This Issue’s FEATURE | Campus Job XPress

He Is Abel…

by cjxpadmin | Mar 31, 2013 | This Issue's FEATURE

Professionalism, Knowledge, Character… This IS Abel Rivera.

Possessing an electric personality, Abel is surrounded by positive energy when he walks into a room. He has a natural ability to engage others in conversation and can easily impress with his extensive knowledge in Finance and Business Management.

Looking into Abel’s history, we find an impressive education. Abel pursued and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree through the Hankamer School of Business at Baylor University in 2009. He double-majored in Finance and Business Management with an overall GPA of 3.06/4.0. Prior to his graduation, Abel had the amazing opportunity to attend Britain’s Imperial College in London, England. There, he was able to extensively study Strategic Management and gain knowledge of unique cultures.

With this education and knowledge, Abel obtained experience as a Financial Analyst, an Account Manager and a Finance Property Manager. He began his financial experience, even before graduating, as a Finance and Property Manager for ER Ranch in Mart, Texas. He was able to increase the company’s net profit over a 2-year period. He did so, without increasing assets or inventory.

Abel extended his experience by becoming a HP Enterprise Software Account Manager for Hewlett-Packard upon graduating. Within one year, his achievements gained him a promotion into a senior position. Amongst these achievements was his design for strategic organization that generated $2 Million in pipeline revenue. He did this by creating a cross-functional collaboration to identify new opportunities for the company.

In 2012, he transferred to Dallas, Texas and began working as a Financial Analyst for Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Services. He was responsible for managing all financial and operational expenses for an IT client implementation team of 56 people. One of his many accomplishments was creating a financial model to display aggregate savings paths of $50,000 for the conversion of contractors to maintain the implementation team at budget

Among these amazing qualities, Abel possesses the ability to fluently communicate in English and Spanish. He is proficient in a wide variety of computer programs and financial software. In college, Abel was appointed for Presidency in Alpha Kappa Psi Business Fraternity’s 2007 Pledge Class. These leadership skills make him a valued part of any team. This ability to work as a team has assisted him throughout his experience in Finance and Management. For instance, he has collaborated with over 50 HP Partners in the Commercial West (14 states) to drive BTO and IM Software. He has constructed financial projections and pro forma statements for team in Baylor’s New Venture Challenge.

His desire is to secure a challenging position with a stable and innovative company. Abel’s credentials, knowledge and personable characteristics make him a very favorable addition to any firm or business. To contact Abel, e-mail him at abel.e.rivera@att.net. △

Design Is His Game, Victor Is His Name

by cjxpadmin | Mar 31, 2013 | This Issue's FEATURE

By Kenya C’Mone

In this day of design and graphic appeal, there comes an individual who has an extensive background in this field, from planning to invention. With over 25 years of experience in Mechanical Design, this individual earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Transportation Design/Product Design and has a vast array of experience to offer a well-deserving employer. His name is Victor.

Victor R. Reiter is an energetic and innovative applicant, attempting to pursue a job in the Designing Industry. His experience in Industrial and Mechanical Design makes him a most viable and prospective employee. Not to mention, Victor has also gained experience as a Design Director, Planner/Illustrator and has accumulated 5 years experience as a Kitchen/Bath Design Specialist.

Victor started on his journey to find a career at El Camino Junior College, where he studied for one year and then transferred to the Art Center College of Design located in Pasadena, California. There Victor obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Transportation Design/Product Design.

In the years prior to 1990, Victor spent a few years as an Employee/Consultant. He managed, styled and handled mechanical design of minicomputers systems, as well as worked with Marketing, Purchasing and Manufacturing to produce and evaluate testing, advertising and trade show prototyes. He also designed and illustrated for a variety of clients with regard to Product Design and Research and Development Groups.

During the 90’s, Victor took his talents to Samsung as a Design Director for 8 years. He supervised teams of in-house 2-D Drafters and 3-D Cad Modelers. He frequently visited various worldwide vendors and manufacturers to resolve numerous issues and insure quality execution of the products. Victor also produced the most patentable inventions than anyone else at the company and for this, he received several design awards.

