Always on the leading edge, urban-entertainment and fashion impresario P. Diddy decided to forego the usual “call for resumes” to find his new assistant. He posted his request on YouTube and invited applicants to submit a video interview explaining “why you should be my personal assistant.” Details of the job were fuzzy except to mention long hours and high stress (getting yelled at).

A story on NPR today revealed that the search, launched in mid-July, is going slowly – even though he received 10,000 responses in just a few days!

But after an initial posting, Diddy has returned to warn hopefuls they need “some sort of skill set” to get hired. “You’ve got to know how to read, you’ve got to know how to write,” he says. “I hope you know you’ve got to have a college degree.”

I checked out a few videos and I was actually quite impressed! In addition to citing their credentials, the applicants I saw talked about how they could help Diddy organize and manage his busy life. With virtually no information to go on, they did a good job imagining precisely how they could help him and explaining how they would do it (making restaurant reservations… sending text-messages… organizing his schedule). One young man stressed that he’s not looking to get into the music industry but simply wants to work with people of imagination. That squares with Diddy’s comment, “I like working with the best.”

My advice to Diddy would be to get more specific about what he’s looking for. Like any employer, Diddy won’t be able to find and hire his ideal candidate until he defines the competencies, attributes, and performance standards this person must meet.

But I have to applaud his innovative use of YouTube… and the candidates’ imagination and enthusiasm.

It’s a small world after all – I apologize for putting that tune in your head, but I’ve been humming it myself this morning as I prepare for two phone calls today with clients in Europe and Asia.

I’m an eternal optimist, so I see our shrinking world and globalized economy as a good thing. I understand the position of Bill McKibben about sustaining local economies. But I can’t but think how boring it would be to limit ourselves to our local environment. Traveling, learning about other cultures,  living and working in different countries – these experiences not only enliven our lives, they help us appreciate and understand people who are different from ourselves.

I find it amazing and exciting that my client – originally from France, then in Japan, now in Thailand, next year who knows -  isn’t limited by his local environment. His “small world” is now the whole wide world.

Having a friend or relative who becomes obese dramatically increases your chances of gaining weight – according to a study published today in the New England Journal of Medicine that studied the tendency of “social contagion.”

This sounds like bad news, but what it really points to is the deep significance of our social networks. Who we hang out with – virtually or in person! – has a tremendous impact on what we think, how we feel, and how we behave.

When you’re in career transition, then, it’s extra important to spend time with people who are positive, helpful, and genuinely want what’s best for you. Avoid “toxic” people who spread gloom and put obstacles in your way. Let your network lift you up rather than drag you down.

You can always tell them – “Sorry, doctor’s orders.” Because there’s no doubt that negativity and pessimism will harm your career health.

Launching a blog feels a bit like approaching the ocean on a hot summer day. I anticipate it will be fun and refreshing… but there’s an equally good chance I’ll get a cold shock, find something unpleasant underfoot, or encounter a crab or a shark.

Yet I’m ready to plunge in and hope you’ll join me. Your comments and opinions are always welcome!

I’m active across the wide ocean of career management and employment. I write resumes, write books on career topics, speak to diverse audiences (job seekers, recruiters, fellow career professionals), and hang out with the best and brightest in the careers field through my board and professional affiliations. I promise to give you straight talk and carefully considered advice.

In turn, I hope you’ll share your own experiences and opinions. Jump in – the water’s fine, and together we can keep each other afloat.

 Louise Kursmark