Tri-Delts and Homework, A Review of Wild by Cheryl Stryed

In my senior year of college, I took an Honors course called Autobiography in America, run by a woman whose first order of business was to banish all Tri-Delts from class, due to their house's recent outbreak of the Swine Flu. I later learned that she was a (probably) lesbian Catholic who had come from Yale and was hesitant to take this job in Oklahoma because she wasn't confident she'd find anyone down here to date. I guess she must have found someone because on that first day of class she begged the nine of us sitting around the rectangular tables not to drop the class because she couldn't afford not to have this hour filled. She bribed us into staying by abolishing all papers and told us we could end the semester with a book report of our choice. I hadn't had any plans of dropping the course since it was one of the last I needed to graduate, but this lesson in negotiation by silence was priceless, and I thoroughly enjoyed getting out of what surely would have been torturous paper-writing for my hardest class thus far.

That's all in an effort to explain how this class happened to become my favorite and most memorable course in my college career. Without the dreaded papers looming over my head, I was free to read each book and present my opinions and thoughts without fearing for my GPA. Therefore, I read, week after week after week, the thirteen autobiographies that opened my eyes to a new genre of literature--or really, to a new way of getting to know a person. Reading the words that each author chose to share with me helped me decipher what from their life was most important to them versus what their Wikipedia article might say. If only all classes came without homework and Tri-Delts!

And so it's from this background that I present my review of this year's book-to-movie memoir: Wild by Cheryl Strayed:

I began this book on the flight home from my spring vacation. Despite my lack of sleep the night before, I was unable to nap. The flight attendants didn't force me to power down my electronic devices, so I pulled up my iPad and shuffled through the stack of books I'd downloaded for this trip. Sadly, I had breezed through a fun chick flick novel on the previous flights, so I was now left with the heartier novels to choose from.

I started reading Wild because it was about a twenty-six-year-old woman hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. Being twenty-six myself and identifying as a somewhat outdoorsy type, I thought maybe this woman and I were alike.

But after the first chapter I realized, no. We were not alike at all.

I hadn't cheated on my husband.
I hadn't slept with random strangers.
I hadn't spent long summer nights shooting heroin.
And I hadn't considered a three-month hiking trip after my mother didn't die.

But I did have two more hours of my flight, so I kept reading.

Cheryl, the protagonist, is young, married, and finishing up college when her mother dies of cancer. It is because she both loves and hates her mother that her sudden death breaks Cheryl's heart. She sets out on the trail four years later after divorcing her husband, meeting various other hikers, rattlesnakes, and a lot of physical pain.

I liked the book. In short, because the writing was good and the plot was obvious. I knew she wouldn't die in the end, I knew she'd reach some sort of peaceful mindset, and I knew she'd end up happily ever after. I like to know where my books are going.

What I did not like about the book was her. In a strange, hypocritical way, I was angry at her the whole time for not being as like me as I had initially hoped she'd be. I was also mad that she didn't break in her boots, her pack, or her gear. WHO DOES THAT? There is also a traumatic scene about a horse which left me weeping--yes weeping--in the kitchen while waiting for my dinner to cook. And I don't even really like horses. I hugged my dog for five straight minutes after that. I think he was mad at her, too. It was too hot in the house for hugging.

Her writing style is quite nice though. It's that contemplative, self-reflective, I-can-come-up-with-pretty-phrases-like,

"Fear, to a great extent, is born of a story we tell ourselves" 

and 

"Alone had always felt like an actual place to me, as if it weren't a state of being, but rather a room where I could retreat to be who I really was." 

But it was also funny--she calls out REI and Snapple and other brand names without worrying about the labels dating her text--and reacts to animals exactly how I would ("BEAR! BEAR! BEAR!"--it was a fox.). She also flutters from being slightly paranoid about serial killers to being "not afraid." I, too, am more worried about psycho killers than bears when I'm in the woods. 

So, I guess we kinda are alike.

