Reflection

So I had my mock interview Monday at 6, and things didn't start too well for me. I chose to interview for an actual full time position as an office manager at AppleOne. First I spent 15 minutes trying to log into Second Life, and I was never able to do so. So, I had to conduct a phone interview, which was a lot easier than I thought it was going to be. I was really nervous that I was going to get stuck on questions, and not have good enough answer. However, I feel like I had relatively quick responses to questions, and thought my answers were good too. Overall I think my interview went really well, and I think I am better prepared for an actual interview.

Free Write

For my free write I've decided to write about what I want to do this summer. My plans for this summer haven't started off as great as they have been. I wanted to start out by studying abroad in Italy this summer for a month, but my parents placed a halt on that idea till next summer. I was really looking forward to it, and was beyond ecstatic about going. I did research on different programs and searched for flights which makes not going worse. For the past two years I have taken a family vacation for a week to Mexico, and this year my papa is sick so no vacation. So, this summer I will be around Clemson and at my house, and hopefully will have a better job than I have now. Working as a student for Clemson doesn't pay the bills to put it one way. I was really hoping to find an internship somewhere local, but it seems that everyone is looking for juniors or seniors. So, now I'm just hoping to get a job that pays more than 6 bucks an hour, and enjoy my free time on what is left of Hartwell Lake.

Cover Letter

I would say that I do agree with the advice given. The job market is very crowded, and to get that one job you have to do everything possible to set yourself apart. This apparently includes making a great cover letter on the chance that that possible employer likes your resume. I would have to say that what helped me the most from the tutorial is the sample cover letter because I always learn best when someone shows me an example instead of just telling me. This tutorial really taught me a lot of things that I didn't know, and probably wouldn't have considered. To be honest with you I didn't think that much went into a cover letter, especially that it was suppose to be all about the company. However, when you think about it, it really does make sense because they do already get a grasp of who you are, and if you're interested then you should know a little about them. I also didn't know that the cover letter is the last thing that an prospective employer looks at. Given that it is shown first I would automatically assume it was glanced over first. Basically, I plan to rely heavily on this website because it is actually a great guide to designing your cover letter.

Virtual Interviews

I think that the idea of having job interviews within Second Life is a good idea. There are still going to be some disadvantages as there are with everything else, but I think that the advantages could possibly out weight the disadvantages. For starters it is extremely convenient for employers to go to a virtual world to recruit future employees because it helps cut out traveling. Also, as the article mentioned it is an excellent way for computer software programmers to interview because it is essentially their world in which they work, and could definitely tell a lot about that applicant. Although, I would say that one big disadvantage concerning conducting interviews in Second Life is that you aren't able to get a great of feel for who that person actually is personality wise. Some people having amazing personalities that nail them the job, and these traits wouldn't be as noticeable there. I think that it is definitely a step into the future having interviews in virtual worlds, and I think that it could prove to be very beneficial.

Persuasive Differences

Martin Luther King Jr. wrote "Letter from Birmingham Jail" in his actual jail cell in Birmingham, AL in 1963. Within this letter King addresses who he calls the clergymen, concerning their personal, yet widely held, belief that racial justice is fair and should be left alone. King has an amazing use of persuasion that one cannot only admire. Through a dignified and educated tone within in his letter he expresses his belief and objective in life that segregation is injustice and affects everyone around. He uses Biblical figures to parallel his mission to bring justice to every American. He answers the questions prompted within the clergymen's letter, and provides powerful answers of honesty. Through his letter King was able to express his belief that injustice has occured in Birmingham, as well as all over, and justice must be brought to every individual through the use of nonviolent protest and civilized reasoning between individuals.
For choosing something to compare, I looked on Monster.com because I'm not set on a company to work for. I found a company called AppleOne which is located in Columbia, SC that has an accounting/mangerial position open. The description was very persuasive to me because it covered all the areas I am and will be looking for. It offers a management position within a small/medium size firm that would allow me to not only lead other team members, but also work a lot with accounting information and procedures. It was persuasive to me because it went into what the actual job intailed, as well as very tempting benefits that are offered.
The two pieces of work are very different in many ways, but in particular their intended audience and subject matter. King uses power symbolism, beautifully assembled language, and a moving subject to persuade his audience. On the other hand, AppleOne is trying to persuade future applicants by appealing to interest and needs, and uses basic language. In the job discription it uses its features to show what they can offer you, and why that job opportunity is different than the rest. Both pieces are persuasive, however still completely different.