Mike is an excellent liaison for Berkeley students....

He is constantly on the Twitter board, updating us on different events coming up at Berkeley and reminding us that fall registration is going on right now. I've "tweeted" back a few times regarding activities going on at Berkeley, but he is really Berkeley's spokesperson and cheerleader all in one. Berkeley is very fortunate to have someone like him. I mean, we bloggers comment on what's going on in the classroom and about class trips and activities that we've personally been involved in and that may pertain to our particular campus; but Mike talks about all the goings-on at different campuses and makes mention of people who have been spotlighted in the paper for academic excellence and excellence post-graduation.

Getting back to the topic of illegal interview questions, one of my classmates stated that she was asked what she felt was an inappropriate question based on her appearance, and she turned it back around on the individual. Illegal questions are designed to "weed out" job applicants, but what happens is that the person is not chosen for the job position for reasons that have nothing to do with qualifications (or lack thereof) for the job applied for. So, Berkeley students, when you're out in the working world, you must be careful that you're not baited by an interviewer looking to gain more personal information by posing seemingly innocent questions. One such question could be, "How often do you go to church?" or "What is your religion?" If your religion is not one that the employer agrees with, he or she could use this information and make his or her decision based on the given information.

My informative speech this week...

So this week, we have to prepare informative speeches for Oral Communications. I chose to discuss credit and how it works; the information I hope to share is how credit--and how we choose to use it--can affect every aspect of our lives. I don't want to tell my classmates what they should be doing; I would rather let my findings speak for themselves, which is essentially what an informative speech should do. So I'm gonna gather up the information, practice it in front of the camera a few times, then submit my video. Hopefully I do well and don't get as nervous this time; I've gotten better, though.

This week in Business Placement, we're discussing illegal interview questions. Illegal interview questions are questions that have nothing to do with the position the candidate has applied for, but is designed to help the employer with the screening process; if the employer doesn't like the answer that the candidate provides, he or she could use that as a basis for not employing said individual. This, of course, is not legal, and candidates can either choose not to answer the question or skillfully learn how to answer the question without directly answering it. A candidate can also answer an illegal question with a question of his or her own, such as: Does any of this pertain to my ability to perform the job that is being asked of me? The interview is supposed to determine how you will fit in with what the company needs, not as an interrogation.

I believe my internship issue may be resolved....

So I recently got a call from Berkeley College regarding my upcoming internship, and the young woman who left the message on the answering machine wanted me to get a letter from my supervisor, stating my duties as they related to the field of study I'm in. So I'm guessing that I'm going to be at my current job, doing my internship. This would be ideal; I wouldn't necessarily have to break up my current work schedule, which works well while I attend school and tend to other areas of my life. I would simply have to figure out when I would be available to help out where they need me to (or perhaps, I could even add on duties during my shift, learning new accounting functions, processing cash receipts, etc.). I just have to do it.

Meanwhile, we're continuing our discussion of the thank-you letter. We all agree that employers are impressed with a candidate who takes the time out to express appreciation for being seen and considered for employment, particularly when the employer is busy looking through and screening other applications and resumes. As my one classmate put it, a thank-you letter can leave an employer with more of a positive impression of an applicant and potential employee than can your standard, run-of-the-mill interview, complete with references and thorough knowledge of the company. I know I certainly intend to start sending thank-you letters to firms that I interview with in the future.

Saying "thank you" is more than good manners....

It could ultimately mean the difference between continuing your job search and/or obtaining the desired position. In business, employers often see many applicants and plow through many resumes and cover letters. The fact that yours stands out enough for them to even consider you for employment deserves a thank-you note. Surprisingly, though, not many applicants take the time out to write a thank-you note to prospective employers. And it could be a little disheartening if you think an interview went well and another candidate is chosen. You may even think to yourself, "Write a thank-you note for what? I didn't get the job."

Even if you don't get the job, keep in mind that a thank-you note can help an employer keep you in mind for a position with the company in the future. When you take the time out to write down your appreciation for what was discussed during the interview, it shows that you have great attention to detail, which is something employers value highly. This could also make you stand out among other interviewees; the employer will be impressed that you thought enough about him or her to write a letter of appreciation.

This is just one of the many things I'm learning from my Business Placement Seminar class.

Could "The Metamorphosis" occur with us?

So this week for Hum 332 (Fiction), we read a story called "The Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka. The transformation was of that of a young man named Gregor who turned into an insect. Before then, he was stuck in a thankless--from his point of view--job, with a boss who he felt didn't know anything. He wakes up, not being able to move, at first feeling that he is stuck in a bad dream. He oversleeps, which is another departure from the norm (the boss and the boss' assistant can usually can on him always being there and always being on time); ultimately, he claims his rebel status, although reluctantly at first.

So, Berkeley students, could this happen to us? Could we be so caught up in the day-to-day that we don't even recognize ourselves anymore when we're finally forced to sit down and take stock of ourselves and our lives and what we have to show for them? Could we be like the protagonist Gregor, who, although afraid of the unfamiliar at first and what could possibly happen in the end, accept the fact that maybe it is time for a change and stop playing it safe--maybe in our careers or even in our course of study? This is a very good read, and I recommend it wholeheartedly.

Doing well in my business placement seminar....

