Reflection

1. Why did you choose this job ad? Do you feel that you are qualified for the position?

I chose this job because it is a marketing internship position. This internship would be a great learning experience as well as an enjoyable and rewarding way to spend my summer. I meet and exceed all of the qualifications for the position except the graduation requirement. The position wants to hire college students who are currently in junior or senior standing and I am only a sophomore. I am confident I am very qualified in my experience, education, and work ethic. If I was a year older I would be sure to apply for this position, and I hope in coming years more jobs like this will be available for me to apply to.

2. How long has the ad been posted? If it has been posted for a long period of time, are you sure that the position is still available? How?

The position was posted December 28, 2007, and it will remain posted until January 27, 2008. I know it is still available because it lists the interview date on February 13, 2008.

3. Where is the company located? Are you willing to move if it is out of state or in a foreign country?

The company is located in Oak Brook, Illinois. I live in Indianapolis, but I am willing to relocate. The company also offers temporary housing assistance which I could take advantage of.

4. Why is living in the area that the company is located appealing to you?

Living in Oak Brook is very appealing to me. The city is a suburb of Chicago and is only twenty minutes away from downtown Chicago. City life is very attractive to me. I would love to live down town, or near such a big central city. I have only traveled to Chicago a few times but I love that there is so much to do. Chicago has great shopping, attractions, and night life.

Job Ad Analysis

1. What skills is your prospective employer seeking, from most important to least important?

-Proficient with Microsoft Office

-Customer service skills

-Verbal and written communication skills

-Ability to multitask

-Previous work experience

-Illustrator experience

2. What exceptional skills do you have that prove you to be invaluable to this company or organization? Remember that your resume is not a record of what you’ve done, but a persuasive document that proves indisputably that you are the best person for the job.

-Proficient with Microsoft Office and computers

-People and communication skills

-Customer service skills

-Great work experience

-Creative

-Self motivated

3. As an exercise, list the skills, professional experience, personality traits, etc., the job ad is asking for in the left column, and in the right, write paragraphs that elaborate on and illustrate your skills, experience, etc.

Your prospective employer (list): You (paragraphs)

-Proficient in Microsoft Office: I work as a computer lab assistant currently for Purdue University. Here I assist users working with computers, normally Microsoft Office so I have to be knowlegable of them. In previous jobs I have also had intense experiences using these programs. I have typed many business reports, memos, and presentations. Along with this experience I have taken college courses to further train me in these programs.

 -Customer service skills: I am a very social and personable individual. I have had customer service experience in all of my jobs, particularly working as a manager at Einstein Bagels, as well as a receptionist, and computer assistant. In all of these experiences I have had first hand experience dealing with customers and working to solve problems to their satisfaction. I always do my best to please the customer and have had years experience doing so.

-Verbal and written communication skills: Throughout my high school and college experience I have excelled in advanced english courses. I hope to further develop these skills through more courses. In past internships I have been given the opportunity to give presentations alone, as well as with a team to executive staff. In some of my activities during college I have also been give the chance to develop these skills. Every year during sorority recruitment I develop my communication and interview skills. In my Greek Marketing Team I have also had to talk to large groups of people informing them about what is going on in our community.

-Ability to multitask: I am great at keeping busy and accomplishing many tasks in the same period of time. I am very involved at Purdue, and I was very involved in high school. In previous internships I was also given multiple projects to complete at the same time. I find I am more productive when given many tasks knowing that I am always keeping myself busy and there is more to be completed. 

-Previous work experience: I have had great past work experiences in which I can build on. I have been an employee of Einstein Bagels since my sophomore year of high school, and have been given the opportunity to advance in the store. I am now at Manager rank and am able to go back to work there whenever I am in town. I have technical work experience through my computer lab assistant job. I have also had two internships in the past giving me more networking opportunities and real-world work experience in fields I am interested in working in in the future. 

-Illustration experience: I am very creative and love any opportunity I am given to express my creativity. I high school I was given the chance to take advanced independent art classes, as well as computer design courses. I have also taken a photography course which we used computer programs to touch up and edit our pictures digitally. Also with my computer experience, I am very quick and willing to learn new programs. 

-Team and independent work habits: I love working with and interacting with other people. I have taken a college course in teamwork and taken many courses where I have completed group presentations and projects. I can also work very well independently. I love to utilize my resources in order to complete a task to the best of my ability.

History of the Company / Organization

1. Did you know anything about the company before you saw the job ad?

I did not know anything about Follett Higher Education Group before I saw this job ad. I have purchased text books through their company in the past though.

2. Does the company have a website? What is the URL?

The company does have a website. The URL is as follows: http://www.fheg.follett.com/.

3. What is the mission statement of the company?

Follett Higher Education Group is part of Follett Corporate. They have been established for 140 years and are guided by their past as an organization and their values. Follett Corporate have six values in which they follow. Their values consist of their customers, teamwork, integrity, accountability, innovation, and every associate within the corporation.

4. What are keywords on the website that you can use in your cover letter and interview?

–Follett values

-Campus contributions

-Family owned

-FHEG 133 years

-Follett Corporation 140 years

-750 stores nationwide

5. Write a few sentences about the history of the company. Remember that it is essential for you to learn as much about the company as possible; you can use such knowledge for your cover letter and interview.

Follett Higher Education Group is part of Follett Corporate. It has been operated for 133 years under the corporate 144 years. The company is family run and follows the corporate values on which it was founded. They have now grown to 750 book stores nationally and 1,800 independently managed stores. Their values consist of their customers, teamwork, integrity, accountability, innovation, and every associate within the corporation.

6. Based on your research, what is your personal sense about the company? What do you feel the company values?

Based on my research my personal sense about the company is that they are a very traditionally run corporation. They run under the same values in which they started which is respectable but conservative. I agree with the values of the company, but I am personally more modern and liberal. I feel I might be a little more fast paced and high strung for this company, although the qualifications do mention a fast past, multitasking environment.

7. Does Purdue’s Center for Career Opportunities have a networking system with this company?

Purdue does have a networking system with this company, that is where I actually for the job positing. Follett Higher Education Group is interviewing on campus and will be attending the career fair.

8. Do you have any personal connections to this company? Do you know anyone who works there? Does anyone in your family or friends of your family work there?

I do not have any personal connections to this company. I do not know any one that works there, or have any family in the organization.