Beware of Boredom, it's contagious!

Let's face it, we have all walked out of a meeting (or class) before and said, "That was the worst meeting ever." This is because you are suffering from a condition known as compulsive boredom. No matter what subject, time or place, or presenter, you always manage doze off, doodle, or find a way to entertain yourself through a meeting. Stefan Kroes managed to conduct an entire study on how to detect boredom in a meeting. Check out his paper by visiting this website. The good news is, boredom is preventable and treatable. As aspiring young professionals, it is important that you know how to stop the spread of boredom, so your team or group does not become apart of the problem.

Boredom is spread easily in a group setting by a lack of organization and planning on the part of the person running the meeting. To combat the disease in this form, remember a simple phrase: Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance. This means; formulate a comprehensive agenda, send it to all meeting attendees two days in advance, show up early to the meeting room, and respond to pre-meeting questions quickly. Be sure to have copies of the agenda with you at the meeting. These tips, and several more, can be found in this sample meeting agenda article by Estella Kennen. Even with proper preparation, boredom is still extremely dangerous.

Excitement, humor, and heated discussion are the most effective weapons against this condition. In the days leading up to the meeting, flaunt your excitement to your co-workers! Although it might seem a little bit tacky and lame, you can guarantee that if you're not excited, no one else will be either. As the leader of the meeting, your energy should be contagious. Keep in mind, communication is key.

Humor works well when used at the right moments. However, remember that all humor must be politically correct and must be something the audience will respond to. Humor can be used in your speech, PowerPoint, the agenda, and a number of other places. If a tasteful joke fails to invigorate your audience, perhaps a brief recess is needed to recover.

Finally, encourage discussion amongst all team members. Few things can persistently stave off boredom like a heated discussion within a group. If a member is not participating or is seemingly excluded, call on them or ask for their input. As the meeting moderator, you must control how intense the environment gets.

If these tactics are ineffective at stopping boredom, the last defense someone has comes from reading the meeting minutes. The minutes are accurate, impartial records of what transpired at a meeting, and can serve as a recap for the weary employee. Minutes are a crucial part of every meeting, and should be taken very seriously. For tips and pointers on taking the minutes, check out this article by Dawn Rosenburg McKay. Even if you were paying attention, read the minutes anyways to jog your memory.

Failure to attend meetings prepared, actively contribute to discussion, or read the minutes are all factors that can lead to employment fatalities. Websites like effectivemeetings.com serve an excellent one-stop shop for all of your planning needs. If you have never planned or organized a meeting before, this site might be the easiest way to get some of your questions answered. Boredom is preventable, but you have to take the right steps to stop its spread.The only question left is, are you going to become a part of the problem, or the solution?

How to Rock Your Interview

You've spent the past 4 years preparing for you dream job. You've made it through the rough chemistry exams, all nighters and late night partying. Now you are in the real world and ready for your interview. You have some tough competition ahead of you; the current job market isn't as promising as it seemed in college. You're probably thinking "How am I going to make myself stand out against 100 applicants?" That may be a tad over played but it's still a nerving thought. Don't sweat it, I have some great pointers on how you can rock your interview!

As I was looking online for help with interviews, I noticed there are a lot of websites designed to do just that. Interviews play a huge part in getting a job, so it's something you want to do right. I came across this website called jobopenings.net; it had information similar to the text book, but they also had some other great pointers. Interview questions are always difficult, it is always a good idea to practice your answers to some questions before you go in. Jobopenings.net had some great sample questions to think about such as; "Where do you expect to be in your career in 10 years?" Do not explain that this job will be your stepping stone in your career. They know that 75% of the people they hire are going to be elsewhere in 10 years. They just want to hear that you are dedicated to your career and want to learn as much as you can. And to be honest no one knows where they will be in 10 years. They also had another great question to think about "Why did you leave your last job?" This is definitely not an opening to bash your previous employer. No matter how much you hated the job, or if you were in the wrong, here and now is not the time or place to air any dirty laundry. Simply say that there was no room for advancement in your former company, or you want to reduce your travel time to work, or you need a new job challenge; all of which are acceptable answers.

