8 Things 2019 Grads Can Do to Find Jobs

Congratulations to all recent and soon-to-be grads! You studied hard and made it out alive…. now what?

The job hunt can be intimidating and often times discouraging at first. However, don’t give up! Here are 8 things you can do to land that first “real life” job after graduation:

1. Customize Your Resume. You should always cater your resume to show you meet the qualifications of each and every job you apply for, just as you would your cover letter.
2. Tweak Your Resume Post-Interview. Continue to edit and strengthen your resume accordingly to address any questions potential employers have asked in interviews. Chances are, other employers will ask similar questions.
3.  Start Searching Now (And Don’t Stop). It’s never too early to start searching for jobs. Even after you apply for that “perfect fit,” continue your search until you receive an offer.
4.  Don’t Waste Your Time. If you know you don’t qualify for a position, do not waste your time and energy by applying just for the sake of doing so. Rather, spend that time finding jobs you have a legitimate shot at.
5.  Look Good, Feel Good. Invest some of that graduation money from relatives into a couple of great interview outfits. When you dress the part, you’ll play the part (don’t forget about the shoes!).
6.  Expand Your Network. Join professional organizations and get involved with their events. You never know who you may meet.
7.  Be Realistic. Even though you may not qualify for that dream job right out of the gate, don’t give up. Take into consideration that your first job is going to be a stepping stone to experience that will land you the dream job in the future.
8. Keep All Doors Open. You may be surprised that the job you think isn’t up your ally turns out to be a great fit. If you realize after the interview that you would not want to work there, consider it to be great interview experience under your belt.

Good Luck!

Top Tips for Creating Mutually Beneficial Business Partnerships

Partnerships, like most personal relationships, are not easy, but with the right care and “feeding,” they can grow your organization’s success exponentially. Partnerships in education are particularly beneficial and produce a win-win outcome, as businesses give back to their communities and students gain real-world training and potential employment opportunities.

Below are 5 key tips to keep in mind as you grow your network of partners.

Commitment.
Make sure you understand the commitment level of a potential partner. Setting expectations at the very beginning of a business partnership will ensure both parties that they will benefit from the relationship.

Make an Effort.
It is one thing to develop a partnership, but to maintain it successfully, you must make a noticeable effort. Partners are not solely there for when you “need” something. Making plans to attend community events (chamber of commerce meetings, etc.) to meet local business and community leaders is one great way to show that you are invested.

Goals.
It should be made entirely clear to all parties what the purpose and overarching goals of the partnership is – there must be a strategic fit between them. Start this process by surveying students, teachers and administrators to garner feedback on your school’s needs and how a business partner can help. Then, develop a benefits/value position check list detailing their benefits from a partnership with your school (workforce-ready students, dedicated staff, program alignment with industry, etc.). Once they say “YES,” draft a Partnership Agreement with clearly defined goals and expectations to be reviewed and evaluated annually. Include all that apply – internships, externships (for teachers), guest speakers, career fair participants, mentoring, tutoring – and listen to what the business may want and add to the list.

Chemistry.
Not all businesses will be a good fit. If a business’ values and needs don’t align with your school’s, remember that it’s OK to step away and keep looking.

Communicate.
Create a method for communication so that each party is motivated to share input. Check in often by sending newsletters, e-blasts and emails and let them know how things are going. It is also important to be honest about the things that turn out well and the things that could be improved. Discuss your mistakes so that both parties may learn from them and find resolutions to move forward successfully.

Having a network of business partners can be a great way to grow if roles are clearly defined, both are committed and communication flows both ways. You need complementary values, overarching goals and strengths to make it work, but the benefits are endless.

Vibing with Your Vendors: Top 10 Tips

Kicking off a new project on behalf of your client is always an exciting time, and imagining how happy your client is going to be with the finished project is motivation at its finest. However, working with numerous vendors and suppliers to get the job done can lead to a disorganized mess if you aren’t careful. Whether you are communicating with your trusted printer whom you’ve worked with for years or a brand new graphic designer, when you take on the role of the customer it is important to remember that communication is the key to success.

Here are our top 10 tips and tricks for establishing and maintaining a lasting relationship with your suppliers:

Come Prepared. It is important to be well informed of your client’s budget, timeline and expectations before initiating a new project with your vendor. The more information you can provide up front, the better.

Be a Straight Shooter. Don’t hesitate to take the lead and set the tone for the project, but always remember to remain honest and kind to your vendors.

Ask Questions. Acknowledge the expertise of your vendors and welcome their input. Often times, their suggestions can help to elevate your project even more.

Call-Backs Are OK. When you ask a vendor a question that they do not have the answer to at the time, give them the opportunity to find out and get back to you. Accurate information is more important than an unsure answer.

Discuss Invoicing Early. Be honest with your vendors about when you pay bills, and whether your supplier is to bill you or your client directly. Give them as much time as possible in advance to prepare their billing.

Set Expectations. Help your vendors by openly discussing your expectations for the project, such as establishing a clear timeline.

Address Issues. If something went wrong with the finished product, an experienced vendor will want to know about it. Give yourself some time to collect your thoughts before sharing with your vendor how they could have improved.

Be Realistic. Don’t ask your vendors to complete impossible tasks by making your emergency their emergency. If your vendor typically has a turnaround time of 7-10 days, don’t be upset when they cannot complete an order in 1 day.

Return Calls/E-mails. Be sure to respond to your vendor in a timely manner. If you get back to them quickly, they will return the favor.

Say Thank You! After the final product is produced, always let your vendors know how much you appreciate their work.

H&A Ranked #10 in List of Top San Diego PR Firms

Heying & Associates has landed a spot in San Diego Business Journal’s list of top 10 Public Relations Agencies in the area for 2018. Announced just after the New Year, H&A has jumped three spots ahead from last year’s list, and five spots ahead from the 2017 rankings. SDBJ provides its readers with hundreds of the greatest area companies in their fields by ranking each year.

To learn more about the San Diego Business Journal’s Book of Lists, click here.

Instagram Puts Stop to Fake Followers, Comments and Likes

In an attempt to put an end to automated apps that help users artificially grow their followers, Instagram is sending a warning to those users to change their password and cut ties with the inauthentic follows. Several techniques used to give the illusion that audiences are larger than they actually are include fake likes and comments, and following then unfollowing others in an attempt to get a “follow back.”

Utilizing a machine learning tool, Instagram will begin identifying accounts that use these third-party apps, which directly violates its Community Guidelines and Terms of Use.

21st Annual Garfield Thanksgiving Luncheon

Congratulations to Garfield High School on another successful Thanksgiving Luncheon at the Prado. Each year Garfield Culinary Arts students work alongside the Prado chefs and banquet staff to put on a grand Thanksgiving luncheon for the community, generously sponsored by the Garfield High School Foundation and Cohn Restaurant Group. Garfield High School works to prepare all their students to graduate with the skills, motivation, curiosity and resilience to succeed in their choice of college and career in order to lead and participate in the society of tomorrow.