The Higher New Hire

There will come a time in all of our lives, where, we will find ourselves sitting cross from a manager in the spotlight playing something similar to 20 questions. The whole routine will play out in front of our eyes, all the while, they are scrutinizing our every move and answer. Well, I decided to turn the tables on my employer and interviewed him about the interview process. With 18 years of experience of managing stores of all sizes, I hoped his answers would help us out next we interview.

1. What is the most important thing during the interview process? I prefer someone to carefully listen to the question, and to really consider the question before going into their answer. It shows listening skills and also limits useless information that can actually hurt their chances of being hired.

2. What is the most common mistake you see from interviewee's that can single handily ruin their chances? Eye contact. Many times an interviewee will come in on time, dressed well, answer questions well, however, their eyes are darting around the room avoiding eye contact the whole time.

3.What is the single most important piece of advice you can give to someone for an interview? Show personality. If you come in and are not engaged, or act like a bump on a log, you won't stand out to anyone.

Policy and Manual Writing by Robyn Ciancia

Policy and manuals are usually implemented to instruct a staff and/or organization on how to run the business/organization. When effective policies and manuals are in place, the time spent needing to manage problems is reduced. For this reason the following three steps will help create an effective policy and/or manual.

Organization - A structured manual is going to be the easiest to read and understand. Using table of contents, headings, subheadings, and highlighted words will create an organized structure.

Thoroughness/Concise - If a manual is too long, employees are going to stop reading or not absorb the information. Being thorough is very important however make sure each topic is concise. Employee Benefits, Payroll, Sexual Harassment Guidelines; all of these are in depth topics but making the information in the manual short, sweet, and to the point is best. Detailed information can always be made available to employees.

Staff input - One of the best things a manual writer can do is talking with the staff. Employees are the ones that will be reading and following these manuals, ask the staff their opinions and take them into consideration. Conducting an anonymous poll is a helpful tool.


Policy and manual writing isn’t an assignment many will come across on a regular basis; or so you may think. When I started my job as a hostess I never thought I would need this skill; however, as I was promoted to Host Trainer I was asked to create the five day training program for the host staff, a type of manual. It was a hard assignment because I had never attempted to write any kind of policy or manual. Following these three steps has helped me revise my training manual and now I have a better quality product.


www.writeexpress.com
http://www.nightcats.com/samples/manual.html

A Compilation of Journals and Books by Robyn Ciancia

Anyone can use a little extra help when it comes to Professional Writing. There are numerous means to finding help outside of Professional Writing blogs. If you are interested in reading up a little bit more here are a few options you can consider.

JOURNALS

The WAC Clearinghouse
http://wac.colostate.edu/journals/

HighBeam Research at www.highbeam.com
Enter “professional writing journals” into the website search bar and numerous selections on professional writing will open.

BOOKS

Professional Writing Skills by Janis Fisher Chan
Available at www.amazon.com

And your point is? by J. Douglas Jefferys
A power point presentation guide available at www.amazon.com

Writing at Work: Professional Writing Skills for People on the Job by Edward Smith
Available at www.amazon.com

OTHER

I chose to include two books that are not necessarily focused on professional writing however they have been of great use to me while writing for all types of assignments.

The Scott Foresman Handbook for Writers by Maxine Hairston, John Ruszkiewicz, and Christy Friend
Available at www.textbooks.com

The Everyday Writer by Andrea A. Lunsford
Available at Barnes and Noble or www.barnesandnoble.com

Having trouble REVISING your drafts??

Sometimes revising your draft is not easy. However, there are a few things that you can do to make this process less stressful and more successful.
The very first thing that you should do after revising a draft is to put it aside and don’t look at it for at least have a day. By doing this, your mind will be clearer and you revising will be more critical and less bias. Read it aloud, sometimes this can help you catch mistakes easier.
Here is a quick video about the revision process…


After revising, your work should accomplish these:
1. Show a clear purpose.
2. Address your audience which you already identified.
3. Have an interesting introduction and a good conclusion.
4. Have a clear and focused subject.
5. A consistent tone which is suitable for your writing.

Sources:
http://www.cuw.edu/tools/resources/lrc/writing_center/pdfs/revising.pdf
http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~wricntr/documents/Revising.html

Tips on Designing Visuals by Caitie Tanner

Visuals are a key element to the success of a presentation. Here are some tips on ways to make your visuals more efficient and professional:

1. Design a visual that presents one major point.
-A visual should get one major point across that is clear to the audience immediately
-This should be supported by factual information in bullet format

2. Keep your visual simple and organized.
-If your visual is cluttered, the reader or audience might loose focus
-A clean and organized visual looks professional

3. Limit the number of words that you use on your visual.
-Using to many words will make your visual look unorganized
-This can also confuse or mislead the reader or audience

4. Be sure and proofread your visual before presenting it.
-Grammatical errors can be seen as unprofessional
-Make sure that you check your data and that it is all factual

5. Use creative and catchy titles.
-The title is the first thing that grabs the reader or audience’s attention
-The title should get the point across and let the audience or reader know what they are going to be informed about

6. Use key words and graphics in your visual.
-This will help to get the attention of the audience and help them focus on a specific point that you are trying to make

7. Don’t mix horizontal and vertical formats.
-Make sure that you stick with one style rather than trying to incorporate both
-This will make the visual hard to follow

8. Make sure not to “over design” your visual.
-A classy and organized visual will have much more of an effect on a reader or an audience than a cluttered visual that will take their attention away from what you want to accomplish

References:

http://www.ua.edu/academic/oit/frc/resources/pdf/10tips.pdf

How to (Politely) Tell Someone They’re Fired

How to (Politely) Tell Someone They’re Fired

If only we were all as rich as Donald Trump, and as good at marketing ourselves that we can indulge ourselves into buying things or fantasizing about the new Mrs. Trump that was born somewhere else this very second to clear up our conscience after shouting, “You’re fired!!” in the most heartless, cruel, brutal way imaginable.

