the simple things...

After spending the weekend with my cousins who are twin girls that are almost 2 1/2 years old you wonder where time goes! It seems like yesterday I was 5 years old without a care in the world and the only thing I had to worry about was whether or not I got to play with my favorite toy. It seems that when we are little all we want to do is grow up so fast, but once it starts actually happening all you want it to do is slow down. Being older is fun but it does have its consequences. You have to be responsible, get a job, and realize every decision you make will more than likely effect the rest of your life. I just wish sometimes I could go back to the days when all I had to worry about were the simple things in life. It just seems as you get older you forget to stop and take a deep breath and remember that life is short so enjoy every aspect of it as much as possible. I definitely try to slow down and take in everything that I experience and experience as much as I can in the time I am given. So go on take advantage of life and seize the day!!

Cover Letters...

I think it is important to remember that a cover letter is not about you specifically. It is however about how you can better a company. You should relay to the person reading the cover letter that you have thoroughly researched them as a company and that you would be a great employee for them with specific examples. I would agree that your cover letter should always be specific in who you are talking to. Even if it means calling and researching to find out, it will definitely benefit you in the long run. I liked the cover letter checklist the best because I am a person who likes to have a list of what needs to be included. Even though check ists are helpful you can not use it as a cop-out. Make sure your cover letter is the best possible and easy to understand. You want to stand out when employers are looking at hundreds of different cover letters a week. It is clear that a cover letter is part of your first step in the door and therefore it is important to have a spectacular cover letter along with your resume.

Interviewing

The first article I read "Mastering the Interview" by Sean Bosker was very interesting. This article really stresses how important it is to really research the company you are interviewing with so that you can know the most about them. The people who interview you are looking for how much you are willing to learn about them. It is important to remember you are also interviewing the company just as much as they are interviewing you. It is only in your best interest to find any articles in newspapers or magazines and express to the company why you are the best fit for that position. Dressing for success is also another key factor. When going in to an interview your actions and appearance speak louder than your words. Knowing all the information on your resume and cover letter is vital. If you are ever asked a difficult question he gives you tips on not answering right away. Bosker says to think about what the interviewer said even if it meant repeating the question back to them to make sure you understood it.

The next article I read was "How to answer the toughest interview question's" by Caroline Levchuck. When trying to answer the big picture question make sure to state your goals but to not be too specific. For the salary question you should give a range but make sure you have done your research to give the most realistic response. This is one of the questions that is most important to prepare before hand. The why question is one of the more difficult ones to answer but you have to make sure it is honest and confident and not boastful. Levchuck encourages those who are being interviewed to practice several times. When you get the silly question in an interview don't be afraid to answer it just don't panic before you do.

Both of these articles were very helpful in preparing for an interview. I think the most important tip of both articles is making sure that I have researched the company well before I go in for the interview.

My Life in 10 Years...

Ten years for me seems like an eternity away. I mean after all I'm just trying to get to graduation in May right now! So this has caused me to really think hard about where I want my life to be in ten years. I know a few things for certain so I guess I will start with them. I am hopefully moving to Charleston, SC after I graduate in May and there I will be entering a world of unknowns as far as jobs go. When considering jobs, I have the audacity to want a job I love. Even though I wouldn't mind working for somebody else, I also have ambitions to own my own business. Right now I don't have anything in particular in mind, possibly a franchise of some sort or maybe something of my own. But my dream job still needs to be able to support me financially throughout my life.

I hope to have a husband and a family of my own in the next ten years. Family is one of the most important things in life, and I want to be with my kids as they are growing so having a job that will allow me to do that would be great! I want to live in Charleston with my best friend and raise our families together. I want to make sure that I show the most important people in my life how much I appreciate them as well. I will try my best to repay my Mom for everything she has done for me. She is one of my favorite people in the whole world and to be able to do half the things she has done would be a tremendous accomplishment for me. Throughout the next ten years I hope I can look back on my life and be proud of the life I have lived. I have met some amazing people in the last few years and I plan on keeping in touch with all of them as they have helped mold my life for the better.

I have gone on Mission trips in the past and have helped rebuild homes for those less fortunate and I plan on continuing that in the next ten years. Helping rebuild homes and changing others lives for the better is something I love to do. So in a nut shell that is my best description of what I hope/think the next ten years of my life will look like and I can't wait to find out!!