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