The New Face of Diversity: President and CEO of the American Conference on Diversity, Elizabeth Williams-Riley, joins us on The Strategy Sessions radio show on Tuesday, January 15, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. ET.

November’s election included sweeping legislative changes for many states, including the DREAM Act and same-sex marriage. In America, diversity has long been a discussion topic at work; however, it has taken on new meaning as social issues, including immigration and advocacy for women. Our guest, Elizabeth Williams-Riley, President and CEO of the American Conference on Diversity, joins us on The Strategy Sessions radio show to highlight how the conversation on diversity is re-shaping the workplace and communities.

Elizabeth Williams-Riley

TOPICS COVERED:

• How the definition of diversity has changed as legislative and societal changes have evolved
• The impact November’s election will have on the workplace and the community, including states’ support of Same-Sex Marriage and the DREAM Act
• The relevance of diversity training as women and people of color make strides in the workplace
• How diversity impacts youth – bullying, leadership, and education
• American Conference on Diversity programming to raise awareness, train, and prepare tomorrow’s leaders

Listen LIVE: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thestrategysessions

Have a question or comment for our guest?

Call (347) 539-5143

Email talkback@ksgsc.com

Tweet us @KesiStribling

For more information about Elizabeth Williams-Riley, or to view her bio, visit www.ksgsc.com/thestrategysessions.

ABOUT THE STRATEGY SESSIONS

Listen live

A radio show featuring industry leaders who share tips and strategies on business, careers, travel, health, and more, The Strategy Sessions airs live on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 11:00 a.m. ET. The show has featured luminaries representing corporations, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations such as the U.S. Small Business Administration; Internships.com; AAA; American Express; Women Impacting Public Policy; LifeLock; Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship; Aetna; the American Heart Association; and, Lockheed Martin. For more information, or to download the podcast, visit www.blogtalkradio.com/thestrategysessions. Twitter hashtag #TheStrategySessions

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Workplace Primer for College Students (part II)

In part I of the Workplace Primer for College Students, we detailed the importance of tailoring the job search and preparing a flawless cover letter or resume. Part II focuses on the interview, specifically what collegiate job seekers should do before, during, and after the meeting with prospective employers.

Prepare for the interview

You're hired! Interview preparation can score big points for your career.

Your cover letter and resume have passed muster and the company you eagerly want to work for has contacted you for an interview. There are several tips to help you prepare for the face-to-face meeting (or telephone screening, as is the trend these days). From selecting an appropriate wardrobe to asking a potential employer the right questions, interview preparation requires a lot of thought – and action.

Look the part: It is essential to select appropriate attire for the interview; and, the accessories that make the outfit, which complete your overall appearance. Ultimately, the interview wardrobe should be professional, and make you blend in, rather than stand out, from the company employees. The reality is that companies want new employees who reflect the current corporate culture, and that includes attire.

Men should wear slacks, a crisp shirt, and matching blazer. Of course, the tie completes the look – not a clip on! Freshly shined shoes and simple accoutrements, such as a watch, sans bling, and conservative cuff links complete the professional look. Interviewees can look stylish, no matter the budget constraints.

Related: professional attire for men

Women do not have to sacrifice style when preparing for the interview.  A modest length and well-fitting (not too tight) skirt or dress is appropriate, with a conservative shirt and blazer. If suiting seems a bit boring, or if the industry has a more relaxed approach to dressing in the workplace, it is okay to pair trousers or a skirt with a cardigan set. Moderate heels or sling backs should be clean and not scuffed. Understated jewelry rounds out the interview outfit.

Related: professional attire for women

Even if the industry usually calls for khakis in the workplace (think technology), you can wear the corporate style once you land the job. For your interview, avoid the casual Friday look.

Women's professional attire on our pinterest page

Research the audience: Knowing one’s audience is imperative. Conduct research about the company in advance, including reviewing the corporate website, Facebook fan page, and Twitter account. Being armed with information about the company helps during the interview. Potential employers will appreciate the initiative, and will view the well-informed candidate as one who possesses a can-do attitude.

Before the interview, practice responses to potential questions that may be asked. Ask a trusted mentor, friend, or family member to conduct a mock interview, and assess your performance. Pay particular attention to the use of fillers when responding to questions  (um, ah, and you know), so that you can avoid them. Record the mock interview, and look at it a few times to improve your delivery. Doing so will help nervous candidates  ace the interview by being ready to talk about tasks undertaken in the current job, or skill sets and special talents that can translate to the job being applied for at the company.

