Things You Should Know Before Going To An Interview

Hello all!  I hope you've been enjoying my latest posts about how to step up your game professionally and just some overall tips and tricks to know about the corporate world. For this post, it will be no different because I'll be talking about essential info about interviewing as you go into the work world! Again, some of these are from interview prepping sessions and some are from the conference. 1. Know about the company.  Do your research. How long have they been in business, what they stand for, etc. This is vital to know because you want to work for a company that aligns with your goals and values. Also, if you're going to work hard for a company, you're going to want to do this anyway because you CARE about the company. As mentioned in the Corporate Confidential book, why should they hire/keep you if your not emotionally invested in the company and looking out for its interests as well? Most likely some of the information you need can be found on the company's website and on the internet. 2. How to answer typical interview questions. Now, you've probably heard this a million times, but it's true. Google YouTube for classic interview questions and mock answers. It's not only slightly entertaining, but will prepare you for a stellar interview. Know exactly how you're going to answer if they ask about a challenge you faced and what you did to resolve it. Know how to answer the "now tell me about yourself" question and so on and so forth. Need some help check out this simple YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2IDGXX5-YY Check out this infographic too! (from www.scoop.it)  3. What sets you apart from the competition. Why your qualifications are EXACTLY what they're looking for. As mentioned before in previous posts, know your strengths and weaknesses, what makes you different than any other candidate, and WHAT role you play when collaborating in a group. Are you a natural born leader? Boom. Strength. Are a team player...do you play well with others? Mention it. What are your weaknesses...could you be a better listener? Do you take on too much responsibility? (could turn it into a positive statement about having ambition, etc.) Talk about what skills you possess or what experiences you've had that have prepared you for the role you're applying for.   To get you started on what strengths you might have, check out this: http://freestrengthstest.workuno.com/free-strengths-test.html and the Briggs Myers Test here: http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jtypes2.asp 4. Questions you have for the interviewer. One of the most make-or-break moments here is whether or not you have questions to ask the interviewer. The correct answer here is TO ASK QUESTIONS. Not just any question either, make sure your questions are thoughtful, thought-provoking and show that you have in interest in the company and passion. There are thousands of wonderful questions to ask, and for each interview they could be different. To see some examples of what to ask, check here: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/173529391868001418/ Infographic from: www.scoop.it 5. Write a thank you note and follow up.  You should know that being polite and showing gratitude go a LONG way. At the conference I went to, one of the speakers was asked what was one of the most impressive actions a candidate had ever done? Their response...they had received a thank you note. Yes, it is rare. Yes, it will make a positive impression. Possibly one that will also get you a job.  Want to know a fool-proof way to write a professional thank you note? Check here: infographic from http://www.prepary.com/what-to-write-in-a-thank-you-note-after-an-interview/ Well I hope you all have learned some tips to conquer your next job interview!! I know these will definitely keep me on top of my game. What about you all? Are there any tips that you've learned that will impress future employers? I'd love to know in the comments below! Much love,  G

3 Business Must Reads Straight From The Professionals

Hello! Glad you're back!
 
As always, I'm trying to mix up my posts for you guys, so you never know what to expect! 
As you all know, I recently went to a marketing conference in ATL (SuperNova South) and some of the 
speakers mentioned some book recommendations to read, so I thought I'd jot them down for you all. 
Some of these recommendations are from speakers at the conference, professors at my school, and professional magazines. 

Enjoy! 

