Professor Rogers conducted a Mock Interview with me regarding an internship position for The Fund for Peace on Wednesday October 10, 2007. I found the interview very helpful and informative because I had previously never interviewed for an internship.
The interview provided a wonderful opportunity to practice answering both questions about my previous experience and personal characteristics but also about job specific questions. Through the interview I learned the importance of research about the organization to which I am applying. I also learned that I need to be able to fully articulate my interest not only in the organization but also in its specific projects.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Chattanooga, TN
I'm originally from Signal Mountain, TN, which is essentially a suburb of Chattanooga. A lot of people travel through Chattanooga on their way to other destinations, but I encourage everyone to stop and stay for a few days. Here are some of my favorite places to go and eat:
Tennessee Aquarium - a two building complex featuring both freshwater and saltwater exhibits. Some of my favorite exhibits feature Jellyfish, the Butterfly Garden, Seahorses, Sting Rays (which you can pet), and River Otters. The aquarium is really well done and can be enjoyed by both adults and kids (as well as adults who think they're kids). There are also several fountains and water features outside the aquarium which are a lot of fun, especially on a hot summer day.
Creative Discovery Museum - A children's museum which features several exhibits including a dinosaur dig, an art area, musical exploration, and waterworks. Definitely a must see for visitors with children.
Coolidge Park and the North Shore - Coolidge Park features a carousel composed of figures carved by various people and organizations in Chattanooga (so you end up with some really unique options, including frogs, fish, and cats). The park also has a bunch of great walking paths next to the river, a rock climbing wall, a pavilion, and a huge fountain (my favorite part) surrounded by different animals which shoot water.
The North Shore, located next to Coolidge Park, features several great restaurants and unique shopping, along with sidewalks featuring the steps to various dances. The North Shore and Coolidge have access to Walnut Street Bridge, a pedestrian bridge, across the Tennessee River from which downtown Chattanooga can be accessed.
The Hunter Art Museum and the Bluff View Art District - the other side of Walnut Street Bridge connects to an area from which several other attractions can be accessed. If one head downhill, you can get to the Tennessee Aquarium; travel uphill reaches the Hunter Art Museum and Bluff View Art District. The art district features two restaurants, a great coffeehouse/chocolate/pastry shop, an art gallery, an inn, and a sculpture garden.
All of the above attractions are located in the city of Chattanooga, but the surrounding area also has a large variety of attractions. Lookout Mountain features Rock City, the Incline Railway, and Ruby Falls (if you're limited on time, I suggest hitting Rock City, especially at Christmas time) as well as a civil war battlefield. Signal Mountain has some great hiking, including part of the Cumberland Trail. My favorite hike is one to Rainbow Lake (it's a pretty easy hike and is great for swimming and a picnic). I also love to go to the Bread Basket, a great Bakery, and the Apple Orchard, which sells apples and amazing cider from September to Christmas. My parents have specific instructions to bring me cider whenever they visit Clemson in the fall.
Chattanooga has many great restaurants as well. My favorites include:
Sweet Basil - a great Thai restaurant with wonderful food and amazing people
Terra Nostra - a Spanish tapas and wine bar, featuring gourmet small plates of food
Big River Grille and Brewing Works - casual atmosphere and good food
Hiroshi's - my favorite sushi restaurant in town
Pisa Pizza - make your own pizza, you select the ingredients, sauce, and crust
Mud Pie - very eclectic, a fun place to go with a group of friends
Tony's Pasta Shop and Trattoria - located in the Bluff View Art District amazing Italian food, featuring pasta and bread made in the district
River Street Deli - great and unique sandwiches
Tennessee Aquarium - a two building complex featuring both freshwater and saltwater exhibits. Some of my favorite exhibits feature Jellyfish, the Butterfly Garden, Seahorses, Sting Rays (which you can pet), and River Otters. The aquarium is really well done and can be enjoyed by both adults and kids (as well as adults who think they're kids). There are also several fountains and water features outside the aquarium which are a lot of fun, especially on a hot summer day.
Creative Discovery Museum - A children's museum which features several exhibits including a dinosaur dig, an art area, musical exploration, and waterworks. Definitely a must see for visitors with children.
Coolidge Park and the North Shore - Coolidge Park features a carousel composed of figures carved by various people and organizations in Chattanooga (so you end up with some really unique options, including frogs, fish, and cats). The park also has a bunch of great walking paths next to the river, a rock climbing wall, a pavilion, and a huge fountain (my favorite part) surrounded by different animals which shoot water.
The North Shore, located next to Coolidge Park, features several great restaurants and unique shopping, along with sidewalks featuring the steps to various dances. The North Shore and Coolidge have access to Walnut Street Bridge, a pedestrian bridge, across the Tennessee River from which downtown Chattanooga can be accessed.
The Hunter Art Museum and the Bluff View Art District - the other side of Walnut Street Bridge connects to an area from which several other attractions can be accessed. If one head downhill, you can get to the Tennessee Aquarium; travel uphill reaches the Hunter Art Museum and Bluff View Art District. The art district features two restaurants, a great coffeehouse/chocolate/pastry shop, an art gallery, an inn, and a sculpture garden.
