Don't Be THAT Guy at a Business Meal

I don’t know about you, but one thing that really scared me was the thought of having a business lunch or dinner with an employer.  I was always that person who would spill things, drop crumbs on the table and dig right into my dish.

Photo Credit: Tumblr

I will say one thing; working at Career Services this year has taught me a lot about dining etiquette and helped me understand why it is so important to everyone.  We have things like the Dining for Success event which is a way to practice and learn proper ways to eat tricky foods, presentations and so much more. 

Here is a video that quickly summarizes do’s and don’ts of dining:

Knowing dining etiquette is important.  According to “The Top Ten Etiquette Tips For The Business Dinner or Interview” by Hank Coleman, “Many of today’s business meetings, sales meetings, and job interviews take place over the dinner table. Sometimes these meetings are at a restaurant, and other times they are in a corporate dining hall. But, when the big deal or job is on the line that is not the time to realize you do not know which fork to eat your salad with.”

 

Here are some quick important tips you should remember:

·         Don’t start eating until you host or hostess has done so

·         Do not cut large sizes of food and try to shove it in your mouth, cut small bite size pieces instead

·         Place your napkin on your lap before you begin eating

·         Start on the outside and work your way in when using your silverware

 

You have all the resources you need for great dining etiquette. So make sure you drop by Career Services so you aren’t that guy at your business dinner.

Photo Credit: Jim Naughten/Getty Images

Ashley Salim

Career Educator

Stay Positive With Your Job Search

If you follow the career services' social media, you may have read this article already.  It’s called “Tips for Staying Positive In a Job Search” found on http://blog.resumebear.com. As I read this article, I was able to relate.  I am a senior graduating in just a couple weeks, so I know more than anyone just how tough and emotionally draining the job search can be. I’ve gone through many ups and downs, but staying positive is the key.

Some of my favorite tips from the article are as follows:

Stay away from whiners and complainers

You are probably already on edge and emotional.  If you are surrounded by people that constantly whine and complain, they are only going to bring you down further.  Find people who push you and energize you!

Do Exercise

Exercise releases endorphins.  Endorphins make you happy.  Take a quick walk, go to the RAC, dance or whatever else it may be.  This will help from keeping you down and will motivate you on your job hunt.

Change your attitude by looking at the positives
Ask yourself: What went well today? What are the three best things I did in that interview? These questions will help you keep the right attitude.  Things are always going to go wrong with every situation, but it’s how you look at the situation that really matters. Attitude is everything!


Celebrate Small Successes
“Focusing on the small wins gives you the energy and confidence to tackle the bigger challenges that you know still lie ahead.”


Let Yourself Have a Bad Day
Job hunting is an emotional thing.  Everyone has ups and downs, so let yourself be emotional. 


For me, a lot of this has been easier said than done, but everything on this list has helped a ton.  Try it yourself and let us know how it works for you!


Ashley Salim
Career Educator


Photo Credit: Ms. Career Girl

From PowerPoint to Prezi

Many students grew up learning the tips and tricks to all the Microsoft Office programs including PowerPoint.  I remember learning it as early as 5^th grade and now it’s almost ingrained into me.  I sometimes think I could close my eyes and still have the ability to create a PowerPoint presentation.

Last summer my eyes were opened when I started my new job here at Career Services.  Could it be, there was a new, potentially better presentation tool out there?

It seems like every one has seen the same presentation over and over…and over.  With “Prezi, a free and easy to use presentation tool that enables you to create visually engaging and unique presentations with little technical knowledge, this is no longer the case,”(forbes.com).  It’s easy to create these twisting, turning and eye catching presentations for your class or business presentations. 

Have you tried it yet? If not, I suggest you check it out.  It’s a free tool, there is free training and once you learn it is free fun!

Ashley Salim

Career Educator

http://www.forbes.com/sites/work-in-progress/2011/03/23/stand-out-from-competitors-with-prezi-presentations/

It's All About the Attitude!

