Reflecting back...

REFLECTIONS

I think the past three modules have a lot of beneficial information in them for anyone who is looking for a job. Knowing how to correctly fill out an application and write an effective resume are key to getting the interview. Once you have the interview you need to know what to say and what not to say but also make yourself stand out from the crowd! Internet has made this whole process a lot easier and faster not only for the applicant but for the employer. Less paperwork, better skills assessments, and the ability to set criteria to filter applicants by how qualified they are. Honestly none of this applies to my current situation I am gainfully employed and enjoy what I do. However, I have had in the past to make use of these services and have an effective resume now and know how to conduct myself during an interview.

Job Searching, Applications, and Interviews

The last three modules have covered the process of looking for a job and then applying and interviewing for that job. I learned how to write a resume and some great tips for answering interview questions. Having a solid online presence was particularly emphasized throughout the modules. 

Those who are unemployed can use the recommended resources to polish their resume and improve their interviewing skills. Probably the most beneficial thing to do would be to network with former colleagues and others in their field. Being confident, professional, and utilizing networks such as LinkedIn can help bring them to the attention of prospective employers. 

The main points that apply to my situation are to have a resume updated and ready at all times and most importantly to network. I'd been planning to write my resume after I was done with my degree but now I'm writing my resume and working on establishing an online presence.

The internet has changed how both employers and employees approach the job market. Many job openings are not publicly posted but filled through word-of-mouth online networking. Information on both companies and individuals is readily available through online searches creating more transparency. The ability to post and access resumes online helps ensure a better fit between the job and employee. 

Overall, there's great information in these final modules to help each of us in our employment situations.

The slides were the easiest part. I so not like speaking for a required time frame so I struggled with that part. Next time I wouldn’t wait till the last day to complete the assignment, my newborn was very demanding and I didn’t give the assignment all that I should have. A lesson learned is to always keep your audience in mind!

PowerPoint and VoiceThread

Over all I had a lot of fun with the PowerPoint presentation. Uploading it to VoiceThread and adding the narration was easy although I wasn't completely pleased with the visual quality. I didn't have any experience with VoiceThread before this project and I always like learning something new. 

My project used a lot of graphics with very little text and I think that worked well in PowerPoint. The visuals carry the point while the notes (and narration in VoiceThread) round out the meaning. However the quality of the graphics noticeable degraded after uploading to VoiceThread. I also had to go back and edit my PowerPoint to get some graphics to show up and upload it again. Even then a few graphics still didn't display correctly. 

Next time if I'm planning to upload to VoiceThread I'll prepare my Power Point with that goal in mind. Instead of creating the Power Point I wanted and then having to adapt it to VoiceThread. I think the number of slides and the information on the slides would depend on whether I was going to use VoiceThread to present it.  

Something I'll use in my career is learning about the large library of graphics in MS Office. Also I learned about the importance of using visuals to keep the audience's attention. This will be useful in the accounting field as slide after slide of numbers and balances can get very boring in a presentation.

What I've learned so far in Bus 140

Stay focused and have a plan. This is valuable advice that can be applied to many aspects of life in general. And very useful when composing business messages in particular. I tend to overthink what I want to say when writing a message. Sometimes my brain goes into overdrive and I'll say in three sentences what can easily be said in one. The instructions in these chapters have helped me learn to simply state what needs to be said. To find my point and stick to it.

This will be useful in my career as it's much easier to understand a message that is brief and concise. I've also find it useful in my personal life as well. No more hinting, or elaborating, or expecting my husband to read my mind (I've never understood why he completely fails at that.) Now I just straight out tell him, the trash can is full so take out the trash. Please. Mustn't forget to be courteous as instructed in Chapter 7.

The least valuable thing I've learned? Hmmm . . . Joining Twitter was fun. But, I haven't once thought about checking my Twitter account since that assignment. Maybe if I used Twitter for my job I'd find it more valuable.

In closing, I've enjoyed this class. I feel I have a better appreciation for the necessity of good business communications. It's not just about the importance of getting the job done right. Effective communication also acknowledges the humanity of the people we work with. This is good for business. And the makes the world a nicer place.

I Guess it's Called the Information Age for a Reason

I've been on Face Book for about three years now. I semi-regularly read a couple blogs. I text my kids and friends. And that's about all the social media I've needed or wanted. I hadn't really thought about the impact of using electronic media other than it seemed to take up a bunch of my time. Sure, it's nice to stay connected to friends and family, but is constant news updates and instant access as revolutionary as hyped?

Well, the last two weeks of business class have demonstrated that, yes, it is. Looking back at history, we talk about Gutenberg's printing press and the resulting revolutionary change in the flow and exchange of knowledge and information. I can easily understand the importance of books. Through books I have access to information that otherwise I would not. Maybe it's because I'm living during the social media transition that I've taken it for granted. But electronic media has exploded the concept of accessing and channeling information. Today, practically everyone has a printing press on their desk or in their pocket. Everyone owns an enormous library. Information is available to everyone, not just the rich or those in authority. 