In the late 90’s, Victor positioned himself as a Consultant in Southern California working projects for Volkswagen, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, General Motors, and Coca-Cola, to name a few. Victor provided a wide variety of services from ideation sketches and completed product designs and strategic concept development. The industries that he represented were Computer, Consumer Electronics, Entertainment, Transportation/Automotive and Fitness.

In 2007, Victor accepted a position as a Kitchen/Bath Design Specialist for Home Depot in San Antonio, Texas. For Home Depot, he provided initial and comprehensive ideas, solutions, suggestions and estimates to match clients’ needs with regard to kitchen fixtures, appliances and accessories. Because he is a people person, Victor pro-actively tracked projects and communicated with customers, vendors, service providers, store expediters as well as Home Depot Management. He ensured that customers and stakeholders alike had a positive experience by minimizing and resolving issues.

Along with his 25 years of experience, Victor has a lot of skills that will be beneficial in the Designing Industry. He is extremely familiar with computers and their software applications. He also inhibits traditional skills such as problem-solving, sketching and verbal communication. He has been recognized for various Mechanical Design Awards and was issued several Design and Utility Patents.

So, it is clear to see that Victor is very qualified for many, many positions and his track record proves it. To contact Victor, e-mail him at vrreiter@yahoo.com. △

All Smiles

by cjxpadmin | Mar 31, 2013 | This Issue's FEATURE

By Sheena Williams

A Smile is a facial expression formed by flexing the muscles near both ends of the mouth and by flexing muscles throughout the mouth. In other words, it denotes that the one who does it is not only having a pleasant time, but is also a pleasant person. What if you are having a bad day, or someone does something to make you frown? Take a deep breath, count your blessings and Smile. Everyone has bad days, weeks, months, and even years. But the thing that separates happy positive people from negative people is that they roll with the punches and remember the good things.

From an employer’s standpoint, they are going to hire people who look pleasant. If you don’t look happy, then, they won’t want you interacting with their customers. Since their customers should be your target, then you bring an un-positive energy and this is not something they are going to be able to work with. It won’t matter if you can do the job, it won’t matter what your degree is, and it won’t matter that you are the best in your field. If you can’t be put in front of those who need to be served, then, no one is going to see it. There is a reason it’s called service with a Smile.

If that doesn’t get you to Smile, then, let’s count down the biggest reason to smile.

It Makes You Attractive

Who doesn’t love a beautiful Smile? If there is one thing that will transform someone’s face, it’s a Smile. A Smile will make a mediocre person beautiful, and an unattractive person stunning. The lack of one, however, will make a good looking person less attractive. Smiles will bring people to you, frowns will keep them away. It also makes you look years younger! And who doesn’t want that?

It Alters Your Mood

If you’re having a rough day, Smile. Smiling through the pain helps to lighten your mood. If you even fake a Smile for a few minutes, you’ll eventually Smile for real.

Everyone Will Want To Smile With You

If you’re smiling, you give other people permission to Smile. They won’t be able to help themselves. They will want to be a part of everything and anything that is making someone else happy. Be that anything. If you’re in a good mood, others will start to be in a good mood too!

A Smile Is Stress-Relieving

When you’re letting the world get to you, it shows on your face. Smiling helps to relax your facial muscles. It takes 42 muscles to frown, but only 17 to Smile. The sheer act of smiling will instantly release tension!

A Smile Can Reap Large Amounts of Health Benefits

Smiling helps the immune system, reduces your blood pressure, and releases endorphins. It’s like a natural pain killer! Smiling allows your body to relax and in turn, acts as a drug when our body starts to remember what it’s like to feel happy! So, show off those pearly whites!

It’s A Success Skill!

As stated earlier, smiling makes you more approachable. It also makes it easier for others to want to do things for you. If you go next door to ask for a cup of sugar looking mad, then, they may tell you that they are out of sugar. If you do it with a Smile, then, they will want the transfer of that good feeling. Think of it this way; it’s like an express way of doling out the golden rule of treating others the way you wish to be treated!

So, remember smiling is always in fashion. It will never go out of style. It makes everyone awesome, and more importantly it will never fail to make you feel better or make you approachable. So if you are having a rough day, Smile, Smile, Smile! △

Maintaining Your Professional Presence

by cjxpadmin | Mar 1, 2013 | Job Readiness, This Issue's FEATURE

By Sharon Rector

“Don’t ever feel that you are the only one to ever have done something silly or said something crazy. We all do it! Yours truly… especially!

