Advice to New Students

My advice to new students taking this business writing class is to simply do the work and projects expected of you. This course is not difficult although at some points during the semester it will be time consuming. Be sure that you complete most if not all of your blogs, usually the topics are rather simple or just wanting your opinion on a subject. Study for the grammar quiz because it is a significant part of your grade. A large part of the course will have you into groups so you need to be able to work with a team well. Always pull your weight and when possible go above and beyond what is expected of you. Your team will appreciate it and your grade will reflect it. As long as you follow these instructions you will have a blast in the class.

Myspace Stupidity

People who put "Official (your name) Myspace"
Assuming you are important enough to warrant such a title...
I.E. people may fake profiles of you because you are so awesome,
you do realize that these "fakers" have the same ability.
In fact if I were taking the time to make a fake profile of a celeb
I would probably say "Moron's Official Myspace"
In other words I don't see the point in doing such a thing.
Unless you're trying to make yourself look cool.
But you look stupid.
Yaaaaaaa Digg?
Thanks.
I feel better now
Thats All.
Really Thats All.
Ok.
Later...

Cheating on Resumes???

I have mixed feelings about this subject. The girl in the article successfully climbs the corporate ladder and is an asset to the company. The girl does this in spite of the fact that she does not have a master's degree. Perhaps resumes are a not the most accurate way of measuring ones ability. There are subtle exaggerations that I believe most people put on their resumes. Saying that you have a master's degree is more than an exaggeration, and lying on that level is sure to get you caught as was the case in the article.

Presentations

The presentation which stood out to me the most is "South of the Border Anyone" by Rene Onate.
This is because of the fun way he presented his presentation, and the fact that I was interested in what he had to talk about. I had already planned to go to Mexico for spring break. Listening to his advice should prove very helpful when I travel to "South of the Border."

I clearly remember him saying to only drive in the day because potholes are not visible in the night. The roads in Mexico are not up to par. Rene also advised to stay inside hotels that are walled in. These places will prove to be your safest bet in a dangerous country. I will also be sure to watch out for the cops; I hear they are some of the most honest and ethical people in the world!

Mock Interview

When I first heard that we were having mock interviews, I thought that the experience would be a waste of time. Why should I have to dress up and make a special time to interview for a job that does not exist? My attitude towards the experience changed after it was over. I felt that the interview prepared me for the future interviews that I will have. It sharpened my skills in a variety of ways.

I had to make sure that I arrived at the interview on time. This took planning and I even set my phone alarm to make sure I did not forget. When the questions started I was forced to think of answers quickly. I do not expect that I will ever be an accountant but thinking quickly is an asset at any job. Also many of the questions were not directed towards the job but were personal instead. These types of questions are also general to many careers and now I know the answers to them. Prior to the interview I had not really thought about the personal questions. Overall the experience was more than I expected, and I truly believe that it will help prepare me for future interviews.

Free Write

I'm talking you those people that by some miracle can take upwards of 15 minutes at a "self checkout" either in a grocery store or a Wallmart ect. I was just in line at a Walmart and a guy took eight minutes to pay for toothpaste! One item! If it takes you over a tenth of an hour to pay for toothpaste then please for the love of all that is good...GO TO A CASHIER!! Also while we are on the subject… listen up you "cashier goers" ...same question, how on earth can a business transaction between two people take so long? After my last item has been scanned it literally takes me less than 30 seconds to pay. She swipes my card and gives me a receipt...it’s so simple. Yet people manage for this process of to take upwards of 5 minutes. And god help us the old lady buying birdseed has a coupon...your day is shot!! I remember once there was a lady who gave the cashier a coupon, and it wouldn't scan. They had to call a manager over, which took another couple minutes because he was at the other end of the store. The real kicker is that it saved her a grand total of .35 cents on a bag of grapes. My time standing in that line is worth more than .35 cents.

Cover Letters

I thought the article brought up an interesting point in saying that the cover letter is actually read after the resume. If the resume generates enough interest then the employer will come back to the cover letter. Another point in the same article was that the cover letter should be about your target and not yourself. When I wright my cover letter for my mock interview I will be sure that I follow that rule.

The example cover letter was also helpful by giving me a visual example of what I should strive for when I wright my own.

Since I am not an expert on writing cover letters I did not find anything that I could disagree about in the articles.

About the Articles

When I was looking through the articles on the website, the one that stuck out to me the most was "Four Don'ts When Dealing With Recruiters."

These Don'ts were:

Don't be overly friendly

Don't expect Career Coaching

Don't ask for insider information

Don't request special treatment

I can relate to each of these. In past interviews I was probably guilty of a couple of them. After reading the details about why you shouldn't do each of these things, I will make sure that in future interviews I don't make the same mistakes agian.

The other article that grabbed my attention was "Phone Interviews, Tips to be Called Back."
Sometimes phone interviews can be the most difficult because you can not read body language and make adjustments based on the information the person is physically conveying to you.

Three tips given by this article were.

Speak Easy

Sounds of Silence

Practice Makes Perfect

The article basically said to relax, listen, and practice. There were a few things that will help me in future phone interviews such as simply breathe. Sometimes I believe that I will be so caught up in the conversation and embedding a great impression that I don't take the time to simply breathe. This will be something that I am sure to do from this point forward.

