Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Common Courtesy - "The Meeting"

Meetings. They become a very integral part of our ‘grown-up’ lives, so it is very important that we understand a few basic rules to live by when dealing with them.

1. SCHEDULE MEETINGS – Don’t just show up!
People are busy. They have hectic schedules and it is sometimes hard to stop everything they are doing for someone who has just ‘dropped in’. Make sure you take the time to call ahead and schedule an appointment if you need to see someone. They will be glad you took the time to schedule so that you are not going to be an inconvenience for them later. Remember – Courtesy is key when you are arranging for others to help you.

2. BE ON TIME!
When a person has you scheduled, they expect you to be on time. Make sure you know the location of your meeting and plan extra time to get there. If you are running late, you need to make sure you call and inform the person you are meeting with so they can have an exact time of when to expect you or they can let you know if they need to reschedule.
If you are unsure of where you are headed for your meeting, take a test drive the day before! It is better to know for sure how long you can anticipate travel time.

3. CANCELLING?
Things happen, we are aware…but if you have to cancel a meeting, you need to do so at the earliest opportunity possible. This way, the person you are meeting with can reschedule and they can make plans for the gap in the time they had originally planned on meeting with you. A week or two in advance is much better than a 24 hour warning.


Professionals have calendars filled with appointments, meeting, projects and assignments, so make sure you are as courteous and as open as possible when scheduling a time to meet with them. You never know, taking the extra time to schedule an appointment and show up on time could land you your next position!

-JT

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Medical Club Makes a Difference During Breast Cancer Awareness Month!


The West Virginia Junior College Charleston Campus Medical Club students collected over $200 for Breast Cancer Research and Awareness!

A luncheon was hosted by the club and they raffled a basket filled with Breast Cancer Awareness pink goodies. Ribbons and suckers were sold during the week, as well. The student body, staff and administration were a huge asset to the project, as they graciously purchased tickets and breast cancer items throughout the week.

This week, the club is raffling a lap quilt, made by WVJC staff member Dreama Harless, with the pink breast cancer ribbon logo and a gift certificate from a local nail salon.

The WVJC student body, staff and administration also participated in a ‘Wear Pink’ day to show their support for Breast Cancer Awareness.

The Medical Club won’t stop its hard work, either…they are already gearing up for the annual ‘Becky Baskets’ Project which will assist students during the Thanksgiving season.


-JT

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Of Course You Have Freedom of Speech…It’s What You Do With It That Matters

It seems that anytime a person wants to rant or rave in a negative way, the ole’ familiar ‘FREEDOM OF SPEECH’ line surfaces. Why is this? I think the ‘Freedom of Speech’ should be used in a positive way and that professionals and students preparing to enter the workforce should really take a look at what is being heard from their mouths and their online networks.

Whether you’re a student, someone completing an externship, a job seeker or a professional in your field, your voice is being heard. It is time to stop and take a look at your attitude and how you are portraying yourself and make sure others are seeing you how you want to be seen.

Take a look at your last five Facebook Status Updates. What do you see? I bet some of you might have the red flag of “Oops…I’ve talked about how crappy my life, boyfriend, job, etc. is at least 3 of those 5 status updates.”
This doesn’t mean you have ruined your chances for a positive and professional image…it just means that now you have the chance to improve it!

Use this ‘Freedom of Speech’ and focus on good things. If you can’t think of anything good to say, update a status regarding a new finding in your field of study or ask for an opinion on an important question! The better your status updates, the more interaction you can expect to see on your social image sites and you can expect a better reception from others in your work or school environment.

Today you have the chance to make a difference. Use your “Freedom of Speech” and start a new, positive and professional reputation today!

Monday, August 2, 2010

Your Application Needs to be Mistake-Free!

Filling out a job application is a tedious and time consuming task. Many times potential employers get frustrated filling out the information in an application, whether online or on paper. Here is the top reason why you need to slow down, pay attention to detail and complete your applications correctly!

