.

Again, CKR surprises me with their spontaneous celebration of Junk Food. Beyond the holiday itself, the fact that CKR makes room for fun events shows how much they care about their work environment. Going to a 9 to 5 job can be routine and mundane, but not here-- there is always something to spice the day up.

My Saturday

Sun, 02 Mar 2014 9:00:25 PST

My weekend was entertaining, to say the least. On Saturday morning I awoke to a large, fuzzy creature rubbing it's furry face on my chin. Disoriented, I was relieved to realize that this creature was nothing else but Sophie, our house cat. Eventually, I got out of bed, refilled Sophie's food bowl, got ready, and headed to my friend Liz's house.

Upon entering her house, I was bombarded by my two friends, Sam and Liz. Their eyes were huge and they were talking constantly about the new Harry Potter movie that came out on July 17th. I could not believe how incredibly stoked they were about seeing the movie! I, myself, am a HUGE Harry Potter fan, however I could care less about the HP movies. From My Sister's Keeper to Harry Potter, I have a hard time watching movies that are based on books. As as avid reader, putting myself through a film which does not exactly follow the story line is painful for me to sit through. But then again, The Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland are both books I haven't read, and movies I have seen. When I was younger, I absolutely loved watching those films! Who knows, maybe the Harry Potter movie is the Wizard of Oz of today. It's weird how each generation is brought up with completely different media influences, isn't it?

If you give a CKR intern a cookie...

Mon, 30 Sep 2013 2:00:30 PST

Today has been busy. There is news of the 15 year old who claims teens don't use Twitter, then there is the scandal of Twitter being hacked into and documents stolen. On top of this I am working on a few tasks here at CKR. Thank goodness for the high spirits of CKR and the passing around of cookies! No matter how busy the day may seem there is always time here at CKR to discuss the new Harry Potter movie and to indulge yourself in a little snack. That is what I like so much about being here. It is one thing to go through the day and be swamped and busy, but that doesn't mean you have to put on a frown and huddle up in a dark office. Here being busy does not mean another long dreary day. The employees still turn to one another and smile, ask about the previous weekend or exchange a joke. I just got handed a cookie about a minute ago and I am ready to get back to work... or maybe I should grab a glass of milk?

My CKR Interactive Experience and Blogging

Mon, 01 Jul 2013 12:47:29 PST

Hi everyone!

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend! Last week was my first week at CKR Interactive and I am really impressed! Everyone has been very nice and fun which makes the overall mood of the uplifting :]. So far, I have learned a lot about recruitment advertising and I believe it truly is a great way for a company to find talented candidates. Also, CKR Interactive looks at the big picture goals and makes a plan to achieve them. I really like being a part of CKR Interactive and how creative the workplace is.

Today, I am ready to start blogging. I have been an active blogger since Xanga became a hit in 2001 and I am excited to start blogging about something different- recruitment advertising. I easily became hooked on blogging when I was younger because it is kind of like an "internet diary". You can write about whatever you want and comment on articles. I also like to read other blog posts because it comes from someone else's point of view and opinion. Although I may not agree with them 100% of the time, I find it interesting how much opinions vary. Twitter has been very successful because of the status updates combined with social networking. Now-a-days it is very important to stay connected with the world and current trends. CKR Interactive is right on target!

Excellent Dinner!

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 1:01:22 PST

Those that know me, know that I love food. While I do like to cook, I also love going to restaurants. I love looking at the menus, deciding what to eat and the ambiance. Having said that, one of my favorite restaurants is Fogo de Chão, a Brazilian Churrascaria where you can get unlimited trips to the salad bar filled with fresh, good quality vegetables, cheeses and cold meats; unlimited amounts of pão de queijo (cheese bread that happen to be my ultimate favorite and weakness!); and of course, a never ending supply of perfectly grilled meats. The fun part of the meal is that all guests have a two sided token. When the green side is up, the gauchos (men carrying skewers of steak) come to the table and offer different cuts of meat. The red side means that you do not want any more food (at least for the time being). Oh and not to be forgotten, Fogo has an amazing wine collection. The other great part about Fogo is the unbelievable and precise service by all staff, whether it be bringing new plates, refilling the pão de quiejo or bringing the preferred cut of meat to the table.

