Abracadabra! Gives students magic formulae for job-hunting cover letters, resumes, interviewing

Scott Turner
In Motion Staff Writer

Completing courses and a degree in college is the first step in achieving the dream of gainful employment. The best way of going about that can be a confusing process with many subtleties. Abracadabra! Discovering the Magic of Effective Communication, is an instructional seminar that provides students with helpful hints and instructions regarding cover letters, resumes, and interviews, all with the goal of making the search for employment easier.

Jennifer Kranz, associate director of the Writing Center, and Holly Hollins, a faculty member in the School of World Language and Speech provide a variety of helpful and informative tips to all those who attend, and provide examples from their own personal experiences to help illustrate their points.

The presentation opened with a video illustrating a series of terrible things to do at an interview, but also the few things they did well. Hollins and Kranz point out the importance of little details and body language in an interview.

“It’s always imortant to remember the job you’re applying for. Make sure you dress properly, show the interviewer respect, maintain good posture, and most importantly take the job seriously. I see a lot of applicants at the Writing Center that don’t take it seriously, and many aren’t hired because of it.” Kranz said.

“Roughly 30 percent of a job interview now is based on personality, and the employers are paying attention. There have been some instances where the interviewer had the receptionist keep an eye on the potential hire while they were waiting, seeing if they played on their phone or looked disheveled and nervous. Make sure you are interested and focused on the task at hand. It helps to look around and find possible conversation pieces to help break the ice with the interviewer.” Hollins said.

Proper etiquette regarding resume and cover letter layout and content, was covered extensively in conjunction with proper interviewing tips and techniques. A two page handout was provided to attendees with everything that was covered during the presentation. A link to a TED talk from Amy Cuddy, a professor and researcher at Harvard Business School, entitled “Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are” was also provided to attendees as an excellent source on the importance of the details in a job interview situation.
The final topic of the presentation pertained to an element of the job hunt that is often overlooked, the follow-up.

“Following up on a job is a great way to show the interviewer how serious you are about the position. Don’t wait too long, and be assertive without being aggressive. Always remember to grab a business card from the interviewer, as it has all their contact information and can help you tailor make a follow up email. It’s also important to utilize technology for the follow up, as it demonstrates to employers that you’re proficient with technology.” Kranz said.

The Abracadabra! presentation has been offered in previous semesters, but this marks the first time it was tied in as a helpful instructional tool to students who intend to attend the MEGA Job Fair offered each semester at the News-Journal Center. The event was held at the Madorsky Theater in the Hosseini Center on the Daytona State campus and was attended by a wide variety of students, faculty, staff and local alumni. For more information on events like this one, check Daytona State’s website at www.daytonastate.edu.