The advantage of being today’s most influential demographic is that we have the ability to start and stop trends. In Malcolm Gladwell’s best selling book “The Tipping Point,” he talks about the power of trends and how certain phenomenon’s tip. He describes the tipping point as the time in which a product, idea, or trend hits the masses and suddenly becomes popular. One of the major factors making something tip is what he calls the “Law of the Few.” He defines this law as “Social epidemics controlled by a handful of people with strong social connections.”

So how does this all relate to making money in the real world? Well, companies all over the country are seeking out community leaders and social organizers. Whether you know all the skateboarders in the area or you’re a regular chess playing champion at the park, you’re social network now means something. Companies understand that they can no longer pitch commercials and get the same return they used to. They are now going out into the field and pairing up with influencers to sell their brand. This could literally be anyone of us. The important thing here is to be the connector between big brands and small communities. Once you’re able to show the benefits for each group, you’ll be able to get paid consulting for these larger companies.

In theory, this idea sounds great, but it might be more complicated for some. The fact that their isn’t a blueprint for these types of career opportunities, might be a bit discouraging. Being persistent and having a strong passion for your community is what companies are really looking for. They want brand ambassadors who care as much about their product as they do. Mazda USA is one of the pioneering companies to embrace social media and enlist brand ambassadors. As one of the 22 chosen, I can tell you that Mazda has definitely made great progress in the social media game. Initially, they called on Mazda enthusiasts, bloggers and social media professionals to share their stories online. By tapping into their core market, Mazda was able to grow their marketing efforts by spending less money.

In the end, it pays to be a trendsetter. Whether you’re doing it for fun or need some extra cash, the value in spotting trends is growing. We’ll definitely start seeing more campaigns utilizing this new route and hiring more Generation Y’ers.

The most important part of a job search is knowing and believing that we will eventually find a position. Once we’ve declared it to ourselves it’s a matter of doing the smart work and exploring our resources. As easy as it sounds, job searching is almost a full-time job itself and can get harder as time goes on. However, if we are truly committed and make it our top priority, we’ll find ourselves progressing towards the job of our choice in no time.

Often times people will disagree with the fact that by committing ourselves to finding a job, we actually end up finding one. Many blame it on the failing economy or the fact that they are unqualified for most of the job openings available. Excuses will always be there to deter us from our goal. However, in order to overcome these roadblocks and obstacles, we must truly think outside of the box, and experiment with different strategies.

Social media is a great example of “thinking out of the box” when it comes to job searching. Sites such as Linkedin, Facebook and Twitter have made it easier to find jobs that might not be on CareerBuilder, Monster or other common job application sites. These social networks bring us closer to the people that recruit and hire employees. I myself and many others I know often update their statuses with job openings in their company before posting on job boards and employment websites. It saves the company money and offers the opportunity for monetary incentive, if the prospect referred is hired.

We can all agree that their are a million and one ways to find a job in today’s market. However, it is up to us in presenting our “best self” to the employer. I encourage those who are currently looking for jobs to go above and beyond what’s expected of them. If you are able to effectively stand out, utilizing your skills and strengths, they will have no other choice but to hire you.