Unfortunately, most of us have consciences that we cannot afford to sooth by money, ego, and self-marketing power alone. Further, we do not have the type of power or authority that Donald Trump has, where we can get away with everything.

There is no good, happy way to tell someone he or she is going to be fired, whether it is for poor performance or due to a need to cut costs. If you must tell someone they are fired, be sensitive about it. Do not write a letter telling them; tell them to their face. Even if you are nervous about it, stay calm.

When telling someone they are fired, be firm about it, and keep certain things on record, such as failure to perform on their job. Keep in mind; even if they had a poor job performance, they were probably trying very hard unlike the famous Donald Trump reality show. Keep the meeting brief, and to the point.

Remember, even if you are frustrated with the employee, the reputation of your company is on the line. You might even need to hire back the employee one day. Do be polite, and try to treat the person the way you would want to be treated.



http://www.bsideblog.com/2009/04/lets-talk-apprentice-for-a-mom.php
http://blog.syracuse.com/shoptalk/2008/07/fired.html
http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2004/10/04/smallb1.html

Writing a Resume by Jeanna

Out of all of the papers that I wrote for a previous class, I think the résumé was where I needed the most help. A résumé is a summary of your qualifications as well as the best tool for you to find the right job. It is best to put it all on one page, make sure it is well organized, carefully designed, consistently formatted, easy to read, and free of errors.

So first you need to know how to organize your résumé:

Heading: At the top of the résumé, include your name, address, telephone number and e-mail address.

Job objective: Introduces the material in a résumé and helps the reader understand the goal.

Education: List colleges you have attended with the degrees you have received and the date received.

Employment experience: Organize your employment experience in reverse chronological order (start with the most recent).

Related skills and abilities: List out the skills and abilities that you have. Make sure you list ones that go best with the actual job.

Honors and activities: List any honors or unique activities that you are involved in.

References: List references. Best is to say, “References available upon request.

If you have all of these organized and listed properly you will be able to provide the best résumé there is. Take a look at this short video for additional pointers.

Overcoming Stage Fright by Kristina Shope

A recent Gallup poll found that 40% of adults have a fear of public speaking, and as Comedian Jerry Seinfeld once observed, most people would rather be in the casket than giving the eulogy! Like many others, I often suffer from stage fright. I am guilty of avoiding public speaking at all costs. I would rather work a twelve hour shift then speak for 3 minutes in front of a crowd.

If you suffer from Stage fright here are 10 Key Principles to Keep in Mind:
1) Speaking in public is NOT inherently stressful.
2) You do not have to be perfect.
3) You just need 2 or 3 main points.
4) You need a purpose.
5) Best way to succeed is to NOT consider yourself a Public Speaker!
6) Humility and Humor can go a long way.
7) Nothing “bad” can ever happen.
8) Do not try and control the audience’s behavior.
9) In general, the more you prepare the worse you’ll do.
10) Your audience truly wants you to succeed.


Here are some tips that I found to help me overcome my fear of public speaking:
 Visualize your performance ending well.
 Eat a healthy snack/meal before hand.
 Focus on your breathing. Breathe deeply in and out.
 Chew gum before you take the stage to help relieve jaw tension
 Imagine everyone in the audience as the same person (a family member or friend).
 Rub your hands with lavender or vanilla lotion before going on stage. Pleasurable scents can help relieve stress.

References:
• Smith, Taylor. "Fear of Public Speaking". 4/13/2009 .
• Orman, Morton. "How To Conquer Public Speaking Fear". 4/13/2009 .

How to Analyze Your Reader by Caitie Tanner

The key to analyzing your reader is to know the needs of your reader. The goal of the writer is “to create a common ground between the reader and the writer.” Here are three areas that a writer should consider before writing:

1. Knowledge:
   The question the writer needs to ask is “How much does the reader know?”
   Do you think that your reader is familiar enough with the background of your topic to understand you in the first place?
   The goal of Knowledge is to determine how much you want the reader to know. If you think that the reader is not familiar enough with your topic, then you need to inform your reader prior to them reading your piece of writing. This is the most important thing you could do to benefit the reader. This not only benefits your reader, it also helps to achieve your initial goal of writing the piece.
   



2. Attitude:
   The next question to consider would be “What do you want the reader’s attitude to be after reading your piece of writing?”
   We need to first consider if the reader already has a perspective or attitude towards the specific topic you are proposing them to read. If the reader’s attitude differs from that of your paper that means you need to do more to make the reader see where you are coming from.
   



3. Needs:
   The final question you need to consider is “How can you adapt to the reader to fulfill his needs?”
   A readers needs are completely different from his knowledge and his attitude. A person who is not familiar with your field of work or the purpose of your paper does not want to read a textbook, they merely want you to adapt to his or her needs and tell them the purpose of your paper.

