Cover Letter Feedback

After reading the advice given on cover letters, I agree with most all of the advice given here. I honestly knew nothing about cover letters before I read this advice. Absolutely nothing. I did not even know they existed so this was a very beneficial read for me. I wish I would have had this information sooner. I feel that a cover letter can give me a huge boost in the job/internship market.

The only point that I may disagree or feel uncomfortable with more so, is the section on the postscript technique. It just seems out of flow to me and I would be afraid that whoever is reading it may not understand. I also feel like handwriting it seems last minute and that I was too lazy to type it up and print another cover letter.

The most useful tutorial to me is definitely the sample cover letter. I learn well by example and especially with visuals. Although it was explained in earlier tutorials how and what to write in a cover letter, I was really hoping for a sample one. I was glad to have it and bookmarked the entire section. The section about testimonials was interesting to read as well, I never gave it a thought previously but it is actually a great idea for someone else to speak of you other than yourself.

I plan to use all of this information when writing my cover letter for my mock interview. This eases my mind a great deal. I will also definitely use the cover letter checklist before pulling it all together.

Interview Articles..

The first article I read was "It's Your Turn: What to Ask an Interviewer." I chose this article because this is something I have always wondered about. I have never known what to ask and what was even appropriate. I like how they broke the article up in the recruiter, the hiring manager, the executive, and the coworker. I have been interviewed by different people in different positions so this is a great way to organize the article. I never really thought to ask only certain people certain questions (besides the obvious). I wish I had this article sooner! I paid special attention to questions to ask the future boss because this is the case of the internship I am trying to get this summer. I have gone to one interview and wish I had asked more questions. But, I will hopefully be back.

The second article I read was “How to Answer the Toughest Interview Questions.” I read this article and realized that I had been asked all these questions at one time or another. The one I was especially glad to see was the salary question. This one makes me the most uncomfortable; I never know how to approach it. This article allowed me to tweak some answers I have originally replied with in an interview.

I learned the basics of an interview. I actually added this page to my favorites bar because I feel like it is very valuable. My biggest issue I have at interview time is my nerves so hopefully this will ease my mind for the mock interview and following real interviews.

Persuasive Experiences..

Letter from a Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King used ethos, logos, and pathos to convey his thoughts and get his point across. The combination of these three is what made this piece of writing so effective and well-known. When we worked in groups to find examples of ethos, logos, and pathos, it was not difficult to find them within the letter. This is a major reason why the letter is still read today whether or not people realize it.

I believe the Letter from a Birmingham Jail was more of an example of persuasive techniques than the Army's presentation was. The Letter from a Birmingham Jail appealed more to us as people while the Army focused too much on copy and paste information off the internet. This is an example of how the internet may be affecting communication today. I felt they did not tune into emotion and explain the true facts of being in the army. They could have used the army as their tool to present persuasive techniques. They seemed more distant to me even though they were a few steps away while this letter was written years ago and it struck me in a bigger way.

The example of persuasive communication I chose should be no surprise to anyone that knows me. I chose one about the importance of spaying and neutering written by the ASPCA. The article can be found at http://www.aspca.org/site/DocServer/Why_SpayNeuter-English.pdf?docID=188.
This article effectively uses logos and pathos. It uses logos by explaining the facts associated with it and also explains the many myths surrounding spaying and neutering. Many people are not educated in this topic and that is destroying millions of animals every day. Pathos is prevalent throughout the article with the ASPCA mentioning the millions of animals killed every day only because they cannot find a home. This article obviously effects me tremendously but I also think that it is written in a way that would persuade anyone in the right direction while tapping into their emotions as well. I believe this article and the Letter from a Birmingham Jail use communication tools correctly and are the most persuasive.

10 Years...

It's hard for me to think of where I will be in 10 years. I'm not one to plan far ahead, I'm not even sure what I will be doing tomorrow! But, I do have some goals.

I hope to graduate from Clemson in May 2009 with my Sport Management degree and Business minor. From there, I have a couple ideas. I would either work in the sport management field like I planned or attend a two-year nursing school. Emory University and Georgia State University offer nursing degrees to those who already have a degree in a non-related field. This is a more recent idea I have been throwing around but I will have to wait and see if it sticks.

I see my family life goals as more important than any professional or monetary goals. In the next ten years, I hope to marry my fiance. I would prefer to live in Georgia, where I am from, and start our lives there. I want us to build a strong foundation in all areas of life so we can continue to grow strong. I always want to be close to my immediate family, it has always been important to me to have them near. In ten years, I hope to see my brother succeed in college and his lacrosse career and my parents slow down and start to travel.

A huge goal of mine is also to help animals. It is truly my passion and something I have stuck with for many years. I will do anything along the way to contribute to improving all animals' lives and the world in which they live. I believe that this world is completely uneducated and hearless when it comes to animals. I want to change that. I don't know how or when but I want to do something huge for the lives of animals.

This is just an overview of some things I hope to accomplish or things I have been thinking about. For now though, I live in the moment. Time will tell...

Response to Web 2.0 & Puppies!!

"The Machine is Us/ing Us" by Michael Wesch was unlike anything I have seen. It was fast paced but I believe this represents the speed at which the internet is changing and all of the components that come together to do so. The title is very clever and makes you think about what end of the spectrum you believe to be at. It can really go any way we want it, the freedom that the web allows makes it possible for it to really become part of us. I remember in class how you were saying how you can have any question in the world answered just by pulling up the internet. I can't imagine doing things any other way. The web really allows anyone to access anything. I know I have a little separation anxiety if my computer is done or I do not have it when I want to. While that is sad to say, I believe a lot of other people feel the same. I see it as so many outlets to the outside world.

As for people entering the workforce, Web 2.0 is a benefit readily available to them. They are able to research possible jobs, possible employers, and can even find websites to prep them for an interview and follow up. The web also has places to post your resume which is also valuable to employers to find the particular employee that they are looking for. On the other hand, people already in the workforce may struggle to keep up with changing technology unless they have been all along. There are many stubborn people in this world who may have been trying to avoid technology. I believe that avoiding technology will not allow you to reach your full potential, it may even stunt your career. Besides the obvious benefits and ease of the web, it can further skills that you may not even be aware you are working on while surfing the internet.

When the video says that we will have to rethink everything I thought that this was somewhat true. I think that with the pace the world changes every day, we will always have to continue to rethink. That is part of growing. Whether it be with the web or not, we constantly have to be aware of the changes around us. So while we may have to rethink, I do not believe that we have change everything about it. We simply have to keep growing along with it in order to benefit fully.

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I wanted to add a few pictures of the puppies I am currently fostering. They are great puppies..they are already house-trained, very smart, and incredibly sweet. They even know how to sit! Please let me know if anyone is interested...puppy shots and neutering are paid for by the rescue group! Thank you..

There are also plenty of other dogs and puppies that I have pictures and information on. Please let me know!!
http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/SC178.html

Introduction..

Hi, my name is Kristine. I am originally from Fort Lauderdale, Florida but have lived in Marietta, Georgia since I was around eight years old. I have a brother who is a senior in high school and will be going to a school in upstate New York on a lacrosse scholarship. At home, I have three dogs, three cats, and a bird; all of which we have rescued. I absolutely love all animals.
I am currently a junior at Clemson and majoring in Sport Management with a minor in Business Administration. I enjoy working out, spending time with my fiance, being with friends, listening to music, movies, shopping, and so much more! I am not sure what I will do after college but I am thinking about maybe going to get a second degree in nursing. Random, I know, but it all depends. I am just taking things day by day. I hope you enjoyed reading a little bit about me!