I’m not sure about you, but when I was growing up my mom always told me, “Attitude is everything.”  Little did I know way back when; this statement is true for many aspects of life, even while on the job hunt.

The article “Attitude Makes a Huge Difference When You're Trying to Get a Job,” by Hank Stringer,  talks about how important being positive and having a good attitude is to employers.  You might think that you sound cheesy or corny, but without the “cheesiness” you might not sound like a go-getter or motivator which is important at most jobs.

Stringer writes, “many companies may find that attitude is more important than one having the specific skills needed, combined with a questionable attitude.”

You can always be trained in specific skills, but teaching an attitude or behavior is much more difficult to change.  If you want the job, make sure you have a positive attitude and it is much more likely it will be yours.  Everyone is likely to have a bad day every now and then, but thinking positively is an easy way to turn those days around.

Here are some things I like to do to stay positive:

1. If you sit down and think about it, there are always two sides to everything.  Look at the positives in your sticky situation.
2. Always remember, life goes on.
3. Tell yourself every experience is a learning experience, good or bad.
4. Challenge yourself and remind yourself you can do anything.
5. Surround yourself with positive people who encourage you.

Now I want to hear from you. Tell us what some of your attitude tips are or how you sell yourself to employers!


Ashley Salim
Career Educator

Industry Employment Trends

Since 2011 is long gone and over with and the economy is on a predicted rise, it makes perfect sense to explore what industries are booming and which ones haven’t met expectations. According to indeed.com’s recent Industry Employment Trends statistics, most of the industries that I thought would be expanding seem to be going in the exact opposite direction. For example, the accounting and financial service sectors have declined throughout these tough economic times. Real estate employment has also degenerated with many people hesitant to relocate due to tough financial situations within the home.

I hope that these three divisions will soon pick up because if not, many students entering the workforce with majors in subjects pertaining to these industries will have much difficulty finding a job.

Although only the accounting, financial services, and real estate markets were the three industries that took the biggest hit last year, it is noteworthy that all of the industries’ employment rates weakened within the past month. Hopefully for college students’ sakes, more industries will be hiring for entry-level positions in the coming months and a new economic leaf will be turned over in 2012.

Shayla Frinks

Career Educator

10 Great Jobs to Have in College That Look Good on a Résumé

You are a freshman or sophomore in college. Think you do not need to get a job yet? Wrong!
What if you are a junior or senior? Do you think your part time job is worthless? Wrong again!

There are several reasons you should start getting involved early and hold a part time job, no matter what year you are or how old you may be. According to US News and World Report’s“10 Paying College Jobs That Look Good on Your Résumé” by Alexis Grant, college students are expected to get professional experience as well as get good grades.
According to the article, here are the top 10 paying college jobs that look good on your résumé:

1. On-campus tour guide (a Southern Ambassador, here at GA Southern)

2. Brand ambassador

3. On-campus IT support

4. Social media consultant

5. Waiter or waitress

6. Writer

7. On-campus career services (Apply to be a Career Educator today! Visit employment.georgiasouthern.edu by February 29th, posting number 0606655 )

8. Bank teller

9. Working for yourself

10. On-campus alumni affairs

Not only do these jobs give you relevant experience in many fields, but if you are not sure about what you want to do yet, these jobs can help you figure it out. 

 
Grant wrote, “These 10 jobs are great choices for students because they look good on a résumé, work around class schedules, and offer decent pay. Keep in mind that if you work on campus, your boss may be more sympathetic when you need time off to study for a sociology exam or finish that chemistry lab.”

Do not stop with these jobs, though. Any job or volunteer experience can help you in some way or another, whether it is customer service experience, public speaking experience, perfecting your computer, or getting recommendations. 

 
So I challenge you this, get involved to start building your résumé. Get a part time job, join an organization or start volunteering.
What are you going to do or what have you already done? Let us know how you are building your resume!


Ashley Salim
Career Educator