Wanna know how to send your resume to HELL in a hand basket? lol, just kidding. Wanna know how to make your resume really, really bad? Well just in case, make sure you DON’T do these things…

12 Cardinal Sins of Resume Writing

1. Unprofessionalism (wild colors, including high school achievements)
2. Carelessness (typos) **PROOF READ**
3. Cuteness & Cleverness (scented paper, designs)
4. Irrelevance
5. Fluff
6. Vagueness or Jargon (unknown or unfamiliar abbreviations)
7. Misrepresentations
8. Overkill!
9. Long-windedness
10. Underwelling
11. Over-personalizing
12. “Resume-Speak”

Always remember to abide by these guidelines when creating your resume. You want to ensure that yours goes to Heaven and not Hell.

So I absolutely LOVE my PR Practicum class! I have learned so much in a short amount of time. Shout outs to Mrs. Andrews! You are the greatest

Below are some very helpful tips and myths about job hunting.

Top 5 Things to Consider When Looking for a Job:

1. Relationships

• subordinates, managers, supervisors, etc.

2. Work/Life Balance

• In terms of location, think of the amount of time you’re willing to commit to commute and travel time.
• Is there frequent over-time?

3. Kind of Work

• The job description on display is usually abbreviated

4. The Company Itself

• Company values, reputations, standards

5. Financial Considerations

• What’s the base salary?
• Any incentives?
• Sign-on bonuses?

Job Hunting Myths:

• Being unemployed  during your job search is a disadvantage.
• Give 100% to every potential job opportunity.
• The only way to get hired is to have connections.
• Having good interview skills is the only way to get a job.
• The only person you can depend on in your job search is yourself.

Just keep in mind these tips on your quest for a job:

1. Be realistic (it usually takes an average of 3 months to secure a job).
2. Research different venues, like magazines, trade publications and even blogs!
3. Arrange informational interviews to increase networks.
4. Always follow-up.
5. Most important: REMAIN CONFIDENT!

To assess your job search readiness, visit http://www2.jobtrak.com/help_manuals/jobmanual/assess/html to test your career competency.

In my Public Relations Practicum class today, we discussed dining etiquette with a representative from Georgia Southern’s Career Services Office. I’ve taken an etiquette course before, but that was in 4th grade…so I knew my skills needed a brush up, but I was didn’t realize they would need an entire face lift.

So I’m sitting in class thinking, “when am I ever going to have an interview where I’m eating with a potential employer? Never, right?” Wrong. And this is why…

Here’s an interesting excerpt from The Little Book of Etiquette:

“Today business is the largest social environment in the world. Our rapidly expanding global economy forces us to  socialize and conduct business at the table more than ever before. It is in this setting that table manners play a major role as relationships are developed and strengthened. There is no better or possibly worse, place to make an impression.”

Employers are interested in observing how applicants behave in more of a social atmosphere without the tension and constraint of a traditional office.

I’m providing some of the tips I learned today (some new and old) for your pleasure. Enjoy!

1. Always take and leave your seat from the RIGHT. Waiters/waitressed usually serve from the left.

2. Take small bites so you have time to chew, swallow, and respond to questions.

3. If you must leave the room, place your napkin on the chair, not on the table. Placing your napking on your plate or on the table signifies the end of the meal.

4. Do not order the most or least expensive meal on the menu. Do think about what you’re ordering, do you really want spinach in your teeth? I hope not!

5. There are two serving styles (wasn’t aware of that): American and Continental, or European. In the American style, the salad is served before the main course. Continental style serves the salad after the meal.

6. Bread is supposed to be broken, not cut in half (had no idea!).

7. After using a knife, always have the blade facing you. The blade facing away from you is a sign of aggression.

8. When eating soup, be sure to spoon away from you to the center of the bowl.

9. (This one is a wowzer) If you bite into something and you need to remove it from your mouth, the rule is to take it out the way it went in and hide it under a garnish if possible.