She followed the hero's journey fairly well. Although without sidekicks she's left with fewer characters to develop. We come to understand that her new best friend becomes Monster, the overweight pack she carries, and we hear more about Monster than we do about any other human she comes into contact with. 

As a memoir, it serves it's purpose well. Though she includes flashbacks and memories and even a taste of the future, she sticks to one, significant time period to relive. She doesn't tell too much, doesn't drag out the physical injuries she suffers, men she meets, or food she eats. Yet I was acutely aware of those parts throughout each chapter, whether they were there or not. Just like the blisters on her feet, I knew that despite her mishaps and good luck, she was always thinking about the emotional baggage she'd come to shed.

Autobiographies and memoirs, though they are technically very different, both teach us about people from their own perspectives. What I learned from Cheryl was that Cheryl needed the vastness and isolation of the wilderness to reboot her life. And she knew that going into her journey. So often, we hear about the hero's life lessons being learned as a happy side effect of their journey. Not often does a heroine plow through a journey on purpose. Most of the time, if a character's goal is one thing, her result is another. I was both surprised and pleased that Cheryl accomplished what she'd hoped. Her insistence on finding peace didn't negate her ability to let the trail find it for her. I guess the trail is going to do it's job whether you ask it to or not. And Cheryl asked. And Cheryl received.

If you're looking for a thoughtful and well-written memoir, take a peek through Wild. If nothing else, you'll hear about an epic trail that you may just add to your bucket list. 

Movin' On Up! Adding Promotions To Your Resume

Congratulations! Great Work! Way to go! You did it!

Promotions are awesome. More money, more respect, and more time telling other people what to do.

But now you're bored, or you're moving, or you've reached the top, and it's time to find a new company to take over.

We all know resumes aren't supposed to be as long as a LOTR movie, so how do you include all those fancy promotions without drowning your resume in word goo?

Here are 3 solutions to show off your promotions:

1. Adding a bullet point to your current job description.
If you have been with the same company for a long time, and your promotions happened early on, you can add them as the final bullet point to your current job's description. This is a great option if you've held your promoted position for a long time (like, years-ish) and your entry positions aren't very relevant to your current search. Think a restaurant manager who's overseen her team for ten years, but started as a host and/or server for a year before being made manager. 
For example:
             A Really Good Restaurant
                    Restaurant Manager, 1999-present
                       -Manage team of 8 servers
                       -Report daily earnings through proper data entry
                       -Interact with guests to ensure proper guest satisfaction
                       -Previous positions included Server (Aug. '98 - Mar. '99) and Host (Jun. '98 - Aug '98)

2. Listing promotions at the top of your job description.
If your promoted job is fairly similar, or is a derivative of your entry job, list it under your current job's title. This is a great option for someone who's working his way up the food chain in an office. 
For example:
           Big Corporate Office
                   Executive Assistant, 2011-present
                        Past: Administrative Assistant (2008-2011)
                                 Receptionist (2007-2008)
                        -Coordinate executives' schedules and manage appointments
                        -Arrange travel including flights, hotel, and car services
                        -Great guests and maintain a comfortable waiting room
               
3. Including job descriptions for each new promotion
If you took on new responsibilities with each promotion, be sure to highlight those new responsibilities in your bullet points. This option works well for someone who is working her way up the food chain, but is also taking on new duties with each promotion. 
For example:
            The Sales Company
                     Account Manager, 2009-present
                        -Track all incoming orders for new and established customers
                        -Provide sales training for team of 10 sales associates
                        -Travel to visit retail customers and ensure satisfaction
                   Assistant Account Manager, 2007-2009
                       -Maintain inventory of customer database
                       -Make sales calls for pre-established customers
                       -Follow up with customers on sales
                  Sales Associate, 2004-2007
                       -Cold call local and national retailers to gain new customers
                       -Provide sales pitch during sales meetings
                       -Track potential customers using company wide database

And there you have it. Depending on your situation and the format of your resume, choose the option that works best for you. Highlight your skills in your job descriptions and make it clear that you were promoted because of your talents. Be sure to mention your promotions in your cover letter to explain thoroughly why you're such a catch. 