I had not ever had any kind of experience in an office environment, when I accepted my first secretarial position. It was very new to me, and I was just a kid fresh out of business college trying to make it in the “real world.” During my first week on the job, I made many, many mistakes. I would fill my trash can every day with mistakes! One of the bosses noticed my trash can one day and told me that at the end of every day, they had someone go through everyone’s trash and make notes of all the mistakes they found there. He said they would deduct pay from your paycheck according to the number of mistakes that were found.

Naive as I was, I believed him! I carried my trash home for a week before I found out he was just ‘pulling my leg.’ Yoli”

Over the course of this year, we are going to concentrate on the varying aspects of the term “professional presence.” Get familiar with the essence of the term so that you are knowledgeable of what it is, how you attain it, and how you maintain it throughout your chosen career path.

What does the term “professional presence” mean? According to the dictionary, professional presence refers to a dynamic blend of poise, self-confidence, self-control, and style that enables a person to command respect in any situation—especially on your new job.

Professional presence includes how you appear physically, how you dress for work, the tone of your voice, facial expressions, and even your handshake. It entails how you communicate with others and how you behave in the midst of problems and issues.

In the article “Developing a Professional Presence,” it is reiterated that once a professional presence is acquired, it will permit one to project a confidence that others can quickly perceive the first time you meet. And to project confidence, you must feel confidence.

The article also highlights that though one may present excellent credentials, a boss is more likely to choose (out of possible candidates) the one who has style as well as substance.

Let’s imagine that you have just been through a grueling panel interview conducted by individuals who really have no perception of YOU — the real you; what you know and what you don’t know! How do you survive the interview? Once hired, how do you maintain your confidence and poise on the job? Let’s take a look at some strategies that may help you during this period.

Strategy Number 1: (This is my personal favorite). Say that you have been hired. Hooray! Great job! Now how do you proceed? My advice is to tread lightly. Never get too personal too quickly with those who will be your fellow workers. Your inner-most aspects of your life, at this moment, are just that— personal! Your primary function on your new job is not to make friends, but to showcase to your employer the skills, knowledge, and talents you highlighted during your interview.

Your employer is operating a business, not a social club! According to Author Helen Wilkie in “How Do You Develop Professional Presence?” she clearly states that you do want to develop and cultivate a respectful relationship with your peers, those above you on the organizational level, those below you, or the clients. Show that you can get along with others by exuding the best of you! But never forget that people do spread gossip and untruths and unpleasant rumors about their colleagues. In your professional life, it is probably better to maintain your credibility by showing that you are trustworthy and your ability to rise above the fray.

Strategy Number 2: Realize and accept the fact that if you don’t know, you just don’t know! Always be upfront with your employer about mistakes or your need to take time and research problems you have to tackle. By doing so, this will show your employer that you have initiative and pride in your work.

Never proceed on a project attempting to muddle your way through your work. Although it is your responsibility to acknowledge your skills and talent, there is no shame in declaring you have hit a road block temporarily! Admit your mistake and maintain your confidence and composure establishing with your employer that you have worth and value to the organization and that you intend to prove it!

Strategy Number 3: Finally, whatever you do, stay disciplined! Maintain your confidence and competence as you are now in the process of “image building!” You are establishing for yourself and those who work around you your brand.

Image is a term that could be defined as establishing your qualities, competence, and attitude; everything that is inherent to you, but it is also the picture that people around you will remember.

Helen Wilkie in “How Do You Develop a Professional Prescience” believes that you need to cultivate a reputation for doing things well, getting your work done correctly and completely on time, and getting along well with others. It is that professional presence that will be the strongest force in helping you climb the ladder of success.

In closing, let me quote two statements on professional presence. The first is by David McNally and Karl Speaks.

“Developing a strong personal brand involves all the little ways in which you express your feelings about yourself and present to others.”

~ David McNally & Karl Speak

This last quote is taken from Susan Bixler and Nancy Nix-Rice, authors of “The New Professional Image.”

“Books are judged by their covers, houses are appraised by their curb appeal, and people are initially evaluated on how they choose to dress and behave. In a perfect world, this is not fair, moral, or just. What’s inside should count a great deal more. And eventually it usually does, but not right away…..”

