On June 26th 2015, Jessica Frankel, Advancing Justice-Atlanta’s
Executive Administrative Assistant, trained the interns on the steps and formalities
associated with job applications. The information presented reflected five
central tenets - on nouveau new perspective on what employers truly look for in
applicants and future employees.
Personally, I believed that the training was very useful and
insightful. Jessica’s presentation started out with what future employers look
for in applicants. For example, our online presence in the world of social
media has a significant role in determining how employers judge individual
applicants. Although many may not be aware of their online presence, it is
important to note that everything someone writes on Facebook, Twitter, and
email reflects how that person is regarded as by others (basically, don’t act
inappropriately or post something you’ll regret a couple years from now). Some
ways to make sure what sort of personal information might be available on the
internet is to occasionally google yourself because it allows you to see what
others may have posted and what future employers might come across that can
either help or harm your reputation. Another tip is to always maintain a
separate professional profile to use when networking with others.
Aside from the advice concerning online presence, I thought that
tips regarding the actual interview process were the most helpful. For example,
Sara Hamilton, our Deputy Director, believed that the question, “Tell me about
yourself?”, was the most
important of all other questions that will be asked nine times out of ten
during an interview. The response, she stated, should depend on what job you
are applying for and highlight the qualities you believe they are seeking. It
is also important to make sure to be proactive in asking questions such as
“Where do you see the company in ten years?”, because it shows the employer
that you see yourself contributing to the company (and that you care enough
about the job position to ask).
Last but not least, Jessica’s rule of thumb about following up
with an email and then a hand written card was proved unique, because it sets a
distinction from other applicants and leaves a lasting impression though you
may not have received that specific job offer (Who knows, maybe in the future
other job positions might be available or you might even see them again. It’s a
small world).
Overall, the
presentation had many useful inside tips and started topics of discussions to
which other employees such as Sara Hamilton and Raymond Partolan contributed.
We, interns, all agreed that Jessica did a great job in providing us a greater
understanding of the job market and expectations.
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