Now go get you that next big job. You've earned it!

What!? 5 Ways To Communicate Like A Pro.

Most of my friends are in their twenties and are enjoying the bliss of settling into careers. Steady paychecks, double monitors, and office parties have become the norm now, and as much as we love our professions, there's always SOMEONE who's able to ruin the day.

Most of the time, they do this through bad communication. Maybe they've forgotten to include you in a project email, or they've written an email to a client that gets your butts whipped.

Either way, being a great communicator is hard for a lot of people. Luckily, learning how to get better isn't that difficult, and many times, there's a simple formula to it! Here's a list of 5 ways to improve your communication and be the best coworker ever.

1. Don't abbreviate! 
When writing an email to a client, it's important that you use full words for everything. Even if the abbreviation is well-known (such as "EOD"--end of day), spell it out. You never know who will be reading the email and if they're up to speed. Do not make up new abbreviations without explaining them. I spent nearly 3 months on a project figuring out an abbreviation that someone had created. It wasn't until the very end that we finally figured out what it was.
        Ex: Chose the best answer:
              "Let's get started on the OST before Monday, so we don't get behind."
                A) OST = on-screen text
                B) OST = opportunity-scheduled transition
                C) OST = outbound sectional transportation
                D) OST = one sound transition  
Wrong. You're all wrong. The correct answer is E) Organ slicer technologies. Duh.

2. Always ask a question if you are confused. 
You could spend weeks BS-ing your way through a project, or you could suck it up and spend 5 minutes learning how to do it right the first time. Whether you're new on the job, or a seasoned employee, stop wasting everyone's time and speak up. If you don't know something, find the person who can help and get the information you need from them. Being humble enough to ask questions is a rare trait. Show that you're a diamond in the ruff by communicating your needs from the get-go!
            Ex: "Hey Cathy, can you show me that short cut you used in Excel to input this data? That will                      help me do this project efficiently."

3. Always ask a follow-up question.
See something fishy? Need clarification? Don't send back feedback highlighting the mistake or unclear section. Ask a question about what's going on so whoever you're working with understands why you're confused and can make the proper adjustment. Unless you ask a follow-up question, they will be left to play the guessing game, which can go round and round.
          Ex: "I'm not sure what you're trying to say here. You're saying "level", but do you mean you                     want us to raise the level, or lower it?"

4. Always provide follow-through actions.
This statement rings true no matter who you're communicating with. Whether it's your boss, a client, or your teammate, end an email or phone call with the actions you expect them to take. Not only does this remind them to do them, but it sets the stage for following up with them later. Don't give them a reason to say, "Oh, I didn't know you needed that from me." Avoid delays and frustrations by articulating what you expect of them.
           Ex: "For next week, we will plan to receive your numbers by end-of-day Wednesday. Thanks                        for working on those for us."

5. When working with a team, communicate your actions.
To piggy-back on number 4, be sure to communicate what actions you'll be taking. Your team, your boss, and your clients expects you to be working for them as well. Make sure you set their expectations from the beginning by articulating what you will be working on. That way, they have an opportunity to add or subtract actions from your list before you start. And, you can avoid delays or frustrations later.
           Ex: "Once we receive your numbers, we'll input them into our system so we can have a                                 projection for you by Friday. Until then, we'll work on the PowerPoint so it will be ready to                   use."

What other communication strategies do you guys use?
What areas of communication have you seen break down?
What is your favorite secret to effective communication?

Winter, I'm Feeling A Bit Chili

As the weather plummeted into freezing temperatures and the snow fell, I decided it was prime time to make chili! As you know, one of my New Year's resolutions is to make a new recipe every month. Last month I made homemade brown bread. This month, I made some delicious chili!