Arrive early for the interview: One of the most important aspects of the interview is arriving on time to the meeting. Even if you’re familiar with the geographic area of the company, identify a preferred and alternate route to get to the interview. If there is an accident, detour, or water main break, taking an alternate route may be the difference between getting to the interview on time, or missing out on the opportunity by being an hour late. Drive to the location, if possible, the same day of the week and time the interview is scheduled, beforehand.

Professional attire for men on our pinterest page

Arrive early (not more than 30 minutes ahead of time), or on time, but never late. Companies often ask candidates to complete applications prior to the interview. Remember, the interview actually begins as soon as you arrive at the location. Be pleasant when speaking to or interacting with anyone in the office. Do not be haughty, put off, overly friendly, or flirt with the staff. By the way, waiting patiently until called in for the interview means no texting, listening to your iPod, or talking on your cell phone with or without your Bluetooth.

Ask the right questions: Be sure to ask at least one question during the interview. It should be one that is of genuine interest and not something that the interviewer has already covered. After the meeting is over, send a thank you note. Conventional thought is that a handwritten note to the interviewer is the way to go, it is also okay to send a brief, error free email thank you note.

Once the company has offered you the job, there are a number of questions to ask, not just those related to salary. Detailed questions include those related to annual and sick leave, retirement contributions by the employer, corporate culture, employee expectations, and other details about the position that may not have come up during the interview (i.e. the position’s funding is contingent upon grant money received).

Next: Part III (final) of the Workplace Primer for College Students

© Copyright 2012 Ask The Strategist™

DISCLAIMER: ASK THE STRATEGIST is a blog that addresses business, career, workplace and etiquette issues. Any advice dispensed by Ask The Strategist is purely for informational and entertainment purposes. Take the advice and opinions at your own risk – and betterment! Follow @KesiStribling or @CareerConnectDC on Twitter. Post your questions/email your conundrum/send your question via video to ask@ksgsc.com. All submissions become the property of Ask The Strategist. Names and other identifying information may be changed to protect the person asking for advice.

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What successful people do with the first hour of their workday

How do you begin your day?

ASK THE STRATEGIST: When people conjure up images of successful business moguls, we often envision them waking up in the morning, reaching across a sleeping spouse to check their iPhones, and thus, the power plays begin. Kevin Purdy, blogger for Lifecompany, says that truly successful people take a moment to be reflective, and that surely does not include compulsively checking email first thing in the morning.

What successful people do with the first hour of their workday

by Kevin Purdy – Lifecompany – August 22, 2012

How much does the first hour of every day matter? As it turns out, a lot. It can be the hour you see everything clearly, get one real thing done, and focus on the human side of work rather than your task list. Read the entire post>> >

Talk back to us: How do you start your day? Tell us in the comments section below.

© Copyright 2012 Ask The Strategist™

DISCLAIMER: ASK THE STRATEGIST is a blog that addresses business, career, workplace and etiquette issues. Any advice dispensed by Ask The Strategist is purely for informational and entertainment purposes. Take the advice and opinions at your own risk – and betterment! Follow @KesiStribling or @CareerConnectDC on Twitter. Post your questions/email your conundrum/send your question via video to ask@ksgsc.com. All submissions become the property of Ask The Strategist. Names and other identifying information may be changed to protect the person asking for advice.

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Workplace Primer for College Students (Part I of III)

Begin your career the right way!

This week, thousands of students will enter the hallowed halls of colleges across the country. For many, once the excitement of moving into dorms and registering for the requisite classes has subsided, collegians will settle into pursuing job opportunities. Whether a necessity, or a means for generating work experience for their resumes, entering the workforce – from searching for jobs to the on-boarding experience – can be a daunting task for rookie employees.

For college students, there are some key imperatives to help them become successful job seekers:  streamline the job search; create a flawless cover letter and resume; prepare for the interview; ask the right questions before you accept the position; give an award-winning performance at work; and, treasure your mentors and advocates.

Streamline the job search

Applying for any-old-job is a strategy that can lead to a disappointing workplace experience. Streamlining the job search is the first step in gaining temporary or long-term employment. Job seekers typically visit online job sites first to find opportunities. In addition to surfing popular sites, such as DCJobs.com or Career Builder, there are a number of websites tailored to specific industries. For example, CareerMD is an online career source for physicians and residents looking for jobs in the health care industry. The American Marketing Association job site lists thousands of opportunities in marketing and communications. Another site, the American Institute of Architects, lists architecture opportunities spanning internships to project managers.

