New Semester=New Opportunites!

Tackling Table Manners

Tips for Your Team

If business meals were like football, would your team be ready for

The Big Game? This year, improve your company’s image and strengthen sales by tackling table manners. Here are ten errors to avoid:

                        1. Delay of Game: Arrive early for your business meal, whether you

                        are the host or guest. Do not order alcohol while you are waiting.

                        2. False Start: Wait for the host to tell you where to sit. Place your napkin on your lap when your host does and begin eating after your host. Order first, then talk business.

                        3. Illegal Procedure: Napkins are not for blowing your nose or spitting out unwanted objects. Blot your lips with your napkin between food and drink. Remove unwanted objects with thumb and index finger, cupped fingers or discreetly moving the object from your mouth to the fork or spoon.

                        4. Pass Interference: When someone asks for the salt or pepper, you may not intercept and use it for yourself. The same goes for shared dishes, which are passed to the right (counterclockwise). Salt and pepper are passed together, one in each hand.

                        5. Illegal Use of Hands: Do not reach for items beyond your grasp. Say “please pass the…” and “thank you” when it arrives.

                        6. Illegal Motion: Keep your elbows in. No elbows on the table except between courses when there is no food on the table.

                        7. Unnecessary Roughness: Be kind to the cook, especially when dining in someone’s home. Do not say you do not like something. Let the host/hostess know when you do. (This is delicious!)

                        8. Technical Foul: Do not lose patience with the wait staff – kill them with kindness. Try not to send anything back, unless it is so undercooked it is crawling off the plate.

                        9. Unsportsmanlike Conduct: Do not talk or take a drink with food in your mouth. Do not use a toothpick or chew ice. No grooming at the table – do not use a comb, nail clippers or apply lipstick.

                        10. Fumble: If you spill something on another person, such as a glass of wine, apologize and offer to

                        reimburse him or her for the cleaning expenses.

When the meal is over, do not stack the dishes or push them away. Leave your napkin slightly crumpled to the left of your place setting.

Touchdown!

Have a winning season with etiquette training from the Culture and Manners Institute. Copyright © Culture and Manners Institute

Something New Called Focus 2!

Focus 2 is a new program here with Career Services! We are very excited about it.

It helps you decide what your major should be!

OR if you have a job you want it tells you what major would be best!

FOCUS-2 is a self-guided, online career and education planning tool for use by college students.  It will enable you to assess your interests, values, skills, personality, and aspirations as they relate to careers and college majors.  FOCUS-2 is designed to help you choose the best major for you and explore occupations that match your profile.  Students who use FOCUS-2 make better decisions about their goals and plans and learn how to manage their careers.

Be sure to check it out today!

Etiquette Tip of the Week:

“There is one story that, when I tell it in a university setting, I can see the whites around the eyes of the students. 

A woman approached me after a talk in Oklahoma and said, "I am the receptionist in my office.  The hiring manager has asked me to keep an eye on the job candidates in the waiting room and report back to him which ones are talking on their cell phones, checking messages or texting.  Those are the candidates we do not hire. 

Avoid using your cell phone or text messaging while sitting in the waiting room before an interview or even a sales call (which is in itself, an interview).  Take out a notebook and study your notes (for surely you have done your research on this company -- their leadership, mission statement, sales figures, etc.)  Go over the answers to tricky questions in your head.  Even if you usually review notes on your phone or PDA, use something else so you don't appear to be checking messages.  Leave the impression that you are focused on the business at hand and not distracted by other things in your life.

As you know, it’s polite to give credit where credit is due. Thus these tips are from www.cultureandmanners.com

Events for the Week:

1/27	EMR
	12:15-4:30 212 YGCU
2/9	Career Mentor Orientation
	5:45-7 304 WSC
2/11	Public Service and Nonprofit Career Day
	2:30-4:45 221 YCGU
2/23	COSMC-KC Interview Day
	8-3:30 KCI Expo Center
	Health Professions Career Day
	1-3:30 Union

Quote from the Office:

“Dance for me little puppets…DANCE!!” - Manny

Last Week of Class!

Get Ready for Finals

Nine Tricks if You're Bad With Names

Filed under: Make an Impression Print Article

Posted Oct 16th 2009 3:14PM

CareerBuilder.com

Two strangers meet at a networking function. One person speaks up first. "Hi, I'm Laura Mulford," she says, offering her hand to her partner.

"Raj Babu," he responds with a handshake. "Nice to meet you." The whole exchange takes less than four seconds. Ten minutes later, neither person can remember the other's name.

Ah, names. Some people have gift for remembering them. But for far too many of us, they go in one ear and right out the other. Unfortunately, referring to everyone as "hey" or "you" can be suicide when it comes to networking.

"In networking, names are the good stuff," say Anne Barber and Lynne Waymon, co-authors of 'Make Your Contacts Count' (Amacom). "It will be mighty difficult for you to initiate a relationship with someone if you don't know that person's name."

