trabajalo's Xanga

Is there protocol for protocol, too?

Tue, 25 Apr 2006 23:35:19 GMT

So many protocols and so much....time!

Passes, that is.

So, I wonder if you follow-up after Thank You's are sent? Otherwise, how do you know if they have been received? I have thus far resisted this, however. Persistent and pest are not very far apart in the dictionary for a reason.

Happily though, I have received a brief email from Neiman Marcus. The PR director will be forwarding information to the HR manager, who has been on vacation during much of the elapse time. I hadn't heard from either, so I must admit I was a bit nervous. I do, however, need to know if I will have this opportunity ASAP. Otherwise, I may apply for a promotion within my current work. The positions are opening faster than I can keep track of, so I am keeping those options alive. Still being in school makes a lot of this tricky, though.

It's All About The WordPlay

Mon, 24 Apr 2006 16:11:32 GMT

My parents used to stress the message that "it isn't what you say; it's how you say it." They meant this strongly and sincerely, for it applied to so many situations. As I sat in my statistics class today, I noticed my bias in the student presentations. Those that sounded better, like they really knew what they were talking about, were perceived by me and surely other listeners to in fact be "better."

This probably explains how people get talked into buying a used car that's 8 years old with 250k miles on it and no engine. An important thing in the proverbial real-world is to see past context and see the true content. What I'm trying to say is...you don't really need that timeshare. :)

Actually, the point is actually the other way around. You can have a fantastic product, but you MUST know how to sell it!!! Presenters in class did some fantastic regression models, but the PowerPoint had a very so-so appeal. We are visual creatures, so this is an element that should not be overlooked.

Seven Thank You's

Mon, 17 Apr 2006 18:37:05 GMT

When I was growing up, my parents (mother especially) would make sure that my sisters and I wrote our thank you notes every christmas, birthday, and relevant holiday. It seems that some things never change much, for now I must take the time and make the effort to write thank-you's for professional purposes as well.

Seven cards were sent in total today. I addressed seven individuals that I encountered at Neiman Marcus last Friday. The letters were mailed today, so I think that not too much time will have passed before they are received. Unfortunately, most of them will not be able to place a face to the name, but at least my name will be recognized should it arise again.

After all, I do hope to work there! I do not think I am cut out for retail, even in a nice location--perhaps more so because it's an exclusive location. My aim is to work in the other areas in or around the admin office. This wee little intern has big plans.

If I can do creative, visual tasks...all the better! Wish we luck!

Lovely Store, Lovely Tour

Sat, 15 Apr 2006 00:22:31 GMT

I have fallen in love with Neiman Marcus.

My new pursuit is to work in PR/visuals for what is, in my opinion, of the the greatest chains on the planet: Neiman Marcus. I toured the Orlando establishment today, as Alpha Kappa Psi arranged an EXCELLENT "get together" coporate tour today! I have been looking forward to it all year--fashion is something I really love (see first post). I don't indulge like I "should." In fact, I walk around school so often in jeans and tshirts (not of the juicy couture nature, mind you). But when I do, I really really do. I can coordinate and accessorize with the best of them. I'm just too lazy right now.

So, they have informal internships in which the 'intern' is actually put on the NM payroll--certainly no complaints here! Anything other than the executive development program is pretty much on the basis of an individual store, so I am applying for such in a personal (still professional) way. Neiman Marcus is a bit like the Hilton of 'department' stores in a way. Not a far jump?

I didn't waste anytime e-mailing our main contact, Mrs. Ungaro. Still, I hope to follow-up and thank all of the following in the near future.

Georgiana Ungaro - Public Relations Mgr
Mark Johnson - Dpt Mgr, Men's Sportswear
Angelo Otero - Product Specialist (Kiehl's)
Pamela Givens - Product Specialist (Trish McEvoy)
Deborah Thompson - HR Mgr
Michael Jansen - Merchandising Mgr

ad-Venture capital

Sun, 09 Apr 2006 01:07:45 GMT

I have been researching the web about financing start-up companies in much the way people search for discounted plane tickets!

There is massive information, all basically the same thing....and yet I don't seem to really be lead anywhere much further from where I began! The "family and friends" route is so far the best sounding one...but to me it is truly not. Money and acquaintances are historically shaky unions.

Still, the web site inc.com features some decent articles; I just wish it was less reading! If I find something particularly worthy, I will be sure to post it here.