Jobopenings.net also gives some great tips on what to do during an interview. They give similar tips that the text book does as well but, they also give more great tips. They tell you to;

1. Not be embarrassed by your nervousness. It's a good thing to be nervous, that means you actually care about the job and the outcome of the interview. Just be sure not to show your nervousness in any annoying habits such as tapping your toes or clicking a pen.
2. Don't exaggerate or lie. Anything that you embellish upon will come back to haunt you sooner or later! You don't want that to ever happen.
3. Don't be afraid to think before you speak. sometimes you need to think or reflect upon something that you previously did and that's ok. The interviewer will respect you for taking the time to correctly tell a story and it shows you are taking the question seriously enough to think about how to answer it.
4. Watch your grammar and manners. Never use any slang that is not work related. Interviewers look for people who can express themselves properly and professionally.

Many people fret over what to wear to an interview. It may seem harsh but it's a fact we are judged by how we look. If you have awesome talent and are perfect for the job but, your suit is wrinkled and it looks like you haven't taken a shower; you may not get the job. As I was looking online I noticed many websites had the same advice that the text book did. All though I did find something useful on ehow.com; they suggest that we;
1. Call the receptionist or secretary at your prospective employers office to see what the employees wear.
2. Consider the location. If it is in the mall you can wear slacks or a sweater. If it is in a corporate office wear business attire; such as a suit or skirt suit.
3. Choose between pumps, loafers, and open toed shoes. If you are wearing a skirt panty hose are a must.
4. Avoid mini skirts, overalls, tight sweaters, and sandals with a strap.
5. Check your outfit for holes, stains, scuffs, or wrinkles.
6. Inspect your hair, nails, hems and, shine your shoes.
7. Tone down the use of hair spray, make up, perfume and, jewelry. One nose ring is one too many, it may cost you your job.
8. Carry a nice briefcase or portfolio. Leave the unorganized over sized bag at home.

So you're ready for your interview and look professional! You'll do great, but they threw you a curve ball, you have to do an over the phone interview. Don't freak, it's easy and similar to a face to face interview. According to jobinterviewquestions.org here are some things to remember.
1. Introduce yourself clearly and directly. Engage in small talk just like you would in a traditional interview.
2. Speak clearly into the receiver and modulate your voice. Your voice is the only way they interviewer can detect your enthusiasm for the job. Your voice can reveal your personality and attitude toward the caller. So make sure you are smiling it makes all the difference and you can tell on the phone.
3. Have your resume and the job advertisement with you for reference. Also have a pen and paper with you to take notes.
4. Dress as you would for a traditional interview, it helps you feel more prepared for the interview.
5. Eliminate any distractions
6. Prove that you are the person for the job, just like you would in a traditional interview.

So now you are fully ready for any interview that you have. Get out there and show the job market your talent! Good Luck!

Dossiers & Portfolios: Compiling your Awesomeness

Searching for a job can be a daunting task, and in today's job market, you need anything that gives you a one-up on others looking for jobs! Two great ways to give yourself such a head start are by compiling two different collections of information. The first is a DOSSIER--which is just a fancy word for a file of information created by others (but compiled by you) containing information relevant to you and your job search, like letters of recommendation, transcripts, and letters praising your work. The second is a CAREER PORTFOLIO--which is a binder of information created and produced by you, like personal statements, a copy of your resume, pertinent examples of graphic works, copies of awards, examples of written works, newspaper articles about your work, promotion letters, etc. I'll risk stating the obvious by defining a webfolio as a portfolio on the web. Essentially, both a dossier and a career portfolio should be full of evidence of your awesomeness and reasons to hire you!

According to the textbook, letters of recommendation are a very important part of any dossier, so choosing the right people as references is essential. The book advises asking previous employers, professors, community leaders, or military supervisors (if it applies to you), but it doesn't specify how to use them effectively. I found a great site to supplement the information in the book that shows the importance of references and how to use them strategically. It even gives examples of the types of questions that a potential employer would ask a reference. The book and the website both agree that the most important thing to remember when dealing with references is to ask permission before using someone as a reference!

In conjunction with the general information provided in the book (pages 246-51), eHow was very helpful with the basics of sending either a hard copy or electronic copy of a job search dossier. It breaks down the construction of a dossier into 4 simple steps, for a mail or an electronic submittal. However, eHow is not as informative as the book when advising which documents to include. One good piece of advice that it offers-that the book does not- is to begin work on a dossier months before you think that you'll need it.

A really good resource for Career Portfolios that I found was QuintCareers.com. It provides a lot of extra guidance on the types of documents to include in a portfolio. Just like the book, it advises compiling all of your documents in a traditional 3-ring binder and using traditional tabs to divide it into sections. The bottom line for anything that you include in your portfolio is that it should give a potential employer a reason to hire you!