Referances:

http://www.csus.edu/englishta/TA/Readings/FlowerKnow.pdf

Write a letter of recommendation

Letters of Recommendation

A time in your life may come when you may need a letter of recommendation to secure a specific job or academic goal, or be asked to write one yourself. Employers use letters of recommendation to help assess the abilities of a potential employer. A good recommendation letter should verify employment experience and credibility of the person the recommendation is written for.

The intro of the letter should introduce you as the reference, state your relationship to the candidate (Supervisor, coworker), and other information you may need to verify you are a credible source. In this paragraph, you should also write a general overview about the applicant. If you honestly have nothing positive to write about this candidate, you should not agree to be a reference in the first place.

The body should be kept to at least two or three paragraphs, and describe strong, specific examples of the person being referenced. Such examples could be classroom experience, professional skills, or a particularly difficult situation you have faced with this person. When writing out examples, be careful to not write any information that could give away the applicant religion, race, gender, handicap, age, and other protected groups of people.

In the conclusion, leave information for the potential employer to contact you, and personally sign your name. The conclusion should also confirm that the person you are writing for is a qualified candidate.

Most of all, remember to check your work carefully once and maybe twice more very carefully. Someone is not only depending on your word to help them get a job, but also respects your opinion enough to have you as a reference. Good luck!!

http://www.uwgb.edu/Careers/Recommendation_Letters.htm
http://www.writeexpress.com/recommendation-letters.html
http://www.used-textbooks.net/used-textbooks.html

Your Everyday Communication, Could Impact Your Writing!! By Stephanie Cifuentes

This is a personal anecdote that might help someone else…

I recently got a new job at a Hilton hotel. Couple of weeks after, the manager tells me that I was doing a terrific job, but that I just needed to polish the way that I spoke. To be completely honest, I did not think that there was anything wrong with the way that I spoke at work, or so I thought.
The manager then went over a list of words and phrases that I was saying wrong (well not really wrong but not appropriate for the job), some which included: “no problem”, “yea”, “alright”, and “hold on”, to mention a few. She wanted me to replace these words with: “certainly”, “yes”, “it would be my pleasure”, “may I put you on a brief hold”. These words and phrases sound more courteous and professional. It sounds different when you say “may I assist you with anything”, rather than just “can I help you”.

After a lot of practice and having my manager correcting me along the way, I know find myself being courteous and more professional when I speak without having to think about it twice, or even realizing that I said something wrong only after I said it.
Believe it or not, I think that by changing the way that I spoke, at least at work for now, has changed the way that I write too. I find myself writing very courteously without trying so hard, or even without having to revise the simplest e-mail two or three times to make sure that it sounds professional and eloquent. It is just becoming more natural.
Now, just take a couple of seconds and ask yourself… how do you speak at work? How do you communicate with your colleagues? Does it reflect sometimes on your writing? Could it be improved? These are just some things to think about and reflect upon… Adios!!

www.clemson.edu/.../images/key_orsForms.jpg

Analyze This

We've all sat at our computers and thought to ourselves: who am I writing to? How in depth do I need to be? Will they understand me or my terminilogy?Do I need to be personable or can I be relaxed? Well, the answers to these questions vary each and every time you begint to write. The point is to figure out these things, and a few others, before you start writing. This way your writing can be the best it can be to the specific person reading it.

Remember to create a profile for your audience: this is a BIG step, there is more to this step then most realize, and this is where most make their mistakes. Who is your audience? Remember, be as specific as possible when planning your audience. Is it my teacher?Or is it my teacher AND classmates. Of course, there are other scenarios, but this is an example we can all relate to. You must also consider your audience size; small or big? this can also help with whether or not you need to be formal or completely informal, obviously if your writing a note to a friend your informality is not a porblem whereas a memo to the CEO should adhere to more formal guidelines.

Possibly the most important thing you must consider is different cultures. Obviously, a lot of business today is done internationally with our globally growing market. Therefore, when writing, whether it be for a memo, email, or letter, we must consider the catastrophic differences between each culture, while also toning in on the similarities. For instance, there are words, phrases, or gestures which to Americans mean one thing and to another culure are offensive or vulgar.

All of these things must be considered, researched, or plotted before writing or you could find yourself in a pickle.

Secondly, plean for your audiences reactions. If it is bad news you are delivering be ready. This goes for all situations. There can also be questions, rebuttles, or refutations.You must think of these things ahead of time and plan for them or they could throw you off. In these situations, to be ready is the best solution.

Of course, if anyone doesn't understand the language, dialect, or terminology and if they have questions or want to argue the information you have provived, as long as you are ready, know your facts, and know the audience you can overcome most of the obstacles in the way. However, remember, stay calm, cool, collected, and deliver the same no matter the situation or your feelings.

Mapping out an audience is a personal preference things, and varies each and every case. Although, if you remember these tips it will help you overcome the jitters when preparing or the doubters who question you all the time. It all comes down to preparation and remember: If you fail to prepare, then you prepare to fail.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Analyze-Your-Audience-Before-Developing-Your-Message&id=1064480

http://www.umuc.edu/ewc/onlineguide/chapter2/chapter2-04.shtml

Being the Bearer of Bad News by Kristina Shope

Delivering Bad News Properly:


All of us have encountered bad news at least once in our lives. Whether receiving a rejection letter from a college or having to inform someone that they have lost their job, we can all admit that we dislike the process. Regardless, bad news has to be dealt with carefully. If we are the ones delivering the news, here are a few tips to get it done:

1. No Sandwiches: Avoid putting the bad news between good news.
2. No Dancing: Just get it over with.
3. No Demeaning: Use some tact. Be direct, but don't be a jerk.
4. No Grouping: Separate the person from the problem.
5. No Rushing: Allow some time for discussion.
6. No Defending: Say it and be quiet.
7. No Sharing: Avoid telling people the whats and whys.




