Author: Portfolio Creative

If you’re like me, you’re hooked on AMC’s Mad Men (how long until season 3?). A new book, Ad Women: How They Impact What We Need, Want and Buy by Juliann Sivulka, tells the story of the real Peggy Olson’s of the advertising world. This review points out that the earlier years get more attention and are more interesting as far as the book’s coverage, and it fizzles out around the 70s. Perhaps because women in the industry were not as unusual or trailblazers anymore. Regardless it sounds pretty interesting, with a unique view of how women worked in the industry as well as were depicted as consumers.

We have a client who is looking for someone experienced in Microsoft SharePoint to come to their office to do some updates to their system and train their people. It should be a few days of onsite work, schedule may be somewhat flexible. If you know Sharepoint or know someone who does, please email Kristen right away!

I am a huge advocate of meeting with people in your industry, talking about what you do and learning from each other, whether there’s an immediate job offer involved or not. This post, The Value of Informational Interviewing, explains the power of these meetings and the ultimate effect it had on one person’s career. I believe all students and recent graduates should be doing this, where else can you learn more about your industry than from the people who are working in it? But don’t think that if you’re more experienced the concept doesn’t apply to you. Again, where else can you learn more than by talking to your peers and industry connections?

We do this periodically, our goal is to have breakfast with someone every 1-2 months. Make a list of people you admire, thinking big, and start contacting them. The worst that will happen is that they won’t respond or won’t have time, the best is that they’ll say yes! You never know where that connection could lead. Once you get the interview scheduled be prepared, respect their time, and know what you want to ask but be open to the information they want to share that they feel will be helpful to you.

Looking for a work? Think that doing anything during the holidays is a waste? Think again. Here are some tips to help your search.

I especially like these two:

1. Use holiday events for schmoozing with family, friends and acquaintances. You never know who will produce your next job lead. Attend as many events as you can reasonably fit into your calendar. You don’t want to be obnoxious about your job search and aggravate friends and relatives. But, do prepare a brief statement that tells people you are looking for a job and the kind of job you seek. (edited to add…I hate the word “schmooze”, but you get the idea…chat up your friends and family, you need something to talk about anyway!)
2. Send holiday cards with your business card enclosed to hiring managers with whom you’ve recently interviewed. Send one to well-connected friends as well.

Sharon DeLay of Permanent Ink has added Resource Minute, short videos of human resources, hiring and recruiting experts providing tips related to job hunting. Yours truly will be found there, along with several other people. Check it out, they give some really good advice. New interviews are always being added so check back periodically for new tips and ideas.

Cat lovers unite for a good cause!  One of our associates, Catherine Murray, has put together a cat calendar to benefit Citizens for Humane Action, an animal shelter in Westerville.  All of the proceeds are being donated to CHA, in an effort to help the overwhelming number of stray cats and dogs.  The art is all original, you won’t find it anywhere else!  Consider buying one as a gift for your cat loving friends!  They’re being sold online at etsy or you can purchase them at your local PetPeople store (we like the one in Clintonville!)

Looking for some inexpensive ways to celebrate the season? Here are some local upcoming events that are $10 or less! And many are free 🙂

Now-December 18th: Fantasy of Lights. Alum Creek State Park. $10 on weeknights. This annual two-mile, drive through extravaganza features 125 light displays, including many with animation.

Now-Jan.4th: Holidays at the Conservatory. Adults $7.50. Continuing the tradition of the season, The Franklin Park Conservatory will showcase hundreds of colorful poinsettias of many varieties and the annual poinsettia tree will create holiday spirit. Lighted evergreens provided by the Ohio Christmas Tree Association will be on display both indoors and out. Candlelight Nights, held from 5-8 p.m. on Dec.10 and 17, featurethe conservatory aglow with hundreds of candles, and holiday entertainment in the grand atrium.

12/12 & 12/13: Village Singers Holiday Concert. $5. Join the German Village Singers, directed by John Carter, as they sing traditional and new arrangements that are guaranteed to make you hum all the way home. This year’s program is entitled “Frankincense, Fruitcake, French Hens, and Fa-La-La’s!”

12/13 & 12/20: Holiday Film Classic Series. $2. The Arena Grand is giving you an opportunity to see great holiday classic films while supporting Children’s Hunger Alliance. 12/13: Deck the Halls, 12/20: The Polar Express. Both shows are at 10:00 am.

12/14: Live Reindeer. Come and see live reindeer on display at Easton Town Center. Free. 1-5 pm.

12/15: Merry TubaChristmas. Capital University. Free. Traditional Christmas music performed exclusively on Tubas-and many of them! Amazing–I’ve personally been. Performances at 5:30 & 7:30.

12/27:  Kujichagulia Kwanzaa Ball. The Kings Arts Complex. Free. Dress in authentic African attire and join the King Arts Complex and the City-wide Kwanzaa Committee for an elegant evening dance and tribute to author Nana Camille Yarbrough. This celebration of achievement will also include celebratory Karamu, music and dance. Vendors will display select artifacts, jewelry, texts, and accessories.

12/29: Christmas with the Critters. Ohio Wildlife Center invites you to a free event on Monday, December 29. Take a tour of the center’s education animal exhibits and nature trails (weather permitting), and enjoy snacks, crafts, and encounters with live native animals.

12/31: First Night Columbus. $10. Central Ohio’s New Year’s Eve celebration! There is something for everyone with more than 40 live performances including jazz, funk, ragtime, magic, hands-on activities and a children’s festival.

Acing the Interview – a book about how to make a great impression at interviews.

Author – Tony Beshara has been in the placement and recruiting business for 35 years.

Here’s what I liked:

• Keeping records of when you talked to people and when they said you should hear back by, that way if they don’t call you by the date specified you can call them.

• Beshara gives you scripts – what to say to family, friends, and peers who might be hiring. He also gives a script for Voice mails. Voice Mails should be specific and succinct. You should say your phone number at least twice and slowly the second time. Repeat your name at least once.

• Tell stories but don’t go overboard.

• List your Features, Advantages, and Benefits specific to you that make you unique.

• Prepare for the interview by researching the company and the open position. Prepare questions for the interviewer.

• Take notes – believe it or not, this makes you appear more intelligent and will help you later to think of questions! It also provides you with “ammunition” for the follow up.

• Beshara provides you with a list of illegal questions, good to know before an interview. You don’t have to answer illegal questions, but find a tactful way of declining to answer.

Beshara suggests questions to ask yourself before you go searching for a job. We don’t always think of this, but in a way they prepare you to answer difficult questions that may come up in the interview. For example, if you ask yourself what disappointments you faced in a previous job, you will have a better answer when asked Why did you leave your previous job? or Why are seeking a new position? What is it that you need in a job? How do you handle disappointment or stress on the job? Asking yourself questions like this might also be able to help you uncover feelings that might have prevented you from successfully interviewing.

What I didn’t like:

• Too much scripting.
• Beshara suggests listing 10 or 12 descriptives to explain your work ethic right off the bat. I think this is too much. A list is just a list, it is better to state a few descriptives and explain what they mean to you and how you exemplify them

In Acing the Interview, Beshara ends with questions to ask once an offer is made.

As members of Columbus Greenspot, we try to be an environmentally responsible as possible with our business. Recently Roni came across a portion of an article in Real Simple magazine call How to Recycle Anything. We were fascinated with some of the suggestions, and wanted to pass on the complete list. We already were taking care of paper, plastic, bottles and cans, but added cds and a few other items to our list!