YouTube has a whole series of informational videos by Street School Network 1 about different ways to build a portfolio. Another good resource I found for both dossiers and career portfolios is Interfolio. Additionally, Interfolio has a great blog full of resources and advice for every part of your job search preparation- from tips for writing a personal statement to how to write an email.

The thing to remember when compiling information for a dossier or a portfolio is that this your chance to set yourself above the competition. Show off your accomplishment! Include documents that display your achievements, excellence, and professionalism, and leave out anything too personal (like family photographs or unrelated document) or unprofessional (like a Facebook page). Good luck getting started!

Why Should I Hire You?

Applying for a job can be a stressful task, but what's even more stressful is drafting a perfect Cover Letter. A Cover Letter is one of the most important pieces of correspondence you may ever write. Its goal is to get you an interview and the job you have always been waiting for. If a Cover Letter is done properly, it can greatly improve your ability to compete for jobs and higher career positions. It adds a personal touch to your resume and shows employers that you are a professional candidate. Since the job market has been struggling, a Cover Letter is an ultimate must to push you that extra mile to stand out from other job seekers.

I searched several different websites and came across a few great ones. The first website is Advanced Resume Concepts by Pat Kendall. Pat shares 4 cover letter rules to always abide by:

1. Customize to Fit: Take the time to customize your Cover Letter to fit the employer's requirements.
2. Meet the Employer's Needs: Write the Cover Letter with the employer's needs in mind - not your own.
3. Actively Sell Yourself: Tell the employer WHY they should hire you.
4. Keep it Simple: Use a simple block format with left flush margins and ragged right margins.

Pat Kendall says a great quote to always remember when writing a Cover Letter, "Impress employers with your qualifications and relevant experience, not with your fancy language."

My second website is Cover Letters Do's and Don'ts by Randall and Katharine Hansen. They list a variety of great do's and don'ts that everyone should read before starting their Cover Letter. The very first Cover Letter DO is to always send out a Cover Letter with your resume. It is the most important part of your application. My favorite advice was to avoid the three most common Cover Letter mistakes:

1. Not addressing your Cover Letter to a named individual.
2. Failing to be proactive by requesting an interview.
3. Telling what the company can do for you rather than what you can do for the company.

My final website is Cover Letters: Types and Samples by the Virgina Tech University. This website answers almost every question about how to write a Cover Letter. It lists the differences between email and hard copy Cover Letter versions. This was the only site I came across that was specific about what font size and style to use. Appearance is just as important as the information in the Cover Letter. VTU also includes sample Cover Letter format guidelines. It visually shows the reader what information goes where. In addition, they include a few other sample Cover Letters addressed to actual employers which are great tools to look at when writing your own Cover Letter.

If you all ready sent out a Cover Letter and broke a couple of these rules don't worry about it. Brush that one off and get a fresh start on a new one. If you follow all of these Cover Letter guidelines, I am sure you will impress the employer and earn that interview and hopefully the job!

Earn that Interview with the Perfect Resume!

Every college student struggles to prepare the perfect resume before they graduate, and we all hope to land the perfect job right after graduation. In order for this to happen, here are some helpful tips to think about when preparing your resume. The textbook includes helpful information on how to format your resume, what to include, what not to include; however, college students like the information to be quick, to the point, and easy to read. I took this into consideration while I searched for more sources online and I narrowed it down to three websites that I found were very helpful and easy to follow. Here is what I found:

Write a Resume is a bit more wordy than the others; however, I found it to be beneficial because of how you can follow it according to each topic. For example, it talks about why you need a resume, what employers look for, questions an employer asks, etc. Some of this information is stuff we wouldn’t think we need to know, but it turns out to be helpful. Also, I like how they include what not to put in your resume. This section is easy to read and a good guide to look over when revising your resume.

The first website is very helpful, but I wanted to look for something more straightforward. Which is why I liked Jobstar Central; it provides strict "5 Key Concepts for Powerful, Effective Resumes" that weren’t really mentioned in the textbook. They are more personal but also very helpful to remember:

1. Your resume is YOUR marketing tool, not a personnel document.
2. It is about YOU the job hunter, not just about the jobs you've held.
3. It focuses on your future, not your past.
4. It emphasizes your accomplishments, not your past job duties or job descriptions.
5. It documents skills you enjoy using, not skills you used just because you had to.

This website also includes "10 Steps in Creating a Damn Good Resume," which are different from the textbook and I strongly encourage everyone to check it out!