None of us like to be the Bearer of Bad News but how we deliver it really does make a huge difference. Although we cannot change the fact that it’s bad news, we can at least deliver the news the right way and make it less painful to the recipient.

Here is a great Video (funny too!):



Works Cited:
Kearns, Kevin. "Top 7 Business". 4/9/2009 .

Helping your Informal Report by Jeanna Hepp

Your intro will announce the subject of this report and help explain the purpose to the reader. It will describe the scope of the information covered or the details of the report. It may also include background information about the subject of the report. An overview is useful to the readers because it will give them a glance of the information that will be provided.

The body is there to hold up the head of the introduction. It presents clear organized information of the report’s subject. Depending on the objective, the amount of detail will be determined in the body to get the objective across to your reader. It will help clarify ideas and concepts and will also be supported by tables, graphs, drawings, and other visuals.

Conclusion summaries everything that was presented in the report and will help make the judgment and prediction. Recommendations are used to recommend a course of action that you believe is warranted by your findings.

Types of Informal Reports:
Trouble
Investigative
Progress and Periodic
Trip
Test

If your informal report doesn't seem to be getting any better. Please bring your report in to one of the BlogDoctors for an emergency surgery!

Pros and Cons of Instant Messaging in Professinal Writing and Work by Caitie Tanner

The question at hand is whether the use of instant messaging in a professional writing atmosphere or in the work place is appropriate.

• Pro 1:
  You can organize your contact list by groups since all instant messengers have this feature. You can separate your contacts by business, friends and family. This feature can be utilized so that you do not accidentally invite a friend or family member into a “business” related chat or send something personal to a work partner.
  
  
• Con 1:
  While you can hide your friends and family contacts at work, they can still see if you are signed in. What if a family member or friend sends you a message at the wrong time? Therefore, if you are using instant messaging at work, people other than work partners need to know that it is a work environment and not a time to discuss personal business.
  



• Pro 2:
  You can get an instant response from your partners at work. You do not have to wait for a reply in an e-mail. This comes in handy when you are trying to get a quick response for a specific event or order.
  



• Con 2:
  Instant messaging may cause a distraction among the employees. Your employees may waste a lot of time talking to their friends and family and neglect their work duties. As a solution to help solve this problem, employees or partners should be aware that consequences could be implemented if unnecessary chat sections are going on between friends and family rather professional use.
  



• Pro 3:
  Instant messages can be saved and used as documentation for future conversations. This will allow you to reference a conversation you had with one of your customers or vendors if a problem occurs.
  



• Con 3:
  By using instant messaging, virus infections and other security risks can occur. If friends and family members send you, files at work you are probably better off not opening them. Since file sharing is a feature that instant messaging offers, viruses can also be downloaded that way. A program can be set up to lower the risk of downloading a virus, which is a major plus.

It is up to the business as to whether or not to use instant messaging. There are many advantages and disadvantages to this type of technology. The key is to use a strict policy if an employer decides to utilize instant messaging in the work place.

References:

http://www.businessknowledgesource.com/smallbusiness/pros_and_cons_of_using_instant_message_at_work_022590.html

Pinning Down persuasive Writing

As a professional in the business world is almost inevitable there will come a time when persuasive writing will play large roles in your task(s). There are a number of benefits to writing well persuasively whether it is to the CEO of your company, fellow employees working together for a project, or persuading customers to buy into your product.

Not to long ago, the store manager at my job came to me and asked for my help. He knew I was majoring in marketing and though I might be able to provide some assistance in a matter pertaining to our corporate office. Our corporate office ships all of the same product to all stores regardless of their location or product demand. However, we live in a golf heavy community and were not recieving shipments to suffice the demands. Corporate responded to his first attempt saying to put together a letter with reasons and benefits to persuade them to ship different product to our store. I took the task, and knew the weight it carried, therefore, I did a little research to help and this is what I found:

1. Know your stuff- be credible and know all there is to know about your topic or you could be disregarded.




2. Outline- it always helps to have a plan before you start




3. Be concise-don't waste the readers time with padding, get to the point.




4. Confidence- be confident in your knowledge, afterall, you did research for a reason.




5. Stick to your guns- Do not debate with yourself in your writing, it is debatable whether you should even offer refutable information against your argument.




6. Edit-obviously you will want your final to be the best it can be so edit, re-read-TWICE. carelessness is displayed by minor mistakes.




7. Keep it professional- Do not be too pushy, cocky, or rude. Present the idea or argument, the reasons, the benefits, and supporting research.




8. Credit those who are due- Of course credit those sources you have used in the process.

These tips helped me in the task I was handed, and with the help I handled the process well. In the end the corporate office decided in our benefit and now we are providing more sufficient product for OUR customers. Though it may not be of great importance, persuasive writing is a tool I suggest everyone adds to their arsenal.

http://www.supaproofread.com/documents/ten-tips-for-persuasive-writing.pdf

Thank you letter after the job interview

Some people think that a thank you letter following the job interview is a sign of being desperate for the job position you hold. However, research shows potential employers are often more than happy to receive thank you letters. Most potential employees do not even bother to write a thank you letter. So do the math, because such a letter could help differentiate you from other candidates for the job position.