Last night, my boyfriend treated me to a wonderful dinner at Fogo. Having been there many times, we are veterans and know what to expect when we go. Each time we go with the strategy to pace ourselves and not let the high speed gaucho offerings run us off our course. Needless to say, the dinner was phenomenal. I am half Brazilian so a lot of what is offered brings me back to my upbringing like my favorite soda, Guaraná Antartica, the pão de queijo, the house specialty cut – picanha, rice and beans and who can forget the flan. Since I am far from Brazil, I take my Fogo visits to indulge in these foods and treats that are not always available to me. In my opinion, it's practically heaven on Earth. Now, all those reading must think I am probably too obsessed with this place, but let me just say that the restaurant provides as fun of a dining experience as high quality of food. The entire time we are there, my boyfriend and I are laughing watching the first-timers accept all the meats right away, looking around to see how everyone else is handling the food and seeing the faces of the staff when they realize that we are nowhere near bringing our dinner to an end. It truly is a wonderful experience, even though I will have to recover from the meal with extra gym time. But I can say it definitely is worth it! To me, nothing can beat good food, good wine and good company and at Fogo de Chão you get all three. Just remember, if you ever find yourself walking through those doors, make sure to stay focused and pace yourself, or else you will be cutting yourself short…

No Longer a Teen

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 9:00:00 PST

Today was my first day in the office as a 20 year old. My birthday was on Monday and in celebration of no longer being a "teen" I went to go see Wicked in San Francisco. It was creatively written and very entertaining. The only downside was that the lines to the bathroom during intermission were unbelievably long so I had sit slightly uncomfortably for the last half of the play.

Besides seeing Wicked this weekend I visited the Tech Museum in San Jose with my boyfriend. I whacked-a-spam, went on an earthquake simulator and saw a film in the IMAX theater while there.

Sadly, all weekends come to an end and I returned to my Summer Camp work on Monday. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I wake up at 6am to open up the Burlingame Recreation Center. I have worked here as a camp counselor for about 6 or 7 years. You start to lose count after more than 5 fingers are needed. After coloring within the lines and being jumped on by numerous children I am relieved to be back at CKR!

Hi my name is...

Sat, 29 Dec 2012 9:48:36 PST

Good morning! I am a new summer intern here at CKR Interactive. Today is my first day and I am thrilled to get to know everyone and excited to get to work!

Let me tell you a little about myself... My name is Gina Mawla, and I just finished my first year at UC Santa Cruz. During my first year, I lived in the dorms with not one, but two roommates, all cramped into a "small double" room (a room technically designed for two people, but the school, adjusting to impaction, tosses one more person in there). It was hard to adjust to at first, given that none of us had ever shared a room before, but eventually we got the hang of it. There was no doubt that when summer started, I was relieved to have my own room again! But the grass IS greener on the other side, and once in a while I do miss having my roommates around to pester me while I try to study.

My summer started off with its lazy foot first. Long, hot California days went by slowly as I relaxed, paid off my sleep deprivation, and watched TV. After my first year in college, this summer break was well needed! All was good- until about the end of the first week I was home. I began to get antsy, yearning for productivity and for something to do. Luckily, I became in touch with CKR Interactive, and here I am in the office, on my first day!

Well, I'll keep you posted with the happenings around here! :)

Until next time,

-Gina

How I spent my 4th of July Weekend

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 1:32:28 PST

First off, I had a wonderful 4th of July weekend! It started off rocky because I did not have definite plans but everything came together in time. This weekend I had plans to go down to Thousand Oaks (so-cal) to visit my boyfriend for his birthday. The question was - how do I get down there? As I was looking at plane tickets online, I started to get really nervous when I saw the prices...$350, $367, $419. I was thinking to myself, "HOW CAN THAN BE?!" Then I realized it was the 4th of July weekend and I should have known the plane tickets were going to be outrageous. Right when I was about to have a nervous breakdown, my old friend from High School instant messaged me and asked me how I was doing. I have not talked to my friend in nearly three years so I was surprised he messaged me out of the blue. As I proceeded to tell him that I was bummed out that I may not be able to go to L.A. because of the costly airplane tickets, he offered me a ride to Santa Barbara in 30min! Without any hesitation, I accepted his offer. I could not believe this opportunity fell into my lap, it must have been meant to be.