I then found this website, careerbuilder, that has a ton of information and links to different topics about resumes; such as, “13 Most Overused Resume Phrases,” “8 Resume Editing Tips,” Resume samples, etc. The link I focused on here was “5 Ways to Improve your Resume,” which are:

1. Spell check…the old-fashioned way.
2. Put it in reverse chronological order.
3. Simplify your language.
4. Eliminate clutter.
5. Read it aloud.

*Each of these tips include more in depth information and examples that I find to be of
great help as well as the sources I mentioned above.

Preparing a resume is something all of us will need to do before we graduate. And in order to make this process a bit easier for us all, I suggest checking out these websites for the helpful tips and following the format suggestions in the textbook!

--Rachael

Important disease prevention tips!

Let's face it, we have all walked out of a meeting (or class) before and said, "That was the worst meeting ever." This is because you are suffering from a condition known as compulsive boredom. No matter what subject, time or place, or presenter, you always manage doze off, doodle, or find a way to entertain yourself through a meeting. The good news is, boredom is preventable and treatable. As aspiring young professionals, it is important that you know how to stop the spread of boredom, so your team or group does not become apart of the problem.

Boredom is spread easily in a group setting by a lack of organization and planning on the part of the person running the meeting. To combat the disease in this form, remember a simple phrase: Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance. This means; formulate a comprehensive agenda, send it to all meeting attendees two days in advance, show up early to the meeting room, and respond to pre-meeting questions quickly. Be sure to have copies of the agenda with you at the meeting. Even with proper preparation, boredom is still extremely dangerous.

Excitement, humor, and heated discussion are the most effective weapons against this condition. In the days leading up to the meeting, flaunt your excitement to your co-workers! Although it might seem a little bit tacky and lame, you can guarantee that if you're not excited, no one else will be either. As the leader of the meeting, your energy should be contagious. Keep in mind, communication is key.

Humor works well when used at the right moments. However, remember that all humor must be politically correct and must be something the audience will respond to. Humor can be used in your speech, PowerPoint, the agenda, and a number of other places. If a tasteful joke fails to invigorate your audience, perhaps a brief recess is needed to recover.

Finally, encourage discussion amongst all team members. Few things can persistently stave off boredom like a heated discussion within a group. If a member is not participating or is seemingly excluded, call on them or ask for their input. As the meeting moderator, you must control how intense the environment gets.

If these tactics are ineffective at stopping boredom, the last defense someone has comes from reading the meeting minutes. The minutes are accurate, impartial records of what transpired at a meeting, and can serve as a recap for the weary employee. Even if you were paying attention, read the minutes anyways to jog your memory.

Failure to attend meetings prepared, actively contribute to discussion, or read the minutes are all factors that can lead to employment fatalities. Boredom is preventable, but you have to take the right steps to stop its spread. The only question left is, are you going to become a part of the problem, or the solution?

Designing a Successful Website

www.Squidoo.com says it best about homepages, they say that its like a "first impression". Your homepage is a “first impression” of your company. Based on this “first impression” customers will make a decision to continue in your website or begin a new search. Therefore, a well-designed homepage is essential for a successful website. Many sites provide recommendations for what information to include on a webpage. The website www.cyberindian.com is a comprehensive informational site that one can use. This site has eight great steps that will really help you get started:

1. Select a Color Scheme of no more than 2 or 3 colors and stick to it.
2. Use a Template that comes in the web design software you’re using.
3. Insure that navigating is easy and user friendly.
4. Make sure you balance the use of special effects such as; videos, audio and graphics.
5. Make sure the Background highlights your text and links instead of obscuring them.
6. Have External Links that open in a new window so visitors can easily go back to your site.
7. Include a Site Map & Search Feature if you have more than 15 pages to make sure your customers can find what they are looking for.
8. Remember that Content is “King”.

Although having a website that looks professional and works efficiently is important, the most important aspect of a website is the content. Your website must contain all the information about your products and services that your customers need to know. There should be no mistakes whether it’s the spelling, prices, dates, phone numbers or links. And, all that information has to be easy for your customers to find and look professional.

Besides the information from the internet, I also learned a lot about website design from a friend who has a Masters in Computer Science and Engineering and has his own website designing business, (www.floencode.com). According to him, the eight steps are a great guideline and adds that after a website has been created, it should be periodically proof-read and tested to insure it is always up-to-date and accurate. He says with regular monitoring, a company’s website will continue to make that professional “first impression”, which is so important to a successful website.


~Sean