You aced the interview and got the job. Congratulations! But fast-forward six months … your dream job has turned into a nightmare.

What happened? Things might have gone south because you hit "Reply All" to every email you received. Or what about the time you "rickrolled" the manager from the Tokyo office? Maybe it’s the fact that you show up late to every meeting. Or that you insisted on blasting the new Kanye album sans earphones. Oh, and let’s not forget the time you sent your boss’s mom a friend request on Facebook …

Unwritten rules govern nearly every type of professional interaction. It may not seem like a big deal to share a little gossip at the water cooler or use speakerphone for every call, but not following proper protocol can damage your work relationships, hurt your professional reputation and even stunt your career advancement.

 

Create a funny 30-60 second video about a business etiquette blunder. Your video should focus on either a general workplace etiquette blunder OR a digital etiquette blunder related to the use of social media, email, IM, mobile devices, video conferencing or the like for professional purposes. The idea here is to show workers what not to do when interacting with colleagues, coworkers and clients, so feel free to embellish etiquette blunder examples. Above all, videos should drive viewers to Robert Half’s new Don’t Let This Happen to You website (bumpers provided).

 

 

This project will be worth a total of $15,000 and consist of two phases, so there’s a place for everyone to contribute, regardless of your skill set.

PHASE 1: CONCEPT – In 250 characters or less, tell us what workers should not do when interacting with colleagues, coworkers and clients, or tell us a funny story about a real or imagined business etiquette blunder. Concepts should focus on either a general workplace etiquette blunder or a digital etiquette blunder related to the use of social media, email, IM, mobile devices, video conferencing or the like for professional purposes. The scenarios should be set in professional office environments, not the local burger joint or coffee shop. Feel free to go to the extreme, but don't cross the line. Robert Half is not looking for cruel or mean-spirited stories. They want people to relate to the blunders (i.e., we’ve all been there/done that), not laugh at the mistakes people made. Winning Concepts will receive a 5% residual payment of every winning video they are used to generate, and you may submit up to five Concepts.  

PHASE 2: VIDEO – Select one of the winning Concepts from Phase 1 and make a 30-60 second video based on it. The videos should have a personal touch and be relatable. Also, if you want to adapt the Concept or make changes, feel free to do so. It’s best to think of the Concept as the central thesis that you should build your video around. Also, be sure to include one of the three Robert Half bumpers found in the Project Files tab on this page in your video. You may submit up to five videos.

--Target Audience: Professional-level workers.

--Key Marketing Messages: Robert Half can help workers avoid business etiquette blunders and other mistakes that can hold back their careers. We're experts in helping workers get ahead and find challenging and rewarding professional opportunities. We have a number of unique resources that can help professionals move their careers forward, like our new business etiquette guide, available at www.roberthalf.us/BusinessEtiquette.

--Music: Tongal has partnered with Audiosocket, a boutique music licensing agency representing more than 1,400 emerging bands, composers and record labels. Audiosocket tracks will be available to Tongal members at no charge solely for their incorporation into Tongal members' submissions to the Robert Half project. Tongal members are encouraged to browse the Audiosocket catalog, available at http://audiosocket.com/. If you are interested in using a track from the Audiosocket catalog, as described above, please email music@tongal.com for account and password info, which will allow for the download of up to 3 tracks.

--Exposure: Robert Half is looking for content to be part of its new new career bloopers video series, Don’t Let This Happen to You, which includes the top three videos from Robert Half's previous project with Tongal, the "Interview Blunder Video Project." The best videos from the "Business Etiquette Blooper Project" may be used for the video series, which is being promoted via a worldwide marketing and public relations campaign.

--Releases: Please note that winning video creators will be required to provide Talent, Location and Music Releases for any performers, locations or musical assets appearing in the video upon request. Just a tip, the best way to go about securing releases is on the day of shooting to avoid chasing people down afterward. We have created a .zip containing all of these releases available on the project files tab.  

--Delivery: Also note that winning video creators will be required to provide an uncompressed quicktime .mov file in either Animation or ProRes 422 codecs at either 1920x1080 or 1280x720 upon request.

 

1. Videos MUST not exceed 60 seconds in length. Preferred format is HD 720p 16x9.  Acceptable file formats are .mov, .avi, .mp4, .wmv. Acceptable codecs are H.264 (MP4), MPEG-4, H.263, MPGV, WMV, DivX.

 

2. Unless provided otherwise, all work must be your own original creation and free of any copyrighted material. You shall provide detailed information of your work regarding the source, the creator and background information as requested by Tongal.

 

3. Videos MUST use one of the three (3) Robert Half bumpers provided on the Project Files tab on this page. Bumpers will be provided upon launching the video phase.

 

4. In the event you utilize any third party materials, such as music provided by a third-party music provider, you must obtain full written license and consent from the owner of such third party materials and provide such license and consent forms to Tongal.

 

5. Submissions cannot contain any profanity, offensive language, nudity or otherwise objectionable material, the determination of which is solely at the discretion of Robert Half International.

 

6. Submissions must not portray Robert Half International in a negative way, the determination of which will solely reside with Robert Half International.

 

7. Videos must portray a professional office environment.

 

8. Videos must be in the English language or subtitled.

 

9. Limit 5 submission(s) per member, per phase.

 

10. You and any participants must be at least eighteen (18) years or older to enter.

 

11. You must be a legal resident of the United States or Canada (excluding Quebec).

 

12. Minimum 30 videos, or the contest will repost for 14 days.

 

13. In addition to the standard Tongal W-9, Winner Affidavit, and IP Assignment, winning video creators MUST also provide Talent, Location, and Music Releases for all assets appearing in the video as well as the project files, editing sequence and an uncompressed quicktime .mov file in either Animation or ProRes 422 codecs at either 1920x1080 or 1280x720 to claim their prize.

 

14. See OFFICIAL RULES for additional contest information, terms and conditions. If there is any conflict or inconsistency between these requirements and the Official Rules, the terms and conditions of these requirements shall prevail.