Research indicates that it doesn't matter if thank you letters are handwritten or typed. It is recommended that you send the letter within twenty four hours after the interview. A thank you letter should not be sent in email format.

The content of your letter should be in simple format, just as anything else sent to time consumed employers, such as the format of a cover letter or job resume. Of course, thank the interviewer for his/her time and consideration. When writing your letter, try to think of something new about the company you learned while at the job interview, to show your genuine interest and that you were paying attention.

Tailor your thank you letter to the individual job interview. During the interview, you were supposed to focus on what you could do for the company. At the end of your letter, you could offer a refresher on the memory or better yet think of something else that you could contribute to the company. Of course, remember to ensure that your thank you letter is short and simple, as potential employers not only do not have all day to read it, but are also unlikely to believe a long flattering letter of your everlasting love for the company.

All in all, a thank you letter is a great way to differentiate yourself from the other employers, and if done correctly sending one could be the difference between whether or not you get the job.

http://www.quintcareers.com/thank_you_letters.html

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2009/2/10/the-perfect-thank-you-note-after-the-interview.html

http://www.toiletpaperentrepreneur.com/blog/do-your-employees-pass-this-easy-etiquette-audit-by-jodi-smith

“E-mailing Propely at Work” by Stephanie Cifuentes

The technology advancements have allowed for the e-mail to become a tool that allows us to communicate more rapidly and efficiently not only in our personal and social environment, but also at work. However, we have to be very careful because this useful tool might also be very harmful, especially at work.
Here are some tips when using e-mails at work:

· You always want to show yourself as being polite and professional. Therefore, always start your e-mails with a proper greeting. i.e. “Hello”, “Hi”, “Dear XYZ”, or “To whom it may concern”.

· Take some time to compose a good subject line, at that it reflects what the e-mail is all about. By doing a good job at this simple step, your e-mail will get the proper attention that it deserves.

· As with any correspondence, you should always write your e-mails following the 5Cs to make sure that it is Clear, Concise, Complete, Correct, and Courteous.

· Before forwarding any e-mail from somebody else, always ask for their permission first. This will avoid potential trust conflict in the future.

· Make sure that you are taking time to answer to your e-mails in a timely fashion; this will show your professionalism. If you know in advance that you are not going to be able to take some time to reply to an e-mail, you should at least reply to the sender with a quick message that you have received the e-mail and that you will soon review it.

· Do not send personal e-mails through your work’s e-mail account. This is viewed as being not professional at work.

· Remember that your work has the capability to retrieve and review any e-mails sent, received, and even those that you have deleted. So do not write, or include anything that could potentially put your job in jeopardy.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2293051_use-proper-email-etiquette-work.html

Job Search- Networking by Kristina Shope

Networking:


Career experts claim that the majority of job openings are never publicly announced or advertised, but they are found through word-of-mouth. This word-of-mouth networking is often referred to as the “hidden job market”.

Networking refers to the means of developing a broad list of contacts, and using them to your advantage when searching for a job. Some of your contacts may be able to offer you advice or information that you could use to land your next job. They might even introduce you to a new company and educate you about it. Confronting your past coworkers or previous employers are a great place to start your networking. Often times, your coworkers have similar interests and therefore they could point you in the right direction for your next job.

For example, one of my coworkers quit his work at an animal hospital day clinic because the pay was not that great. Shortly after he started working at a local Emergency Pet Hospital. He relayed the news to me and even put in a good word for me to his new boss. I eventually landed the new job and the pay was indeed much better.



Some helpful steps to Successful Networking are:
-Develop a firm grasp of job search basics
-Conduct a self-assessment
-Prepare a strong resume
-Decide how to organize your network
-Communicate with your network
-Initiate informational interviews
-and finally to Follow up with your network.

Here is an educational video:



Works cited:
Hansen, Randall. "Networking Your Way to a New Job". 4/4/2009 .

Designing Effective Visuals by Robyn Ciancia

Studies show the brain retains more information when combining visual and oral stimulation. When designing visuals for a presentation there are a few key points to keep in mind. You are not trying to distract the audience with the visuals; you are assisting the audience in understanding the presentation. Here a few tips to help when designing your visuals.

• Think of your audience first and keep in mind that the short term memory only holds 5-7 points. Keep the visual short, sweet, and to the point.

• Design the visual to assist in listening. By taking data and making a visual out of it, listeners are more likely stay involved in the presentation. Organization is key.

• The visual needs to be clear and concise enough for the audience to see. Too many bells and whistles are going to be distracting.

• Paying attention to color schemes is very important! Colors subconsciously imply different things to the human brain. A few examples are:

• White - youth, sterility, purity, neutrality. Doctors wear white coats to imply sterility.

• Black - While black can mean intelligence, classic, and new, it also is associated with death. Black is an abstract color that is also associated with mystery and rebellion.

• Red - passion and intensity. The physical human response to Red is for the heart to beat faster. It is used to highlight important points.

• Blue - confidence, stability, and security. Many service employees (such as police officers) wear blue to promote the feeling of security.

• Keep in mind the meaning of color when creating your visual. If you are giving a presentation about cleanliness in public restrooms, keep the visual clean and stark by using white, and only highlighting with red. Black would not be an appropriate all over color.