1. Strength Finders 2.0 by New York Times bestseller Tom Rath.

This specifically came out of one of the UGA professors at the SuperNova South conference. It's a psychology book that explores the Meyers-Briggs personality traits in depth and how it applies to your personal strengths and weaknesses. There's also a code to where you can take a test to see which strengths and weaknesses you have. Also, I think there's a free version of the test as well. As mentioned in my blog about pieces of advice I learned from SuperNova South, knowing your strengths and weaknesses and how they apply to the real world WILL set you apart in the workforce. 
To see reviews and see a synopsis read here: http://www.amazon.com/StrengthsFinder-2-0-Tom-Rath/dp/159562015X  

2. Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion

Again, this one came from my professor and from the UGA marketing book club. In one of the reviews, it said that this book isn't really one to be summarized, but I'm going to give you the gist of what it's about. In a nutshell, it explains why people say yes and what motivates people to make the decisions they make! Psychologically, what makes a person more incline to make one choice over another? How can you use persuasion to your advantage and avoid being persuaded yourself? It answers all these questions and more. To check it out, go here:
http://www.amazon.com/Influence-Psychology-Persuasion-Revised-Edition/dp/006124189X
 
3. Corporate Confidential: 50 Secrets Your Company Doesn't Want You to Know--and What to Do About Them
Once again, this was mentioned at the conference and wow. After reading the first chapter online on Amazon, I've decided it's an absolute MUST READ. It explores the reasons why people lose their jobs, it talks about everything from layoffs to sexual harassment claims. It even explains how and why hard workers can be laid off. It speaks truth about Corporate America and why companies fire people to save themselves.
To read an excerpt and see reviews, go here:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/corporate-confidential-cynthia-shapiro/1100626219#productInfoTabs

Okay, so there you have it! What are some of YOUR must reads??

10 Perks of College (So Enjoy it While it Lasts!)

Hello, glad you're here today!  As it's approaching December and a new batch of graduates are about to make their mark on the world, I've been reflecting on the best perks of college. Although college is an extremely hectic stage of life, there are benefits too.  You've taken the tests, sent your transcripts, bought new bedding for your new place and are ready to go! Make no mistake, there'll be lots of papers to write,  new tests to study for, and midterms to cram for in the next 4 or so years, but  that doesn't mean that college can't be fun! From personal experience, here are some  of the best parts.  1. Class times Wanna take a 12 o clock class? Do it. Want to have all your classes finished before 12? Do it. Want to have an hour break scheduled in so you can inhale some Chickfila before your next class? Do it. This may be one of the only times in life when YOU decide your schedule tailored to what you want your schedule to look like-granted, as you move up, the variety of class times shrink, but you still have some wiggle room. 2. Learning life skills.  Never did the laundry at home? (Hopefully you did...) Never cooked your own food? Well now is the time to learn! College is the perfect time to learn major life skills that you may have skimped out on in high school. Learn how to balance a checkbook, budget,  and manage money. Learn how to change a tire. 3. Being in charge of your own eating habits.  This is probably the first time in your life where you've picked out your own groceries. What a great way to start healthy buying habits now! 4. Going out when you want. Back to number 1, you can run errands in the middle of the day if you don't have class. Don't have class on Tuesdays and Thursdays? Do an impromptu Six Flags trip or a road trip. 5. Trying out new things. Are you eyeing that scuba fitness class or wanna learn Swahili? This is the time!  It'll probably count as an elective somewhere and you'll learn something not too many other people know. Want to go to Italy? Learn Italian. The possibilities are endless. 6. It's okay not to know what you're doing with your life. Don't know what to do with your life? Congrats, you've officially entered your twenties. Some people on campus have an idea of what they want to do of course, but even if they say they do, most of us don't exactly know what we're doing. Relish in that fact. Know that you're not alone in this and be grateful you get to experience this with others. You're surrounded with individuals who are all in the same boat. 7. Student events. Go to a big university? Go to a football game! Do they have a theater? Go to a cheap movie. See if your favorite stores offer a student discount. Use your student perks. Go to the school gym. Study in the grass just because you can. Go to lectures after school on campus. Again, the possibilities are endless. 8. Being around people your same age. Are all your older friends getting married and having babies? Well...since you're in college you can still enjoy the freedom that comes with being young. Stay out with friends. Sleep in til 12 on a Saturday because you don't have a toddler to take care of. Take impromptu road trips and go to music festivals. This is one of the most freeing times in your life, so take advantage of it! 9. The feeling of feeling like anything is possible/planning big dreams.  One of the best parts about college in my opinion is that you have a whole life ahead of you to dream about. Enjoy the moment, yes, but plot out your future. Are there places/cities you'd like to visit once you graduate? Where do you want to study abroad? What companies do you want to work for? Do you want your own business? What kind of business? Nothing's happened yet, so in the meantime dream. DREAM BIG. 10. Wearing whatever, whenever.  Wanna wear yoga pants or sweat pants to class? No judgement here. Soak it up now because I don't know of any careers that will let you do that... unless you're a yoga instructor.

