A lot of people that use wordpress or another CMS think that they need to install a Flickr plugin in order to embed slideshows into posts or pages. In actuality, if you are not picky about the appearance of the slideshow the process is as easy as putting some iframe code into your HTML.

Here is the code used to embed the slideshow above, pulling photos from the “Most Interesting” set of my Flickr account:

You can modify this code for your own purpose by changing the source link to your own parameters. For example, you would change the user_id field from 7682953@N04 to your own. You can find your user_id by entering your photostream link at idgettr.com.

If there is a specific set that you want to use, replace my set_id, 72157616502362230, with yours. You can find your set_id by going to your set in Flickr and looking at the URL.

If you wanted to use the whole photostream, you would end the source link after your user_id.

You can also create slideshows from group pools. To do this change “user_id” to “group_id” and enter the group_id. You can find the group_id by going to the group and clicking on the members link. The URL will show the group_id.

You may want to only include photos with specific tags from a user or group pool. To do this you change “set_id” to “tags” after the ampersand. So if I wanted to pull only photos from my photostream with the tags “Mesa” and “Arizona” the source URL would be:

http://www.flickr.com/slideShow/index.gne?user_id=7682953@N04&tags=Arizona,Mesa.

While depending on your needs you may need to install a plugin (for example stylized integration into your site template), but it all you need is a slideshow to appear on your page this will do the trick.

P.S. I still need your support in the DFA Netroots Nation Scholarship Competition, so if you could send a vote my way I would appreciate it.

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This is a blog post I wrote in early 2007 on kevinbondelli.com 1.0. I found it going through some old documents so I thought I would post it.

Everyone has looked at job postings and found something they think that they would be good at, only to see KSAs (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities) that seem to knock you out of contention.

You can’t let these requirements get in your way. Most companies set high/specific KSAs to limit the number of applicants to those who are really serious about applying.

Here are two of the top KSAs that deter applicants:

Degree required in a specific field

I come across this one a lot. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and International Studies, but professionally I have mostly done internet and design. 95% of the private sector jobs I might be interested in require a degree in a field that I do not hold. This is where the related experience comes in. If you have been working or have experience in that field despite having a different degree, highlight your experience and accomplishments. You are going to have a stronger record of deliverables than someone with less professional experience but with a degree in the field.

Years of experience requirements

I always love to see KSAs for internet-related positions that require nearly a decade of experience in the internet profession. Guess what, there aren’t many people around with that much experience, and many of those aren’t job hunting. Years of experience do not necessarily translate into results, especially when it comes to technology. If you have less experience but have been a rock star at your job, use that to show you can deliver the goods.

It’s hard out here for a job seeker, so here are a few tips to get noticed and get that job:

1) Network like mad

The best way to get your foot in the door at a company is to network with other professionals in your field. When a company is hiring having someone they already know and trust vouch for you is a huge advantage. Go to as many conferences as you can and use online services like LinkedIn to build these relationships.

2) Make a name for yourself

This is all about personal branding. Start a website or blog that talks about your field. Write an e-book or letters to newspapers on your subject matter. You can use this to give yourself more credibility as an applicant. Keep a portfolio and record of all your work so you can show it to any prospective employer.

3) Research the company and solve a problem

When you are looking at a position with a company, learn as much about that company as you possibly can. Look for ways that the company can improve and offer the suggestion. This shows that you are seriously interested in the company, will have less of a learning curve, and it illustrates your potential utility.

4) Be confident

Don’t be disheartened by the KSAs. Bill Gates, at the time he started Microsoft, would not meet the KSAs for most of their jobs today. Know that you have the talent and ideas to make things happen for the company and make it clear to them. Personally, if I am hiring a person I would rather have someone that is able to learn a new skill quickly through experience than a KSA poster child. You are more agile, more able to grasp new challenges, and good at keeping up with the change in your field.

5) Find out how to improve your resume

Look at a number of job openings in your field and see what jobs and skills are most in demand. Maybe it is proficiency with a certain piece of software, or some kind of certification. Find out what it takes to learn that software or get that certification and you will be more marketable in your future employment pursuits. There are some things that you can’t really change, like the field your degree is in, but there are things that are possible that can make a big difference in getting hired.

Do you have any tactics that worked for you or a story about how you broke in to a job without all the stated KSAs? Share in the comments.

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