While reading Martin Luther Kings "Letter from Birmingham Jail" I quickly realized that the ethos, logos, and pathos in his persuasive writing was going to be unparalleled with other letters. He soundly gave evidence of his expertise on the subject early on. He waste no time in building his ethos through his words as well as his overall moral character prior to writing the letter. He explains in the first few sentences why he is in jail in the first place. He goes on to use pathos to his advantage by using the bandwagon tactic several times over. He backs up his statements with hard evidence which is hard to manipulate and thus builds his logos.

Lets take a look at this persuasive business letter.

Author: Alan Sharpe

Target audience: General managers of auto dealerships

Mailer: Sharpe AutoCards [a fictional company for the purposes of this sample letter]

Purpose: Generate appointments for salespeople

Dear Mr. Carling:

Go ahead, pull this amazing little card off the paper.

It's made of plastic. It costs you $2 to buy. But it's worth the price of a new car, sold off your lot. This card is worth the lifetime value of a loyal customer. In sales, service, parts, accessories and referrals. And goodwill. And free word-of-mouth advertising.

Hold it in you hand for a minute, and think of your competition. Consider your revenue goals for the next quarter. Do you need to increase your new and used vehicle sales? Boost your parts & service department revenue? Multiply your accessories department revenue? Retain customers after their warranty runs out?

This card will help. Big time. It's a vital part of Sharpe AutoCards, a custom-branded loyalty and gift card program that generates revenue for your dealership. But first, how it works.

Take a look at the front of your card. As you can see, you customize the card to match your dealership's brand image and visual identity. Now turn it over. See that magnetic stripe across the back? It stores information about the card's dollar value and each transaction.

You hand cards like this to everyone whose business you want to attract and whose loyalty you must keep. Walk ins. Be Backs. Looky-Lous. Current customers. Even former customers. They all use the card to buy products and services at your auto dealership only.

You manage the program using a simple card reader hooked to a personal computer at your dealership running our software. For an average auto dealership, the start-up cost of buying the system and operating it for one year is less than $2 per car sold that year.

That's what the card does. Here's what it does for you.

Please read the brochure I've enclosed for the compelling specifics. You use the Sharpe AutoCards card to:

1. Close more sales by beating competitors' discounts

2. Boost your service department revenue and repeat business

3. Multiply your accessories department revenue

4. Retain customers for years after the sale

5. Attract potential customers and increase traffic in your showroom

6. Increase referral business

7. Increase revenue on the back end

8. Promote brand awareness of your dealership

The Sharpe AutoCards system is up to five times less expensive than competing offerings. Plus, you pay no transaction fees and you don't have to buy any annual maintenance contracts. I call that a win-win-lose proposition for you, your customers and your competitors.

Use your card today to receive free coffee and donuts for four.

The gift card you are holding in your hand has been pre-loaded with $10 worth of coffee and donuts. Get a first-hand demonstration of how the card works by inviting me to your showroom for a complimentary consultation about the Sharpe AutoCards system. Hand me your gift card, I'll swipe it, process your transaction, and hand over your free coffee and donuts. Like the gift cards you'll use one day, this one can only be redeemed at the place of business on the card, which is to say, Tri-City Chev-Olds.

When is a good time for us to get together for coffee and a chat at your showroom? Call me at 123 456-7891 today and let's set up an appointment.

Yours sincerely,

[signature in blue ink]

Brad K Phillips, Director, Sales

This letter is loaded with ethos, logos, and pathos. Alan Sharp uses the advantages of the card in a bullet format and quickly embeds logos into the letter. This in turn makes the author look prepared for the subject and in turn builds his ethos. But of the three I think the pathos is what is the authors strong point. He instills a sense of attachment to the card by telling the reader to hold it in his hand, look at the strip on the back, and think of dollar signs while doing so. Pathos is also used when the author tells the reader to think of his competition. This creates a band wagon effect of his own. I almost want that card myself, laugh, I really like this letter as a piece of persuasive writing. It is built extremely well!

In Ten Years...

In ten years I will be thirty years old. By this time I would ideally want to have children. When my son or daughter is 15 I will be 45. I don't want to be too old to while they are growing up. I want to be the "hero" in my sons eyes and If I can't even pick him up then it's not a good start. I also would like to have a nice job and making lots of money as I'm sure everyone else does. I would also like to not be in jail or dead. =) I don't know if I will still be in S.C. at this time. My family is the only thing keeping me here because of the cold weather. My family may not be around in ten years in which case I would move to a place with warmer climate, but I will cross that bridge when I get there. Nice car, nice house, etc. If I think of anything else I will add it later.

Commenting on Youtube Video

New people entering the workforce will have an advantage if they are familiar with Web 2.0. The workforce is changing with this new technology, and employees will need to know how to use it. Older employees will be at a disadvantage until they take the time to learn the new skills. The video is absolutely correct; web 2.0 will change everything about the workplace, and employees will have to accommodate those changes.

About Me

Hi I am Zachary Webb and this is my first post on my new blog. So far this class has been very interesting and fun. I think I will enjoy the time I spend in the classroom as well as learn more about proper writing. I have a pretty good background in writing, but I often make grammatical errors. Hopefully I will learn things in this class that I will never forget and apply well into the future. I enjoy writing if I am interested in the topic, but at other times writing can be a chore. I also enjoy lifting weights, socializing, and I have a complete obsession with cars. If you have any more questions...just ask.

-Zac