This recipe is from a friend of mine who's made this annually at his super bowl party. Having moved out of town this year, I didn't want to miss out on this amazing concoction, so I made it for myself (and several other people) this past weekend! I even remembered to take some pictures! Although, I forgot to take one of the final product. It disappeared too quickly!

Here's the recipe (written by my friend, not me, hence, it's funny!):

Smoke and/or Fire Modular Chili

Note: To move along the scale of spiciness, adjust the numbers in parentheses. Peppers are presented in ascending order of heat. Pro-tip: Favor the top of the scale for crisp and smokey, favor the bottom to descend through the levels of capsaicin Hell.

Makes: A lot of chili.

Foundation:

2 8oz cans tomato paste

1 16oz can diced tomatoes

32 oz water

8-12oz dark beer

1 can black beans (drained)

1 can red kidney beans (drained)

Meat:

~2 lbs. of diced beef. Lean stew meat is fine, but if you’re feeling fancy, get a grocery store brisket cut and dice it up yourself.

Peppers:

1 Green Bell Pepper(s), cut into small chunks (1-2)

1 Red Bell Pepper(s), cut into small chunks (0-1)

1 Pablano, cut into small chunks (0-2)

8 Jalapeños, cut into small chunks (0-8)

6 Serrano peppers, cut into small chunks (0-6)

2 Habanero, minced (0-2)

Fresh Stuff:

~3 leaves Basil, shredded

Cilantro, shredded to preference

1 white or yellow onion, diced

4-6 cloves garlic

Spices:

1-2 tbsp smoked paprika (add more if you use less hot peppers)

1-2 tbsp oregano

1/2-1 tbsp thyme

2 tbsp chili powder (pre-made or make your own if you’re feeling adventurous)

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tbsp cracked black pepper

1 tsp cracked salt

Process

It’s pretty straight forward, really. Dice up your onion and garlic. Take half of that and put it in a pan with some olive oil (just enough to cover the pan and get some on the onion/garlic). Sauté that for awhile, then add your beef and brown it.

While you’re doing this, put all the “foundation” and “spices” into your pot or crock pot and cut up your peppers and fresh stuff. My advice is to wear some cooking gloves when you cut up your hot peppers. You really don’t want habanero on your hands when you rub your eyes or go to the bathroom.

After everything is cut up (including the cilantro and basil), put everything but your meat into the pot and turn it on low until the meat is browned. Once the meat is ready, put everything from that pan into the pot as well. Stir and stir and stir until you’re convinced that everything is evenly distributed. It should smell pretty great, but it gets better. Turn the heat up to high until it starts to boil, then bring it back to just low enough to remain boiling. Let it sit for hours (I normally go at least 5 hours). If the water level gets too low, add in more beer, not water. Water will water it down, beer adds flavor. When you’re about ready to serve it, if it’s not as thick as you’d like, you can add in flour (1 tbsp at a time) until it’s the right thickness.

Put it in a bowl, optionally add sharp cheddar, fritos, or your choice of cracker. Don’t add in sour cream though. Well you can, but I may call you a heretic. Depending on how far down the Path of Heat you went, you may want to have some bread/milk/refreshing beer nearby. It can get really hot. 

As you can see, you'll want some decent prep time in the morning before letting the slow cooker work it's magic all day. We started by chopping up our onions and garlic:

Chop chop!

While he worked on the veggies, I took care of the meat:

No Cheez-its were harmed in the chopping of this meat.

Let me tell you about chopping this meat. We bought 3 lbs of stew meat on sale from the store. It was fairly chopped, but I like my chili bite-sized, and my bite is considerably smaller than most people's. About half way through the chopping, I severely regretted my desire to slice it all up, but by then I couldn't turn back, and I had to finish. This is when the small part of personality that tries to be Type-A is really annoying. 

