The first article I read was entitled, "Pretty in Ink: Making a Resume Look as Appealing as the Content," written by Sarah Needleman. Sarah explains how to make a resume stand out from all the cookie-cutter, run of the mill resumes. Adding visuals, graphs, or tables can make a resume stand out and get noticed faster. Allan Zander is the vice president of SolaCom Technologies Inc. and reports only five percent of resumes having creative designs. Not only do aesthetic features show creativity, but it is also refreshing for the one handling resumes.
Sarah also warns of the downfalls. First, she says it is important not to get carried away. Too much design can cause confusion, or simply take too long to read. She also emphasizes the importance of revision. making sure your resume is mistake free is the most important thing. She ends with an effective quote, "A typo is still a typo."
The second article I read was written by Joann Lublin, called "There's No Quick-Fix Solution To Erasing Lies on a Resume." She talks about the struggle for those who have lied on a resume and got a job to come forward and admit to having a false resume. With all the background checks that go on today she says it is only a matter of time before they catch you because checks are not only going on for new employees but those also getting promotions and holding high positions. They say it is good to come clean before getting caught because they might be willing to let you quit with dignity or might even let you still have your job, like Michael Allison. Allison learned that the CEO had not graduated from college, but decided his falsified academic credentials "had no bearing on his entrepreneurial success.'' This could have been to cover-up media coverage. The bottom line is not to lie on your resume.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Interview Articles
The first article I read from the website was, "Ability to Pull an All-Nighter Can Be as Useful as a B.A.", written by Dana Mattioli. This article talked about recognizing other skills one acquires during the college experience, aside from the academia. The other skills sound like things we do in everyday life: write papers at two a.m., watching t.v., and surfing the Internet. Dana emphasizes the importance of translating those other skills into strengths that can be reflected in the workforce. One example translates "living in a residence hall" into, "comfortable working in diverse environment." One other main point she makes is that my generation, the one new to the workforce, is more technology savvy than all other previous generations.
I liked Dana's article, and agreed with most of it. The one thing that I might go against is that it might be hard to convince your future employer that some of those skills hold up. He might not think that pulling an all-nighter is the same as having time-management skills. I do agree with all the technology comments. Our generation seems that we cannot survive without having Internet or a cell phone access at all times. But as a positive, by us investing so much time with technology that just shows how our generation is always looking for a way to move forward and advance the way we live.
For my second article, I read "How To Avoid Blunders During Job Interviews", by Sarah Needleman. Sarah talks about all the negatives an interviewee can bring to an interview. The biggest problem she says most interviewee's have the first time is talking too much. This can reveal that you did not do your homework about the company, and how not letting the interviewer talk will irritate them. Sarah writes on how to win the mental game during an interview by turning arrogance into self-confidence.
Sarah hits on key faults that can happen during an interview, but I believe the best way not to mess up is to practice. Have friends ask questions written down on flash cards to practice responses. This will make the actual interview easier and make you look prepared by avoiding drawing blanks to a surprise question. Being able to expose your weaknesses as steps toward growing shows maturity. Always look your best, "Dress to impress," they say. Relaxation during an interview will allow the interviewee to think clearer and feel more comfortable. It is also important to always keep a positive outlook. By visualizing success, you can make it happen.
I liked Dana's article, and agreed with most of it. The one thing that I might go against is that it might be hard to convince your future employer that some of those skills hold up. He might not think that pulling an all-nighter is the same as having time-management skills. I do agree with all the technology comments. Our generation seems that we cannot survive without having Internet or a cell phone access at all times. But as a positive, by us investing so much time with technology that just shows how our generation is always looking for a way to move forward and advance the way we live.
For my second article, I read "How To Avoid Blunders During Job Interviews", by Sarah Needleman. Sarah talks about all the negatives an interviewee can bring to an interview. The biggest problem she says most interviewee's have the first time is talking too much. This can reveal that you did not do your homework about the company, and how not letting the interviewer talk will irritate them. Sarah writes on how to win the mental game during an interview by turning arrogance into self-confidence.
Sarah hits on key faults that can happen during an interview, but I believe the best way not to mess up is to practice. Have friends ask questions written down on flash cards to practice responses. This will make the actual interview easier and make you look prepared by avoiding drawing blanks to a surprise question. Being able to expose your weaknesses as steps toward growing shows maturity. Always look your best, "Dress to impress," they say. Relaxation during an interview will allow the interviewee to think clearer and feel more comfortable. It is also important to always keep a positive outlook. By visualizing success, you can make it happen.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
The Next Decade
I am not really sure what the next ten years will hold for me, but I am glad that I will have at least a college degree to help me along the way. When I sit here and think of all the changes I have gone through in the last ten years, I could only predict that I will live a lifestyle completely different than what I do now. But enough analyzing, I can only tell of what I hope it to be.
One thing I am pretty strong on is staying in the South. I do not really think I want to adapt to all of the fast-paced lifestyles I see in all of the major cities. Plus the hospitality here makes me want to stay. I hope to have started a family by then, and have a stable life. I also know I need a dog in my life by then.
As for my career in ten years (what you really wanted me to talk about), I really do not know. I like to think one day my picture will be on the wall at some company and people are like, "Now he knew how to run a company." That would be nice. If I am able to support my family and make sure my children are on the path to getting a good education in ten years, I will be happy and consider my decade of change a success.
One thing I am pretty strong on is staying in the South. I do not really think I want to adapt to all of the fast-paced lifestyles I see in all of the major cities. Plus the hospitality here makes me want to stay. I hope to have started a family by then, and have a stable life. I also know I need a dog in my life by then.
As for my career in ten years (what you really wanted me to talk about), I really do not know. I like to think one day my picture will be on the wall at some company and people are like, "Now he knew how to run a company." That would be nice. If I am able to support my family and make sure my children are on the path to getting a good education in ten years, I will be happy and consider my decade of change a success.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Blog for Week of Sept. 5
That video was pretty crazy. If I was not mesmerized by the text changing, the beat had me on lock. It almost comes across like digital text is breaking the rules of old school and can be precieved as bad, but when in reality it is just a step in the right direction. We live in a world where we want everything fast, fast food, fast shopping, and some people just walk way too fast (coffee I guess). Well what is faster when it comes to communicating than the web right now, nothing I can think of, except for person-to-person, yet that is limited to small audience when compared to the world. The web is still growing and I am sure in ten years we will wonder how we ever got by with that slow internet frrom the double zero's. It relates perfectly to the workforce because it shows that just like any business, the Web 2.0 must consistantly change and adapt to please our society. I think it says we must rethink everything because as we evolve it is human nature to think outside the box to survive. In one-hundred years I highly doubt we will be living the same lifestyle we live today, therefor we must rethink everything.
Sunday, September 2, 2007
ABOUT ME
Hey yall, my name is Michael Lawrence Nelson, Jr., but I go by Nick. It's a long story. I am a fifth year senior hoping to get my major in business management with my minor in psychology. I hail from Columbia, South Carolina. Columbia is a little too dirty and has too many gamecock fans for my liking. I love the atmosphere here at Clemson, which is making it hard to graduate, and cannot wait until tomorrow night.
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