Week 4 Project: MultiMedia Video Resume

Video resumes can be used in addition and sometimes in place of a regular resume, depending on the company.  A video resume should be made in such a way as it will stand out from others.

Week 4 Reflection: RISE Self-Evaluation

A self reflection is a chance for us to look back on our projects for the month and critique our work.  Hopefully, we will see our mistakes and learn from them.

My Media Story

This multimedia video assignment has us going through our MCBS journey here at Full Sail.  I've learned a lot and can see the improvement over time in my projects.

Week 4 Reflection: RISE Peer Review

It's important to get constructive critique from others no matter what your endeavor.  This is especially true when it comes to interviewing for a job.  Getting others' reactions to your interview style and responses can give you an idea of how you come across to actual interviewers and allows you to make changes before you interview for a position.  The classmate I'm reviewing is Margaret McDonald

Margaret's Mock Interview

Hi, Margaret

The first thing I noticed was how you presented yourself. I think your look was spot-on. The hairstyle and what I could see of the outfit appeared very professional and you looked well put together.

I was a bit confused about the interviewer’s question about the company. I believe the question was supposed to be asking the interviewee what she knew about the company. Even so, you should never ask what the mission of the company is. You need to know that before you ever walk into the interview. You should know as much about the company as possible. If an interviewer does ask you if you have a question about the company, I suggest thinking of something you might want to know that isn’t easily found on a Google search. Maybe something like, “How many different teams do you have and what are they?” You want to show them that you know how to do your due diligence. Especially since that’s probably what they want to know if they ask you that question.

You have a stiff delivery, but I think you just need to practice. Interviews are nerve-wracking. You have to practice what you want to say until you feel confident with it, which will help you be more natural and fluid in your responses.

You could really elevate your interview with some appropriate stories. You are obviously a writer. Remember, there is only one hard and fast rule in writing and it applies to almost anything else in life, too, including interviews. Show; don’t tell. Instead of telling me you’re hard working, give me an example of how you’re hard working. You probably want to stay away from the clichés of “honest, hard working” and that sort of thing. Being hard working is a good thing, but come up with a stronger way of saying it. Perhaps something like, “I always strive for a personal best in every task I do.” That’s a little awkward phrasing, but you get the idea. Then launch into a story about a time your superiors recognized you for that or where your diligence really paid off for a company you worked for.

Competition for jobs is fierce. One way to give yourself a fighting chance is by making yourself memorable—just make sure it’s in a good way. Giving a grocery list of your strengths and weaknesses doesn’t give them anything to remember you by. You have to give them something that no one else can and that’s your personal experiences. You don’t want them to say, “What did she say her strengths were again?” You want them to say, “Remember that one girl that said she tries for a personal best on everything she does? I really like the idea of that.”

With some practice and a little enthusiasm, I think you can give a great interview. Your video gave me a sense that you are a smart girl. What you need to do is to make sure I KNOW you’re an intelligent, confident, and capable woman.

Week 3 Project: Mock Interview

Interviews aren't as easy as they used to be.  A job seeker has to go in armed with information and ready to impart it well.

I'm to point out my top 3 strengths in the interview and 2 areas that need improvement.

Strengths:

1. I am outgoing and able to talk to people as though I've known them all my life, so I have a good conversational style.   
2. The stories I use are appropriate and interesting.
3. I have good, solid questions that will give me a good idea on what the company and the job is like.

Needs improving:

1. I need to be a little more practiced and know what I want to say a bit better.  I had to look at my notes a bit too much.
2. I talk with my hands like and old Italian grandma.  I probably need to keep my hands a bit less animated.

The assignment:  A mock interview.  The actors:  Me as the interviewer, me as the interviewee.

Week 3 Practice: Interviewing With Examples

A lot of companies use situational questions for interviews.  Knowing some of the stories you might tell before the interview is helpful.

Week 3 Analysis: Company Questions

Interviewers like prospective employees to ask questions at the end of a job interview.  They feel that if an interviewee doesn't care enough to have questions, they don't care enough for the job.  Job seekers should always bring a list of questions to an interview and make sure to ask them--just as long as they don't ask how much it pays or when they will be getting a raise.  Let's stay tasteful.