After I chopped the meat and the veggies were sauteed, we threw them in the slow cooker with the spices:

If you're thinking the slow cooker looks a little small, you'd be right.

We finished cooking up all the meat while adding the tomatos et al. to the pot. We realized that the pot was going to be far too small and so we borrowed another one from a local place in town. Small town life has it's perks. 

With the meat finished, we added everything (except the hotter peppers!) together and stirred, stirred, stirred:

Nom Nom. (and, yes, many Oreos were harmed in the stirring of this chili).

I scooped out some of this and added it back to the smaller slow cooker. We kept the smaller batch mild with very little spice (because I don't have the spicy-enzyme) and then added our hot peppers to the large batch. By this point, the house was smelling wonderful.

We came back about 7 hours later and feasted!

Getting ready to chow down with all the fixin's!

February Chili: success!

Brown Bread, Brown Bread, When Can I Eat?

Number 3 on my New Year's resolution list is to try a new recipe every month, and thanks to your input, I now have several new recipes to try and lots of groceries to buy.

For the month of January, I made Brown Bread:

Sent to me by my bf's mom, Brown Bread is a traditional dark bread that originated in Ireland during the famine (according to Wikipedia). My bf's mom is a fantastic chef, so I was pretty intimidated to try out a recipe from her family. Luckily, she has a keen sense of mercy and sent me an easy one:

Aunt Floss's Brown Bread (passed down from her grandmother's sister, Flossie Egan)

1/2 C. dark brown sugar
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking soda
2 C. whole wheat flour*
1 C. white flour
1/2 C. molasses
2 C. buttermilk**
1 beaten egg
1 handful of raisins (optional)

In a large mixing bowl, mix dry ingredients. Add wet ingredients, adding the beaten egg last. Don't stir too much.

Bake 1 hour at 350 degrees. Marks a large loaf, or two small loaves.

That's right--molasses. If you don't know where to find it, it'll be in the baking aisle or possibly near the pancake syrup.

With my recipe open, I mixed all the ingredients in my new blue mixing bowl that Santa bought me for Christmas and then hid in her closet and didn't give me until a few weeks later.

This is when I remembered that I was supposed to be taking pictures of my cooking process.

Thanks, Santa!

By this time, Hudson had figured out the molasses smells pretty great, so he had come over to investigate. There may or may not have been a few dog hairs in the dough. Sorry'boutthaat.

Once the dough was mixed and poured into the loaf pans, I slid them into the oven to cook.

In which the ham hangs out with the bread.

 I finished cooking the rest of dinner while the bread was baking, and it started to smell GOOD in the house!

Served on my Michigan bamboo board since that where my bf's family lives!

I served the bread as a side to a ham dinner along with garlic green beans and honey-glazed carrots. It was a big hit! Alternatively, serve during breakfast slathered in some cream cheese, and you are good to go!

So there you have it! January's recipe is done!

What kinds of bread recipes have you made from scratch? What should I make next?

*Note to eaters: If you are gluten free (as I am), please proceed with caution with this bread. It's super delicious, but it is made with whole wheat flour, and even after three bites, I could feel it in my tummy :(

**You'll have extra buttermilk. I recommend making this to use it up. You'll thank me later.

C#3: Crushing the Interview Like You're the Boss

Hello again and welcome back to the third and final installment of my job prep blog series!

Now that you have polished your resume and written a fantastic cover letter, it's time to crush that interview. This is generally the most nerve-wracking part of the application process. No one understands the satisfaction of hiding behind words as much as a writer, so trust me when I tell you, I get it.

The interview is where the big money happens. You've got to look your best, smell your best, and speak your best. Heck, I put more effort into dressing up for an interview than I do for a date. The interview matters, and you've got all the tools you need to crush it!