10. Do not scan the room. Keep your eyes on your companions and your food.

11. Your hands and wrists may rest on the table, but not your elbows. Not showing your hands is a sign of not being trustworthy. 

Hope these were helpful! For more information on these tips and others, visit http://students.georgiasouthern.edu/career

Did you know that YOU are your best sales agent? Who knew!? Well now you do!

What would you say if you only had 25 seconds to describe yourself?

In that length of time, your pitch should communicate the following information:

• Name
• Profession, trade, or occupational specialty
• Current situation (presently employed, let go due to downsizing, changing careers, etc)
• What you’re looking for in the way of job opportunities
• What you can offer that sets you apart from other candidates

Here’s an example:

“I graduated from college last June with a degree in business and have spent the past four months temping for a variety of companies. I’m looking for an entry-level position in a corporation that does a lot of clothing business in Latin America. I’m fluent in Spanish, and because I lived for several years in Argentina, I have a good sense of how to do business in South America.”

Remember to pay attention to the sequence of information. Begin with a brief description of your background.

Use this framework:

My name is ___________________. I received your name from ______________________. For the past _______ years, I have been working as a _______________________________ and have specialized mainly in _______________________________. Right now I am _________________________, and I’m looking for __________________________. What I have to offer is _________________________________.

See! It’s simple. You can customize this outline to make it more personal.

Now get out there and sell the wonderful YOU.

Source:

Messmer, M. (1999). Job hunting/networking. Job hunting for dummies. 2nd edition. Wiley Press: NY

I love to take pictures! That’s one thing I’m notorious for Still scenes, candids, portraits and anything else I want to capture. One technique I have always enjoyed is developing memorable moments in black and white. I posted some helpful tips and tricks for creating beautiful pictures–in black and white:

1. Focus on contrast.

2. Emphasize texture.

3. Capture image in color.

4. Find interest in everyday objects and scenes around you (what might appear to be a boring shot in color can become fascinating when captured in black and white).

5. Black and white adds emotion and drama to portraits.

6. When in doubt, take the shot anyway! You never know how it will turn out in black and white.

7. Consider capturing architecture and landscapes.

8. Take your camera with you wherever you go; you never know what photo opportunities will exist.

9. Experiment shooting daytime photos in black and white for greater impact.

10. Practice, practice, PRACTICE!

For additional information on taking great black and white pictures, and just pictures in general, visit these websites:

http://blog.epicedits.com/2007/11/05/the-top-5-black-white-photography-tips/

http://www.betterphoto.com/exploring/bnw.asp

http://www.best-family-photography-tips.com/black-and-white-photography-tips.html

Social Historian and educator, Daniel J. Boorstin said in 1914 “Some are born great, some achieve greatness and some hire PR officers.”

 Sitting in class one day, I stumbled upon this interesting quote that popped up in my search for PR-related topics. After getting over my initial reaction of feeling insulted and offended, I read the quote again and began to think about all of my accomplishments.

 Ever since I was younger and I made my first visit to the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, any career opportunity I have ever considered has centered around ultimately working for the Disney Company.

During my college tenure, I have, as most students do, changed my major at least three times, never once retreating from my dream. When I finally realized that I wanted to practice Public Relations, once again, the ideal position was realized as well. My ultimate professional career objective is to work as Disney’s corporate director of public relations.

In identifying my goal, the last three years as a Georgia Southern University student have been devoted to accomplishing that goal. A strenuous academic undergraduate program, valuable leadership opportunities, and involvement in various campus organizations, complimented with exellent writing and interpersonal skills and my inate ability to lead others, have equipped me with the tools to be successful in my career field.

 I am extremely fortunate to have had the opportunities in my life, and am excited about what I have to offer. In regards to Boorstin’s quote, I have realized–I was born great, I have and will achieve greatness, and will be hired (by Disney) as a “PR officer”–I am all of the above.

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