Questions and reflections:

1.  What kind of challenges could I expect to face in a typical day in this position?

Reflection:  I like to work jobs that not only allow me to stretch my creative wings, but I enjoy being regularly challenged.  If the work is not challenging enough, I can get bored and boredom is a very bad thing for me.  What I'm looking for in this question is to see what kind of challenges are most prevalent in the role and whether or not I will find the day-to-day work interesting.

2.  I know this company handles a number of different kinds of projects.  What kinds of projects would I be working on?

Reflection:  I specifically want to be getting into making video game and/or movie trailers, which I know this company does do.  Asking this will let me know if I will have the opportunity to work on the trailers as part of my regular projects or if I would only be working on commercials and nothing more.  Either way would not mean I would not take the job if offered, but it would shape how I would want my career with them to proceed.

3.  Are the creatives encouraged to be bold and try new things in their projects or does the company have a tried and true formula that they prefer to adhere to?

Reflection:  I don't mind doing formulaic work sometimes, but I prefer a position that allows me to truly stretch myself creatively and formula work isn't usually terribly conducive to such a thing.  I'm looking to discover what kind of a company it is.  Those who don't mind giving their creatives some leeway are usually a lighter, more spontaneous atmosphere in which I thrive.  Companies that like to use the same formula tend to be more subdued, less spontaneous, and might find me a bit more than what they are used to.  As the sixth of six children, I'm used to controlled chaos and prefer a livelier atmosphere when I work.  I get nervous when I have to work in a place that is silent.  I only like the sound of silence when I'm surrounded by mountains; otherwise, I work better with some noise.

4.  Why is this role available?

Reflection:  This is a good way to find out some information about the ability to move upward within the company.  I don't mind starting out at the bottom.  I expect that.  I just don't want to stay on the bottom for a long time.  Once I've learned the job, I want the opportunity to move up.  If there is no place to go, this is probably not the company for me.

If the position is a new one, they are probably a company that is experiencing some healthy growth which makes it a more stable place to work.

5.  What would be your expectations in regard to my performance and skills within the first 12 months?

Reflection:  I'm still learning this new career.  Some companies will hire you out of school, yet expect their newbies to have the knowledge of someone that has been doing the job for years.  Other companies are fine with your level of expertise, but don't want to bother with training you further.  I don't even want to start at a company that has unrealistic goals for their employees, whether they're expecting too much from the new hire or too little.

Week 3 Practice: Virtual Interview Preparation

Although video interviews can be more convenient for all parties than face-to-face, it can make things a little difficult for the job seeker.  We need to have a space available that can be made to look professional and that isn't always easy.

Week 3 Exploration: Company Research

Before applying for any job, a job seeker should be aware of the company they're interested in.  Not only will it help keep them from wasting valuable time on jobs with a company they may not like, it will help immensely with any possible interviews that might arise from the application.


Pop Cap Games

Week 2 Project: Reaching Out to Target Employers

This activity is part of the lesson series about how to build a professional network.  Networking is extremely important in today's job market, so job seekers need to know how to connect with people that may be able to help them get the job they want.


Email:

Networking Voicemail:

My Media Story

Week 2 Practice: Elevator Pitch

Week 2 Practice: Elevator Pitch

Practice makes perfect.  Practicing the elevator pitch will make me more natural when the need to do this pitch arises.

Week 2 Analysis: Building A Professional Network

Building a Professional Network

This exercise is to provide us with some tools to build a professional network.  Even when we think we don't have any connections to anyone within our chosen industry, this assignment has provided us with helpful suggestions that show us just how many connections we really have access to.

Week 2 Practice: Networking Events & Organizations

For this assignment we are to identify one industry related conference and one industry related organization.