That's my take on the best parts about college, now what do you all think?? What's been YOUR favorite part of college?!

Much love, 

G

10 Pieces of Advice I Learned From SuperNova South

Hello everyone! How are you today on this windy week of October? I hope you all have had time to embrace everything October has to offer like hayrides, pumpkin carving, and spending time in this beautiful weather with family and friends. I know I certainly have enjoyed the season so far and have had some interesting experiences thus far! One of them being a marketing conference in Atlanta called SuperNova South. SuperNova South is, like I said, a marketing conference where leaders in the industry come and give talks about what their experiences are in the business world and talk about specific topics pertaining to different aspects of the business. Since the conference was just this past week, I thought I'd make a list to remember all the important tidbits I learned from the experience. Now, as a disclaimer, I'd like to say that most of these are general life advice statements and what I learned from the experience personally, not only professionally.

1. Employers want to know what you are all about and what you can do.
One of the main takeaways I was surprised to learn was that employers not only want to see if you can do the job, but what EXACTLY you bring to the table. This may seem simple in theory and it is, but it goes beyond that. Of course it goes without saying that employers want to know if you can do the job, but they want to know more. They want to know if you have a willingness to learn. They want to know how you fit into the company culture and what you bring to the table. Essentially they're seeking to know if you have all the characteristics that fits their team's needs, not only if you can do the job. They want to know what SETS you apart from the other hundreds of applicants and WHY YOU ARE THE PERFECT person for the position. It's a good thing to keep in mind that what they're after is your skill set as a person, personally AND professionally, and not just looking at the perfect gpa or work experience. I don't know why, but this was a revolutionary concept for me that employers care more about the whole individual and well-roundedness of the individual rather than how perfect the person is on paper.

2. Employers want to see your personality. They don't want only GPAs and numbers.
I heard from multiple speakers that they wanted to get a sense of personality from the person they were interviewing. They want to know what makes you tick. They want to know what motivates you, what causes you to do your best work and what you enjoy. They want flair and someone who has a personality along with being a hard worker. This also brings me to my next point of...

3. Start a project to show off your skills.
Another piece of information I heard from many speakers was to have a project or craft to show potential employers. They want to see pieces of writing. They want portfolios of work that you've created. Good news is, I heard multiple speakers making the suggestion of having a blog..! Yay! Do you write periodically for a website? Show them! Have you improved a business's social media account? Take before and after pictures of how you improved their internet presence and show them!

4. Know your strengths and weaknesses.
Along the lines of point 1, interviewers want to know if YOU know your own strengths and weaknesses. Can you be honest and talk about what areas you need to improve in? Do you know specifically what you bring to the work environment? For example, who are you and what role do you play when it comes to group work? For example, I know I'm somewhat of a mix between a cheerleader and an analyzer. I'm encouraging and enthusiastic, but I also want to keep on track and get it done. A weakness is that I'm stubborn and can *sometimes* be closed to new ideas. On the flip side, my stubbornness is also what makes me great. If I want something bad enough, I'll work to get it and won't give up simply because I'm too stubborn to! To find out what your strengths and weaknesses are, read the book Strength Finders 2.0. It was suggested by a professor at the conference and he swore it was a must read!