Interviewing

Wed, 05 Apr 2006 01:22:10 GMT

Pushing aside the fact that I don't know quite where I want to work, and therefore where I'll be interviewing, most interviewing questions sound like the same thing and are easy to prepare for. I have been on both sides of the situation, so I can honestly say that people tune out a lot of typical responses to typical quesitons.

"If you can be any animal, what would you be and why?"

Dog, cat, bird, dolphin, eagle, horse, tiger....how original we all must be!

And this is why we throw the curve ball. Sure, we want to hear about your work experience and life changing moment, but that curve ball question is the one we've waited to ask for the entire interview. It makes things interesting. I have determined that all interviewers have that one question that they just HAVE to ask. Even in the mock interview, the format was invariable thus, so my model may have some merit.

1. Typical questions we have listen to.
2. Specific questions to gauge what type of person you are.
3. THE question set that makes things really interesting (for the interviewer, anyway, because the interviewee is sweating at this point).

If nothing else, this makes the interviewing process unstressful mentally. :)

mail file

Sun, 02 Apr 2006 19:42:08 GMT

I e-mailed my resume out to apply for an internship. Next summer would probably be a better time, since I would do well to keep at the hotel another summer. If, for no other reason, but to save some serious $$$ for whatever crazy thing(s) I decide to do.

But, the importance of interships has not escaped me, so I know I must place them under heavier consideration. It'll help candidates stand out, and that's exactly what I need to do...on paper, anyway.

So, my search begins.

PR anyone?

Fri, 31 Mar 2006 04:00:27 GMT

I really think I have a knack for the art of making flyers. Seriously. I make many flyers a semester--primarily because I'm solicited to do it. It really helps me keep my eye for design sharp. And I really mean it because I know that most people probably do not think too much about it. We don't know a good flyer until with see a bad one--usually. But, with me...you know it's good right away if I say so myself. Sure, I'm tootin' my own horn a bit, but I have the substance to back it up.

What brings this up is that I think I can really use these marketing skills when I start up in the "real world." The way I phrase things, the focal point, the use of MS Word's delicate detailing (borders, line widths, formatting, grouping, etc.) all adds up to amazing works. :)

So what I'm really getting at is that I thoroughly enjoy adverstising.

Pencils and Pencil Accessories

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 23:48:03 GMT

So, there was a really cool guy as our guest speaker in class today. I could tell early on that he was the perceptive-type. That's not always something you see as often as you'd like. Then again, I suppose that would overly even out the playing field? He knew was he was talking about, and he knew why. I liked that.

As the VP of Human Resources, or a title very similar to that, he comes across a lot of job applicants. They don't speak with him first usually, and I thought that ALL the insight he provided about the hiring process was VERY interesting. I really liked him. He was talking about Resumes, Cover Letters, Internships...and then, he said it.

The job I can only dream about. The sit-in-a-room-and-come-up-with-ideas-kind-of-job. Oooooh, I know I should be so lucky to get that right out of college...but even so, one can hope! I perked up even more than before when I heard that a guy's primary job is pretty much to come up with news things to do with pencils. Something that involves creatvity (you have to market the idea, too!) like that...would make my world. I am considering applying for an internship with the company. It is "the #1 manufacturer of #2 pencils in the world." That has a nice ring to it. The company is 'Dixon.' I think I still have Prang colored pencils from my youth, too. However, they need to work on their edge in the art field, because Sanford is much more deeply into that (Prismacolor Pencils and Markers...). Why, I just bet you their creative director (drool dream job alert) has to use some sanford products for his job. Ironic, don't you think?

On that note, think about the money a pencil company can save on office supplies...interesting.

Never too much knowledge

Tue, 21 Mar 2006 18:42:23 GMT

In addition to my first informational interview, I also had the opportunity to interview a really cool person that I meant while I was at work. She was visiting/helping out at the DAB property since the hotel in Ft. Lauderdale had so much hurricane damage. Sounds familiar, doesn't it? Just last year, the DAB property had massive damage for the very same reason! Julie Jachimczak, the person I interviewed, provided responses that once again made me realize that textbook content is not irelevant and mythical--it's applied in real business. This time I am presenting the interview in a Q&A format.

1. What was your first job?
MY FIRST JOB WAS WORKING FOR MY UNCLE ED AT ED'S CARRYOUT. IT WAS A
SANDWICH AND FAST-FOOD PLACE. I COOKED/PREPARED FOOD AND TOOK ORDERS OVER THE PHONE AND AT THE REGISTER.

MY FIRST HOTEL JOB WAS FRONT DESK AT THE HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS IN
MERRILLVILLE, IN.