If remembering others' names is downright impossible for you, try out these tips from Barber and Waymon:

1. Repeat the first name or confirm the last name.

Simply saying, "It's nice to meet you, Chuck" or "and your last name was...?" will help you register the name and give it a better chance to implant itself into your memory.

2. Ask a question or make a comment about the person's name.

"Nice to meet you, Julia. My college roommate's name was Julia, so I'll have no problem remembering you."

3. Ask the person to spell his or her name.

"Abby, do you spell your name with a 'y' or with an 'ie'?"

4. Associate the name with a picture in your mind.

If you meet a CEO named Arthur, visualize him as King Arthur with the knights of the Round Table. "Some people like this technique; others say it confuses them," warn Barber and Waymon. "Only use it if it's helpful."

5. Ask how the person got his name.

"Savannah, were you named after the city?"

6. Tell the person what you have heard about him.

"I heard you organized this whole event, Peter."

7. Keep your energy level high.

Let your body language and tone of voice signal that you are honestly trying to learn the other person's name and teach her yours. According to Barber and Waymon, people say this is flattering.

8. Always say the person's name again as you leave her.

"It was good to meet you, Jen."

9. Handle forgotten names with grace.

No, whining about how bad you are with names is not graceful. Instead, ask a friend to remind you, or if you can recall where you met that person, say "I remember meeting you at the conference in Seattle. I'm Sarah Ansari. Will you tell me your name again?" The person may have forgotten your name too, and will be grateful for your reintroduction.

Always remember: making small talk about a person's name may take time, but it could save you embarrassment later on!

Something New Called Focus 2!

Focus 2 is a new program here with Career Services! We are very excited about it.

It helps you decide what your major should be!

OR if you have a job you want it tells you what major would be best!

FOCUS-2 is a self-guided, online career and education planning tool for use by college students.  It will enable you to assess your interests, values, skills, personality, and aspirations as they relate to careers and college majors.  FOCUS-2 is designed to help you choose the best major for you and explore occupations that match your profile.  Students who use FOCUS-2 make better decisions about their goals and plans and learn how to manage their careers.

Be sure to check it out today!

Etiquette Tip of the Week:

When invited to someone's home for dinner or for a party, bring a hostess (or host) gift, such as a small box of quality chocolates, attractive note cards or anything you know your host or hostess has an interest in, such as a book, DVD, kitchen gadget or gourmet coffee. Send flowers ahead of time, such as earlier that afternoon.  Bringing flowers with you may impose on an already busy hostess, who must find a vase and get the flowers into water.  And she may already have flowers or a centerpiece on the table. 

A hostess gift of food or alcohol is to be enjoyed by the hostess and host at a later time or served at the hostess's discretion.  Do not bring a food gift with the intent of sampling it yourself.

As you know, it’s polite to give credit where credit is due. Thus these tips are from www.cultureandmanners.com

Quote from the Office:

“Cause he plays the tuba ………..and I play the tuba.” -Eli

Are You Ready!

It’s the Homestretch!

Tips for Building a

Development Network

In years past, it was much easier for employees

to find a mentor – it was an older, tenured

person at their organization who

seemed to ooze experience and wisdom.

These days, it’s tough to retain an employee

for more than 3-5 years, so finding a mentor

takes more work! A recent Wall Street Journal

article suggested that those seeking guidance

in their careers should build a team of

mentors in their field, otherwise known as a

development network. The concept of development

networks is easy to grasp; many

find the actual relationship building part to

be difficult.

Tips for building a team of mentors

1. Develop a list. Although some of your

mentors will naturally want to help you, it is

your job to come up with a list of individuals

who would be a good addition to your mentoring

team. Select a variety of people to add

to your network—both in and outside your

department/organization— so you have

different viewpoints to learn from.

2. Be the one to reach out, and do so

often. Top-notch protégés are not shy to

ask for guidance. You must be able to do the

initial ask and keep in regular contact with

your development network.

When a mentor offers a suggestion, keep

him/her posted on how the advice worked.

3. Come to meetings prepared. Now that

you’ve gotten a mentor’s attention, it’s time

to do some homework. Know some basics

about his/her background and have applicable

questions to ask when you get together.

4. Make it mutual. No one likes a person

who only talks about his/herself. The same

goes for mentoring relationships! Don’t

make every interaction with your mentors

about you. Be sure to offer help on a special

project or share some knowledge that you

might be able to impart to him/her.

5. Be personable and have a positive attitude.

We have yet to hear someone say,

“Gosh, I would love to mentor someone

who’s incredibly negative and not fun to be

around.” Not everyone is the most charismatic

person at their office, but it helps to

be a positive, upbeat version of yourself

when working with your development network.

Mentors are supposed to talk you

down from a workplace ledge every now and

then, but don’t make it a regular pastime.

                        From: Staffing Solutions Inc.

                                www.staffingsolutionsinc.com

Something New Called Focus 2!

