Happy Spring 2012! What I love the most about Spring is the idea of a fresh start. Many poets and authors of prose throughout time have always equated new life and love with the advent of a season of regeneration. I always like to imagine the first few flowers underneath the frost trying to break through, on some level it is very uplifting these cycles of change. As far as academically, it is a time to get back into the routine of school. For some, it is your last semester and others it may be your first, either way there is always a moment for change. I am looking forward to another year at the School of Business, happy writng!
-AB
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Friday, September 16, 2011
Halloween is in the air!
Yes, it is that wonderful time of year when the wind has chilled and Aldo has their annual sale on leather boots. Some fun things are going on in the New Paltz Area:
First: Apple Picking
1.)- Jenkins-Lueken Farm: This is my favorite place. I buy all of my fruit here for the season, and they are open all year round. Picking for berries lasts until the first frost, and apple last until the beginning of winter. http://www.jlorchards.com/
Directions: To find the farm, simply find your way to New Paltz, NY and head west on Route 299 out of town toward the mountains. You will cross an old bridge over the Wallkill River and drive for 4 miles until you see our farm on the left side of the road. Hope to see you there!
2.) Dressel Farms- http://www.dresselfarms.com/
Directions: From NYS Thruway I-87: Take Exit 18 (New Paltz). Make a left at the "T" onto Rt. 299 / Main Street. Continue through town and down the hill. At the stoplight in downtown New Paltz make a left onto Rt. 208 South / South Chestnut. Drive for about 2 1/2 miles. We're on the right.
From Rt. 44/55 (Gardiner): Turn at Ireland Corners traffic light onto Rt. 208 North. We are about 4 miles up the road on the left.
Some Spooks for the daring:
1. Historic Huguenot Street- This is a must for any local. Soak in some ghost stories and partake in the festivities with good old fashion Halloween treats such as bobbing for apples and a pumpkin carving contest: http://www.huguenotstreet.org/about_us/calendar.php
2. The Headless Horsemen Hayride- Very scary. Enough said. Not your kiddy ride at all. On that note, I apologize profusely to the man who sat next to me two years ago whom I nearly killed, because I jumped into his lap out of fear, and to the wife who fought me in the parking lot afterwards.
http://www.headlesshorseman.com/
.........and of course it is the perfect time of year to read some ghost stories, most notably works by Edgar Allen Poe. A personal favorite of mine is "Ligeia" and "The Raven," which will have you 'quothing' more and more!
Trick or Treat!
Writing Tip: Getting Started on a Longer Essay
When beginning a paper it is important to establish an outline first. This is achieved easily by turning the main points of the paper into questions. The desired length of the paper will determine how many questions. For example, if the topic is Outsourcing, questions will help to specify the main aspects such as "Where does outsourcing taking place? Why does outsourcing take place? Who is affected? What are the benefits? What are the consequences?" Questions like this will help to guide the paper into a more concise, unified essay. Finally, when all the questions have been answered, it is time to write the introduction and begin filling in the points.
Five Essential Skills Employers are looking for
What employers want: 5 more skills to cultivate: http://www.usatoday.com/money/jobcenter/workplace/kay/2011-05-30-skills-employers-want-part-ii_N.htm
By Andrea Kay, Gannett
If you are one of the estimated 2.5 million students graduating with a bachelor's or associate degree this spring, do you know what employers are looking for?
Most grads I ask don't.
Last week I shared three of the most highly rated skills employers watch for. Here are five more.
THE FIRST FIVE: Skills employers are looking for
MORE AT WORK: Andrea Kay's column index
• Writing skills
Employers don't mess around with this.
"Being able to get your point across means the difference between success and failure," says Mike Panigel, senior vice president human resources at global company Siemens, which has several thousand openings.
At UPS, workers must be able to communicate clear and concise messages and to "investigate, analyze and report their findings in a professional manner," says Matt Lavery, UPS managing director of corporate talent acquisition.
BAE Systems interviewers may ask for a writing sample to "literally see if the candidate can write" but also to see if you can organize and share ideas, says Curt Gray, senior vice president of human resources & administration.
Evaluation starts with your cover letter and resume, says President Dianne Durkin of Loyalty Factor, a consulting and training firm.
The recent MetLife Survey of the American Teacher: Preparing Students for College and Careers found that 97% of executives rate strong writing skills as absolutely essential or very important.