So how do you get over your nerves and crush the interview all at the same time? Here are my 4 brilliant life hacks:
____________________________
1. Anticipate:

The best way to prepare for an interview is to follow the advice I mentioned in A#1 about your resume: Anticipate your boss's moves. Just like a waiter who fills your glass before you ask for a refill, fill in answers to the interview questions before they are asked. Put yourself in the boss's shoes and guesstimate what they'll be hoping to find in you. Google "Interview questions" and print out a set that covers the basics. Prepare answers to each of the questions.

Also, take some time to brainstorm field-related questions that aren't on that list. For one job, I thought about what book/reading questions I might be asked. Something as simple as "What is your favorite book and why?" stumped me. I found I really had to think about which book it was and why I loved it so much. Luckily, because I had anticipated this question ahead of time, I wasn't left stumbling around for an answer during the interview (which, as it turns out, included that very question!).

Take this idea a step further and anticipate the work environment at the new office. If you know you'll be working in a group, think about what questions you may be asked about your group work ethic. Consider, even, anticipating the time of day of your interview. Will your interviewer be returning from lunch? Or will it be the end of a long day? How might his/her environment affect your interview and what can you do to swing it in your favor?

Walk through the entire interview from beginning to end in your head. From getting out of your car to getting back in it. Consider sitting in the waiting room, the initial handshake, how you'll be sitting in the interview room, what questions you'll be asked, and how you'll say good bye. Think about the variety of options for each of those times in the interview and anticipate what may happen.
____________________________
2. Prepare:

Now that you have a list of questions in your head to practice, it's time to think about what you need to ask them. There are some obvious ones like, "What does this job look like on a day to day basis?" and "What are the next steps in the interview process?" but let yourself branch out and ask something that will tell you more about whether or not you'll like the job or be good at it. Here are some great questions to ask:

• "Who will be my direct supervisor and what is his/her leadership style?"
• "What vision does this company have for expanding in the next five or so years, and what role does this position play in supporting that vision?"
• "What qualities should this position's employee possess to be successful?"

Once you've got your list of questions (I recommend having about five), type them up with some professional page headers and print them. Stick them in a portfolio (or have them on your tablet) and take notes as your interviewers answer them. This will not only make you sound intelligent, but you'll look prepared. This is a great way to show the interviewers that you are responsible enough to be working with them and creative enough to bring something useful to their company.
____________________________
3. Practice:

Before you panic about all the elements of the interview that you're now thinking about, I've included this handy #3 to help you stay calm. I've know you've heard it before, so let's dig into it briefly and talk about how to practice for an interview.

First, tackle those questions. Stand in front of a mirror and answer each question (I know, I know, it's super awkward to do this, but I PROMISE it helps by helping you get over yourself and fizzle out those creepy awkward feelings on your own rather than with an audience). In round one let yourself talk and talk for each answer. Get out everything you could possibly say. In round two ask yourself the same question, but shorten your answer to the most pertinent information. Self-edit yourself. Also, provide real anecdotes that illustrate your answers. Don't say things like "I'm good at working in groups because I'm organized." Instead, pick a group project that you've worked on and explain what made you successful in that group.

Example: "I'm good at working in groups because I'm organized. For example, my capstone project was a group project. My group needed to create a cookie that was marketable and delicious. My role was to be the taste tester, so twice a week I drove to bakeries and sampled cookies. I then distributed my findings to the group during class so we could choose three cookies to present. I was always on time with my sampling, and I created a color-coded chart with my findings each week." 

This anecdote is short, informative, substantial, and useful. By practicing your answers to as many questions as you can anticipate, you'll avoid awkward silences. And, if a question comes up that you hadn't anticipated, you'll have an arsenal of answers you can work in.

Next, tackle your image. Prepare an outfit that is professional and non-distracting. Avoid jewelry that will catch on a chair or get stuck on your blouse. Don't wear a tie with a weird pattern. Make sure your shoes are comfortable and easy to walk in (especially because they might take you on a tour of the office). Practice your handshake. Practice having relaxed, yet attentive body language when you stand, sit, and walk. Practice taking notes in a portfolio or your tablet. Think through the entire interview like you did in #1 and practice any part of it that makes you squirm.

