Week 6 - EOC: Seduction of the Online Surfer

It only takes 1/10^th of second to form a first impression about a person, and websites are no different. It takes about 50 milliseconds for users to form an opinion about your website that determines whether they like your site or not, whether they`ll stay or leave.

The first impression depends on many factors: structure, colors, design, spacing, symmetry amount of text, fonts, and more. Poor interface design is particularly associated with rapid rejection. You want to make your homepage the best introduction you would want to see on another website. The positive first impressions lead to higher satisfaction. In conclusion visual appeal is the most important factor when seducing the online surfer. Always give time, money, and a lot of work in creating your design for your website layout. Make sure that the first second someone opens your website they are automatically intrigued and want to continue.

Week 5 - EOC: How will you organize your job search time and follow up to get results?

When applying and searching for numerous jobs it can get very unorganized. The better organized you are, the better prepared you will be when applying and following on positions. That is why I am going to share some ideas and tips to keep organized and the right time to follow up to get results.

My first tip is to create a planner or workspace to track the job positions and companies your applying for. Make sure you have recorded the date and the website or person you have used to submit your resume and application to. This will help on what to reference when I asked or be able to know the turnaround time might be. So few people actually do this, and it is an excellent way to say “thank you.” It demonstrates your extraordinary professionalism. When you take the time and effort to keep people in the loop, it also solidifies your strengths in follow-through, and overall, makes you memorable.

Make sure when you have this planner you are creating a schedule for yourself to apply, submit, or a follow up plan. Having a set schedule to follow up will also help your mind off being overwhelmed. Set reminders to follow up until there is closure, but don’t bother them too much. If you are told to contact someone, put it on your calendar and this way it is more likely to get done, so you don’t forget.

One very important tip is to file or categorize e-mails or resumes, anything having to do with the company you are applying for. When applying to multiple jobs, this means multiple cover letters and resumes to fit the job description they need. With e-mails categorize any e-mails out or in so that way you can stay organized and have your job submissions filtered. The last thing you want to do is accidently talk about a different company to a different company.  

Week 4 - EOC: Deeper Meaning of "Devil Wears Prada"

In the movie, Devil Wears Prada, a naïve journalist, Andy Sachs, is hired to work as the second assistant of the powerful and iconic Miranda Priestly, the executive of the Runway fashion magazine. She may be the second assistant and the only person in the office that doesn’t worry about fashion, but little do her and everyone else know, she is on her way to being the best assistant Miranda Priestly ever had. After Andy had her interview and saw the little interest Miranda was giving her, she did what anyone would not do, and stood up for herself and the career she wanted to do. That is why Miranda decided to hire her.

The movie represents female power in career, love, and friendship relationships in complex and often impossible assessments. Female power relationships analyzed in the movie reveal that women use power effectively to compete in the world of business and to help other women advance in their careers; however, love and friendship suffer as women succeed professionally. Andy Sachs personal relationships with boyfriend and friends suffer because of the time and effort she puts into her job and the amount of change she is willing to do, to be the best that she can be. This is all for a job she never even thought of because she wanted to be a journalists, not a fashion-icon`s assistant. Later after helping Miranda save her career in a professional way, by not destroying her competition, Miranda lets Andy take the route she needs to take for her new career choice. In the end after all the time, arguments, effort, and change it was all worth it because she succeeded not only by impressing the famous icon, Miranda, but being prepared for the next job she will take to succeed in her career choice. Andy walks away from the fashion world and finds a job at a traditional newspaper publication company.

Week 3 - EOC: Deeper Meaning of "Swingers"

In the movie, Swingers, a guy (Trent) teaches his friend (Mikey) how to start relationships or conversations with the opposite sex at lounges, bars, etc. He helps Mikey get back out there in the social scene with friends and other friends. By teaching Mikey how to interact with others, Trent is also shows how to network but not intentionally. Mikey starts to develop a clear understanding of how the social world works. He knows when to contact the person he just met or how many times to call. He knows how the body language works to go ahead and make his move. All these tricks and unwritten rules are very parallel to the way someone should be when they start networking. From the Muse networking advice articles, writer, Aja Frost, shares some suggestions that are also parallel to the movie, Swingers. Modeling successful people is a proven way to improve your own performance, what better than to be able to model people up close and personal? The tribe you select will have a profound impact on your work and life, so choose well. This is quote is definitely a mirror image of the movie because Mikey`s friends are helping him but sometimes they can ruin the way he likes to interact with people. 

