Computer Lab: Day 1 (Accounts & Word Processing)

Don't forget to bring your draft references and résumé so we can type them up in the computer lab tomorrow!

Today we will be using the computer lab to create some Google accounts, explore the Google Drive, and use word processing software (one of the Google Docs).

Our projects will include:

• References
• Résumés
• Email

To begin with, create a new Google Account (if you don't already have one).  This will be your email address, your Google Docs login, etc.  Sometimes Google asks you for a phone number to verify that you are a real person.  If you don't have a phone, you may have to borrow one from a friend for a few seconds.

Next we will look at Email.  You can either click the Gmail button in your Google Account or you can go to Gmail.com to access the tool.  You will send an email to: askgriff@gmail.com  and the subject of the email will be your name.  You can just type "Hello" or something in the email to get full credit for this assignment.

Résumé Template:  (Click Here)

Portfolio & Letters of Recommendation

Employment Portfolio:  

Requesting a Letter of Recommendation:
During the course of this class we are building our portfolio's to prepare for the future.  An important component to a good portfolio is a "Letter of Recommendation" (or several of them, if possible).  The big question is, "How do I ask for a letter of recommendation?"

• First of all, make your request early:  Give the letter writer two weeks if possible.  The more time the writer has to think about your background and review the information you give him/her, the better job they will do in writing your.
• Assemble the necessary materials:  Include a brag sheet or at least a list of your accomplishments and activities, the abilities or qualities you would like them to focus on, who the letter should be addressed to [if applicable], and a SASE (Self Addressed Stamped Envelope) if the letter is to be mailed back to you.
• Choose good references:  You want to choose someone that has a good reputation, who writes well, who speaks highly of you, and who knows you fairly well.  Think before you ask -- don't ask a teacher for a letter of recommendation if you have a 'D' or 'F' in their class or if they have had to send you to the office for being disruptive.  Think of someone you have impressed or really "been there" for.

___________________________________________

PORTFOLIO CHECK:  When I do a portfolio check I will be looking for format, organization, and a variety of documents.  These are the sorts of documents I will be looking for when I do portfolio checks:

Format:

• Nice / Professional Looking Binder
• Sheet Protectors for Important Documents (Section One)

Section One (Your Portfolio):

• Résumé 
• List of References
• Letter(s) of Recommendation
• Awards or Certificates [Optional]
• Transcripts [Optional]

Section Two (Interview / Application Prep):

• Brag Sheet
• Cover Letter: Ad Response
• Cover Letter: Referral
• Cover Letter: Cold Contact
• Follow-Up Letter (To Job Application)
• Thank You Letter (For Interview)
• Sample Job Application (Completed As Reference)
• Handshake Etiquette Handout
• 25 Most Common Interview Mistakes
• 25 Most Common Interview Questions
• Questions to Ask During an Interview
• Extra's (i.e. Notepad, Pen, Breath Mints, Deodorant, etc.)

Portfolio: Brag Sheet

Your homework is to ask a parent/guardian and a friend/family member for feedback about who you are, what your strengths are, etc.  We will use that information (and the experiences you have listed on your résumé) to create a "brag sheet."


So what is a brag sheet?

When applying for a job, a college, or a social program (i.e. becoming a foster parent) you need letters of recommendation -- a letter from someone you know who is willing to vouch for your character, experience, or skills.

The biggest difficulty in getting a letter of recommendation is asking someone and, of course, letting them know what it is you need from them.  What should they talk about in the letter?  What should they avoid?  Are there any achievements you would like them to highlight?  Are there other things you want them to know before they write your recommendation?

Today we will be creating a "Brag Sheet" with some of your history and accomplishments that you can give to someone when you ask for a letter of recommendation.

Required:

1. Name as you would like it to appear on the letter.
2. Address, Phone Number, and Email (similar to résumé)
3. Do you have an intended major when applying to college?  What experience(s) have influenced this planned goal?
4. About Me:  Create a bulleted list of six adjectives which you, your family, or friends would use to describe you.  Give an example for each.
5. What are your proudest personal accomplishments?
6. What do you choose to learn on your own time?
7. Looking back at middle and high school, create bulleted lists of each the following:

• Extracurricular (Student government, yearbook, music, drama, art, clubs, etc.)
• Volunteer/Community Services
• Sports (organized sports in and out of school)
• Summer Experiences (Mission trips, summer travel programs (not vacations), etc.)
• Awards/Honors (Includes school, regional or national prizes in any subject, sports awards, etc.)
• Employment (Camp counselor, babysitting, tutoring, internships, jobs, etc.
• Hobbies (Interests that are not organized, like reading [with a book list], computer programming, etc.  Be selective)

Recommended:

1. Which course(s) have you enjoyed most?  Why?
2. Which course(s) have given you the most difficulty?  Why?
3. What positive factors (such as personal, family, summer experiences, teacher interactions) have contributed to your performance?
4. Have there been events, circumstances or experiences which have had a negative impact on your academic standing?  (Moving, cultural differences, sickness, accidents, divorces, deaths, etc.)
5. Looking back, how would you describe your high school experiences in the following ways:

• Academically
• Personally 

Notes:

• List extracurricular activities and hobbies in order of their importance to you.
• Everything else should be listed in chronological order, beginning with the most recent.
• Keep your Brag Sheet on 2 pages (or even better, 1 two-sided sheet).

How We See Ourselves

As we have discussed, when I ask you all to tell me about yourselves you often tell me, "I'm short" or "I'm skinny".  Who you are is different than what you are -- and quite often, "what we are" is often seen through a filter we have built for ourselves.  And we are generally more critical of what we look like than others are. 

 

The Rule of Thirds

The most basic principle in photography, layout or design is The Rule of Thirds.  The basic idea is that you can divide your photo into an equally divided 3x3 grid with focal targets [sometimes called "sweet spots"] occur at the line intersections.  Photos that the human eye perceives as good or powerful tend to follow the Rule of Thirds.  Even the masters -- painters from hundreds of years ago -- used the Rule of Thirds... although it didn't really become a "rule" until photography came into being.  And even then... it's more of a guideline.  :)

So how do we use the Rule of Thirds in our own compositions?

If you were to look through a viewfinder or at a camera screen you can divide it into thirds by mentally making a Tic-Tac-Toe grid:

Many cameras have a grid or boxes or "corners" indicating where the "sweet spots" are in the photo:

Some phone apps (the iPhone Photo App, for example) have pre-built "Rule of Thirds" helpers:

The idea is that the human eye focuses most on the areas where the lines intersect.  So if we put the focal point of the photo in one of the intersections, the image becomes more attractive or interesting.

Another use of the Rule of Thirds is to place the subjects eyes on the horizontal line.  Ideally one of the eyes would be on one of the interesctions, while the eyes would be looking to the opposite side into the empty space.  This image of a cat is fairly close.

If you are taking (or cropping an existing) landscape photograph, the Rule of Thirds can be used to help add interest to the shot.  Sometimes the horizon line is on [or close to] one of the two horizontal lines.  Sometimes the picture can be divided into three areas -- the foreground, the focal point, and the background.  In the example below, the horizon line follows the bottom line while the subject of the photo is exactly on the interesection.

Here are a few more examples demonstrating the Rule of Thirds:

Now look at the following photographs and see if they follow the Rule of Thirds -- and if so, in what ways:

The Rule of Thirds is utilized in movies as well as photographs.  This is an example of a commercial with the Composition Lines overlayed on the movie.

This guy did a music video about the Rule of Thirds:

A more advanced explanation about the Rule of Thirds can be seen in the video below:

http://blog.muddyboots.org/2007/07/rule-of-thirds.html

http://www.everydayhdr.com/?p=1367



Job-Specific Personal Statement

I would like you to have at least one job-specific "Personal Statement" for your portfolio. Sometimes there will be a box on an application (see below) and sometimes a prospective employer will want one typed up. Many colleges also look for a "Personal Statement" written up as an essay discussing who you are, what your philosophy of education is, and what you plan to do with your life -- but we may do one of those a bit later.  For now, I want you to think of a specific job you might apply for once you leave high school.  If you can't think of a specific job (i.e. a janitorial worker at Jellico Hospital... or a cashier at Wal Mart... or a waitress at J Bones) and work from that.  You may come back to these later for answering the question on an application or if you are writing a letter for prospective employment.

5 Occupations That Interest Me

Your goal for today is to create a list of "Ten Occupations That Interest Me".  Be honest, sincere, and realistic -- If you want to include a humorous occupation in your list, make it your 11th item.

Include the following items for each occupation:

• Title of the occupation
• Why are you interested in this occupation?
• What are the challenges or road blocks that could keep you from getting this occupation?
• Where do people in this occupation typically live?  Would you enjoy living there?
• Which of your skills, abilities, or personality traits fit well with this occupation?
• Do you know anybody who currently has this occupation?  
• What do you think the annual salary is for this occupation?

For example:

History Teacher: I love history and I would like to have the same schedule as my kids some day.  I would also like to take off Summers and I like helping people.

• Challenges would be getting my college degree and student teaching.
• People in this job live anywhere.  
• I am organized and I like working with people and I love history.
• I know a lot of teachers.
• I think think the annual salary for teachers is about $34,000.