• Math skills
This might be more in demand in some positions, but all candidates must "demonstrate an understanding of applied math," specifically as it relates to business, Gray says.
Math skills help people understand the effect of their actions and the revenue they influence, says Tron Jordheim, chief marketing officer for self-storage company StorageMart.
• Problem solving
This skill is most imperative yet least understood.
It is what you do day in and day out. A simple example comes from a front desk clerk I encountered at my hotel last week. Since he was the only employee in the lobby, I told him that the exercise equipment in the fitness room didn't seem to be working.
His first response: "Well, I don't know how to work it."
That does not demonstrate problem-solving skills. "Let me call so-and-so to help you" does.
Problem solving is another way to say mental agility, Panigel says.
"A successful candidate knows how to quickly distill the key issues and relationships in complex situations," he says. To find out if you do that well, interviewers ask for a lot of tangible examples.
Durkin says companies evaluate this by offering up possible scenarios in their office, then they'll ask how you would resolve the issues.
The MetLife survey found that 99% of executives rate problem solving as absolutely essential or very important.
• That special something
Employers look for people who are distinctive.
Zoc Doc's Karsten Vagner says that's someone with leadership experience such as running your own business, being president of a club or captain of a sports team.
Siemens listens for people with intellectual curiosity who "have done something special such as studying abroad, putting themselves through school or starting a club or charity," Panigel says.
Another way to set yourself apart is to know about world issues. The MetLife survey found that 65% of Fortune 1000 executives think knowledge of other cultures and international issues is absolutely essential or very important to be ready for a career.
• Attitude
Attitude is so important that it rates its own category.
"You have to have passion for what we do," Durkin says. She can spot it in a candidate when you can explain with conviction why what you do is so important to a company.
Siemens looks for flexibility. Interviewers ask candidates to describe their experiences with a project that required them to change or reverse course.
"No two days are the same," Panigel says. "And there is no black and white. Dealing with nuance is a requirement of the job."
Friday, September 9, 2011
Writing Tip: Writing a Summary
Often professors will ask you to summarize an article that is relevant to the class. While reading, keep in mind the content of the class and how the article relates to the subject matter. Also, consider the author's point of view. Go through each paragraph, and in two-three sentences briefly write in your own words what the paragraph is about. At the end of the article, combine all the sentences together to create a summary and conclude with its relevance to the subject of the class.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Welcome Back
I am very excited to be back at the School of Business for the Fall 2011 semester. Check back for office hours, contact information, and fun happenings of the literary persuasion. Happy Writing! -AB
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
The Fall of Eliot Spitzer and the Financial Crisis of 2008
Two great documentries are playing at the Rosendale Theater and at Upstate Films: Check out their websites to find more information and trailers.
http://upstatefilms.org/
http://www.rosendaletheatre.org/
And in Rosendale....
http://upstatefilms.org/
http://www.rosendaletheatre.org/
Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer
 |
| |||||
| An in-depth look at the rise and fall of Governor Eliot Spitzer, once nicknamed “The Sheriff of Wall Street” by Academy Award winner Alex Gibney. | ||||||
| While serving as NY’s Attorney General, Spitzer “took no prisoners” as he tangled with prosecuted some of the most powerful Wall St. executives in the country. After his election as Governor, with the largest margin in the state’s history, he seemed White House-bound. Then, shockingly, Spitzer – the paragon of proper – was caught with prostitutes. Interviewing friends, colleagues, enemies, Albany powers like Joe Bruno, and employees of the Emperor’s Club, including “Angelina”, the film explores and reveals the hidden contours of this tale of power, sex, and hubris. And it makes one wonder about a deeper connection between the fall of a Governor and the free fall of the economy. | ||||||
| Unrated / 117 mins. | ||||||
| View Trailer | ||||||
| Read Reviews | ||||||
And in Rosendale....
Friday, January 21 through Wednesday, January 26, 7:15pmNo Show Tuesday, Special Event
Inside Job
'Inside Job' provides a comprehensive analysis of the global financial crisis of 2008, which at a cost over $20 trillion, caused millions of people to lose their jobs and homes in the worst recession since the Great Depression, and nearly resulted in a global financial collapse. Through exhaustive research and extensive interviews with key financial insiders, politicians, journalists, and academics, the film traces the rise of a rogue industry which has corrupted politics, regulation, and academia. 120 minutes | PG-13 | Documentary.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)