By keeping in mind these few simple tips will make sure your visuals are helpful to your audience instead of distracting.

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_symbolism_and_psychology
2. http://www.plu.edu/libr/media/designing_visuals.html
3. www.ua.edu/academic/oit/frc/resources/pdf/10tips.pdf
4. http://www.osha.gov/doc/outreachtraining/htmlfiles/traintec.html

Voki for the BLOGDOCTORS by Jeanna Hepp

Writing a Resignation Letter by Laura B

Too often, resignation letters do not contain good news for recipients. When writing a resignation letter, remember that the last impression is just as important as the first one. Even if you are not very happy with your former employer, never write anything negative about your experience with your company. A resignation letter is supposed to maintain good relations, not make things worse.

Your resignation letter should be brief, and explain why you are leaving the company. You should include the date you are leaving, and attempt to remain courteous. Do not be surprised if you receive an emotional response, because your employer could be relying on your talent in their company.

A resignation letter should be brief, and outline why you are leaving the company. Do not write anything about how your job has caused you multiple migraine headaches and your doctor to screen you for cancer as a result, or how you have a nice new natural shade of hair color that was not there before you accepted the job. Try to write something positive, such as “I believe this new position will further my professional development.” Also, try to write something positive about your experience with this company. If you honestly cannot of have anything positive to write, instead just focus on being polite.

Civility is most important when writing a resignation letter. You never know when you might need your old workplace again, as either contacts or potential references in the case that you need a new job. Remember, the purpose of a resignation letter is to maintain good relations and not damage them.

http://www.worktree.com/tb/MB_resign.cfm
http://www.writeexpress.com/resignation-letter.html

Successful Team Projects By Caitie Tanner

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMvUzBeo9bg

Participation is an important part of being in a group.

- Work together as a team.

-Take an active role in the group no matter what.

Make sure and listen to all the members of your group.

-Actively listen, THEN contribute to the group.

Stay focused when your having group disscusions or meetings.

-If you do not stay focused, there is a chance you could miss something important.

Make sure and ask questions.

-The best time to ask a question is if you are confused and you are not sure of what is going on.

Take notes while you are having team meetings.

-Notes can help you remember exact details and information.

-Notes are always a good resource to look back on.

Monitior your contributions to the team while you are having meetings.

-Ask yourself:

-Do I need to contribute more or less to my group?

- What is my role in the group?

- Am I contributing enough to my group?

ALWAYS communicate your progress to the team.

-It is key to your teams success that you communicate your progress.

-Make sure the rest of your team is well informed on what is going on.

-Let your team know how far along you have getten with specific tasks.

-Make sure your team is aware if you have fallen beind. This is why you are team. They are there to encourage you and help you successed.

* Groups are teams*

Resources:

http://articles.directorym.co.uk/Tips_For_Running_Successful_Projects-a1012377.html

Write humor the right way

Writing with humor can be a very integral tool for writing, speaking, and presentations in the business world. Tossing in a little humor here and there can create a positive atmosphere, loosen up the crowd, and lighten the mood. Although, in my personal opinion, humor in writing of any sort can help bring out the writers personality which is always important. However, there are some key points one needs to adhere to when using humor.

• Know your audience- Remember what is funny to you or me is not funny to everyone.
• Tone- A negative tone can turn a positive joke, presentation, or memo into a negative one.
• Language-Be careful not to use offensive or abusive language, again remember, each and every person has their own opinions of offensive and abusive.
• Clarity- Be sure not to cloud your writing with humor, or to focus the writing around the humor. This method can confuse the reader or take away from the overall purpose.
• Chase the outsiders- A writer can use humor to attract readers who usually might not be in the readers normal audience.
• Be Appropriate- It is obvious that many jokes or innuendos are not appropriate in the workplace, therefore, they should not be used.

Though these tips will not guaruntee any laughs or great writing, they should help when it comes to using humor in professional writing. Keep in mind, humor is not for all situations, all people, or all writing but it can help bring out a new audience or your personality!

http://www.alexcommunications.com/style_guide.htm#humor

http://www.essortment.com/all/businesshumor_rshx.htm
http://www.caddylakgraffix.com/images/favorite_sites/favorite_sites001.jpg
http://www.consultpivotal.com/humour_in_business_presentations.htm

Tips for Writing a Cover Letter by Laura B

Potential employers want people who will add value to their organization. The purpose of the resume is to express job qualities in a direct, data based matter. On the other hand, the purpose of the cover letter is to provide a personal interpretation of the facts displayed on the resume. The cover letter answers the question of “Why should I hire you?”

The first paragraph or the introduction of the cover letter should consist of two or three sentences. In this paragraph, specifically why you are sending a resume. If you are looking for an internship position or full time employment, say so. Do not leave employers to guess what you want. Further, state how you learned of the position.

In your introduction you should also attempt to create a connection with the company by stating why you are interested in this position, and express some knowledge about the company. If you are unable to briefly and specifically make this connection, then leave this part out of the letter.

The second paragraph, or the body of the cover letter, explains why you are qualified for the position you are seeking. You should not repeat what is already written on your resume. While the resume highlights your prior experience, anyone else who held that job would end up with similar experience. Here is where you may highlight your qualities, enthusiasm, communication skills, etc for the job.

Draw attention to specific attributes on your resume that you believe make you qualified for the job. Provide strong examples from prior jobs, internships, college, etc. For example, instead of outlining your duties in a prior internship, talk about something extra you bought to your position. Perhaps you had to make a speech, or you taught other coworkers how to use a specific type of software.

