The next article that really caught my eye was "Don't Let Spam Filters Snatch Your Resume." Apparently, many resumes are getting trashed because of the strict spam filters on company databases. It isn't uncommon for large corporations to have spam filters with 20,000 rules to keep out unwanted emails. Some filter services automatically delete messages that contains words such as "free," "expand," "trial," and "mortgage" or exclamation marks or colored backgrounds. Other filters automatically delete messages from unknown email addresses with attached files. One man received an automatic reply that his resume had been automatically deleted because of "obscenities." He was confused until he saw that "magna cum laude" had triggered the filter. I can see these email filters becoming a problem, especially in an age where more and more businesses are expecting emailed resumes rather than paper copies.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Resume Articles
The first article I read was "Six Tips for Writing a Cover Letter," and it had a few general tips about making your cover letter stand out. A couple of ones I thought were important were to use a few new bits of information about yourself instead of reiterating your entire resume. Sending your cover letter to a specific person in the company was another tip, and this also seems like a good idea because it shows that you took the time to research the company and its employees. One tip I wasn't so sure about was the one titled "Using your connections." This tip claims that if you know someone in the organization to mention that first thing in your cover letter and say something along the lines of "Our mutual friend/acquaintance So-in-so thought I should email you." This seems a little inappropriate to me. If you are in fact friends with someone in the company, I can see telling them to personally recommend you to whomever would be hiring you, but it seems like trying to pull strings by mentioning this in your cover letter. I don't have much experience with cover letters and maybe this is considered acceptable, but I have never heard of anyone recommending this.
The next article that really caught my eye was "Don't Let Spam Filters Snatch Your Resume." Apparently, many resumes are getting trashed because of the strict spam filters on company databases. It isn't uncommon for large corporations to have spam filters with 20,000 rules to keep out unwanted emails. Some filter services automatically delete messages that contains words such as "free," "expand," "trial," and "mortgage" or exclamation marks or colored backgrounds. Other filters automatically delete messages from unknown email addresses with attached files. One man received an automatic reply that his resume had been automatically deleted because of "obscenities." He was confused until he saw that "magna cum laude" had triggered the filter. I can see these email filters becoming a problem, especially in an age where more and more businesses are expecting emailed resumes rather than paper copies.
The next article that really caught my eye was "Don't Let Spam Filters Snatch Your Resume." Apparently, many resumes are getting trashed because of the strict spam filters on company databases. It isn't uncommon for large corporations to have spam filters with 20,000 rules to keep out unwanted emails. Some filter services automatically delete messages that contains words such as "free," "expand," "trial," and "mortgage" or exclamation marks or colored backgrounds. Other filters automatically delete messages from unknown email addresses with attached files. One man received an automatic reply that his resume had been automatically deleted because of "obscenities." He was confused until he saw that "magna cum laude" had triggered the filter. I can see these email filters becoming a problem, especially in an age where more and more businesses are expecting emailed resumes rather than paper copies.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Job Interview Articles
I think "CareerJournal.com" is a really useful site, and a number of articles caught my eye. The first one I read was "How to Answer Any Interview Question" because who DOESN'T want to know the answer to this? At first I didn't agree with what they were saying. The article basically said to have a few main points you want to convey in your interview and, no matter what the question asks, somehow get this point across. The first thing that came to my mind was a Powerword from 10th grade English--"circumlocution!" I felt like anyone who did this would seem like a politician talking in a roundabout way. The article went on to say that, unlike politicians, job interviewees must be respectful to their interviewer and answer the question with the content required. There was then a little formula that I thought made a lot of sense:
Q=A+1
"Q" is the question asked by the interviwer, "A" is the answer you give them directing the content of the question, "+"is the bridge between answering the question and a main point you want to make, and "1" is the point you want to make. The article said that if you just use the formula "Q=A" in an interview, then the interviewer is in control of the session.
One word sums up the best way to prepare for an interview: RESEARCH! The article gave examples of the importance of knowing company background to make you really stand out in an interview. For example, if you know the company is having financial difficulties, if an interview question asks about your strengths in a previous job be sure to incorporate how well you handled money (producing quality goods on time and under budget, etc.)
My dad has conducted quite a few interviews, and he has give me some useful advice. One of the best things I've learned is the realization that you (the interviewee) are essentially in control of the interview session. The interviewer isn't there to prove you wrong or hoping you don't work out--he or she WANTS you to be the perfect person so that the company can end their search. He told me that often the interviewers even try to talk themselves into thinking that an interviewee will work just so they can stop searching. So, as a little confidence boost, keep in mind that the interviewer really wants you to be the prefect match--all you have to do is show your skills to prove it.
Q=A+1
"Q" is the question asked by the interviwer, "A" is the answer you give them directing the content of the question, "+"is the bridge between answering the question and a main point you want to make, and "1" is the point you want to make. The article said that if you just use the formula "Q=A" in an interview, then the interviewer is in control of the session.
One word sums up the best way to prepare for an interview: RESEARCH! The article gave examples of the importance of knowing company background to make you really stand out in an interview. For example, if you know the company is having financial difficulties, if an interview question asks about your strengths in a previous job be sure to incorporate how well you handled money (producing quality goods on time and under budget, etc.)
My dad has conducted quite a few interviews, and he has give me some useful advice. One of the best things I've learned is the realization that you (the interviewee) are essentially in control of the interview session. The interviewer isn't there to prove you wrong or hoping you don't work out--he or she WANTS you to be the perfect person so that the company can end their search. He told me that often the interviewers even try to talk themselves into thinking that an interviewee will work just so they can stop searching. So, as a little confidence boost, keep in mind that the interviewer really wants you to be the prefect match--all you have to do is show your skills to prove it.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
10 Years from Now
Ten years from now seems like an eternity--but then again, I am only twenty, so it is half my life (and I can't believe I'm twenty!) I am aware it will be here before I know it, though, so I want to have a general idea of where I want to be and what I want to accomplish.
As I mentioned in a previous blog, I will be graduating from Clemson next December and hope to begin my Master's degree in Health Promotion and Education at Virginia Tech. I will be finished with this program by 2010, and after that my goal is to go on for my Ph.D. I haven't decided what or where I want to go for this program, but my decision will depend on where we are stationed for the Marines. I am thinking of becoming involved in health education research and working for a University. I have begun to lean towards research because I realized how much it fits my personality and lifestyle. I am a meticulous worker, and I think I would do well with the different stages of research because there is a definite need for detail! This would also give me an opportunity for flexible hours and the option to complete the majority of my work online depending on where I will be living. Ten years from now, I hope that I have a career that will mean something to me and be more than just a "paycheck." I love the Health field because there are countless ways to make a difference. The research is even rewarding because it gives an opportunity to statistically prove that health education programs are working (and even if they aren't, it provides an opportunity to improve them).
While I want to have a successful career, family is an important part of my life. In ten years I hope to have had my first child or at least be planning on having him or her. First I want to be established in a career, but in ten years hopefully I will be. I also want to be involved in a community and have a network of friends wherever I am living. By ten years, we should be finished with the Marine Corps life and settled down. Hopefully, I will have met lots of new people and made some lifetime friends while traveling the world.
I love volunteering (especially with animals), so I want to have a huge plot of land and start my own animal rescue. I want to increase foster networks to keep animals out of shelters until they find loving homes. I thought of a program called "No More Cages," which would be an online database of foster homes for domestic animals to keep them out of shelters until they find families. This database would work in collaboration with Petfinder.com (an existing website), where potential owners could search for pets without having to go to the shelters.
I'm not completely sure where I will be ten years from now, but who is? We all have to take life day by day, and be thankful for what we have : )
As I mentioned in a previous blog, I will be graduating from Clemson next December and hope to begin my Master's degree in Health Promotion and Education at Virginia Tech. I will be finished with this program by 2010, and after that my goal is to go on for my Ph.D. I haven't decided what or where I want to go for this program, but my decision will depend on where we are stationed for the Marines. I am thinking of becoming involved in health education research and working for a University. I have begun to lean towards research because I realized how much it fits my personality and lifestyle. I am a meticulous worker, and I think I would do well with the different stages of research because there is a definite need for detail! This would also give me an opportunity for flexible hours and the option to complete the majority of my work online depending on where I will be living. Ten years from now, I hope that I have a career that will mean something to me and be more than just a "paycheck." I love the Health field because there are countless ways to make a difference. The research is even rewarding because it gives an opportunity to statistically prove that health education programs are working (and even if they aren't, it provides an opportunity to improve them).
While I want to have a successful career, family is an important part of my life. In ten years I hope to have had my first child or at least be planning on having him or her. First I want to be established in a career, but in ten years hopefully I will be. I also want to be involved in a community and have a network of friends wherever I am living. By ten years, we should be finished with the Marine Corps life and settled down. Hopefully, I will have met lots of new people and made some lifetime friends while traveling the world.