Four hours later, I gleefully arrived in Santa Barbara to meet my boyfriend. It was his 22nd Birthday and he was extremely glad to see me. He goes to San Francisco State University and during the school year we spend a lot of time with each other. His hometown in Thousand Oaks, CA so in the summer, he moves down south to be with his family, which means that we don't get to see each other often during the summer. I must admit, it is hard to do long distance 1/3 of the year.

This weekend was filled with activities. I will list a few things we did:

Went to the Movies (saw Public Enemy)
Went to Zuma Beach in Malibu w/ James' brother
Birthday Dinner
Went Swimming
Fireworks
BBQ: chicken burgers, asparagus, onions, and tomatoes
James took me on a ride in his dad's Lotus (very fast!)
Frozen yogurt

I flew back yesterday (Sunday) and although I didn't want to leave, it was great to see my family. My parents picked me up from the airport and we shared out 4th of July experience. Luckily, we all had a good one this year! Hope you did too, Cheers!

4th of July in San Diego!

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 2:36:26 PST

Hello everyone! This is my first post, so I wanted to say a little something about myself. I am an MBA student at Thundebird School of Global Management and currently trying to figure out what I want to be "when I grow up." I grew up in Jersey and lived in DC for 8 years so my move to the west has been a culture shock to say the least!

This summer I am interning in the Phoenix office at CKR Interactive. So far it has been great - Jill and Kristin are awesome and they've made me feel right at home. I'm doing cool stuff and can't wait to get more involved.

I decided to take summer classes this summer to have an easer load in the Fall and Spring. Little did I realize that I would be swamped with tons of work... The past week has been full of papers and cases and studying for finals, needless to say I need a vacation. Luckily, I will be in San Diego for the entire weekend and will leave all my school worries behind in AZ!

Hope everyone has a great holiday weekend!

- Melissa

Holiday Weekend

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 11:37:46 PST

Check, Check, Check. I am all about To Do Lists. I come in and make a list of things to do, I make a list of new websites discovered and I make a list of all the accounts and passwords. So what was I able to check off for today? Well, I have read blogs, made twitter updates, found new websites to search and familiarized myself with my recent LinkedIn profile. Reading through new websites and blogs may not sound like the most exciting thing to do, but it encourages me to think about some of the topics in advertising and marketing that I otherwise would not have. Also, commenting on blogs forces me to really think about every angle or point of view before submitting my own. Some of the blogs I have read I don't agree with at all, but this only helps me see where the other person is coming from-- because in life (and business) there will always be someone else's point of view and it is important to be able to embrace that.

Aside from the above, I also got to view the finished dancing video from our office. Wonderfully done and creative.

All in all summer is going well and the weather has been great. This weekend is the 4th of July--and my birthday so I will get a few extra days off to relax and enjoy it. Have a great weekend CKR!

Hasta La Vista!

Sat, 30 Nov 2013 10:01:21 PST

So today is officially my last day of work. It seem surreal to me. I feel like I am going to be coming in Thursday and carrying on with my obligations.

I can say I have grown a lot during this internship at CKR and have met some of the most talented and caring people.

Compared to four months ago where I was the timid little intern, I now walk into the office confident and proud. It has become a family, a second home if you will.

Life after this internship: I guess summer will officially begin. Laziness might just settle in and I'll be on the job hunt to make some pocket change. I have plans to go to the east coast for a leadership conference for my fraternity and while I am there a couple buddies and I are going to roam New York City and Boston. I guess I'll have a loaded schedule for the next couple months until school starts up again. From there graduation will soon creep up and then I'm off to the real world. Maybe even be back at CKR on the other side of things, we will see where life takes me. So until then, with the wise words of our governator, hasta la vista, baby!

BBQ TIME!