All of the above attractions are located in the city of Chattanooga, but the surrounding area also has a large variety of attractions. Lookout Mountain features Rock City, the Incline Railway, and Ruby Falls (if you're limited on time, I suggest hitting Rock City, especially at Christmas time) as well as a civil war battlefield. Signal Mountain has some great hiking, including part of the Cumberland Trail. My favorite hike is one to Rainbow Lake (it's a pretty easy hike and is great for swimming and a picnic). I also love to go to the Bread Basket, a great Bakery, and the Apple Orchard, which sells apples and amazing cider from September to Christmas. My parents have specific instructions to bring me cider whenever they visit Clemson in the fall.
Chattanooga has many great restaurants as well. My favorites include:
Sweet Basil - a great Thai restaurant with wonderful food and amazing people
Terra Nostra - a Spanish tapas and wine bar, featuring gourmet small plates of food
Big River Grille and Brewing Works - casual atmosphere and good food
Hiroshi's - my favorite sushi restaurant in town
Pisa Pizza - make your own pizza, you select the ingredients, sauce, and crust
Mud Pie - very eclectic, a fun place to go with a group of friends
Tony's Pasta Shop and Trattoria - located in the Bluff View Art District amazing Italian food, featuring pasta and bread made in the district
River Street Deli - great and unique sandwiches
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Resume Article Lessons
A lot of the featured articles offered general advice on resume writing. However, "Video Resumes are Taking Off" and "Finding the Right Keywords to Get Your Resume Noticed" were both especially useful articles.
I had never thought about submitting a video resume before, but the article made several useful suggestions about using this form of resume to get an interview. Some of the jobs I plan to apply for are particularly competitive and being able to demonstrate a creative presentation of my skills might give me an advantage.
I also found the article about keywords very useful. Many articles and advice on writing resumes instruct the reader to use good keywords without actually explaining what these are. The advice I found most useful was to use keywords found in the job description or in the materials of other companies within the field.
I had never thought about submitting a video resume before, but the article made several useful suggestions about using this form of resume to get an interview. Some of the jobs I plan to apply for are particularly competitive and being able to demonstrate a creative presentation of my skills might give me an advantage.
I also found the article about keywords very useful. Many articles and advice on writing resumes instruct the reader to use good keywords without actually explaining what these are. The advice I found most useful was to use keywords found in the job description or in the materials of other companies within the field.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Interview Article Lessons
For this week I read several of the articles from CareerJournal. Some of the articles which I found most interesting included "Four Tips for Acing Interviews by Phone," "Body-Language Tactics that Sway Interviewers," and "How to Blow a Job Interview."
One of the suggestions I found interesting was having notes and information available while doing a phone interview. I had not previously considered this option, although it could be very helpful, especially regarding questions about the company. Another of the articles noted the importance of pre-interview behavior. While I realize that arriving early for an interview is always a good idea, I had not considered the importance of appearing calm and collected while waiting for the actual interview to begin. This article also advised the readers on appropriate behavior if the interviewer takes a phone call during the interview. I had not previously considered this scenario or the importance of the interviewee's reaction. The suggestion of appearing confident in the job interview was also presented in one of the articles. I found this suggestion particularly significant because job interviews make me extremely nervous, and the article helped me realize how important it is to conceal this.
An article for which I don't remember the name also suggested bringing a cardigan or sweater to the interview to prevent the tendency of crossing my arms because of cold. I thought this was a great suggestion, which I would not have though of on my own.
One of the suggestions I found interesting was having notes and information available while doing a phone interview. I had not previously considered this option, although it could be very helpful, especially regarding questions about the company. Another of the articles noted the importance of pre-interview behavior. While I realize that arriving early for an interview is always a good idea, I had not considered the importance of appearing calm and collected while waiting for the actual interview to begin. This article also advised the readers on appropriate behavior if the interviewer takes a phone call during the interview. I had not previously considered this scenario or the importance of the interviewee's reaction. The suggestion of appearing confident in the job interview was also presented in one of the articles. I found this suggestion particularly significant because job interviews make me extremely nervous, and the article helped me realize how important it is to conceal this.
An article for which I don't remember the name also suggested bringing a cardigan or sweater to the interview to prevent the tendency of crossing my arms because of cold. I thought this was a great suggestion, which I would not have though of on my own.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
In ten years?
As a political science major I often get asked the question "So, do you want to be a lawyer?" The answer is that no, I have no plans for law school. After my internship in a court last summer, I have determined that while the legal field is very interesting it is not, however, the path for me. My trip to Serbia, however, fully convinced me that I want to pursue a career related to international relations.
Ten years from now I hope to be either working within the government, for a NGO with an international focus, or possibly doing consulting work for an international organization. Ideally, my job would be based in Washington, D.C. or London and would involve a considerable amount of international travel. I'm also considering a career in the Foreign Service; in which case I would be living in a foreign country.
My goals for ten years also include gaining proficiency in at least one foreign language and making it through the list of "must-read" novels I've already compiled (it's a very long list , so this is a pretty unrealistic goal). I'd also like to have a couple articles published in a journal of political science. I'm a firm believer that life isn't about an end goal but is instead about the journey. Usually the best experiences of my life are ones for which I didn't plan, so ten years from now I can't really even predict what I'll be doing, but I'm sure it will be something I love.
Ten years from now I hope to be either working within the government, for a NGO with an international focus, or possibly doing consulting work for an international organization. Ideally, my job would be based in Washington, D.C. or London and would involve a considerable amount of international travel. I'm also considering a career in the Foreign Service; in which case I would be living in a foreign country.
My goals for ten years also include gaining proficiency in at least one foreign language and making it through the list of "must-read" novels I've already compiled (it's a very long list , so this is a pretty unrealistic goal). I'd also like to have a couple articles published in a journal of political science. I'm a firm believer that life isn't about an end goal but is instead about the journey. Usually the best experiences of my life are ones for which I didn't plan, so ten years from now I can't really even predict what I'll be doing, but I'm sure it will be something I love.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
On Web 2.0
The title of web 2.0 creates a metaphor for the current state of the web. This metaphor implies that, like new editions of software such as AOL 4.0, the web has undergone a transition which altered the web to make its current form similar to a new edition. This new "edition" of the web allows the majority not only to access the web but also to change the web.
The new form of the web allows nonspecialists in the field of computers to post content on the web. On the other hand, individuals' content is also viewable by more people. This visibility now has to be noted by job searchers. Potential employers can either be highly impressed with your characteristics and presentation on the web or can be disappointed by unprofessional facts they find on the web. The web is now a great way for job searchers to contact potential employers, but the potential employees must also be more conscientious about how they present themselves online in both business and personal web interaction and postings.
People currently in the workforce can use this new web a variety of ways. Perspective employers can screen employees. Companies can attract and facilitate business with their own websites or advertising.
One of the video's messages is that we will have to rethink everything. This message is refering to a fundamental change in the basic way we can communicate. The web allows a whole new level of transfer for personal and professional information in a huge variety of formats. Through the change we have gained a whole new potential style of communication. This new communication has the potential to dramatically affect our personal lives, businesses, government, crime, and almost every other level of society and life. In theory, the web now opens up the options of creating totally different formats for human activity. In our personal lives we can communacate more quickly and from almost anywhere on the globe. This communication has also already taken a very different form, both literally and figuratively, than tradational forms of communication. News can be accessed from a wider variety of perspectives and is more current. Emails serve as less formal forms of communications than letters and allow the transfer of documents and information much more efficiently. Personal information can also be displayed more easily. The web allows anyone to share their opinons and life with strangers. With the web also comes a whole new form of crime which requires different methods of investigation and prosecuting. Courts themselves have changed. The federal court in which I worked this summer is now paperless. All legal documents such as orders and motions are posted online. The new system ensured a more organized, efficient, and reliable transfer of information about cases. Overall, the web has already had a huge influence on our lives, and the new potential for input to the web from the majority of the population has the potential for even further transformation of our lives.
The new form of the web allows nonspecialists in the field of computers to post content on the web. On the other hand, individuals' content is also viewable by more people. This visibility now has to be noted by job searchers. Potential employers can either be highly impressed with your characteristics and presentation on the web or can be disappointed by unprofessional facts they find on the web. The web is now a great way for job searchers to contact potential employers, but the potential employees must also be more conscientious about how they present themselves online in both business and personal web interaction and postings.
People currently in the workforce can use this new web a variety of ways. Perspective employers can screen employees. Companies can attract and facilitate business with their own websites or advertising.
One of the video's messages is that we will have to rethink everything. This message is refering to a fundamental change in the basic way we can communicate. The web allows a whole new level of transfer for personal and professional information in a huge variety of formats. Through the change we have gained a whole new potential style of communication. This new communication has the potential to dramatically affect our personal lives, businesses, government, crime, and almost every other level of society and life. In theory, the web now opens up the options of creating totally different formats for human activity. In our personal lives we can communacate more quickly and from almost anywhere on the globe. This communication has also already taken a very different form, both literally and figuratively, than tradational forms of communication. News can be accessed from a wider variety of perspectives and is more current. Emails serve as less formal forms of communications than letters and allow the transfer of documents and information much more efficiently. Personal information can also be displayed more easily. The web allows anyone to share their opinons and life with strangers. With the web also comes a whole new form of crime which requires different methods of investigation and prosecuting. Courts themselves have changed. The federal court in which I worked this summer is now paperless. All legal documents such as orders and motions are posted online. The new system ensured a more organized, efficient, and reliable transfer of information about cases. Overall, the web has already had a huge influence on our lives, and the new potential for input to the web from the majority of the population has the potential for even further transformation of our lives.
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