I love volunteering (especially with animals), so I want to have a huge plot of land and start my own animal rescue. I want to increase foster networks to keep animals out of shelters until they find loving homes. I thought of a program called "No More Cages," which would be an online database of foster homes for domestic animals to keep them out of shelters until they find families. This database would work in collaboration with Petfinder.com (an existing website), where potential owners could search for pets without having to go to the shelters.
I'm not completely sure where I will be ten years from now, but who is? We all have to take life day by day, and be thankful for what we have : )
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Web 2.0
The title "Web 2.0" is a simple way of saying that the internet today is nothing like the "original" internet. Anyone with access to a computer can easily create their own websites and can be published for anyone and everyone in the world to read. Today, it is not necessary to be a web designer or have any above-basic knowledge of the computer to put oneself out on the web. This is a definite advantage in some aspects--the internet connects so many different people because it is so user-friendly. However, this also means that ANY information can be out there, and everything we read is not legitimate. Because of the ease of designing websites, it is also safe to say that even "professional" looking websites can be fraudulent, so it's so important to be careful.
Web 2.0 can be a blessing or a burden for those of us trying to enter the workforce. One of the biggest drawbacks is the fact that potential employers can easily track information on us by what we publish on the web. Facebook, Myspace, Blogs, etc. can all be accessed, so it's important to keep them professional. There are plenty of advantages to job-seekers by using the web. New conveniences, like online job-searching sites and emailed resumes can greatly simplify the job hunt. There are also forums where you can chat with other people in your potential career field for advice.
Web 2.0 simplifies almost everything in the workforce due to its ability to connect people. Some of the biggest conveniences are emails, instant messages, chat rooms, video conferences, forums, etc. Instead of having to deliver a handwritten memo across an office park, an email memo can be sent. Instead of calling a co-worker to ask a question and risking a lengthy conversation, you can shoot her an IM and avoid small-talk. Chat rooms could be used to discuss a group project late at night from the comfort of our homes, and video conferencing saves time and money to avoid travel. While all of this technology makes the workforce much more efficient, it's important to also connect to co-workers to keep morale up in the workplace. I think we should all call from time to time to see how a close co-worker is doing, and sometimes walk a note to someone to make ourselves seem personable.
The statement that we have to "rethink everything" is true, because everything online is so communicable with very little privacy. An example that comes to my mind is composing an email to your boss. If you type an angry email, send it, and decide later that you should have taken a better approach, it's too late. If you were being considered for a job and an employer finds scandalous pictures of you on Facebook, you will likely be replaced by someone else. I think the bottom line is that Web 2.0 can bring us so much valuable knowledge, but we need to use our judgment to make sure that we are using credible sites, and that we aren't putting too much of ourselves out there for the world to see.
Web 2.0 can be a blessing or a burden for those of us trying to enter the workforce. One of the biggest drawbacks is the fact that potential employers can easily track information on us by what we publish on the web. Facebook, Myspace, Blogs, etc. can all be accessed, so it's important to keep them professional. There are plenty of advantages to job-seekers by using the web. New conveniences, like online job-searching sites and emailed resumes can greatly simplify the job hunt. There are also forums where you can chat with other people in your potential career field for advice.
Web 2.0 simplifies almost everything in the workforce due to its ability to connect people. Some of the biggest conveniences are emails, instant messages, chat rooms, video conferences, forums, etc. Instead of having to deliver a handwritten memo across an office park, an email memo can be sent. Instead of calling a co-worker to ask a question and risking a lengthy conversation, you can shoot her an IM and avoid small-talk. Chat rooms could be used to discuss a group project late at night from the comfort of our homes, and video conferencing saves time and money to avoid travel. While all of this technology makes the workforce much more efficient, it's important to also connect to co-workers to keep morale up in the workplace. I think we should all call from time to time to see how a close co-worker is doing, and sometimes walk a note to someone to make ourselves seem personable.
The statement that we have to "rethink everything" is true, because everything online is so communicable with very little privacy. An example that comes to my mind is composing an email to your boss. If you type an angry email, send it, and decide later that you should have taken a better approach, it's too late. If you were being considered for a job and an employer finds scandalous pictures of you on Facebook, you will likely be replaced by someone else. I think the bottom line is that Web 2.0 can bring us so much valuable knowledge, but we need to use our judgment to make sure that we are using credible sites, and that we aren't putting too much of ourselves out there for the world to see.
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