Friday, February 27, 2009

Class Presentations

As a whole, I thought the open topic was a great idea for the presentations because it allowed the class to get to know everyone a little better. The first presentation that I really enjoyed was David Gordon's on the best active athlete. I am a huge sports fan, and was immediately drawn to this topic. David used interesting photos and good humor to entertain the audience. While I think Tiger is the best active athlete, Usain Bolt who David selected as the best is no slouch. The face-off idea kept the attention of the audience because everyone wanted to know who would be matched up next.

The presentation on Racquetball by Ryan Cromer was also one of my favorites. I have been playing racquetball for about six years and am always interested in seeing how other people feel about the sport. I thought the presenter was loud and clear and used good visuals. The picture at the end with the bloody eye has made me consider wearing goggles. It only takes one time to get hit with the ball in the eye and loose your sight. The presentation has inspired me to play more at school, I did not realize Clemson had so many courts.

The third presentation that was one of the most entertaining was Ryan Sullivan's on Lacrosse. I thought it was pretty cool that he was drafted in the first round of the Major Lacrosse Association . He brought in his stick to class and demonstrated some different moves that were unfamiliar to me. The utube clip was amazing too, I did not realize how intense lacrosse can get. Lacrosse is the one sport I regret never getting into, it seems like a lot of fun.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Cover Letter

The advice given from the tutorial about cover letters was helpful as well as truthful. However, the main point which I did not agree with is the recommendation to use a handwritten P.S. at the end of the cover letter. This seems to be a distraction from what you are trying to convey in the body of the cover letter. Perhaps it may be useful for certain situations, but I would not recommend its use often.

The example demonstrated on the tutorial seemed to be the most beneficial because it reinstates all the important aspects that need to be included in your cover letter. The layout is also clarified and gives a better idea of what a typical cover letter looks like. The checklist was helpful as well, this just puts your mind at rest, because once all the items on the list are complete you know that there is nothing missing. Many times when I have a lot on my mind and am having trouble sleeping, I make a checklist. This helps clarify as well organize my thoughts, the checklist will always be there in the morning.

The actual content of the body for the cover letter makes more sense after viewing the tutorial. Before, I thought the cover letter was more about the individual rather then the company. However, now I realize that the cover letter is more about the knowledge you have about the company. Also, I did not know that the resume was the first thing that employers look at for the hiring process. It seemed as though the cover letter would be viewed first, but this is not the case.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Client Project

Last week, I accidentally answered the blog topic about my ideas for the client project. I mentioned creating a humorous video or perhaps a music clip of some kind. However, after further discussion with my group members we established a more concrete theme for the project. Kristin came up with the great idea, which involves the creation of a recipe booklet for healthy cooking. This would work really well because it can have many different aspects to it that would allow our group to effectively target our audience. An example may be a demonstration of cooking one of the recipes on campus as well as posting video footage of it online for many others to see.

Everything seems to be going great with our group. There are no schedule conflicts, so everyone is able to meet at the same time and contact each other easily. I think the recipe booklet will allow all of our group members talents to emerge. If we do a demonstration, I could try to make it humorous. Laughter is the key to success in my opinion because it gets everyone's attention and makes the experience memorable. While we have agreed on this idea as a whole, we are always open to suggestions for improvement.

Most of the questions that I originally had were answered after Jennifer's visit on Monday. Basically, she wants to promote a healthier style of living which involves all aspects of life, including areas such as health, social behavior, environmental surroundings, as well as economical forces.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Interview Mistakes

While the mistakes listed in the article are critical too avoid, they are not the end of the world. When I make a mistake in an interview I try to learn from it so it will not happen again in the future. I do agree with the statement that says you must practice in order to improve you interview skills. However, it is not good to sound too rehearsed. Employers are looking for someone who is confident and can think on the spot. There are obvious things that can be improved upon with simple practice though. For example, nervous habits such as chewing gum, speaking too quickly or too slowly, moving around too much, and speaking too softly, just to mention a few.

When I interned at several different golf courses, a face to face interview was always required. I always looked at these interviews as opportunities to practice and fine tune my skills as well as to allow the employer to get to know who I am. The first interview I was on was quite nerve racking, I did not know what too expect. However, I tried to use one of my strengths, which is my corny sense of humor to break the ice. This strategy has worked well for me in the past as long as it is appropriate and tasteful.

Another mindset I had going to the interview was that it was a two sided process. The employer needed to sell me the position as well, it was not just me that had all the pressure. Make sure all of your needs and questions are answered while being interviewed because you are there to learn if the position is right for you as well.

When I went on my interview, I made sure that I had a note pad and pen, which showed that I was organized and able to pay attention to detail. Asking intelligent and legitimate questions during and especially at the end of each interview is essential.Proper dress can not be more emphasized. Employers are always looking for people that fit their company image as well as individuals that will make a smooth transition into the company atmosphere.

Group Project

Our group has been contemplating working on either a video or making some sort of music clip as our theme for the presentation. We want to create something that is effective, but not too annoying. Humorous videos and songs always seem to make a lasting impression in a positive way.

Either of these two ideas will allow all of our group members to display their creative abilities. I have completed group videos in the past, and while they may be difficult and time consuming, it always ends up being fun. Since the project has a positive message, which is to promote a healthier standard of living, our efforts as a group will not be wasted. We were also thinking of creating brochures and other handouts to inform our audience as well as convey our purpose.

The only concern is the difficulty of editing video footage. However, as a group I do not think it will pose too much of a problem. Our group has a lot of similar interest, which makes all the tasks easier to complete. Everyone has similar schedules and seems to be on the same page, which will save everyone their valuable time.

The project seems to be fairly straight forward. However, I was wondering how long our segment is suppose to last. This may be influential in what kind of video or music clip we decide to make.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Super Bowl Sunday

I do not know about everybody else, but I am tired of all the build up for the Super Bowl. Every year a lot of drama is built up about nothing, just so the analysts have something to talk about. Even though I am a huge NFL fan I can only handle so much. There are so many other things to discuss in the sports world such as the NBA, NCAA basketball, hockey, golf and so on. However, all these sports seem to be invisible for the two weeks prior to the Super Bowl.

On the positive side the Super Bowl attracts all types of viewers. Many watch for the for the sheer competitive aspect of the game while others are more interested in the commercials. To be honest when the Patriots are not in the Super Bowl my interest in the outcome of the game is not too high. It is kind of human nature to not care too much about a huge game if you do not have your team to route for.

Although, I have to say that this particular Super Bowl game sparks my interest. Kurt Warner the quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals shows that longevity in Football is possible. This is a man that is thirty seven years old and at the pinnacle of his career. Regardless of what team or specific player that may be of interest to you, it is kind of difficult to route against this guy.

Overall, the build up to the Super Bowl may be agonizing, but the game is never a disappointment. The best part of the game has to be the enjoyment of watching the game with friends. The constant trash talking and bashing of your buddies team is always a must. But the icing on the cake is when your team wins because for a little while it is almost as if you share the win.