Continue to practice these techniques until you feel at ease with them. I've found that I can easily practice answering questions while driving (no one's around to hear you talk to yourself and people will think you're just singing along to the radio). Or, call a friend and have them listen to your answers. They'll be able to give some feedback that you won't get from your mirror.

Interviews, for most of us, are outside our comfort zones, so the more we practice them, the more comfortable we'll be. As we expand our comfort zone, we'll find that interviewing becomes more regular and less stress-inducing.
____________________________
4. Wait:

That's right.

Wait in your car.
Wait in the lobby.
Wait in the office.
Wait before you answer.

There is never an excuse for being late to an interview (unless a true emergency). Remember when we talked about anticipating the interview? This is your time to shine. If you're going to be arriving around rush hour, be sure to give yourself extra time to be stuck in traffic. Check the traffic conditions on your phone before heading out (heck, check the traffic conditions for several days before the interview to get an idea of what the average travel time should be). Have a backup plan in case there's a wreck or road construction. Leave 15 minutes sooner than you plan to. Park away from the front door of the office. Wait in your car until about 10 minutes before the interview start time. Straighten your outfit before walking into the building.

And most importantly, wait before answering any questions. Give yourself an extra second to take a deep breath and choose an answer in your head before speaking. Take a sip of water if you want (I recommend bringing a water bottle if you can, which makes you look even more prepared. Guys, I know this is harder without a purse to help ya out, so just don't knock over an open cup if they offer it to you.).This will keep you focused and help you sound prepared and professional. Remember, an interview is your time to shine so you want to do whatever you can to stay calm, cool, and collected. At the end of the interview, walk slowly out to your car and drive away calmly. Don't let your guard down until you are out of eyesight of the building.

Then, go bananas 'cause you just CRUSHED that interview!!

BRILLIANT HINT: I started this blog series with a Brilliant Hint, and so I'll end with one too. Sometimes, even with all this preparation, interviews are still nerve-wracking. As someone who has given many presentations, gone to many interviews, and even auditioned for many musical groups, I understand what it's like to be nervous. But I've found the Holy Grail of overcoming it. And that Holy Grail was found in my tenth grade World History class:

That day, we were supposed to be giving presentations on something. I had mine ready (because I had #2. Prepared) and as my turn drew nearer, was starting to feel nervous about speaking in front of all the cool kids in class. As I looked around to see their faces of judgement on the poor soul who was currently presenting, I saw something entirely different. The two girls in the back row were whispering to each other. The kid behind me was doodling in his notebook. The kid next to me was doing homework for another class. As I looked around, I realized not one damn kid was paying any attention to the presentation.  And they weren't going to pay any attention to mine, either. I realized I was nervous because I was afraid of their judgement, not because I thought I'd fail. I knew I had the right information for the assignment. I just didn't want to be seen as a dork. Once I realized that the only person paying attention was the teacher, who would give me an A, (because once again I had #2. Prepared), I calmed down immediately. I have since never gotten nervous for another presentation, public speaking occurrence, interview, or audition.

So how does this help you? Realize that you've done the assignment well! You have the qualifications for the job (either because you really do have them, or because you have the enthusiasm to learn the skills. And if you don't then why are you there?). You've prepared answers to all the questions. You look good, and you showed up on time. The only person paying any attention to you is hoping you'll succeed. Interviewers want to find a new employee, and they hope it'll be you! No one is hoping you fail. So as you sit down in the chair with the interviewer across from you, just remember: you did your homework, you came prepared, your interviewer wants you to succeed, and no one else is paying any attention. So take a deep breath and show 'em what you've got!

Miss out on Part 1 or Part two of this blog series? Follow these links to brush up your skills!
A#1: The Resume
B#2: The Cover Letter

Did you know? I offer resume and cover letter editing as well as interview coaching. I've helped lots of people prepare for their interviews, and I'd love to help you, too! Check out www.LMEditing.com for more information.

