Etiquette

Etiquette can be defined as a set of rules that govern a person's behavior in a particular setting or environment. Etiquette mainly includes proper manners, communication skills, respect and politeness.

 WORKPLACE BEHAVIOR

• Use appropriate language
• Be punctual
• Appear as professional as possible
• Be cooperative 
• Turn your cellphone off
• Be motivated

CORRESPONDENCE ETIQUETTE includes mainly e-mails and letters.

   
      Email

• Always include a subject line
• Write a salutation for each new subject email
• Be brief
• When replying emails, include the previous email after your reply
• Never use all CAPS
• Always check for punctuation spelling and grammatical errors
• Do not use your company email address to send personal emails 

  TELEPHONE ETIQUETTE

• Make sure your voicemail is set up and is working properly
• Try to return the phone calls within the day
• Whenever you leave a message, make sure to leave your contact information as well 
• Use professional language and low tone
• Answer the phone using your name "Sarah Brown speaking"
• Avoid slang ("yes instead of "yeah", "Goodbye" instead of "bye bye")
  
  

SOCIAL MEDIA ETIQUETTE 

• DO NOT post negative or confidential information on the internet
• Be aware of who you are associated with
• Make sure you don't post inappropriate pictures on social media
• Watch your language
  
  

DINING ETIQUETTE

• Put your napkin on your lap when you sit down
• Make small talk about things you may find in common with other coworkers/supervisors 
• Use professional language
• When ordering, choose something in the middle of the price range
• Begin eating after EVERYONE has been served and seated
• Cut one piece of food at a time
• When you are finished eating, place your fork and knife on the side of your plate, facing downwards
• When dining as part of an interview, usually the interviewer pays, whereas when dining with co-workers, generally everyone pays their share
  
  

Ueda Elbasani & Nathalie Jean-Elie



Helpful Tips for Transferring

Transferring Within CUNY

-To apply to CUNY senior colleges:

·         Apply online via the CUNY Portal: www.cuny.edu

Fall Deadline - Feb. 1^st

Spring Deadline - Sept. 15^th

*Pick up a CUNY Online instruction sheet in C-102*

·         Submit your online application.

·         Transfer admission is based upon cumulative GPA (from all institutions attended).

·         Transfer application is accepted after the deadline on a space available basis.

*Applications take approximately 8-12 weeks to be processed.*

Transcripts/Transfer Credits

·         The UAPC (University Application Processing Center) will automatically request transcripts from all CUNY colleges.

·         Make sure you DO NOT have any stops on your record (especially bursar stops) or Kingsborough will not release your transcripts to UAPC.

·         If you are currently enrolled at KCC, an electronic version of your official CUNY transcript will be retrieved by CUNY/UAPC after the application is submitted. Attending KBCC is sure to complete the "Courses in Progress" section on the application, to avoid paying the $70 application fee.

·         How will my credits transfer? Check  www.tipps.cuny.edu

·         It is also recommended to schedule a “Transfer Follow up” appointment with an advisor.

Transferring Within SUNY

·         Check with each individual school for application deadlines and requirements.

·         Generally a minimum GPA of 2.0 – 2.5 required

·         Submit your college application, requested documents and file for FAFSA before the deadline

*Still have questions about the process? Come to C102 for more information.*  

William Cayambe & Nathalie Jean-Elie

How to Build a Professional Resume and Cover Letter

What you need to make a well-organized resume are:

•  Heading
•  Education
•  Experience
•  Skills (Computer, Languages, etc.)

Heading

• Name
• Street address
• City, State, ZIP Code
•  Area code home and home phone number
• Area code and business or cell phone
• Professional E-mail address

 Education

• Name of College (bold)
• City and State without zip code
• Type of degree
• Program of study/major
• Graduation date (month and year)
•  Achievements
• Relevant courses (Specific Names)
• GPA if 3.0 or above

Experience

• Name of company
• City and state without zip code
• Position title
• From month/year to month/year
• Action verb with bullets (description of responsibility)
• Achievement

Skills

• Computer Skill - List the programs you are familiar with (i.e Microsoft Word, Execel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Adobe Photoshop, Accounting Software. Etc.)
• Language Skills - If you speak more than one language, you should consider including language skills. Be certain to accurately represent your skill level (i.e., Fluent in Spanish, Basic Knowledge of French, Bilingual in Cantonese and English)

