After meeting with one of my journalism professors I started thinking about how many times I referenced this job and how it related to what he was talking about in regards to his teaching career. And then really how it can be applicable to any career.
We talked about what turns people’s listening off and what keeps it cranked up on high. He is quite a long –winded professor and realizes that after a while, his students just stop listening. There are things he is working to make his lectures and explanations more enjoyable and make students want to listen to him. I know, as a manager, I have these tendencies as well. I can totally tell when the CP! staff has stopped listening to me.
This is a life skill to work on: keeping a captive audience.
A different but very important subject was that of common customer service courtesies. I mentioned I have applied for a job via e-mail (like they asked) and haven’t even heard back with a simple “thanks for applying” response. I think it is a nice gesture, to put the applicant a slight ease, to acknowledge the recipient has received this important and official e-mail. My professor however, has a differing opinion. He said that takes time. I argued they could do an automated response. He had the same argument. There are just some things that don’t really need a response. He told me just doesn’t respond to e-mails containing questions and inquiries he has already answered. This relates back to the issue of maintaining a captive audience. He isn’t being avoidant; he is just using trying to use his time wisely as well as those who are asking the questions. I then started to think about how much time I spend responding to e-mails. And then responding to e-mails on things I have already talked about.
Another life skill to work on is: know how to use your time.
Learn what to spend your time on and what to let slide.
When conducting interviews, I used to call every single person who applied to Centertainment positions. Either to tell them they got an interview or not, and then if they got the job or not. I have realized what kind of time this takes up, trying to get a hold of people you may never come in contact with again. You can do just the same e-mailing everyone who did not get the job or interview and still encourage them to apply again. I have come to the conclusion it really is all in how you look at the situation. There are ways to be efficient and still be personable. Does that make sense or am I just rambling here?
As you can see this is just the beginning of what working on campus can do for you. Working on campus allows you to learn skills that are not only applicable at your job, but are applicable to your classes, outside jobs and internships, your future careers and hopefully your life in general. I am reminded of this every single day. EVERY SINGLE DAY!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Something I am constantly reminded of at my job here on campus is there is so much wiggle room to what some may call "screwing up."
I am terrified of dealing with money. TERRIFIED. Especially large amounts of it, that isn't even mine... makes sense. I think. But as my kind and noble supervisor told me today, "Yeah, you really need to get over that."
The university contract we sign with performers states the university takes a percentage of merchandise sales, without sales tax. This means we need to count the merch in and out after the sales are completed. We then need to count the money, figure out how much of it is tax and then take the percentage of the earnings before tax is added. Sounds confusing right? To you math whizzes out there, I am guessing not. But for me to do that math in front of artists that aren't always keen on us taking their hard-earned money makes me really nervous.
What settles my nerves and my stomach is knowing I will have plenty of opportunities to practice this, what some may consider simple, math. As with anything, the more and more one practices something and has effective feedback he or she will improve.
Like I have mentioned many times in the past, working on campus is more than a job. There are more than enough opportunities to leave your comfort zone and practice some thing you may be frightened to do. That really is one of my favorite perks of this job.
Nice digs, I know.
And you can have nice digs as well. The Student Employment and Involvement Office is always advertising job opportunities to UWSP students. Make sure to fill out your profile to have e-mails sent you about job openings that you would be interested in:
https://mypoint.uwsp.edu/sieo/sieo005/student/default.aspx
I am terrified of dealing with money. TERRIFIED. Especially large amounts of it, that isn't even mine... makes sense. I think. But as my kind and noble supervisor told me today, "Yeah, you really need to get over that."
The university contract we sign with performers states the university takes a percentage of merchandise sales, without sales tax. This means we need to count the merch in and out after the sales are completed. We then need to count the money, figure out how much of it is tax and then take the percentage of the earnings before tax is added. Sounds confusing right? To you math whizzes out there, I am guessing not. But for me to do that math in front of artists that aren't always keen on us taking their hard-earned money makes me really nervous.
What settles my nerves and my stomach is knowing I will have plenty of opportunities to practice this, what some may consider simple, math. As with anything, the more and more one practices something and has effective feedback he or she will improve.
Like I have mentioned many times in the past, working on campus is more than a job. There are more than enough opportunities to leave your comfort zone and practice some thing you may be frightened to do. That really is one of my favorite perks of this job.
Nice digs, I know.
And you can have nice digs as well. The Student Employment and Involvement Office is always advertising job opportunities to UWSP students. Make sure to fill out your profile to have e-mails sent you about job openings that you would be interested in:
https://mypoint.uwsp.edu/sieo/sieo005/student/default.aspx
Thursday, July 9, 2009
As I was attempting to bake red velvet cupcakes for the red, white and blue potluck we had last week at work I started thinking...
I would never have the opportunity to be baking for a bunch of people if I didn't have this job. I have baked or prepared a dish to pass numerous times for the people I work with. I do not cook, bake, nor do I do the betsy homemaker thing very well.
This is my avenue to practice. And you can feel comfortable knowing if you screw up, the people around here will still appreciate you and at least choke down the crappy cupcakes. But like any other job, this should only encourage you to do better next time.
A concept like this can be applied to other aspects of this job and life. I never would have had the opportunity to plan the drag show of my dreams on campus or be able to meet some famous and hopefully soon-to-be-famous artists and entertainers. I would also never have been able to run the interview process (one of my favorites), be apart of important decision making committees and give feed back to make this a better place for those who will experience it in the future.
It feels good to know you have accomplished something for the greater good, whether it be for those who are here currently or those who will be here in the future. Just like how good it feels to know people are eating what you have prepared for them to enjoy. I truly believe that food is the ultimate way to a feel-good time.
Needless to say the cupcakes turned out well, everyone seemed to like them. I want to give a special thanks to Andy who always eats what I make. ( Even though, I think its just to make me feel better :)
I would never have the opportunity to be baking for a bunch of people if I didn't have this job. I have baked or prepared a dish to pass numerous times for the people I work with. I do not cook, bake, nor do I do the betsy homemaker thing very well.
This is my avenue to practice. And you can feel comfortable knowing if you screw up, the people around here will still appreciate you and at least choke down the crappy cupcakes. But like any other job, this should only encourage you to do better next time.
A concept like this can be applied to other aspects of this job and life. I never would have had the opportunity to plan the drag show of my dreams on campus or be able to meet some famous and hopefully soon-to-be-famous artists and entertainers. I would also never have been able to run the interview process (one of my favorites), be apart of important decision making committees and give feed back to make this a better place for those who will experience it in the future.
It feels good to know you have accomplished something for the greater good, whether it be for those who are here currently or those who will be here in the future. Just like how good it feels to know people are eating what you have prepared for them to enjoy. I truly believe that food is the ultimate way to a feel-good time.
Needless to say the cupcakes turned out well, everyone seemed to like them. I want to give a special thanks to Andy who always eats what I make. ( Even though, I think its just to make me feel better :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