Paid jobs, apprenticeships or internships in a desired field, such as technology, marketing, and business, are often advertised at the campus career services office. Recruiters who advertise jobs and internships with career services typically have a pre-existing relationship with the office, which can be an advantage to college job seekers because of that rapport. Many campus career centers allow students to register for online alerts for posted positions, workshops, and campus job fairs.

Create a flawless cover letter or resume

Before applying for an internship or job, students should create detailed, flawless cover letters and resumes. These documents are an introduction to potential employers, who critique the applicants’ experience, soft skills, and specialized skills before deciding if they even want to bring candidates in for interviews.

Recruiters typically spend less than a minute to peruse a cover letter or resume, so it is important to structure your cover letter and resume, list only relevant information, and proofread everything. Structuring your cover letter or resume covers everything from ensuring your documents are the appropriate length to layout and font.

Visit specialized career sites for jobs

The cover letter expresses the candidate’s interest in a position. It also details a few highlights that complement the position for which a college job seeker is applying, and lists specialized skills, such as web design, HTML code, certifications, and foreign language proficiency. It should also include the person who recommended that the job seeker apply for the position, if applicable.

A college student’s resume should be one page – the average person does not have enough relevant job experience to justify a two-page curriculum vitae.  Highlight the principal tasks (primary work responsibilities) for each job or internship. Do not use informal fonts and large pitch for your resume. Stick to fonts like Times New Roman or Arial in 12 pitch. Ask a trusted friend, parent, or mentor to proofread your cover letter and resume before submitting it – errors will almost guarantee that a potential employer will not call you for an interview.

Finally, be sure to follow applicant instructions the company lists. If candidates are asked not to call the company about the position, respect the recruiter’s process. If candidates are allowed to call the prospective employer, only ask questions that are not covered in the position announcement. For example, if the job announcement states that travel is required, do not ask (before or during the interview) if traveling is expected.

Next week: Part II of the Workplace Primer for College Students

© Copyright 2012 Ask The Strategist™

DISCLAIMER: ASK THE STRATEGIST is a blog that addresses business, career, workplace and etiquette issues. Any advice dispensed by Ask The Strategist is purely for informational and entertainment purposes. Take the advice and opinions at your own risk – and betterment! Follow @KesiStribling or @CareerConnectDC on Twitter. Send questions, your conundrums, or questions via video to ask@ksgsc.com. All submissions become the property of Ask The Strategist. Names and other identifying information may be changed to protect the person asking for advice.

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Article Excerpt: The Washington Post hosts July job fairs

Washington Post hosts job fairs

The Washington Post will host two career fairs during the month of July in the Greater Washington, DC region for job seekers in targeted industries. For minimum requirements, or to pre-register and post your resume, visit the Washington Post job fairs home. Job seekers are asked to bring copies of their resumes to the fair.

Some of the featured participating employers include BioReliance, Community Connections, and Contact 1 Inc.

Read the entire article

Read more DC Workplace articles on Examiner.com

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EVENT: Presented by STEM Connector

http://www.stemconnector.org/resources-events

Workforce Planning to Fill the STEM Jobs Pipeline
May 2, 2012 – 2PM EST

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Current Speakers Include:
	Governor Jack Markell, DelawareAs Governor of Delaware, Jack Markell has helped open shuttered manufacturing facilities, won President Obama’s Race to the Top competition for progress in public school reform, and signed new laws to drive improvements in the economy, environment, and education. Governor Markell brings innovative public and private sector experience to the Office of Governor. He began his career in the private sector helping lead the wireless technology revolution as the 13th employee at Nextel (a name he coined), where he served as Senior Vice President for Corporate Development. Governor Markell is the current Vice-Chair of the National Governors Association.
	Marc Morial, President and CEO, National Urban LeagueEntrepreneur. Lawyer. Professor. Legislator. Mayor. President, U.S. Conference of Mayors. CEO of the National Urban League, the nation’s largest civil rights organization. In a distinguished professional career that has spanned 25 years, Marc Morial has performed all of these roles with excellence, and is one of the most accomplished servant-leaders in the nation. He served as Mayor of New Orleans from 1994 to 2002.
	Hank Jackson, President and CEO, Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)Henry G. (Hank) Jackson is the president and CEO for the Society for Human Resource Management, the world’s largest association devoted to the human resource profession. Prior to this he served as the Society’s interim president and CEO, and before that he was Chief Global Finance and Business Affairs Officer. In this capacity he was responsible for financial management as well as publications and new media, meetings and conferences, seminars, member marketing, corporate sales and technology solutions.
	Rick Stephens, Senior VP, Human Resources, BoeingRichard (Rick) Stephens is senior vice president, Human Resources and Administration for The Boeing Company, and member of the Boeing Executive Council. Stephens, a 31-year Boeing veteran, oversees all leadership development, training, employee relations, compensation, benefits, Global Corporate Citizenship, and diversity initiatives at the Chicago-based aerospace company.
	Gary Wimberly, Senior Vice President & Chief Information Officer, Express ScriptsGary Wimberly came to Express Scripts in 2004 and has held numerous top management positions. As senior vice president and chief information officer, his focus is on the overall IT strategy and performance, specifically focusing on innovative solutions, process improvements and improving productivity. Wimberly is responsible for ensuring the information systems are aligned with the business strategies of Express Scripts.
	Jeri L. Buchholz, Assistant Administrator for Human Capital Management, NASAAs the Assistant Administrator for Human Capital Management and NASA’s Chief Human Capital Officer, Jeri Buchholz has stewardship responsibility for NASA’s workforce. Her responsibilities include setting the agency’s workforce development strategy, assessing workforce characteristics and future needs based on the agency’s mission and strategic plan; aligning the agency’s human resources policies and programs with organizational mission, strategic goals, and performance outcomes.
	Linda Y. Cureton, Chief Information Officer, NASALinda Y. Cureton is the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). As NASA CIO, she provides the requisite leadership to transform the management of information technology (IT) capabilities and services to support and enable NASA’s mission. She ensures that the Agency’s information resource management (IRM) strategy is in alignment with NASA’s vision, mission, and strategic goals.
	Leland Melvin, Associate Administrator for Education, NASAMr. Melvin has served the Astronaut Office Space Station Operations Branch, the Education Department at NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C, and the Robotics Branch of the Astronaut Office. As co-manager of NASA’s Educator Astronaut Program, Leland Melvin traveled across the country, engaging thousands of students and teachers in the excitement of space exploration, and inspiring them to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. A veteran of two space flights, STS-122 in 2008, and STS-129 in 2009, Leland Melvin has logged over 565 hours in space.
	Martin Scaglione, President, ACT Workforce DivisionOver the past five years, ACT has witnessed widespread adoption of its Workforce Development programs, including the globally recognized WorkKeys System and the National Career Readiness Certificate. In his pursuit of ACT’s mission to help people achieve education and workplace success, Martin has called on his extensive experience in business and industry. Martin began his career with Maytag, where he worked for nearly 20 years. He then led the North American Bosch-Siemens Household (BSH) appliance group in a variety of roles including chief operating officer.
	V. Celeste Carter, Program Director, NSF – ATEV. Celeste Carter received her Ph.D. in Microbiology from the Pennsylvania State University School of Medicine in 1982 under the direction of Dr. Satvir S. Tevethia. She served as a Program Director twice in the Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE) as a rotator. Dr. Carter accepted a permanent Program Director position in DUE in 2009; she is the Lead Program Director for the Advanced Technological Education (ATE) Program in DUE as well as working on other programs in the Division and across the Foundation.
	Brian Fitzgerald, CEO, Higher Education Forum (BHEF)Brian K. Fitzgerald is a leading analyst and advocate for higher education and science, technology, engineering and mathematics education. Dr. Fitzgerald serves as BHEF’s chief executive officer and has led the organization to develop an ambitious policy and programmatic agenda focused on college readiness, access, and success, particularly in high-need disciplines such as science and math. Under Dr. Fitzgerald’s leadership, both of BHEF’s key initiatives—Securing America’s Leadership in STEM in partnership with Raytheon Company and the College Readiness, Access and Success Initiative (CRI): An Agenda for Educational Success—have grown as signatures of the organization.

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Nominations now open for Employee of the Month

Shout out the hardest workers in the DMV!

More than 711,000 employees make Washington, DC run efficiently, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Add the surrounding counties in Maryland and Virginia, and the number grows to more than 1,000,000 people who drive business, revenue, and services in, and around, the nation’s capital. We seek to sing the praises of many of these hardworking and talented employees in our new article series, Employee of the Month on Examiner.com.

In order to make Employee of the Month a success, your nominations – and spreading the word about the friendly competition – are vital.