Thu, 01 Aug 2013 12:19:24 PST

So today we had a BBQ here at CKR. Excellent food, wonderful people and great laughs. I guess the BBQ was my fairwell, and also a welcome to the new intern, Michelle. It has been real fun working here at CKR and I am going to miss it tremendously. As a fairwell gift, I recieved a mug with a picture of Robocop and a unicorn on it (inside joke, but a hilarious one at that). The thing I'm going to miss most is the family-like atmosphere. There was never a dull moment here and I learned a lot. Good times CKR! I had a good run! Thanks for everything!

First Day in the Office

Mon, 01 Jul 2013 12:21:54 PST

Today was my first day interning for CKR Interactive. Everyone was friendly and welcoming. Arthur, who wil be leaving his internship here soon showed me what my regular tasks will be. I am eager to participate in the researching of advertisement and marketing along with building up my online and networking skills.

I can tell that this internship is going to be more than sitting behind a desk and researching facts. The people here do more than that. They are creative, down to earth and humorous. In fact, upon entering work today I was told I will be participating in a CKR Interactive music video. Doesn't sound like a typical day in the office eh? I was also told on Fridays there is a free breakfast-- did I chose the right place to work or what?

Par 5

Wed, 01 May 2013 1:34:21 PST

In the advertising world, many business transactions are conceived during a round of golf. This weekend I actually attempted to go golfing at my friend's country club. I realized I wasn't too bad, well compared to my buddy, Drew who nearly killed a couple people and came close to bashing in a few windows because of his horrible slice. The houses were beautiful on the course, but I would be afraid to live there because of people like Drew. Imagine sitting on your couch in the living room and a golf ball crashes through your window and bashes in your brand new television screen or even knocks you in the head – I wouldn't be a happy camper.

On a happier note, during my round of golf, I bogeyed most the holes, actually parred a couple others and nearly got a birdie on a par five. That would have been my first ever, if only my putting skills were "up to par."

I understand why business is done on the golf course, it is relaxing (unless you suck), you have plenty of time to chat it up and you can easily communicate along the beautiful scenery. Now I just have to keep practicing so I don't get too frustrated with myself and break another set of clubs. haha.

The Real World- San Jose

Sat, 29 Dec 2012 3:09:50 PST

Day 18- So it's been a little past two weeks since I moved out of my fraternity house with a couple of friends. I have my own single, two brothers share a split room, my buddy Ryan has the other single, and our friend Bobby moved in with his girlfriend Sammie into the master suite. Things have been cruising along for a while, but just the other week their first fight in the new house somehow became a fight involving the whole house. I thought I was on Real World San Jose for a quick second. We all are close friends and have lived together before, but having a couple in the house seems to put a emotional drain upon all of us, when they're happy we're happy, when they fight we hide in our rooms praying for dear life. Haha no I'm kidding, but it ain't fun.

Recently things have settled down, everyone is getting along and venting their anger in intense games of Cranium. I know there will be ups and downs while living in a house together, but I hope that this move will make us all closer. I will keep y'all updated!

Growing Up

Sat, 29 Sep 2012 2:54:51 PST

The summer heat finally arrived. I reminisce of hot days at the beach skim boarding and warm nights huddled around a bonfire roasting s'mores with good friends. But there was one thing in the way, my last final exam. Of course with my luck I would get my final scheduled the last day on the last time-slot. I walk towards the two hour key to my freedom as all my comrades are celebrating their well deserved victory over the long rollercoaster we called a semester. As I am only an hour away from freedom my mind ponders. The thought of graduation arises and how summer would not be summer in a year's time. I would be a "grownup," living life day by day, making a steady salary and hopefully becoming a prominent individual in the advertising world. But what if I fail? My insecurities overcome my logic. I finally ground myself and float back to reality.

One of many things interning at CKR has taught me is that I chose this line of work for a reason. People have fun doing it and it never really gets old. The passion and support shown by everyone here at CKR makes me feel confident in my abilities and my future goals. Summer days and nights will always be there, now growing up doesn't seem too bad.

Welcome!

Sat, 29 Sep 2012 2:48:05 PST

Hi everyone,

Our awesome interns will be using this blog to write about their experience here at CKR Interactive. It should make for a fun read. =)

Thanks for reading!

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 PST