B#2. A Cover Letter this Delicious? It Can't Be True!

Welcome to part two of my job prep blog series!

So you have a beautiful resume in front of you that lists all your skills and accomplishments. Great job! Now it's time to tell your new bosses why you're so awesome, because let's face it, they probably aren't going to dissect your resume like we did when we worked on it.

Like we've discussed, landing your new job has three steps:

A#1: The Resume
B#2: The Cover Letter
C#3: The Interview

So let's talk about that cover letter. Google will advise you to write three boring paragraphs that emphasize your skills, accomplishments, and enthusiasm. And while those are all good elements of a cover letter, they aren't the whole enchilada.

Cover letters are your chance to express your professionalism and personality in writing. Employers expect you to tell them why they should hire you. This is your chance to brag.

Set yourself up with a nice header including your address, the address of the company, and a "Dear So-and-So." If you know the name of the person receiving the letter, use it. If not, try to find the name of anyone in the company who sounds like they're involved.

Cover letters should begin by briefly introducing yourself and the job you want:
   
     In response to your advertisement for a new judge on America's Got Cookies, I express my sincere interest in the role of "judge." As an cookie enthusiast for forty-five years, I have extensive cookie baking, eating, and enjoying experience."

Choose a tone that matches their company. Read their website content, Tweets, and Facebook updates to see if they are super serious, casual, or obnoxiously excited. Match that tone in your cover letter from the very beginning. You want to show them you'll fit in just great, thankyouverymuch.
__________________________________

Next, it's time to reflect on your skills and why they make you not only eligible for the position, but superior to all other candidates:

     After years of eating cookies, I have devised many social experiments to calculate just how significant the cookie is as a part of American culture. Between testing friends' recipes to measuring the re-pin rate of yummy-looking cookies, I have discovered that the visual impact of a cookie can severely alter one's impression of the cookie's taste. This has led me to understand not only the importance of cookie decorating, but also the importance of separating decor from taste via the "blind taste."

In this, the second paragraph of your cover letter, you need to expand on your experience with the job's field. Acknowledge your experience, as it is listed in your resume. Be sure to explain what made you successful in that job and what you've gained from the job. Note how you've interpreted these lessons to be helpful for your future.
___________________________________

Finally, blow them away with your final paragraph. This is the time to offer specifics as to how you will be the best employee they've ever had--either because of your acquired skills or your readiness to learn:

     My ability to judge a cookie not only for it's decor but also for it's taste summarizes my skill in judging cookies. I can offer feedback in an entertaining way, as seen in my Youtube videos. Due to my extensive knowledge in the anatomy of a cookie along with my ability to provide fun, dramatic, and emotional feedback to bakers, I hope to participate in America's Got Cookies as the next favorite judge!

Be sensitive in this paragraph. The trick is to highlight your strengths without becoming bossy. You don't want to tell the reader what he's looking for in a candidate (since that's already been noted in the job posting). Instead, refer to those qualities in the job posting as qualities you possess and tell the reader why their company will benefit from your ability to use them.
____________________________________

Then, wrap it up with a follow-up action and a signature,
   
     I look forward to discussing this position with you soon. Please let me know if you have any questions or desire more information from me at this time.
                                                                                         Respectfully,
                                                                                                    Cookie Monster


REMEMBER: Put yourself in the employers' shoes. Mimic their tone and match their level of professionalism. (Don't be afraid to be more creative if you're applying to a creative field.) And lastly, send me your cover letter at LizMcLaneEditing@gmail.com for an edit and proof read!

Stick around for C#3: The Interview, coming at ya next week.

**These are not Cookie Monster's real words. PBS, please don't sue me.
***If anyone creates a show using the name America's Got Cookies or similar, or creates a show with the same or similar premise, please please please let me be a judge. And pay me lots of money for using my idea. Kthnxbye.