Adobe Max
The Adobe Max Creativity Conference starts November 2, 2016.  This conference is for all creative fields from writing and editing to fashion design.  The Day 1 Keynote panel is called, "The Future of Creativity and Design."  Day 2 is, "Community Inspires Creativity."  Some of the speakers includes Quentin Tarantino and has a list of guest speakers that are experts in many creative industries such as videography and video editing, graphic design, and web design.  This is a conference I will definitely try to make in the future.

Digital Media Association
DIMA is an organization that considers itself the ambassador for the digital media industry.  DIMA's main concern is about the legalities that face today's media.  Copyright infringement, fair use, digital taxation, and other issues have become extremely murky since the explosion of online media.  DIMA fights for the creative rights of digital media professionals.

Week 2 Exploration: Building a Target List

This is an incredibly helpful assignment for building a target list of potential employers.  There's only so much you can do with job boards like Indeed and Monster.  Since I want to relocate, I found this activity especially useful for exploring the possibilities in the area where I want to live.

I only have two connections at the moment that may know some of the people in these companies.  One is Cody, an audio designer for ArenaNet, which is based in the Seattle area.  The other is Eric Bright, a buyer and manager for Game Stop Corporate.  I know Eric from when he was the Walmart Senior Video Game Buyer.  In the course of his work, Eric has gotten to know many people in the video game and video production industry in the Seattle area.

Target List

A Tailored Resume

I chose to use the artistic style of resume.  I didn't make it exactly the way it was described in the tutorial, but then it wouldn't be very creative or artistic if I did.  I did follow many of the suggestions, however.  I used this one because creativity and fun were stressed within the job description, so I felt the employer is looking for someone that doesn't quite fit the corporate mold.  My first resume scanned on Jobscan.com with a 38%.  Not as bad as it could be, but certainly not as good, either.  After reworking the resume, I returned with an 83%.  I added both hard and soft skills keywords that were used within the job description as well as the name of the position itself in order to catch any search the employer might use.

Before:

https://www.jobscan.co/results/1366481

After:

https://www.jobscan.co/results/136618

I'm having a problem embedding the PDF, so here's the shareable link:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8oq9D6M0qp1MEcyYk1jbW1IUFk/view?usp=sharing

Week 1 Practice: A Tailored Cover Letter

This week we had to write a cover letter for a job we are interested in.  Cover letters can be difficult to write and it's helpful, and a good idea, to have someone go over it to make sure it sounds professional yet personable.

Here's the link to the job description.  It's on Indeed, so you may have to login to be able to see it.

Junior Editor Assistant

Week 1 Analysis Discussions: My LinkedIn Profile

Linkedin is an important business tool.  Companies look at the Linkedin profile of potential employees when they see a resume they're interested in.  A good Linkedin profile is necessary in order to help yourself stand out in the crowd.


LinkedIn Profile

Week 1 Practice: Branded Professional Touch Points

Many job seekers forget about, or are unaware of, the need for professional touch points.  The reason for this assignment is not only to remind us of these necessary job search tools, but to encourage us to make these now rather than wait until later.


Professional email signature:

Paula Howard

Digital Storytelling

paulahoward2211@gmail.comhttp://paulahoward2211.wixsite.com/personal-portfolio

"Editing helps you write better scripts and writing helps you tell better stories." 
                                              -- Rene Otero, Digital Video Editing, Full Sail University


Voice message greeting:

Business card:

Professional Bio:

I'm a digital storyteller with plenty of plot bunnies running through my head.  It sometimes gets crowded up there.   I discovered a particular fondness for storytelling through video editing while earning my Bachelor's in Media Communications at Full Sail University.

I've been a freelance writer since 1995 writing parenting articles.  More recently I have been working on honing my fiction skills.  At present I am reworking an action/thriller novel and am partnering with my son on a fantasy novel.

Most of my working life I have experienced most aspects of retail sales.  I have owned and managed a gift shop, managed convenience stores, and have worked in a number of different roles within Walmart Corporate offices.  Through these different job experiences, I've done store planning, package design, project management, advertising and marketing strategies, product buying and replenishment.

My varied experiences add up to a strong skill set that would be advantageous in my new career path of Media Communications, preferably in video editing and storytelling for the video game industry.    

