The Ability Project » communication

Ping Me.

Barb — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:00:12 +0000

When you go to a school that is in the city, most of the students that you come across are either carrying a BlackBerry or iPhone on them. I also happen to be one of them. Let’s get this straight, though, I am not a big fan of either – I think they’re overhyped and that there are other phones that are equally as good but are just not given the North American attention (head on over to Europe and Asia to see some real phones in action). But hey, that’s not the discussion on hand; what is, though, is the wonderment of why more and more undergraduates are possessing one or the other and for what possible advantage points are there?

It’s quite simple: email and constant contact. We’re often told that in the working world, the right opportunity is everything, as is timing. And such could explain why many business persons have a BlackBerry as an appendage – it’s great at its email function (heck, it’s what put RIM in the game) and the BlackBerry messenger is a huge selling point when traveling between continents. Well, when you’re taught to seize opportunities and to live for them, there’s no time to be texting your roommate to check if you ever got that offer for an interview or if they could doublecheck where your meeting was. It helps us prepare and serves as a back-up when “we forget” things. And hey, when you are usually a user of either the BlackBerry or the iPhone, you’re usually pretty apt to the other social media tools that are ready for download to the phone, such as Twitter, Facebook, or YouTube.

The downside to this tool, though, is its possibility as a distraction. Walk by the cubicle of many young adults at work or at their internships, and you often find them twittering about their job, browsing Facebook because they can’t on their work computer, or simply chatting away on instant messaging programs. Or worse, the one that constantly checks and replies to other emails. As much as a BlackBerry can enhance your job search, it can just as easily cost you a job.

Unemployment Slowing You Down?

Eric Barron — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 18:06:15 +0000

Back in March, TAP asked Adrienne Waldo, a Generation Y talent, to speak about utilizing social media at our Job Search Bootcamp. The full-day workshop was highlighted by Adrienne’s great social media session. Which equipped the audience with some great tools to land a job in today’s challenging economic climate.

This article in AdAge is a must read. The positive advice about finding employment can also be applied to advancing your career.

Don’t Let Unemployment Slow You Down: 7 Tips for Keeping Up Your Momentum in a Difficult Job Market. http://adage.com/gennext/post?article_id=138785

Thank you Adrienne for your “shout out” and mention of The Ability Project. For more from this talented young professional visit her blog: http://askamillennial.blogspot.com/

The Interview Freeze Up

Rachel — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:01:23 +0000

Have you ever found yourself stuttering through an interview? Did your mouth get so dry you felt the white forming around the corners? When asked a question, did your mind freeze and underarms perspire?

How can we perform in an interview when we don’t know how to sell ourselves! Think of yourself as a brand. For example, on a bottle of shampoo you can read the strengths and benefits of the product: fresh fragrance, conditioning, strengthening, volumizing, etc. Define your natural abilities and learn how to highlight them during an interview.

We will never be fully prepared for all the extreme questions thrown at us in an interview. One time I was asked, “If you were a bottle of hairspray, what color would you be and why?” In retrospect I can clearly see several reasons why this question was asked of me: to understand my creativity, to gauge my knowledge of the industry and (most importantly) to see how well I know myself. Answering this question with confidence was crucial. Can you enter an interview with poise and self knowledge?

Yes, I have studied all the lists of “Interviewing Do’s and Don’ts.” I could drive myself crazy memorizing rules: research the interviewing company, look the interviewer in the eye when shaking hands, sit down after the interviewer has taken his/her seat, be prepared to turn the “weakness” question into a strength, be equipped with questions to prove interest, ask for a business card before exiting; the list could go on infinity. Trying to recall what to do and what not to do would make it impossible to focus on the conversation.

The best advice I have does not come from that list of tactics. What is my secret ingredient? BE YOURSELF. I think the anxiety of having done my homework before going into the interview is what makes me nervous. Am I really prepared? I remember, yes I am ready. Before the interview, when my heart is beating at double pace, I pause, breath, and close my eyes. I take a few minutes to regroup and repeat a mantra. I practice relaxing and realizing that no one is perfect during the interviewing process. Self-awareness has always been my greatest asset. With that assurance, I know that the appropriate response to any question is always within reach.

What’s small talk and why is it so important?

Eric Barron — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:54:10 +0000

What: I define small talk as friendly conversation, on any subject, that has no specific agenda. There is no formal beginning, middle or end and neither party has something to gain except maybe some good old fashioned knowledge or humor.

Why: Small talk is essential as it helps you establish more personal relationships, which can greatly enhance your professional success. It allows the other person to get to know more about your personal interests and more importantly, common interests. It can also alleviate stress from the professional encounter, allowing a better connection to be made.

How:

Prepare: Become well rounded. Expand what you read. People are “attracted” to knowledgeable and interesting people. For a quick fix, I sometimes tell people to do a quick scan of ESPN, CNN, Bloomberg, and the local news before they run into a potential, “small talk battle zone.”

Practice: Making small talk does not come naturally to many, particularly in a business setting. However, it doesn’t have to be scary either. Practice making small talk everywhere – on line at the grocery store, at the local bank, or waiting in the doctor’s office. You’ll be surprised how receptive most people are to chatting it up, particularly if you have something interesting to say.

Can you describe yourself?

Eric Barron — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 22:21:00 +0000

In terms of how well you communicate with others or the type of leadership qualities you possess and how you’ve put them to good use? Can you clearly articulate what it’s like to work with you in a team environment and how wonderfully adaptable you are?

Communication, Leadership, Adaptability and Teamwork are things that are going to “turn-on” potential employers. It’s your job to have a compelling, specific (specific = credible), and relatable story that exemplifies one or two of these traits. It can be a personal or professional situation you draw from, but just make sure it’s memorable.

So if you say that you easily adapt to new environments, it better be followed with, “for example…”