Typos, mistakes and errors on an application may show that you are not detail oriented or cannot handle completing simple tasks and could cost you an interview.

If an employer looks at an application with mistakes or sees that someone did not take the time to proofread their responses, they could immediately toss the applicant’s information without further consideration no matter what qualifications or experience they have.

Proofreading is crucial in the job market. You need to check and double-check applications, forms, cover letters, resumes and any other documents you turn into a potential employer for errors. You don’t want ANYTHING to hinder your chances of getting a job, so make your application easy-to-read and mistake-free!


-JT

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Are you Ready for Finals?

As the final week of the quarter approaches, take a few minutes to read some easy tips to help you feel your best during finals week.

1. Study!
While this is a “duh” tip, make sure you take the time to study in depth for your final examinations. Make an outline of the material and use your best studying method to learn the information. Whether you do best by copying notes again, making flash cards, re-reading material or having someone ask questions out loud, make sure you know what works best for you and use it to your advantage! If you are unsure what study habits work best for you, visit our Librarian, Fawn Atkins in the new Library on the 3rd floor to find out!

2. Tell Your Family / Friends You’ll Catch Up With Them When Finals Are Over
Not everyone understands the importance of college final examinations. Make sure you tell your family and friends that you need extra support during this week. This could mean that someone helps watch the kids so you can study and have quiet time, it might mean you take extra time to stay at the library or simply that you’re off ‘dinner duty’ this week. Make sure they know that they are important to you and you appreciate their support and can’t wait to spend some quality time with them just as soon as finals are over.

3. Rest

Finals can definitely take the energy out of you. Make sure you take the time to get a good night’s rest and avoid cramming last-minute information. When you cram last-minute, information is easily forgotten, especially when you are tired. Study early and often and makes sure you leave time for a good rest the night before and a healthy meal that morning.

-JT

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Not Quite Where You Want To Be? That's Okay!

Opportunity

It seems like a word we hear pretty frequently, but do we take the time to stop and think how it can impact our own lives?

Life is a constant challenge. We are faced with obstacles and hardships and sometimes wonder how long we’re going to survive. It’s no wonder that sometimes, we fall just a little short. We fail. We take that hurdle in front of us and instead of jumping over it…we crash straight through it. Is that okay? It sure is…because the other thing this life gives us is opportunity.

Robert Frost gave the best quotation about life when he said, “In three words, I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life…IT GOES ON”.

If your life hasn’t led you to exactly where you want to be, now isn’t the time to get up. Maybe it’s time to review that resume and start looking for the job you’ve wanted…maybe you need to go back to school to get the education you need or maybe you need to clean up some things your personal life. Whatever the case may be, write down the word OPPORTUNITY somewhere that you will see it. Look at it every day and remember that it’s your decision on what to do with your life…make the best of it.

-JT

United Talent Visits WVJC Upcoming Graduates

United Talent visited the West Virginia Junior College upcoming graduates on Tuesday, July 20th to discuss a brand-new, cutting-edge service…the first of its kind in West Virginia.

United Talent of Charleston has teamed up with TalentRooster to offer a tool that combines the power of technology with the next best thing to a personal interview – A VIDEO RESUME. The service gives you the opportunity to give employers a visual image of yourself, as well as a glimpse into your personality. This could be the step it takes to hire you over the candidate with a paper resume.

The service is only 39.95 which includes the production and filming of your video resume, an online profile and a link to send to employers. The process is simple. You meet with a recruiter, review your resume and complete a series of tests. The recruiter prepares and coaches you through an on-camera interview. Once it is complete, the video is edited to capture your best responses. The personality profile and video resume are created and are housed on the recruiter’s website and you are provided a link to the video that you can send to anyone, anytime, anywhere.

As Laurie Cochran of United Talent stated on Tuesday, “You get one chance to make a first impression.” The world of interviewing and resumes is quickly becoming intertwined with technology. Here is your chance, Charleston, to take YOUR job seeking to the next level!

-JT