The last paragraph should be around 2-4 sentences short. Put in your contact information and refer to your resume. Most importantly, thank the reader for his or her time and consideration.

The cover letter is what employers see before the resume, so make sure it is neatly written and polished. The cover letter should be short so employers may read it quickly. Tailor your letter specifically for the position you are seeking, so that you may stand out from the other potential candidates for the job opening. Finally, do not discuss salary expectations, and always send out a cover letter even if not required to do so in the job posting.

Sources:

http://www.trincoll.edu/depts/career/guides/cover_ltr.shtml
http://www.cvtips.com/employers_look_at_achievements.html
http://www.career.vt.edu/JOBSEARC/coversamples.htm
http://jobsearch.about.com/od/coverletters/a/aa030401a.htm

“Tips for Writing with Some Humor” by Stephanie Cifuentes

Many times, adding humor to your writing can be extremely helpful to get your point across. Nevertheless, one must know how to use this tool, as it can also cause some problems too. Here are some tips for writing with some humor:

*Plan for a bigger audience than what you originally planned for, because a small inside joke that for a small audience might me appropriate, might not be so convenient to use for a bigger audience.

*Do not focus all your attention in humor. Remember that humor needs to be use as assistance to your writing and not as the main emphasis.

*Try to incorporate humor into your writing by using literary devices learned back in your English class such as personification, compare and contrast, similes, good verbs, and descriptive words.

*Aim the direction of your writing in a way that at the end result of your piece, your writer thinks of you as a very talented writer who is fun to read, and not as a clown who is learning how to write.

*Be careful when using profanity, as these words get a different perspective when written rather than when spoken. Using a bad word in your context while speaking might be funny, however, using a bad word while writing might instead become distracting and not so appropriate.

*Do your best to avoid sarcasm and cynicism, as some people might not get what you are really trying to portray in your joke and get the wrong message. By avoiding this as much as possible, your end piece will be much more effective.

*At the end always revise for the tone, as it might sound different when you read it aloud rather than when you where originally writing it on paper.

Humor, if used correctly and appropriately, will help your audience to remember you. It will also make sure that the point that you are trying to make across stands out and gets notice. But make sure not to overdo it as it could turn against you and insult the reader. Lastly, make sure that your written work looks professionally polished by checking the grammar, spelling and punctuation.

References:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Eleven-Tips-for-Writing-Humor&id=903009
http://www.essortment.com/all/businesshumor_rshx.htm

What is Needed in order to Write Formal Reports by Jeanna Hepp

There are three major parts to a formal report:

1. Front Matter
2. Body
3. Back Matter

Front Matter includes:

• Title Page: Full title of the report, names of the writers, principal investigators, or compilers, date or dates of the report, name of the organization for which the writer works or being submitted to
• Abstracts: summarizes and highlights the major points
• Table of Contents: lists all the headings of the report in their order of appearance, along with their page numbers

• List of Figures: lists of figures by title, along with page numbers



• List of Tables: list of tables by title, along with page numbers
• Foreword: introductory statement written by someone other than the author
• Preface: introductory statement used to announce the purpose, background, or scope of report
• List of Abbreviations and symbols: A list of all abbreviations and symbols from a report

Body includes:

• Executive Summary: Provides a more complete overview of the report (better than abstract)
• Introduction: Provides audience with any general information; Introduce the Subject, Stating Purpose, Stating the Scope, and Previewing How the Topic Will be Developed
• Explanatory Notes
• Graphic and Tabular Matter
• Conclusions
• Recommendations
• Works Cited/References

Back Matter includes:

• Bibliography: Alphabetical listing of all of the sources
• Appendixes: Clarifies the body with information
• Glossary: Alphabetical list of definitions of terms used in the report
• Index: Alphabetical list of all the major topics and subtopics found in the report

Hope you find this information helpful!

References:

Oliu, Walter, Brusaw, Charles, and Alred, Gerald. Writing That Works: Communicating Effectively on the Job. Boston, MA: Bedform/St. Martins. 2007.

Writing Courteously by Kristina Shope

#1 Rule to Writing courteously in Business letters is:
USE A POSITIVE TONE!


In order for any business letter to be successful, you should focus on using a positive tone rather than a negative one, simply because most people respond more favorably to positive ideas than negative ones. A positive emphasis will persuade the reader and make them feel more comfortable. In contrast, negative words may generate resistance and other unnecessary reactions.
Do not dwell on problematic areas. Accentuate the positive.

The Pro’s of Positive writing:
• tells the recipient what CAN be done
• suggests alternatives
• sounds helpful and encouraging
• stresses positive actions/consequences

Some situations in which optimistic writing may be useful:
• Complaint letters
• Rejection letters
• Relaying bad news
• Acknowledging a problem



Some words/phrases that should try to be avoided:

Demanding phrases that may pressure/threaten:
* You should...
* You ought to...
* You must...
* We must ask you to...
* We must insist...

I know it is hard to not let our emotions get the most of us, but in the business world it pays to be polite! Say “Thank you” often and end with a goodwill statement such as, "have a great afternoon" or "goodmorning"

References:
Bacal, Robert. "Using Positive Language ". 3/26/2009 .
Owl, Purdue. "Business Letters: Accentuating the Positives". 3/26/2009 .