Focus 2 is a new program here with Career Services! We are very excited about it.

It helps you decide what your major should be!

OR if you have a job you want it tells you what major would be best!

FOCUS-2 is a self-guided, online career and education planning tool for use by college students.  It will enable you to assess your interests, values, skills, personality, and aspirations as they relate to careers and college majors.  FOCUS-2 is designed to help you choose the best major for you and explore occupations that match your profile.  Students who use FOCUS-2 make better decisions about their goals and plans and learn how to manage their careers.

Be sure to check it out today!

Events for the Week:

12/7-8	Vector Marketing (Sales)
	10-2 Mon 11-2 Tues Union
12/10	Marines Pull Up Challenge
	10-2 Union

Etiquette Tip of the Week:

The best conversationalists are good listeners.  When you meet new people, ask them questions about themselves to keep the conversation going.  Are you a native of this place?  Where are you from originally?  What do you do for a living?  How did you get into that line of work?  What do you like best about your job?  Listen to their answers and ask them questions based on their answers. 

It is easier to get into trouble by talking too much.  Very few get into trouble from listening too much.

As you know, it’s polite to give credit where credit is due. Thus these tips are from www.cultureandmanners.com

Quote from the Office:

“What are you doing?” – The Whole Office

Are You Ready?

Thanksgiving is Almost Here!

Interview, resume important tests

BY HEATHER WARLICK-MOORE   

 

Without an excellent resume and cover letter, you may never be invited for an interview, said Frankie Walters, professional development coach and author of "Country Values ... City Wise: Lessons in Personal Development and Workplace Savvy.”

"I do believe that a professional, polished presence is very important for your in-person presentation, but getting seen with a resume is the same thing. It needs to be polished and professional,” Walters said.
In today’s job market, many people are vying for each job opening, so making a great impression from the moment your resume hits a prospective employer’s in-box is vital.
When Walters coaches people, she touches on the job search strategy, resume preparation, interview process and interview questions.
"Prepare, prepare, prepare,” she said. From researching the hiring company to writing a good resume and cover letter and practicing your answers to various interview questions, a job applicant can’t be overprepared, Walters said.
A job seeker has five to seven minutes to make a positive first impression, Walters writes in the workbook she uses in her workshops. The first impression consists 7 percent of verbal cues (content), 38 percent vocal cues (sound) and 55 percent visual (things such as eye contact, facial expressions, body language, manners and grooming).
About 25 percent of jobs are filled by people the employer knows before the opening is formally announced, Walters said. Another 50 percent are filled by insiders who talk about the opportunity. So, networking opportunities such as social media sites are vital ways to keep potential jobs on your radar.
Walters suggests creating a list of all the people you know, telling them exactly what type of job you are seeking and asking each for two names of people you could contact. Follow up with these new contacts by e-mailing or mailing a resume.


Personal Finance Forum & Speed Networking
The Personal Finance & Speed Networking Event took place on 11/19/09 and was a great success!
Here are some quotes from individuals that went:
“Very informative, I learned a lot. As a freshman it’s really opened my eyes to what I need to do in my career.” Shae Grisham
“Being a freshman, it’s a very enriching experience for the college to do.” – Heather Walton
“This has been very beneficial.” –Rachel Blaich
"Lots of interesting people. Lots of information." - Ayna Plavanova

Some people also won different prizes:

Bluetooth – Ayna Palvanova

MP3 – Shae Grisham

USB – Eli Smith

Something New Called Focus 2!

Focus 2 is a new program here with Career Services! We are very excited about it.

It helps you decide what your major should be!

OR if you have a job you want it tells you what major would be best!

FOCUS-2 is a self-guided, online career and education planning tool for use by college students.  It will enable you to assess your interests, values, skills, personality, and aspirations as they relate to careers and college majors.  FOCUS-2 is designed to help you choose the best major for you and explore occupations that match your profile.  Students who use FOCUS-2 make better decisions about their goals and plans and learn how to manage their careers.

Be sure to check it out today!

Events for the Week:

11/19	Speed Networking Personal Finance Forum
	212 Union
11/23	Vector Marketing
	10-2 Union
12/1	Career Mentor Closing Session
	5:30-7 Yates Dining Room
12/4	Avila University
	10-2 Union
12/7-8	Vector Marketing
	10-2 Mon 11-2 Tues Union

Etiquette Tip of the Week:

“When on a business trip, avoid alcohol on an airplane – drinking at high altitudes makes you more inebriated.  It is said that one drink on an airplane, counts for two drinks on the ground.  If they put one of those mobile staircases up to the airplane exit and you fall down it, taking out a senior citizen or a vacationing family with small children in the process, that will not be good imaging for your company. 

When traveling for business, you are representing your company and should, dress, speak and behave in a way that inspires confidence in your business and products.

   As you know, giving credit to the Culture and Manners Institute at http://www.cultureandmanners.com/ is the polite thing to do.

Quote from the Office:

“Britaaaash!” - Maggie