Credits:

1) Wilkie, Helen, “How Do You Develop a Professional Presence?” How Do You Develop a Professional Presence. 28 Apr 2007. Ezinearticles. com 19 Feb. 2013

http://ezinarticles.com/? How-Do-You-Develop-a-Professional-Prescience?&ID=544373

2) Resource.mcc.neb.edu/hmrl/files/hmrl/Metro NHMRL Text/p52-99 pdf

Total Person Insight. Susan Bixler and Nancy Nix-Rice, “The New Professional Image.” Taken from article “Developing a Professional Presence, resource.mcc.neb.edu/hmrl/files/hmrl/Metro NHMRL. pp 53 & 56.

Upcoming Article for Month of April: Professional Presence: “Dressing Smart and Dressing the Part” △

Job Fair and Showcase A Hit!!

by cjxpadmin | Feb 27, 2013 | Job Search, This Issue's FEATURE

By Melvin Collins, Jr.

The Job Fair and Showcase for February, “My Heart Is Set On A Job,” was a huge hit with employers and job seekers alike at The Red Men Museum sponsored by The Heart Of Texas Workforce Solutions Center in Waco, Texas.

The setting was plain and elegantly simple, the employers came with guarded expectations. “You never know what to expect,” said one employer, “it’s a job fair and a showcase at the same time.” This is the first time the two types of job events were combined like this. “How is this suppose to work?” everyone continued to ask as the day grew closer and closer leading up to the event.

Well, it’s works this way, the Job Fair portion of the event allows job seekers who have an interest in talking to employers about possible jobs to attend. Employers come with materials, goodies, brochures and applications to hand out. They will take resumes and accept completed applications right there on the spot. This will give them time to review resumes and applications at their home base. There are no restrictions on who can talk to these employers and many, if not most, will not qualify for a position with the employer. The ratio can be more than 9 to 1 of not meeting the minimum requirements. That means that 9 of 10 people who talk to the employer have no chance of getting a job.

Now to the Showcase, each and every participant is pre-screened for minimum qualifications and if they meet these minimum qualifications, they are scheduled to meet with our staff for an interview. After being interviewed, the participant is told whether they meet the employer’s requirements and if they have an interest in the position, they are scheduled for the Showcase. Employers, if time permits, may get a copy of the scheduled participants’ resumes for them to review in advance. On the day of the Showcase, the employer comes to a private area to receive scheduled participants. Each participant is allowed a set amount of time for a face-to-face conversation with the employer. This is actually an interview! After this conversation, the employer will tell the participant what the next step will be for them, perhaps a second interview or a background check. The ratio of positive results is more than thirty percent getting a job with that employer. That is 1 out of 3 people getting a job.

The Showcase involves much more work for us, but the reward for the employer, the jobseeker and us is very much worth the effort.

This job event was one of the best that has occurred in recent memory. Everyone was orderly, many were dressed for the occasion and there were very few onlookers on, that is, people who just come to accompany the job seeker.

We did receive comments through our Job Club about the look of some of the job seekers. There were comments from some of our Job Club members such as the following:

“I went to the Job Fair today and was really pretty shocked by the appearance of many of the applicants. I saw wet hair, messy hoodies, lots and lots of t-shirt and jeans ensembles and wrinkled clothes galore.”

“First impressions are important.”

“Personal grooming is even more important.”

“Good hygiene is as important as dressing appropriately for the job. But, being overdressed for the position can also be a negative thing. I say, dress for the occasion.”

“Dressing the part is certainly important! I saw lots of people there today who were NOT dressed for potential job interviews and it showed! I saw people not only in jeans, t-shirts, sweats, but also with rags on their heads. You don’t go to job interviews like that!”

These are but a few of the comments we received about the appearance of some of the job seekers. I must say that our Job Club members came and represented well. And, there were members of my Job-Readiness Class who looked amazing. When asked, where did you get such a great looking outfit, one person said “Goodwill.” I was so proud of her. She looked great, had a beautiful smile on her face, chose a great looking professional look and did not spend a lot of money to make it all work for her.

With her telling us that she got her outfit from Goodwill tells us all that we do not have to spend a lot of money to look right for an interview or for just looking for a job at a job fair.

There were thirty employers participating at both the Job Fair and Showcase. All comments, thus far, have been excellent and the HOT Workforce Solutions will be planning more events in the upcoming weeks.

If you have comments or suggestions, we are alway happy to hear from you. Please login a comment in the section below this article. Thanks for your participation! △

Watching The Weather

by cjxpadmin | Feb 27, 2013 | Job Readiness, This Issue's FEATURE

by Sheena Williams

“March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers.”

However, before we can get to the flowers, we need to get through the wind and the showers! Spring is in the air, but so are storm clouds, high winds, and tornadoes. So, to make sure that you and yours are safe this weather season we have listed some safety tips to get you to the May flowers despite the March winds and April showers.

Tornadoes

Most people will tell you that during a tornado, you are safest in an underground shelter or a reinforced room with no windows. But what do you do in the event that you don’t have either of those options? You can:

In homes or smaller buildings, find the northeast corner of a basement. Or if that is not an option, go to the smallest, most-interior room on the lowest floor, such as a closet or bathroom. Cover yourself to protect your body from flying objects.

In schools, hospitals, factories or shopping centers, go to the smallest, most-interior room or hallway on the lowest floor. Stay away from glass or areas with wide roofs such as auditoriums and warehouses. Crouch down and cover your head.
In high-rise buildings, go to the smallest, most-interior room or hallway. Stay away from exterior walls and windows.
If you are in a car or mobile home… abandon them immediately! Cars and mobile homes provide no protection from tornado winds. Leave them and go to a substantial structure or designated tornado shelter.
It used to be that if you were caught out in the open, you were to find an overpass or bridge, but now it is said not to do that. They provide little shelter and have proved to be some pretty deadly options.
If caught in the open, lie flat in a culvert, ditch or depression and cover your head.

Lightning

So, you’re safe in your own home watching the lightning show safely from your living room, hmm? Well, please keep in mind that at any given time, there are over 2,000 thunderstorms on the planet that produce 44 flashes of lightning. This means that if you see a thunderstorm, it behooves you to take cover. During a thunder storm, here are a few tips to remember:

If you feel your hair standing on end, squat with your head between your knees. Do not lie flat!
Avoid using the telephone or other electrical appliances. Let’s say you do bite the bullet, wave off the impending storm, and get on your PC anyway. You open yourself up to a lot of problems like power surges, and possibly being electrocuted. We can’t tell you not to do it, but we strongly suggest that if you have to get on to an electronic device, please use your cell phone, tablet, or lap top; that way, you can unplug the device away from the wall and continue to use it.
Do not take a bath or shower or stand near plumbing. If you are boating or swimming, get out of the water and move to a safe shelter on land as quickly as possible. This sounds pretty self-explanatory, but there are a large number of people who will hop in the shower to get squeaky clean or decide to take their loved ones out for a swim when a storm hits. This is definitely not the smartest or safest choice as water attracts and is a conduit for electricity. Please be careful.
Seek shelter in a sturdy building. A hard-top automobile can also offer protection. If you are in a wooded area, seek shelter under a thick growth of relatively small trees. However, avoid isolated trees or other tall objects, water, fences, convertible cars, tractors and motorcycles.

Flash Floods
They can occur anywhere, along rivers or creeks, in low water crossings or in a dry stream bed. They can occur during any month and at any time during the day. In fact, flash floods often occur at night when it is difficult to find an escape route. Flash floods can be deceptive, and they develop really fast. Flood waters are likely deeper and moving faster than you think. Everyone, especially children, should stay away from flooded creeks, streams or drainage ditches. Swiftly flowing water can quickly sweep away even the strongest swimmers. You should also know to:

Leave your vehicle immediately if it stalls in flood waters. Move to higher ground if you can do so safely. Avoid low water crossings and use alternate routes to avoid flood prone areas.
Most cars and light trucks will begin to float in as little as 12 inches of water. Act quickly; rising waters can make vehicle doors difficult to open.
Soggy banks can collapse, dumping you into flood waters. So make sure to stay on firm land and embankments.

Hurricanes

There is a lot that goes into protecting yourself from a hurricane. There are many things to do in order to prepare, during and after. It has been advised that we give you the link to a hurricane safety site as opposed to listing to do’s here: http://hurricanesafety.org/