Interviews...
I generally do not enjoy the interview process. In all honestly, I don't actually have very many interviews under my belt; only about 3 or 4. But I already know that I hate questions like "Give me an example of a time when..." because I have a terribly hard time remembering things like that. I don't know why. It isn't that I don't have any experiences that fit the criteria, I'm sure I have plenty, but I simply can't think of them! My favorite interviews are the ones where the employer has pretty much already decided that they are going to hire you... that is my kind of interview. Since most interviews are not like that, here is what I learned from a few of the articles I read...
(Articles from careerjournal.com)
I looked at one article which was about body language. Body language is something I am somewhat aware of because I am a psychology major and we have discussed it (briefly) in a class or two. For example, if I am standing with my arms crossed I usually remember at some point that this makes me appear "closed off," unfriendly, or disinterested. Like the article points out, my arms are most often crossed because I am cold, not because I don't want to be where I am or in a certain conversation. One aspect of body language that is hard for me is crossing one leg over the other knee. I am extremely used to sitting like this, and am generally most comfortable in this position. However, apparently it is much better to sit with flat feet or crossed ankles for some reason. But when I sit like that I am very uncomfortable! Also, I think sitting with your legs crossed like that is somewhat lady-like and, since I am a lady, acceptable; but I could be wrong.
Another article I read was about interview questions. Seeing as how I have issues (mentioned above) with answering certain kinds of popular interview questions, I thought this article might be interesting. It actually made me want to avoid interviews as much as possible. It mentions one person, an example of a good interviewee, who said he always has about seven good stories to use in an interview to point out his qualifications. First, I am generally a bad story teller and second I just don't like to go on and on about myself like that. I am usually really good at remembering details, being concerned about details, and taking care of details; yet somehow when I tell a story I forget key details! So I do not want to be telling lots of stories in an interview. It gives the wrong impression of me! So that article did not help me very much...
The third article I looked at was about avoiding blunders during an interview. This article listed the most common mistakes that are made. The only one I think I would tend to have a problem with would be a lack of knowledge about the company. Knowing that this is not my strong point will help me to make sure I do my homework before going into an interview.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Friday, September 14, 2007
Ten years down the road...
What do I imagine my life being like ten years from now? That is not an easy question to answer. I feel as if anything could happen. But, here is what I see at this moment:
A few moments ago I started the process of applying to grad school. My husband and I would both like to begin grad school at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri in the fall of 2008. I would like to pursue a Masters of Arts in Counseling, and my husband would like a Masters of Divinity with which he would become a pastor. I am very excited at the prospect of attending this school, although we are not 100% sure that this is where we will end up. So, assuming that we do go to Covenant next fall, we will likely be there for about 4 years. My degree will only take 2 years if all goes as planned. This means that I could begin doing what I really want to do in about two and half years; and that is exciting!
This brings us to what I really want to do. There are actually two things to which I feel drawn. The first is to be a counselor at a church, specifically for women. At most churches, the pastor is trained in counseling; but the vast majority of pastors are men. Also, there is not a big supply of female counselors working in the church environment. This means that there may be times when women feel they have no one within their church (who is a trained counselor) with whom they can seek advice about certain issues. It is this void that I would love to be a part of filling. The other area that I feel drawn to would be working for some kind of nonprofit organization, particulary a crisis pregnancy center. I have always felt passionately about abortion and long for women to know that aborting their baby is not their only option, and that they are not alone. I feel that the education I would receive at Covenant Seminary would help prepare me for both of these work environments.
So to summarize, ten years from now I hope to have my masters degree and be working in a church or a crisis pregnancy center. However, that is not the only thing I hope to be doing. If my husband is the pastor of a church, I hope to be serving along side him at that church. Also, I would love to have started a family at this point. If we do have children, then I would like to only be working part-time so I could stay home with them when they are not in school.
Ten years from now I hope that I am more mature, more in love with my Savior, still very in love with my husband, and learning more and more what it is to serve others. I hope that I am still close to my family. And I hope that I have a cat :O)
What do I imagine my life being like ten years from now? That is not an easy question to answer. I feel as if anything could happen. But, here is what I see at this moment:
A few moments ago I started the process of applying to grad school. My husband and I would both like to begin grad school at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri in the fall of 2008. I would like to pursue a Masters of Arts in Counseling, and my husband would like a Masters of Divinity with which he would become a pastor. I am very excited at the prospect of attending this school, although we are not 100% sure that this is where we will end up. So, assuming that we do go to Covenant next fall, we will likely be there for about 4 years. My degree will only take 2 years if all goes as planned. This means that I could begin doing what I really want to do in about two and half years; and that is exciting!
