Monday, April 26, 2010

Texas Production Roundup


Dallas Producers Association
presents the 2010 Texas Production Roundup

Sponsored by Videotex Systems, Inc.


DATE: Thursday, May 27, 2010
TIME: 8:00am - 4:00pm
LOCATION: Grapevine Convention Center
1209 South Main Street
Grapevine, Texas 76051

Texas Production Roundup - Mark your calendars! Thursday May 27, 2010 at the Grapevine Convention Center, the Dallas Producers Association will present Texas Production Roundup. Come see the latest in gadgetry and whizbangery and everything you need for any size production, from cameras to support gear, software to full-blown edit systems, and all the tape and peripheral supplies you could ever need. Talk with experts from Adobe, Avid, Sony, Panasonic, Cartoni, Lowel, and many more.

Monday, April 19, 2010

10 Job-Search Mistakes...

People entering the job market (and all job seekers) should avoid these common errors.

Although this year's college graduates are facing a tough job market (and the smart ones are facing it now, rather than waiting until after graduation), they have an advantage over other job seekers, according to Andy Chan, vice president of career development at Wake Forest University: they are among the age group most likely to be hired in coming months.

"Organizations are very interested in hiring young people because they have a lot of energy and are willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done," Chan says.
But no matter how well-positioned these young people are, they--and all job seekers--will have a better chance of success if they avoid these common job-hunting mistakes of new college grads:

1. Not being proactive enough Emily Bennington, the author of "Effective Immediately: How to Fit In, Stand Out, and Move Up at Your First Real Job," says, "This isn't the time to sit back and be casual in your approach. Create a hit list of five to ten target companies, and really utilize your network to locate an 'in' at each."

2. Relying solely on the Internet In a recent Yahoo! HotJobs poll, 57% of respondents said networking was a factor in landing their current or most recent job. Brad Karsh, president of JobBound, says, "When thousands of candidates are applying to the same jobs online and posting their resume to the same job boards, candidates need to stand out by making connections and networking their way into a company." Job boards are an important tool, but Karsh says new grads also need to focus energy on networking.

3. Not creating wide networks Career expert Liz Ryan agrees: "Use your parents', grandparents', and friends' networks to help you in your post-graduation job search," she says. "Don't be shy--reach out to any long-ago Scoutmaster, choir director, or babysitting or leaf-raking boss. ... There's no statute of limitations on networking." (Read more Yahoo! HotJobs articles about effective networking.)

4. Not creating customized resumes Ryan says, "Don't send out any resumes that simply list your courses, the degree you've earned, and your part-time and summer jobs--use this opportunity to make a stronger statement about what you want to do with your adult life." And according to Jay Block, the author of "101 Best Ways to Land a Job in Troubled Times," younger job seekers often haven't thought about what they have to offer an employer (as opposed to what they want to get from one). With this mindset, they create resumes that are "boring biographies" instead of effective marketing tools. (Read more Yahoo! HotJobs articles about crafting better resumes.)

5. Misusing the Internet Tory Johnson, CEO of Women For Hire and the author of "Fired to Hired," says, "New grads don't use LinkedIn--it's not sexy like Facebook or Twitter. But it's the best resource for getting names and building a professional identity. Don't overlook it."

6. Failing to follow up Johnson says, "It's not enough to send resumes and pray the phone rings." She cautions that job seekers can't expect a resume to be discovered in that "big black online hole." "Hustle to follow up," she says.

7. Setting expectations too high Johnson says new graduates too often focus on looking for the perfect job, instead of a first job: "Especially in this economy, the first job should be about finding a position where you'll learn a great deal, you'll be super busy, and you'll be surrounded by lots of people."

8. Appearing unprofessional Make sure you're ready for employers' scrutiny, says Tim McIntyre, president and CEO of The Executive Search Group. That means you should "sanitize your MySpace page--right now. It will be checked," he says. He notes that many college students will need to change off-color voicemail greetings. Ryan adds, "Don't assume that Facebook's privacy settings will keep your youthful antics away from curious eyes. Rid your profile page of any photos of the 'three Bs' (beer, bongs, and bikinis)."

9. Not taking the job interview seriously Even when you're applying for an unpaid internship, you need to adhere to common standards of professionalism. McIntyre says those standards include demonstrating you've done your research on the company and dressing appropriately. Block adds that new grads are often unprepared for tough (but standard) interview questions, such as "Where do you see yourself in three years?" and "What are your weaknesses?" (Read more Yahoo! HotJobs articles about effective interview tactics.)

10. Not using the college's career office "A career office can help [students] identify networking contacts, learn important job-search skills, and significantly improve their resume and cover letter," says Wake Forest University's Chan. Ryan agrees, but adds that this is just a first step. The career office's job is to "to prepare you for your job search, not to conduct it for you," she says. "Use LinkedIn, reach out to everyone you can, and begin researching employers who'd be likely targets for your job-search." (Start your job search now.)

by Charles Purdy, Yahoo! HotJobs

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Video Contest Support -

This is an Art Institute Student's entry for the http://freeenterprise.com Video Contest. Click on the link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaSOw9UQznA&feature=player_embedded

"I believe that as a nation, we can come together to inspire each other, and help foster a better tomorrow. Through "NEW MEDIA" and virtual networking. We can establish new jobs that can and will grow from ideas and innovative collaboration. This platform with YOUR help will help launch our nation into a new revolution!"

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Career Services Week. April 19-22

Plan to attend. These topics are relevant to you!
Alumni are also welcome to attend but should RSVP to jjanik@aii.edu.

Click on the image below to enlarge: