Advice from Christie Hefner

Today, I had the pleasure of seeing Christie Hefner, CEO and Chairman of Playboy Enterprises, Inc., speak at a fundraising breakfast for Dress for Success (DFS), a non-profit organization that promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help underprivileged women. Chicago Kimpton Hotels is one of the clients that my firm currently represents and they support DFS through a corporate initiative, so I got to help out with the event!

She was an amazing and poignant speaker, asking to not use a podium for such an intimate setting. Without notes, Hefner offered her career advice to the professional audience. Main Point: I got to hear Christie Hefner’s advice for getting ahead and getting involved; two things that she pointed out go hand in hand. She touched on three main tips:

Be a Good Listener – Though some people think they’re good listeners, most of the time they are thinking when they should be listening. Listening allows you to really find out what the other person is looking for and the more you hear - the more you can give them exactly what they want, both in your personal and professional life.

Taking Risks – You can’t go any further if you stay in the same place. Calculated and educated risks were her main emphasis here. Don’t take a risk you don’t know the negative outcomes for, this way you will be prepared for everything (even the worst). If it pays off, even better! Hefner spoke about her risk to jump into the digital world in 1994 when she decided to put a “dot com” on the end of Playboy. She put Playboy on the map when it was the first magazine on the internet. Now, playboy.com is the fastest profit growing resource of Playboy Enterprises, Inc.

Networking – Of course! Though Hefner noted that she was able to get into Playboy Enterprises, Inc. through her father (Hugh Hefner), she stressed that networking puts you in places that resumes can only dream of going. Friends like helping friends and keep in mind that the way we asked her to speak at the event was through my boss, a networking contact!

Getting Involved: The sooner you can start helping an organization that you’re passionate about, the better so that in the future it becomes second nature to give back.

Wow! What powerful advice . . . I was absolutely floored by her! What do you guys think of Christie Hefner? Her advice?

Entertainment Q&A

Question: I want to get a job as a broadcast manager on a cruise ship right after graduation. What can you tell me about the application process? –Laura from Peoria, IL

Answer: If you want to get a job on a cruise ship right after graduation, you need to begin applying at least 6 months in advance. Cruise lines require applicants to email their resumes and cover letters; the applicants then wait to be contacted. You should research the cruise line you’d like to apply to and make sure you meet all their requirements as well. In order to work on a cruise ship you are required to obtain certain visas, passports, etc. which can also take time to process. It can take 2-3 months before your application is even reviewed, and the subsequent interview process can be lengthy depending on your location and the location of the nearest representative. Finding work on a cruise ship is a lengthy process, and the work can be grueling. Do your research beforehand, and make sure it’s something you really want to do before fully committing your time.

Answered by Caitlin Green

The Front Door and the Glass Ceiling

It's fitting that this March, National Women's History Month, Vanity Fair printed this article, arguing that women today are, in fact, as funny (if not funnier) than female comedians of the past. The piece comes on the heels of an article from Christopher Hitchens, a contributing editor at Vanity Fair, that argues that women are: a) not funny, and b) don't have to be because they can impress men with their looks. Aside from the clear heterosexist stance Hitchens assumes in this piece (does he mean to imply, then, that lesbians have a clear path to witty banter because they're not consistently consumed with a desire to impress the opposite sex?), there are many, many assertions in this piece that irk me. To wit:

"There are more terrible female comedians than there are terrible male comedians, but there are some impressive ladies out there. Most of them, though, when you come to review the situation, are hefty or dykey or Jewish, or some combo of the three."

It's statements such as these that make this month's Vanity Fair manifesto even more deliciously appealing. As National Women's History Month draws to a close, let's take a quick poll in honor of our favorite funny women.

Who is your favorite female comedian/comedic actress of today?

Who is your favorite female comedian/comedic actress of the pre-1970's era?

Who is your favorite female comedic writer?

I look forward to reading your opinions!

For more information on National Women's History Month, visit the National Women's History Project.

Cover Letter Conundrum

I always feel that cover letters are treated as the “Second-hand” to resumes, but cover letters are the passageway to tell your potential employer who YOU are and not just want experience you have. Here are some links to great articles and advice about cover letters:

Dos & Don’ts of Cover Letters

Maximize Your Cover Letter’s Power

Five Common Cover Letter Mistakes

Yes, You Really Need a Cover Letter!


If you don’t get a chance to visit these, remember these 3 major takeaways:

1. Don’t lose them with the first sentence – Start with something that sums you up in the beginning to make sure they keep reading.
2. Do List Contact Information – even though it might be on your resume, they may want to write or call you right on the spot and this makes it much easier to find it.
3. Do list the job qualifications needed from the job description – don’t just talk about you, talk about what skills you have that they need.

Do you have any good advice for writing cover letters? Bad experiences when sending out your cover letter and resume?

Spring Around the Corner

A year ago I was dreading springtime. I had only two months until graduation and was unsure of what I would be doing the following year. I busied myself in writing my graduation thesis--partly out of necessity, and partly because it kept my mind off my impending cap and gown. All told, transitioning from college to the "real world" was the most challenging adjustment of my life. My college was made up of a tiny, tight-knit, women's community, in which the vast majority of students lived on campus. We lounged in bathing suits in the middle of the campus quad (the way only Southern Californians could) and spent entire days curled up together on our dumpy dorm mattresses watching old movies and eating entire boxes of Wheat Thins in one sitting. We designed homemade costumes for theme parties using only scraps of fabric and industrial strength glue, and we never felt the least bit childish about it. While other college students moved into apartments by their junior year, the ladies of Scripps relished having more time in Claremont, the oasis of an otherwise industrial wasteland: Southern California's Inland Empire.

As you can imagine, moving to Boston was quite an adjustment.

I certainly don't mean for this blog entry to be a downer, but if anyone who is still in college is reading this right now, they probably understand all too well how I felt a year ago. Spring Break is over, graduation is around the corner and, unless you are exceptionally lucky, you're probably not 100% sure what's coming next for you.

With this in mind, I've compiled a list of resources I wish I had known about when I first graduated back in 2007:

Life After College
This is a fantastic resource. Life After College contains information on everything from finding a job, applying to grad school, and managing your funds. The site even includes links to useful cooking websites, for those of you weaning themselves off cafeteria food.

Craigslist

It's probably silly to think that any of you haven't heard of Craigslist, but here's a reminder: Craigslist is AMAZING. Not only does Craigslist have a comprehensive list of available jobs, it also has a marketplace for inexpensive furniture and housing. This is a good place to start if you're a new grad.

Meetup
About to go live in a completely new city? Relocating to a town where you know absolutely no one? Take a look at meetup.com. The site is home to thousands of clubs and organizations in every US city imaginable. It's a great way to meet people and get involved in your community.

And, of course, don't forget Experience.com! I assume since you made it to this blog, you've seen lots of it already, but this is a great place to get started on a career. Explore Experience's resources and see what might be helpful for you!

Poll Time!

I love hearing stories about people’s interviews for jobs and internships. Here’s a chance for you to tell me about your experiences!! Feel free to answer one or all of the questions. I’ll share mine if you share yours!


What is the craziest question you have been asked at an interview? How did you respond?

What do you think is the worst mistake you can make during an interview?

Have you ever embellished your achievements to get a job/internship?

In Praise of Creative Media

Oklahoma Representative Sally Kern is feeling the full force of an active, creative media community.

Over the weekend, Rep. Kern went on an anti-gay tirade during a meeting with an audience of only 50 people. Her slanderous, hate-filled speech was leaked onto the internet swiftly:

It is frightening to think that only a few years ago, this kind of frightening, bigoted language would go unnoticed. Today, thanks to creative, grassroots media groups, people like Rep. Kern must account for their ignorant, irresponsible actions. Already, nearly 300,000 people have submitted their names to a register condemning Rep. Kern's speech.

It's easy to see websites like YouTube as frivolous outlets for humor and gags; but in this case, I believe YouTube made all the difference.

Hobby? . . . Or Talent for a Career?

Think your job can't be something you love doing . . . wrong! Maybe you have a hobby or knack that you can turn into a career - like a curiosity to cook new and exciting food dishes, a niche for showing others how to set-up their computers or Web sites, or a love for dressing your friends and family. All of these things can be pursued and turned into careers. How? Check out this article to find the answers!

Still crafting or perfecting your hobby skills? Try using your talents for a good cause or asking friends who might need your help. Non-profits are always looking for volunteers. This is a great way to use your hobbies to help others and practice using it in a work environment. For example, if you are a graphic designer, try finding a non-profit that needs help creating their Web-site. If you know how to plan events well, ask your friends who are getting married if they need help planning. This can help you gain experience and you can test the waters to see if it is something you think you could turn into a career.

Have you ever thought about turning your hobby into something more? Are you taking your passion and shaping it into a career or job?

Bad Job Blues

Afraid of choosing the wrong job right out of college? Remember – even if you choose the wrong one, you can still learn from it! Check out this article by SavvySugar by clicking here – it details why a suffering through a bad job is sometimes an important way to learn about what you DON’T want to do.

For example, during my sophomore year of college, I worked for an event marketing company that mostly consisted of nightlife clients. I quickly learned that working in the nightlife scene wasn’t for me because the people I had to deal with during events were mostly inebriated during my time working with them and the hours were terrible! While this job could be really fun for people who love the nightlife scene and don’t mind being out until 3 a.m. in the morning, it just wasn’t for me.

Now, when I interview for new jobs I know to ask about the extra hours and weekends that I will be required to work. I also learned that even though marketing and promotion of nightclub events sounded fun, it isn’t for me, so I check out a company’s Web site to see what their client list looks like before I send my resume to that company. Although these sound like ‘duh’ realizations, sometimes you just have to experience a job before you realize you do or don’t like it. You can avoid getting stuck in a job by testing the waters first through:

1. Internships - A great way to figure out if you like a certain career or company because they usually only last a few months, so be sure to take advantage of them.
2. Job Shadowing – Ask to follow someone for one work day to see what it is like to have their job.
3. Research!!

• Experience.com is the perfect place to start and check out different career paths. If you’re specifically looking for a career in the entertainment industry, check out this article by Emma Beaver to see the different paths you can take.
• About.com has a great career tool where you can type in a job title or career you are interested in and see all kinds of statistics such as earnings, advancement, skills needed and even a typical day for that job! Here is an example for a public relations specialist.
  

Have you ever had a terrible job that you learned from?? Come on over and vent in the comments forum!