Blogdoctors Toon by Robyn Ciancia

Writing a Resume by Jeanna Hepp

I picked to talk about Writing a Resume because it is something I know we can all get help on, or at least me.

I was able to google "Resume Tips" and it liked me to http://www.free-resume-tips.com/

The information was very helpful for future writings or for updates to my current resume.

1. Use Title or Headings That Match the Jobs You want


2. Use Design That Grabs the Attention


3. Create content that sells


4. Quantify and use Power Words


5. Analyze Ads and Job Descriptions to Identify Key Words


6. Identify and Solve Employer's Hidden Needs


7. Sell the Benefits of your skills


8. Create an Image that matches the Salary you want


9. Prioritize the Content of Your Resume


10. Tweak and Target Your Resumes and Cover letters

When writing my own resume for my first interview years ago, it was hard to figure out exactly what should be on the resume and what also should be corrected or added. I think these tips will help people to focus while writing the Resume for it to give the person a chance at the job.

Hope some of this information can help!! : )

This video is cute and gives you some tips on HOW TO WRITE YOUR RESUME!

Preparing for a job search by Caitie Tanner

When you are looking and applying for a job here are some things to think about:
Video-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EB1rshuI5fY

Job Posting:

• -Many people do not post jobs so the key is networking.
• -Let companies know that you are looking for a job.

Major Do's and Dont's of Resume Writings:

• -If you are applying for an artistic position, you are able to use a more creative approach when making your resume.
• -If the job that you are applying for is looking for deatail, you need to carry that perseption of yourself along with no spelling errors and a well formated resume.
• -Find key messages or words that a company is looking for and incorporate that into your resume.

ATS:

• -Many companies are using ATS or Applicant Tracking Systems, which is an automated screening process.
• -Due to the ATS, companies do not pay attention to the look or feel of your resume, rather the content.
• - Look for key words the company might want to see and incorporate them into your resume.

Preparing for the Interview:

• -Avoid asking basic questions I.e. questions that can be found on the companies website
• -Try and do research on the company before going into your interview.
• -Call the company and get insight information.

The Interview:

• -Demonstrate you have what it takes to work for the company but do not be over confident.

Ask these questions at the interview:

• -What would be my expectations?
• -What would be my boss's exspectations of me?
• -Who is the person I will be reporting to?

Ask question that can not be found on the companies website.

References:

http://www.watchmojo.com/

http://www.wikihow.com/Prepare-for-Your-Job-Search

Interview Tips by Kristina Shope

Before attending an interview… here are a few things you should consider:


Important Job Interview Tips:
-Be Smart. Dress smart and “dress for success”. Consider suitable dress code for a particular job. In most cases, excessive piercings and overdone tattoos are frowned upon. Most importantly have a positive attitude.
-Use Eye Contact. Try to relax and appear confident.
-Work on your handshake. Make sure it is not too firm or too soft. A simple handshake can say a lot about ones personality.
-Sell yourself. Share great things about yourself and how you would contribute to the company.
-Listen. Do not be too aggressive during an interview. It is the interviewer’s job to conduct the interview. Wait until after the question has been completely stated before answering.
-Don’t waffle. Be clear and concise when answering. In other words, “do not beat around the bush”.
-Body Language. 80% of communication is nonverbal. Good posture and a smile are very important when trying to conduct oneself in an interview.
-Ask Questions. Show interest in the company.
End your interview with a smile. Leave them with a good impression.
-Punctuality. Do not be late to an interview. As a rule of thumb, arrive 5 minutes before. Be aware of the location and the interviewer’s name.
-Prepare. Do research before-hand about the company and its goals. If necessary practice the interview before-hand and become familiar with what the interviewer might ask.
-Know Your CV/Resume. Know the places and times in which you worked/volunteered and what your learned from each.



Some Questions to Expect during an interview:
-Tell me about yourself
-What do you know about the company?
-What are your strengths/weaknesses?
-Why did you leave your last job?
-Why should we hire you?
-Do you have any references?

References:
http://www.worksmart.ca.gov/tips_interview.html

Sounding More Professional by Robyn Ciancia

When writing professionally or speaking in a professional setting it’s best to pay close attention to your choice of words and phrases. Expressing yourself eloquently represents a business professional. Following are examples of words and/or phrases that have better alternatives.

Using phrases that imply negativity like no problem or not at all tend to indicate that it would be a problem to fulfill a request. A good alternative would be to use It will be my pleasure to.
Yeah or Yes have many other alternatives such as Absolutely, Certainly, or Gladly. These alternatives sound more professional.
Hey, Hi, and Bye can be acceptable but there are other options available as well. Good Evening/Morning/Afternoon show more interest than simply saying Hello. Wishing someone Have a wonderful evening/morning/afternoon are great substitutes for Goodbye.
When ending a letter, sincerely, can come across to personally. Using regards is less personal but still professional.

There are other small changes to look for when writing professionally.
Bypass gender specific terms unless you are familiar with your audience to avoid offending or confusing your readers/listeners.
Avoid using slang unless being used for appropriate reasons.
Ya’ll may be acceptable in certain regions but it’s best to stay away from such a broad term. Addressing your audience specifically is best.

The smallest difference in words can completely change how you represent yourself. Always remember being more formal sounds best and shows professionalism.

Just a few other words/phrases to consider.
It would be my honor.
I would love to.
Fantastic, Wonderful, Brilliant
Enjoyable, Outstanding
Definitely, Positively, Most assuredly