Saturday, February 28, 2009

Class Presentations

The three presentations that I enjoyed the most where Sailing by Austin, Tips for Surviving a Large Family by Kelly and Coffee Options by Alyssa.
Austin's presentation was enjoyable because you could tell he really cared about the sport and that translated throughout the presentation. I learned about the different classifications of sailing and the different boats used in sailing. Austin was an effective presenter because he commanded your attention in the way he spoke.
Kelly's presentation was enjoyable because even though her topic was somewhat comical, you could still see that the tips where a necessity in her household. From the presentation, I gained insight on the proper way to place the blame. Kelly was an effective presenter because she spoke elegantly and maintained eye contact with the class.
Alyssa's presentation was enjoyable because she choice a topic that was relatively familiar to everyone but was able to incorporate the history behind the topic to maintain the class' interest. I learn how, when and where coffee originated. Alyssa was an effective presenter because she avoided a monotone and spoke enthusiastically. Alyssa's handout was also very effective because it can be used when purchasing coffee.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Cover Letters

No, I do not agree with all the advice given on the site. Of all the advice given, I believe the worst tip is the postscript technique. I do not believe this technique should be used in any way in regards to the cover letter. Anything you have to say about yourself, work experience, etc should be addressed in the body of the letter or in the resume itself. The best tips involved doing a follow-up with the company. Doing a follow-up allows you to check the current status of the resume and allows you to prepare for the next step. When I compose my cover letter in the future, I will make sure I incorporate more of my personality within the cover letter while tying in my personal beliefs with company values.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Client Visit

The client visit with Mrs. Goree was somewhat informative due to the fact that we were able to hear what she represented and the purpose of the healthy campus initiative. As far as ideas for the project, I think it would be a really good idea to provide locally grown food in campus dining facilities; however, I believe in order to see the actual demand for the products we have to start with small selections in one centrally located facility. After some time has passed, we will be able to measure the success of the idea and determine whether or not the students want locally grown products.

My biggest concern in terms of providing locally grown food is that not enough students will demand the product or voice their opinions about their food choices. I believe the group is on the same page as far as making sure that the idea or final proposal is something that will quickly capture the attention of the students. I don't have any specific questions at this time, I just hope that the group will be able to develop a detailed proposal for the healthy campus initiative.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Interview Mistakes

I agree that those are the biggest mistakes that you can make in a job interview, especially not following up on the interview. Towards the end of the interview you should ask about what the next step should be so you can plan accordingly and after the meeting you should send a thank you card or email to show appreciation for the interview.

Yes I have had a job interview; I had to interview for my job at Taco Bell in May 2004. I had to put in an application and take a test. Based on those results, I was asked to come in for an interview. I had never been on an interview before so I was unsure of what to do or say. I wasn’t sure if I needed a resume to work in fast food but I decided to bring it anyway. The interview went pretty smoothly. I was somewhat nervous because I wanted to be honesty but I didn’t want to say anything that would cause me to not get the job. The hiring manager basically gave me an overview of the job and the store and in the end basically quizzed me on the information he presented. He proceeded to ask me about how I felt working there and if I was up for the challenge. At the end of the interview, I presented my resume and he seemed really impressed that I brought it along.

To be prepared for a job interview, a person should be themselves and know the company. I believe the key to getting a job is knowing the main aspects about the company you want to work for and tying your best characteristics to those of the job requirements.