5. Where you start is probably not where you're going to end up.
I don't think a single speaker at the conference originally set out to do digital marketing specifically. Maybe they had started a business that had involved some marketing, yes, but I don't think any one of them set out with the specific dream of being a digital marketer. Each one of them had a laundry list of different jobs they had had along the way and how it led to where they were now. Just be aware of this. Where you start your career is probably not where it's going to end up. Be flexible, be open. If you're a type A personality like me, it's important to hear this now so that later in life I won't be all bent out of shape because my entire career didn't go EXACTLY like I had planned. It's okay. Where you are now can lead to wonderful opportunities you never expected later!

6. You can get to where you want to go through MANY different avenues.
This was shown to be true by every speaker at the conference. There was at least 20 speakers there to give you an idea. All of the professionals worked in marketing, but how they got there came about 20 different ways. Some people never went to college while others had degrees in history, english, public relations, journalism, political science...you name it! Moral of the story is, you can get to where you want to go even if where you're at now is totally different.

7. Love what you do.
As cliche as it is, it's true. Waking up in the morning and being passionate about what you do is inspirational. It needs to be what drives you. Being passionate will serve you in your professional life and in personal fulfillment. It will show up in your work and is what creates the best pieces of work. Passion for learning more and showing passion in whatever you do will let you go far. Passion is contagious.

8. If you want to live in a big city do it now while you can.
Granted, not everyone had lived in NY or CA, but a few speakers mentioned that if those are places you'd like to go and get experience then do it while you're young! If you want to go to CA and learn employable skills at a small startup then do it now. This will allow you to get it out of your system now, so that when you want to settle down and have a family you can move to a bigger company wherever you'd like to because you've already learned some skills from the bigger cities.

9. Collaborate, collaborate, collaborate.
In other words, have the ability to work well in teams. The ability to work well with others was mentioned and emphasized a lot. I would almost go out on a limb and say that there's a good chance you won't hired if you flat-out have no teamwork skills. Playing well with others may be more important than you think. Most of the time it's so valued that employers will list it as a job requirement. Think about that.

10. Networking is important, but don't be afraid to reach out to people either.
Something refreshing I heard was that it's okay to reach out to future employers. This could mean everything from connecting with company heads on LinkedIn to calling their headquarters and asking to scout out certain positions. Following up is important as well. If you meet someone cold-turkey one day at an event (cough cough, for example, SuperNova South..) don't be afraid to follow them on social media and even ask them to meet up for coffee one day to ask them specific questions. As you already know, networking and having connections can ultimately end up with having a job.

Alright you all! These were some of my favorite lessons learned from the event and I hope you all learned some insight and enjoyed reading the takeaways. So were YOU at SuperNova South? What was YOUR favorite piece/s of advice?! I'd love to know in the comments below!