2. What sort of duties does a Revenues Manager have, generally speaking? What do you accomplish on a typical day?
AS REVENUE MANAGER, MY RESPONSIBILITY IS TO MAXIMIZE THE HOTEL REVENUE ON A DAILY BASIS. THIS INVOLVES BOTH LONG-TERM PLANNING (BUDGET, FORECASTS, ETC.) AND SHORT-TERM PLANNING (1 DAY OUT, 1 WEEK OUT, ETC.) IN REGARDS TO PRICING STRATEGIES (FOR ROOM RATES). I HAVE TO ANALYZE STATISTICAL DATA FROM OUR HOTEL AS WELL AS OUR COMPETITORS TO EVALUATE SUPPLY AND DEMAND AND TO ENSURE THAT THE PROPER PRICING STRATEGY IS IN PLACE.

3. How did you get started into the industry you're in now?
I BEGAN WORKING AS A FRONT DESK CLERK AT THE HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS IN
MERRILLVILLE, IN AS A PART-TIME JOB BACK IN 1999. DURING THE SUMMER, THE
GM ASKED ME IF I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN DOING NIGHT AUDIT AND I THOUGHT IT
WOULD BE INTERESTING SO I ACCEPTED THE OFFER. AFTER LEARNING NIGHT AUDIT, I DECIDED TO GO INTO HOTELS AS A FULL-TIME CAREER BECAUSE I ENJOYED IT THAT MUCH.

4. What aspects of your job do you find most rewarding and why? What do you find least satisfying about your work?
I'M A VERY COMPETITIVE PERSON SO BEING A REVENUE MANAGER IS A PERFECT JOB FOR ME. I ENJOY MEETING AND EXCEEDING BUDGETED AND FORECASTED REVENUE GOALS AS WELL AS MY OWN PERSONAL GOALS. IN ADDITION, I ENJOY DOING BETTER THAN OUR COMPETITORS AS DOCUMENTED ON THE STAR REPORT AS WELL AS MARKET RESEARCH.

THE LEAST SATISFYING PART OF MY WORK IS DEALING WITH THE HURRICANES. THE HURRICANES OF 2004 FORCED MY PREVIOUS COMPANY TO SELL ITS PORTFOLIO AND THUS I HAD TO FIND ANOTHER JOB. THE HURRICANES OF 2005 CLOSED MY CURRENT HOTEL. IT'S FRUSTRATING THAT NATURE HAS HAD SUCH AN IMPACT ON MY CAREER.

5. Do you think there are certain favorable personality traits and/or certain other qualifications that are essential to your line or work?
YES, I BELIEVE THERE ARE CERTAIN TRAITS AND QUALIFICATIONS NECESSARY TO BE A SUCCESSFUL REVENUE MANAGER. IN REGARDS TO QUALIFICATIONS, I BELIEVE THAT STRONG MATH AND ENGLISH SKILLS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR COMMUNICATION PURPOSES, STRONG ANALYTICAL SKILLS, AND PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE IN FRONT OFFICE, RESERVATIONS, NIGHT AUDIT AND/OR ACCOUNTING IS A MUST. IN REGARDS TO TRAITS, I BELIEVE THAT A SUCCESSFUL REVENUE MANAGER MUST HAVE A PREFERENCE TO WORKING ON A COMPUTER ALL DAY (SPREADSHEETS, INTERNET, ETC.) AND NOT HAVING MUCH, IF ANY, INTERRACTION WITH GUESTS.

6. How long have you been with Pyramid Hotels? Do you have any particular likes/dislikes about the company?
I HAVE BEEN WITH PYRAMID HOTELS SINCE OCTOBER 2005. I HAVE NO DISLIKES
ABOUT THE COMPANY. IN REGARDS TO LIKES, I FIND IT IMPRESSIVE THAT THEY
ARE ABLE TO KEEP SO MANY PEOPLE EMPLOYED THAT WORK IN THE HOTELS THAT SUFFERED HURRICANE DAMAGE AND I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE IT.

7. What are your thoughts on how fields differ and relate to one another (business, hospitality, accounting, etc.)?
I FEEL THAT ALL THOSE FIELDS RELATE AND ARE VERY SIMILAR TO HOSPITALITY.
ALL BUSINESSES HAVE ACCOUNTING FUNCTIONS TO FULFILL. ALL BUSINESSES HAVE SOMETHING TO SELL (PRODUCT, SERVICE, ETC.) HOSPITALITY COMBINES BOTH IN MY OPINION.