Exploration Week 1: Identifying Industry Jobs and Keywords

The assignment was to find a job in the Communications industry and identify the keywords and phrases in the job description.  This was to help us understand how important keywords and phrases are in acquiring a job and to help us pinpoint what the most important keywords we will need to use for the type of position we want.

Project 2 Revisited

The assignment:  Make a flyer that will travel on a balloon from South Korea into North Korea that will attempt to convince N. Koreans to defect.

The main color scheme of my flyer is yellow and red-orange.  Yellow is considered the happiest color in the spectrum.  I wanted to give the impression of happiness and joy.  I toned the hue down to more of a canary yellow so it doesn't burn out people's retinas.  The orange notes in the red-orange radiate warmth and pleasure, as well as optimism and emotional strength.  The red overtone adds a bit of excitement to the mix.  I also use these colors because of their brightness in order to contrast with the gray overtones found in the dismal living conditions of many of the residents.

I went with a simple design this time with pictures of happy families spread across the page.  The text reads, "Join our happy family."  This suggests that those N. Koreans who choose to make that journey to S. Korea will not only find a new place to live and become a citizen of a new country, but also become a member of the family.  It suggests that S. Korea will give them a home and a sense of belonging.  I feel this simple tagline will be interpreted by the North Koreans reading it as being welcomed with open arms.

The South Korea logo at the bottom is almost a call to action.  Without coming right out and saying, "Hey, come to South Korea!" it's telling them where they can go to find this happy family.

The back of the flyer has an even more muted yellow in order to not overwhelm the audience.  It shows the official South Korean logo of the yin-yang surrounded by bars.  I replaced the blue and red with the more neutral sepia to give a better sense of calmness even as it reinforces the happiness of the yellow.  In the center is the South Korean motto of, "Benefit Broadly the Human World."  I felt this fit well with the idea presented on the front of the flyer.  It's basically showing the North Koreans that the South Koreans aren't inviting them over for political or self-serving reasons, but for altruistic ones.  It indicates that this open-armed invitation is sincere and not just an attempt to lure them into some kind of a trap where they will be used as political fodder.

I think the North Koreans will appreciate the clean, simple design and the happy colors and message.

Week 4 Exploration

Tonight I decided to read about political blogs.

Week 3 Exploration

This is the video blog for the Week 3 Exploration.  Topic for today is Online Friendships.

Week 2 Exploration

I watched the video with Noam Chomsky, Glenn Greenwald, and Edward Snowden called "A Private Conversation."  This is my observations.

Week 1 Project 1

After watching 7 hours worth of documentary, our assignment was to compare and contrast Edward Bernays and Noam Chomsky's philosophies on controlling the masses.  The documentaries were interesting, but trying to retain all that information was tough.  This is the result.

DISCLAIMER:
The images in this video are used under the provisions for Educational Fair Use and media critique.

REFERENCES:

Achbar, M., & Wintonk, P. (Producers). (1992). Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media [Video file]. Retrieved October 2, 2016, from http://www.veoh.com/watch/v6573840ByBBKGNt

Curtis, A. (Producer). (2015, July 9). The Century of the Self [Video file]. Retrieved October 2, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJ3RzGoQC4s

Toporek, S. (Director). (n.d.). Beware of Images [Video file]. Retrieved 2011, from https://vimeo.com/147539147

Photographs:

Natoli, C. (n.d.). Corporations [Photograph]. Morguefile.com.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/50708465@N00/29901319462/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/27384147@N02/5154759016/

https://morguefile.com/search/morguefile/4/billboard/pop

https://morguefile.com/search/morguefile/4/yuck/pop

https://www.flickr.com/photos/34128007@N04/4759823839/

https://morguefile.com/search/morguefile/3/homeless/pop

https://www.flickr.com/photos/7653630@N05/707232404/

https://morguefile.com/search/morguefile/3/paris/pop

https://www.flickr.com/photos/22783420@N03/22398933024/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/69384212@N04/29674838590/

https://morguefile.com/search/morguefile/3/vote/pop

https://morguefile.com/search/morguefile/3/zombies/pop