Networking is a powerful tool when looking for a job, extending your career, or anything in the business and the non-business world. It`s the linking of people who through other relationship building, become walking, talking advertisements for one another. This type of advertisement is a on-going, never-ending technique. Aja Frost gives this advice for people that feel like networking is fake. "If you dislike networking, it’s probably because it feels, well, fake. But rather than looking at it as a cold, calculated, “you-scratch-my-back-I’ll-scratch-yours” deal, think of it as “an ongoing, organic process of building relationships with people you like.” 

To expand your network and start your social life, get out there! This means visit as many groups as possible that spark your interest. Go to events or parties to socialize with peers or workers. Be aware of how people sound supportive of one another. Are these people networking already and advertising other people? Networking is about being genuine and supportive. Aja also gave this advice, "You have to build the trust and relationships and seeing how you can help others expand as well. Opportunities like joint ventures, client leads, partnerships, speaking and writing gigs, businesses or assets bought and sold … you name it." You want to leave your mark as your a powerful source for others. Everything from prime domain sales through to employment opportunities. If two people are equally qualified then it goes to who you know, like and trust. When you are known as a strong resource, people remember to turn to you for suggestions, ideas, names of other people, etc. This keeps you visible to them and memorable. Once you have met someone who can benefit to you, follow up with them. Express that you enjoyed meeting them, and ask if you could get together and share ideas. You don't want to follow up the following day, wait a few days or a week. This I learned was from the movie, Swingers. You don't want to seem desperate but you want to sound interested. Don't wait too long and miss your opportunity. You should follow through quickly and efficiently on referrals you are given. When people give you referrals, your actions are a reflection on them. Respect and honor that and your referrals will grow. Referrals are huge with networking! Therefore, your appearance, personality, professionalism, and work-ethic, affects those referrals and your reputation in the business world. The business world is very small, so that is the most important thing to keep doing while networking.

Week 2 - EOC: Profile Statement

Highly motivated, results-oriented professional with more than 3 years of success in Digital Photography, Marketing & Advertisement, and executive support. Adaptable at integrating latest trends in social media, photography, marketing, and any internet services. Eager to take on entrepreneurial success and new challenges in a more permanent role, contributing skill sets to drive optimal business performance and collaborate with a creative development.

Week 1 - EOC: Elevator Introduction

My name is Kate Hoopingarner and I am on my way to becoming a professional photographer. I know photography is my passion and my skill, as it lets me become free with my creative ideas. I grew up around cameras and has been my biggest interest since, that`s why I knew I had to go to school for photography because it is a subject I love.

Week 1 - EOC: Narrative

 I am on my way to becoming a professional photographer. I know photography is my passion and skill. I have always been on the creative side of things, whether it was interior design, scrapbooking, or art. Photography however writes stories and memories through the photographer’s eye and camera. Photography lets you become free with your creativity and lets you express you or the moment your capturing. I love capturing memories and love engaging with others, that is why photography is for me.

 Photography is a passion passed down from my grandfather, to my mom, to me. Through high school I taught myself how to use my camera and creating different appealing views. I know it is important to have memories and photos to look back on. I am fortunate enough to have photos, scrapbooks made, and home videos of my childhood and present. My family and I have always kind of complained in that moment that we don’t want our picture taken, but I appreciate my mom doing that for all these years. As of today I am attending the Art Institute of Las Vegas. I started in the summer of 2013, and before that I did a year at the University of Nevada, Reno. I took classes in photography and journalism at UNR to get a feel of some interests I had. I wanted to know more about the subjects I loved, these two subjects give the reason to travel, and that is one my top things I love to do.

 What I hope to achieve is to get myself known in the photography industry and be able to eventually create a style I love and can stick with. I feel having a style really gets your work more known or identified. I have noticed my photos becoming a more professional standard. I have developed so much but so little at the same time. I know I have endless learning in this field of study, but I love to learn and keep learning new things. By continuing to learn I find myself developing more and more. I am always up for new things and a quick learner. I am only getting my associates degree right now but hope to continue and take classes to keep up. I would love to get my bachelors degree, but this field of study is expensive itself, and then add school and school loans stresses me out.