Submission Process and Guidelines

Anyone may submit a nomination for consideration for Employee of the Month, including those who wish to self-nominate. Eligibility is based on two criteria:

1. The nominated employee works in the metropolitan Washington, DC area (i.e. the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia – Fairfax County, Prince William County; Montgomery County, MD; Prince George’s County; Howard County, MD)

2.  The nominee must work for a company, nonprofit organization, federal/local government, or educational institution; be support staff, a manager, executive director, administrator, intern, or anyone who works there; and, be a part-time or full-time employee of the company

Winners are selected based upon how well the nominator documents the employee’s contributions to the workplace. Nominations should be sent in Microsoft Word, and contain no more than three paragraphs. Include the nominator’s AND nominee’s name, telephone number, and email address.

Tips for writing a successful nomination:

• Include specific contributions to the workplace
• Indicate nominee’s work title and employer
• Specify why the nominee should be selected asEmployee of the Month

Employee of the Month Submissions

Email nominations to eotm@ksgsc.com. Winners will be featured in an upcoming article on Examiner.com.

For complete details and submission guidelines, visit www.ksgsc.com/eotm. Follow us on Twitter @KesiStribling or @CareerConnectDC.

This story also appears on Examiner.com.

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Remaking America: Tavis Smiley, Suze Orman, Michael Moore talk poverty, the economy, and jobs in DC today

Tavis Smiley brings Remaking America to DC tonight

Talk show host and commentator, Tavis Smiley, brings his latest initiative, Remaking America: From Poverty to Prosperity, to Washington audiences tonight. Smiley, who will moderate the discussion, is bringing some notable heavy-hitters to the table to discuss the nation’s poverty, the economy, and jobs.

Panelists for tonight’s event include Princeton professor Cornel West; financial advisor and author Suze Orman; Academy Award™ winning filmmaker Michael Moore; Director of The Earth Institute and New York Times best selling author, Jeffrey Sachs.

Remaking America will be held today, January 12, at the George Washington University, Lisner Auditorium, 730 21^st Street, NW, Washington, DC 20052. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. The program will begin at 6:30 p.m.

For more information, or to view live streaming of the program, visit the Remaking America website.

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This story also appears on Examiner.com.

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Employee of the Month

It’s time to recognize the hard-working, innovative, and dedicated employees in the metropolitan Washington, DC area! Beginning in January 2012, my new article series, Employee of the Month on Examiner.com, will sing the praises of employees who work tirelessly to contribute to their workplaces. In order to do that, we need your help.

Nominate an Employee of the Month!

Nominate a deserving employee to be featured in our new article series on Examiner.com, Employee of the Month. Anyone is eligible to nominate an Employee of the Month, based on two criteria:

1. The employee works in the metropolitan Washington, DC area (i.e. the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia – Fairfax County, Prince William County;  Montgomery County, MD; Prince George’s County; Howard County, MD)

2.   The nominee can work for a corporate or nonprofit organization, be support staff, a manager, executive director, administrator, intern, or anyone who works there, and be a part-time or full-time worker

Employee of the Month Nominations

Nominations open on January 1, 2012. To view the nomination guidelines and submission process, visit www.ksgsc.com beginning December 30, 2011.

Winners will be featured in an upcoming article on Examiner.com, and on our affiliated social media pages, blogs, and in our publications.

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Your gift choices will give you away every time.

In Washington, DC, the land of political correctness, the ability to act without offending extends to the workplace, especially during the holiday gift-giving season. No matter how cool you are with your company execs and fellow entrepreneurs, discretion – and serious consideration – should dictate the holiday gifts you exchange.

Sure, maybe you and your supervisor secretly share a penchant for Maxim magazine, but giving a yearly subscription to the risqué magazine is completely unprofessional. Okay, maybe that gift-giving gaffe is obvious to you; but, if you need tips for finding the perfect gift for your office mates, not to worry. Here is my list of the top five gift suggestions for 2011.

Great gift ideas

1. Books that highlight the recipient’s areas of interest, such as biographies, golf, knitting, or the latest publication by his favorite novelist
2. Technology-related gift cards including the iTunes store, Best Buy, Amazon.com, or the recipient’s cell phone carrier
3. Gift cards that promote healthy living such as a visit to a local day spa, a salon to get a relaxing manicure or pedicure, or a yoga class
4. Magazine subscriptions are a great idea for coworkers who prefer to read publications in hand rather than scroll through content online, such as Entrepreneur or Inc. Magazine; professional membership subscriptions are also a great idea, especially for budding young professionals who may not be able to afford to join the Society for Human Resource Management or the American Marketing Association

Read the entire article on Examiner.com – more careers and workplace culture articles

Have gift ideas? Comment below to share your picks for the best holiday 2011 gifts.

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