As a small example, right now on Face Book I'm having a philosophical discussion with a couple of friends. We've been talking over the last week or so about the importance and relevance of a common social issue. None of us are scholars, and our reasoning and opinions aren't going to change the world. But we have managed to influence each other. 

But the point is, without electronic media this discussion would never have taken place. We live in three different states and don't know each other well enough to ever visit. And if we did ever see each other we wouldn't have time to talk philosophy! But Face Book not only allows us to swap stories about the kids and say hi occasionally, it allows the easy exchange of ideas. It enables the quick sharing of information. 

Twitter, blogs, podcasts, Face Book. I have a better appreciation now for these technological advancements. Electronic media, it's all about information. Fast, easy, accessible information.

The past two Modules have been an eye opener for me. I have always figured I was up with the times regarding technology but I couldn’t figure out how to blog or set up a Delicious account! It became very frustrating and I finally gave up after multiple failures. I very much dislike Delicious! Twitter on the other hand was a piece of cake. J

Social media is a great thing for those who need to get their message out to the masses but for those like me I will probably never use them after this class. I didn’t have much of an opinion before the last assignment due to never using anything but Facebook but now I know I am going to be staying with that and not venturing out to much! J

I didn’t realize there were so many blog types out there, but when I had trouble with mine I had to call my mom for help. She blogs all the time! Reading about other companies was interesting, not only to see what they put out there but how they do it. The visual presentation makes some hard to read and others fun and exciting! J

Accounting PR

The conversation usually goes something like this.

New acquaintance: So what do you do?

Me: I'm taking classes at OTC.

New acquaintance: Nice, what degree?

Me: An AAS in Accounting, going to be a bookkeeper.

New acquaintance: Oh . . . (giving me a certain "look")  . . . I'm not very good at math . . .

This leaves me scratching my head. Because, you know what, I'm not that great at math either. I had to really brush up on my algebra for the placement exam. And by now I've already forgotten all of it again anyway. When I have a math question I always ask my husband, who does happen to be good at math.

And what's with the "look"? I get the impression that people think accountants are, well, different. Than ordinary people. Almost like accountants aren't really, you know, normal.

It appears to me that accounting as a field needs a boost in the PR department. And what better way to accomplish that than blogging!

First off, an accounting blog could let the world in on a well known secret. Accountants and bookkeepers use computer software to do their math, just like the rest of civilization. Computers are excellent at math, even better than husbands. Right now I'm taking a class on QuickBooks for small businesses, it's not that complicated. And for personal finance there are programs like AceMoney and Quicken that make it easy to keep track of your money.

As for being normal? Well, my dogs adore me. Does that count for anything? A blog about accounting could portray the human side of bean counting. I like accounting because it all adds up so nice and neat. It's very concrete and not subjective. I will admit that accounting does require concentration and attention to detail. And obviously some people are better at that than others. But that's the way with any profession; a person's personality needs to fit with the demands of the job.

And then there are some people, like a friend I know, who likes to clean houses. Can I get her committed? Right after she cleans my house of course.

The Facebook Blog – Like or Dislike?

At first impression, much like using Facebook itself, this blog seems user-friendly and appealing.  It's only with closer examination that several flaws become apparent. Are these shortcomings enough to warrant a click of the long requested Dislike button? Perhaps, but first let's give credit to the positive aspects of Facebook's blog.

Pros:

• The blog makes effective use of graphics and interactive content. The latest post is titled Introducing New Apps for Timeline. This post includes links to referenced sites and webpages. A couple of screen shots are posted to illustrate what the new apps will look like. And there's a short demo video showing why users will want to add new apps to their profiles. Overall visually attractive and engaging. Thumbs up.
• The blog style is the familiar Facebook story format. Viewers can click "like" or comment and share just like any other Facebook post. Yeah for cohesiveness.

And now for the cons:

• All of the blog posts are authored by different people. Maybe Facebook employees each have to take a turn writing a blog post or something. Whatever the reason, effective blogging is about building a connection to the readers. And that just doesn't happen with a new author every post.
• There are only about two to three blog posts a month. The latest post was back in January. Facebook's blog seems to be more about the occasional news bulletin than engaging the readers with fresh content.  I suggest Facebook use their blog for both introducing new features and providing a steady stream of helpful or entertaining posts.
• The most major flaw of Facebook's blog is the total lack of response to user comments. There are thousands of comments expressing worries or dislike for the new Timeline feature. These user comments are not only on Timeline posts but also on other posts such as the introduction to new apps. Obviously, thousands of people have something to say about the Timeline feature. But there's no Facebook response to all this feedback. No blog addressing people's concerns. Not even a comment from one of the authors. An effective blog is about communication. Ignoring user feedback implies that Facebook doesn't really care about the users. Is that the message Facebook Blog wants to send? Thumbs down.

Even though the blog is well structured, it's not going to hook a steady audience. And after considering the cons, I won't be back to read The Facebook Blog anytime soon.