This brings us to what I really want to do. There are actually two things to which I feel drawn. The first is to be a counselor at a church, specifically for women. At most churches, the pastor is trained in counseling; but the vast majority of pastors are men. Also, there is not a big supply of female counselors working in the church environment. This means that there may be times when women feel they have no one within their church (who is a trained counselor) with whom they can seek advice about certain issues. It is this void that I would love to be a part of filling. The other area that I feel drawn to would be working for some kind of nonprofit organization, particulary a crisis pregnancy center. I have always felt passionately about abortion and long for women to know that aborting their baby is not their only option, and that they are not alone. I feel that the education I would receive at Covenant Seminary would help prepare me for both of these work environments.
So to summarize, ten years from now I hope to have my masters degree and be working in a church or a crisis pregnancy center. However, that is not the only thing I hope to be doing. If my husband is the pastor of a church, I hope to be serving along side him at that church. Also, I would love to have started a family at this point. If we do have children, then I would like to only be working part-time so I could stay home with them when they are not in school.
Ten years from now I hope that I am more mature, more in love with my Savior, still very in love with my husband, and learning more and more what it is to serve others. I hope that I am still close to my family. And I hope that I have a cat :O)
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Web 2.0
Well, now that Angie explained the title a little bit I think I understand Web 2.0 to mean that the web is finally something anyone can use... they can find things easily... and they can also contribute easily. In the past it was difficult to understand. There were lots of codes that you had to know in order to make a web page. Now there is no need for the average person to ever have to deal with the code in order to post something.
Also, I think the video was pointing out how much easier this makes communicating information. The beginning of the video (with the pencil writing and erasing) shows the "old way" of communicating which was time consuming and messy and then shows how easy it is to type and to change things as you go. No big deal.
How does Web 2.0 affect someone entering the workforce? They need to consider what they have placed on the internet that is a reflection on them (such as on a blog, on facebook, or on myspace). Now employers can easily do a search on the internet to find out things about prospective employees. But also it means that someone about to enter the workforce needs to be up to date on how to get around on the internet for email, research, and other such things. This may be an advantage for young people looking for jobs, in the sense that they are probably more familiar with this type of technology, having "grown up" with it.
Along these same lines, this could be a disadvantage for those already in the workforce if they are not familiar with it. However, it is also a benefit to current workers because it is making things easier for them.
In the midst of all the advantages of Web 2.0, the easy access and ease of use, there are other things to consider (or reconsider as the video puts it). We must always be making sure that things like copyright and privacy are being updated as technology advances. With more information being easier to get to (as well as personally put out there) there is a greater need to be aware of your own privacy. What do you want to make available for anyone and everyone? And what do you want to protect? What needs to be regulated in order to protect people from themselves?
Nothing is there that we don't put there... that is how the machine is us... and how the machine is using us. Without us, it ceases to grow, to change, to have any meaning. It is in our contributions and use that we express ourselves... the machine tells about who we are.
Well, now that Angie explained the title a little bit I think I understand Web 2.0 to mean that the web is finally something anyone can use... they can find things easily... and they can also contribute easily. In the past it was difficult to understand. There were lots of codes that you had to know in order to make a web page. Now there is no need for the average person to ever have to deal with the code in order to post something.
Also, I think the video was pointing out how much easier this makes communicating information. The beginning of the video (with the pencil writing and erasing) shows the "old way" of communicating which was time consuming and messy and then shows how easy it is to type and to change things as you go. No big deal.
How does Web 2.0 affect someone entering the workforce? They need to consider what they have placed on the internet that is a reflection on them (such as on a blog, on facebook, or on myspace). Now employers can easily do a search on the internet to find out things about prospective employees. But also it means that someone about to enter the workforce needs to be up to date on how to get around on the internet for email, research, and other such things. This may be an advantage for young people looking for jobs, in the sense that they are probably more familiar with this type of technology, having "grown up" with it.
Along these same lines, this could be a disadvantage for those already in the workforce if they are not familiar with it. However, it is also a benefit to current workers because it is making things easier for them.
In the midst of all the advantages of Web 2.0, the easy access and ease of use, there are other things to consider (or reconsider as the video puts it). We must always be making sure that things like copyright and privacy are being updated as technology advances. With more information being easier to get to (as well as personally put out there) there is a greater need to be aware of your own privacy. What do you want to make available for anyone and everyone? And what do you want to protect? What needs to be regulated in order to protect people from themselves?
Nothing is there that we don't put there... that is how the machine is us... and how the machine is using us. Without us, it ceases to grow, to change, to have any meaning. It is in our contributions and use that we express ourselves... the machine tells about who we are.
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