Your Resume Should:

•  Be Typed Have no errors of facts, spelling, or grammar
•  Have a layout that is consistent
•  Have skills and interest related to position
• Be proofread by professionals
• Give you a sense of pride

Cover Letter Format

• Heading and Greeting
• Introduction 
• Position for which you are applying 
• How you heard about the position
• Two or Three previous work or education experiences as support for why they should hire you 
• Thank employer for their time, availability for follow up

Ten Tips for Writing a Great Cover Letter

• Make it personal
• Make opening sentence catchy
• Write each letter for a specific job
• Describe skills as related to job
•  Be specific and concrete when describing your experiences
• Type and proof-read your cover letter
• Be brief, use descriptive words
• Be confident, creative, and upbeat
• Avoid negativity
• Don’t forget to follow-up

Job Fair Tips

• Dress Appropriately - The first impression is one of the most important things you should pay attention to when attending a job fair. Make sure you dress professional interview attire and carry a portfolio as well.
• Arrive early - We would suggest that you arrive 10-15 minutes before the fair opens in order to avoid the long lines. 
• Research the companies in advance - It is recommended that you find out information about the companies that interest you prior to the job fair. This would avoid spending time in companies that do not offer a job that would interest you.
• Take notes - Considering the crowded environment that job fairs usually take place at, it would be more convenient for you to take notes on different companies so that you do not forget information that may be crucial.
• Take initiative and ask questions - It is very important that you are very clear about everything regarding the job position you are interested in. Therefore, feel free to ask as many questions as you have to the company representative in order to clarify every doubt you might have. In addition, taking initiative and showing enthusiasm as well as positive can be a quite decisive component at a job fair.

You should be polite and professional in every way. Talk slowly and quietly. Make sure to shake hands before and after the conversation.

William Cayambe & Ueda Elbasani

The Importance of Internships

What is an Internship?

Internships are field work experiences which provide you with the opportunity to:

• Explore a career field of interest

• Gain career related experience

• Choose a major and select courses that will support career goals

• Develop and/or improve marketable skills that will make you more competitive in the job market

• Obtain references from professionals in your intended field

• Network with potential employment contacts

How to prepare for an Internship?

• In order to find the right fit for your career interest and goals, you should determine your internship target and know where to search for internship opportunities.

• You should also have prepared a resume and have practiced your interviewing skills.

• Schedule an appointment for a mock interview with a Career Counselor in order to prepare and gain feedback.

• All internships require a minimum of one semester commitment

Factors to be considered before making a commitment to an Internship

• Specific project responsibilities 

• What will be learned in relation to achieving career goals

• Supervision and training provided

• New skills that will be learnt

• Coordination of one’s schedule to include course work and internship

• Time spent commuting to and from the internship site

• Academic schedule and/or work hours

Make an appointment with an internship counselor in C-102

Merquisha Auguste
Amina Adalat

How to beware of fraudulent employers

What are fraudulent employers?

 Fraudulent employers are very sneaky bosses who go out hunting for innocent individuals, giving them the false hope of earning wages of which they are often desperately in need. There are numerous methods that perpetrators of such schemes use to lure victims. These include promises such as easy hire, easy work, high wages for unskilled labor, flexible hours, a small number of hours paired with a lot of free time, or other attractive offers.

Types of Scams

• Payment forward scam
• Application fee scam
• Phishing Scam: an e-mail fraud in which an employer sends out a legitimate-looking email in an attempt to gather personal and financial information from recipients.
• Mystery shopper scam: this type of scam uses fraudulent offers, fake checks and wire transfers to persuade unsuspecting consumers into sending money to fraudsters 

How do you spot a scam?

• Catchy job titles
• Required payments
• Lack of employment details
• Fake website
• Unsolicited e-mails
• Personal information request
• Guaranteed job offers
• Specific words or phrases include:“Nobody will find out” and/or “Off the books”

Protect Yourself

• Do not be lulled into a false sense of security by official-sounding corporate names. 
• Do not wire money to strangers or to firms that have supposedly hired you. 
• Don’t pay a company to hire you, not even if such payment is presented as your buying necessary training materials.
• Do not volunteer information
• Remember that anyone can place a newspaper or online ad. 

