Lunch & Learn #3_Executive Administrative Assistant, Jessica Frankel & What do employers want

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.