I think my Oral Communication class in also helping in this regard; in business, we'll more than likely have to give presentations before higher-ups, and so we'll have to consider the job interview in this same way. On a smaller scale, a job interview is an oral presentation of one's skills and expertise in relation to the position that they seek with their prospective employer. If we don't know how to market ourselves or communicate well with our prospective employer, we'll never be able to convince him or her to seriously consider us for the position. The same is true of our presentations; if we're not convinced of the material that we present to our listening audience, we won't convince our audience, either.

What I realized about both courses is that practice, practice, practice is the key; we practice our presentations the same way we practice writing resumes, cover letters, and thank-you letters. And you can always use your present employer as practice; even if you're not the one in marketing, you can certainly do an oral presentation when you talk about the products and services your company or organization offers. This is marketing, whether we realize it or not. And everyone plays a part.

So one of our bloggers was featured in the Star Ledger...

That's awesome!!!! I got the news via Twitter; her name is Lyndsay Wright, and she was featured in an article entitled "In Their Own Words". That's right--in OUR own words, the words of us, the students who attend Berkeley College. And a few of us did not mince words over the cutting of the TAG for Berkeley College. This is an unfortunate decision that the governor of New Jersey has chosen to make; many students cannot afford to attend college without some type of financial assistance. Berkeley students are no different; many of us work in addition to receiving aid, and we're raising families, as well. Hopefully, the state will reconsider this action.

But getting back to Ms. Wright and our very own Carol Allen-Covino, this deserves mention, because as was pointed out in the article, we help to recruit students, in a way. We're their commercial of sorts, talking about all of the different classes and activities to get involved in (such as the student polls on Blackboard and online student clubs and class trips to various locations throughout the NY/NJ area). We express our concerns over grades and trouble areas in certain classes, but not in a way that may put a prospective student off; we will always find a way to talk about a problem without berating the person(s) involved.

So I just wanted to take this time out to say congratulations to Ms. Wright for her write-up in The Star-Ledger; she has done us here at Berkeley College proud.

I got an A on my how-to presentation!!!!

So I was a little nervous about my presentation on "how to create your own website"; I kept having to restart and restart, because I was a little nervous, and then I didn't end it exactly the way I wanted. But when I checked the grade book today, I saw a 90 out of 100!!! It feels so good to know that when you've worked hard and practiced and practiced, it pays off. I feel that I will definitely be a confident public speaker in the future in my professional career (I also get plenty of practice at my place of worship).

The Berkeley College Help Desk is also very helpful; if it hadn't been for them, I would've flunked my essay test. I attempted to take my test on Saturday and was doing fine, except for one thing...I couldn't submit it afterward. Turns out the timer for the test was blocking the "Submit" button. So the gentleman who helped me figured out that it was because I was usually Internet Explorer 8, which caused the timer to block the Submit button. Once I downloaded Foxfire, as he suggested, it worked out fine. I was able to submit the test with no problems (and more importantly, no penalty, as I had already emailed the professor, who agreed to give me an extension). This is important to note, because I have a test to take for Finance this week, and I wouldn't want to run into the same problems.

All set for fall....

I have the classes I need for the fall quarter, and as it turns out, I'll be doing my internship in the winter quarter, after which I'll be graduating from Berkeley--officially. And for once, I'm not feeling a sense of anxiety about my internship, as I have a few ideas about what I want to do in this regard and who I want to work for. I'll have to discuss it with Professor Berman in Career Services, but I'm sure something can be worked out where I complete my internship successfully and not completely disrupt my work schedule (I'll have to make some adjustments, to be sure, but not to the total disruption of my work schedule).

Last week, we had to submit our research project on applying for a job; we had to research a company, look for a position with requirements that matched our current skills (they had to be skills we possessed either through school or work experience), and learn how to apply. I had to redo mine, because my first choice was through a temporary agency, and there wasn't much information provided, like where the company was actually located and who I would be reporting to. So I changed industries completely and put down Investors Savings Bank as my second choice. I did much better this time, missing the mark by only three points. I'm actually doing really well in this Business Placement class, possibly because I've been working for so long and have some experience with job interviews and the application and interviewing processes.

Prepare for your interview....

In our business placement seminar, we are learning how to prepare for the interview, and many of us have researched and given suggestions on how to prepare well for the job interview (some of us used past experiences, as well, which usually makes more of an impression and drives the point home more fully than just posting from various websites).

One thing I think we all agreed on was that your appearance at a job interview is EVERYTHING; employers usually assess how you look with how you will work. You may think that this is unfair, that the employer could be judging you unfavorably based on your hair, jewelry, and attire...and you may be right, particularly if you're interviewing for a position where you're in constant view of the public, such as a receptionist, cashier, or bank teller. Some interviewees don't feel that they should have to "dress up" when going for a job interview; after all, they may assume, they'll dress up when they get the job. But you have to look the part before you're even allowed in the door.

Confidence in yourself and your abilities is also key, as is doing a little background check on not only the company you'd like to work for, but also the person you'd be reporting to. If you don't know something about the company before you get to the interview, you can look up the company on the Internet and do the research or in libraries where they have old microfiche machines. This lets your prospective employer know that you cared enough to take the time and learn about the company. This is good information for my fellow Berkeley students who will be graduating soon and can help you successfully land a job in your career of choice.