So be very careful next time you answer an ad for a job

Merquisha Auguste
Amina Adalat

Job Fair Readiness

Job Fair Readiness

Job fairs bring together job seekers and employers with opportunities available within their organizations. Over the years, it has become one of the leading means for entry-level recruiting, giving employers the opportunity to meet job seekers, and to get firsthand knowledge about them through their appearance and first impressions.

Why Should I attend A Job Fair?

• Meet with potential employers to develop a job search network.
• Discuss potential career opportunities.
• Present resume to employers for consideration for part time, full time, or internship position.
• Earn an opportunity to attend valuable workshops.

Planning ahead prior to the job’s fair

• Obtain a prioritized list of organizations based on your interest in the potential opening
• You may visit the organizations’ online sites to acquire more information and learn more details about the corporation you are interested in.
• Prepare a list of potential questions for the employer and develop a personal pitch!
• You may come to c-102 and get hold of the full list of employers attending the jobs' fair.

What Should I bring?

• Around 30 copies of professionally prepared resumes; if you feel like you need help with preparing your resume, don’t hesitate to see a counselor in C-102.
• In addition, you may also bring a business card to hand to potential employers.

First impressions are highly important!

• Dress conservatively, Professional attire is best – Men; wearing ties is a must!
• Be neatly groomed
• For women; avoid heavy perfumes, lots of jewelry and overdone makeup
• Avoid bulky cases and briefcases

During the job fair

Timing is important. Arriving on time to the job fair gives you a calm feeling and you will have the opportunity to meet with as many employers as possible. You want to maintain a positive attitude and be polite, so turn off your cell phone, and remove hats and headphones. After meeting with employers that you might be interested in remembering, collect their business cards so you can send them a thank you note for taking the time to meet with you.

After the fair

Attending a job fair is not a guarantee of getting a job. It is an opportunity for you to present yourself as the right person for the position. Being able to present yourself well takes preparation and positive attitude that would convince an employer to give you an interview.

Kingsborough Community College Spring 2014 Job fairs will take place on Tuesday, April 1 and Wednesday, April 2.  For more information stop by C-102.                         

Yosef Bagdadi, and Nathalie Jean-Elie

INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW

What is informational interview?

An informational interview is one of the most effective ways to obtain occupational information. While it may cover some of the same ground as printed material or information on a company website, it provides opportunities for an intimate and flexible inside view of a job field unmatched by other sources.

How can it be useful in pursuing your intended career?

An informational interview is less stressful, and differs in its settings compared to a typical job interview. In an informational interview you are the one in control. Questions can be asked that may not be strategic during a first interview (i.e., questions regarding salary, benefits, vacation). You can discuss what is done on a day-to-day basis and relate it to your own interests and feelings. Beyond the advantages of gaining valuable career information, the informational interview provides the opportunity to build self-confidence and to improve your ability to handle a true job interview.

Tips for informational interviewing:

• The best starting point is from people you know. Ask your family and friends to refer you to people they know who work in the field you are interested in.
• Talk to your fellow professors, alumni and classmates about possible contacts
• Make a good first impression prepare for the informational interview the same way you would for a job interview: dress appropriately, make research, learn more about job, the company and the industry to better guide your questions.
• Be sure you know the name of the person you are meeting, the correct pronunciation of his/her name, and the title of his/her position.
• You should regard each interview as a business appointment and conduct yourself in a professional manner.
• Always send a thank you letter an informational interview.

Questions you may ask during an informational interview

• Can you describe your career path? How did each job lead you to the other?
• What educational program is recommended as preparation? (Distinguish between courses which are desirable and those which are indispensable.)
• What degree or certificate do employers look for?
• What kind of work/internship experience would employers look for in a job applicant?
• What are the duties performed during a typical day? Week? Does s/he have a set routine?
• What steps besides meeting educational and experiential requirements are necessary to "break into" this occupation?

Finally make sure to sketch out a brief outline of the topics covered and the information gained as soon as possible after the interview. It may require a few minutes yet, it will insure that you remember the important points. Later, working from your outline, you can construct a more detailed report of the interview.

Yosef Bagdadi and Nathalie Jean-Elie