Much love,
G

Tips to Keep in Mind When Eating Healthier

Hello! I'm glad you all are back!  I hope you're staying warm and dry in this bout of nasty weather! Hopefully the pumpkin recipes helped keep you all warm. :) So you've made the decision to eat healthier...perfect! But as you all know, eating healthy can mean a million different things. For some people that means eating gluten-free, eating less saturated fats, etc. But, there are still some pitfalls that are hard to avoid if you're not careful. Remember, food companies (even healthy ones) are in the market for  making a profit. So how do you know what to buy and what not to? Well, here are  some tricks to keep in mind while shopping to make sure you're buying the absolute best. 1. Anything that comes straight from the ground (think veggies and fruits)... you need to buy organic. Now, as a college student, I understand that not everyone can afford to go full blown organic. I mean, food is expensive! But, for the extra few cents a pound, I'm willing to buy sweet potatoes without chemicals vs buying sweet potatoes doused with chemicals... that eventually will be ingested. What you put into your body affects you. Fruit and vegetables sprayed with pesticide and then shipped to a store are NOT healthy for you. If anything, it's worse to straight up eat pesticide residue on your food than presumably eat preservatives. It's important to note, that if you keep your eyes open, you can find non-organic and organic foods are around the same price depending on where you shop. For example, grapes at Ingles and Walmart are 1.99 a pound, but if you look at Kroger's organic section, you'll notice that their organic grapes are 1.99 as well. Which one are YOU going to purchase?  Now, since going all organic is incredibly expensive, here's a list of the top foods to buy organic and the fruits and veggies that are okay to buy non-organic. This chart is from the website 100 days of real food and the Environmental Working Group. You can also read about some of the dangers of pesticides here.  http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/10/01/food-babe-investigates-whole-foods/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:+100DaysOfRealFood+(100+Days+of+Real+Food) *Tip: Kroger does indeed have a wonderful organic section! I notice they tend to rival neighboring grocery stores on their regular pricing with their organic food pricing.  2. Whole grain is better than whole wheat. Think pita breads, tortilla wraps, pasta, etc. Whole grain and whole wheat are two terms that can easily be confused. But, the differences are important! Whole grains are better for you because they are less refined, have more nutrients, vitamins, and fiber. Even if you can't find something in whole grain, whole wheat is a better alternative than plain white refined carbs. Check out the infographic below to see the differences between whole grain and whole wheat! Photo credit: Pinterest 3. Switch out your chips!  As we all know, the precious potato chips that we all know and love are notorious for being fattening, but they're so delicious! What do you do when you want something crunchy to snack on guilt-free? Switch out those chips! The good news is there are lots of options! There's everything from $2 tortilla chips, to Sun Chips, to sweet potato chips from Trader Joe's. You can even make your own! There's tons of recipes on Pinterest and other websites where you can make whatever chip your heart desires. I've seen everything from zucchini chips to apple chips. Whatever your budget, and whatever your style, check the label and try to find a healthier alternative than regular ole' potato chips.  4. Of course, drink more water...but stay away from those dyes! Let's face it; we all know we're supposed to drink more water, but sometimes plain water is just plain boring. Sometimes I like to mix it up a bit and have flavored water...BUT, squirting some flavored dye into your water just made your water, well, unhealthy. Here's the why behind it. Basically, the strong artificial dyes and the flavoring has preservatives and toxins. Instead, here's some healthy alternatives: Emergen-C, Propel, La Croix bubbly water, coconut water, putting fresh lemon juice, lime juice, or mint in your water, or drink tea. For more detail, go to http://www.familygonehealthy.com/science/food-science-artificial-food-dyes/ Also, photo credit goes to link above. If you would like to read even MORE about the dangers of food dyes, feel free to read these... http://www.fastcodesign.com/3020148/infographic-just-how-dangerous-is-the-dye-in-your-food http://www.livestrong.com/slideshow/1007800-11-banned-food-ingredients-still-allowed-us/#slide-12 5. Check the sugar content on protein bars and yogurts. Believe it or not, the sweet flavors that your protein bars and yogurts come in, are well, loaded with sugar. Most protein bars that I've seen have an upwards of 15g to 20+g of sugar in ONE protein bar!! Unless you're planning not to eat anything with sugar for the rest of the day, then you're already exceeding the recommended daily amount of sugar intake. My favorite protein bars are from Nature Valley in the cereal aisle and have only 6g of sugar and 10g of protein. They're super delicious too! Also, the same goes for yogurts. Typically yogurts have about the same amount of sugar as well. To decrease sugar intake, simply look at the back of the label. Usually store brands or off brands have lower sugar amounts. Some of my favorites are the Ingles brand or the Activia Brand. According to CalorieCount.com, Dannon Activia light only has about 9 g of sugar in each cup of yogurt. http://www.caloriecount.com/calories-dannon-activia-light-strawberry-i134320  There it is! I hope you all enjoyed reading this post and realize that these truly are just the beginning. There are millions of ways to create a healthier life and diet, but these are a few of my favorite tips and tricks to share. I highly recommend looking around on Google and other sources about healthy eating, chemicals, and how they affect us. In the meantime, if there's something here you learned or if you all have any tips that YOU'd like to know I'd love to know!  Much love, G