Strategies For Effective and Consistent Language Choices

Strategies I will use to ensure effective communication include the following:

1. Staying up to date on current events involving the hospitality industry.
2. Communicating with other special event coordinators to create a better workplace and understand issues that may arise with events.
3. Read different trade publications, such as BizBash and Convene, to keep up to date on different ideas that other special event coordinators have put into place.
4. I will use www.theknot.com to discover different trends that are taking place in the wedding industry and to find different vendors in the area I am working.
5. I will attend conventions and meetings to meet others in my field and to further my education on different areas of the event planning industry.
6. I will join organizations such as the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) and the International Special Events Society (ISES).
7. I will ask questions when I don't understand something, such as jargon I am not familiar with.

The strategies listed above should help me immensely in my field. Joining professional organizations is not only a great way to meet others in your field, it can be helpful in providing information about different aspects of your job that you may not have been aware of. Reading publications put out about your industry is a great way to get information as well. It's important to be as up to date and accurate as you can in any industry. There are always different trends happening in weddings, such as the current trend to be green, and it's important to know how others did this and how you can incorporate some of your own ideas into this. Asking questions is never a bad idea, it's always better to know than to guess.

Being aware of different trends in your industry and staying on top of new developments and ideas is the best way to get ahead in your job and to make sure you are doing the best job possible. It's better for both you and your clients to stay up to date and imaginative in this job. It's all about creativity.

Behavior in the Workplace: The Do's and Don'ts of Social Networking

Social networking can be a fantastic way to get your name into the business field and let people know more about you. When using networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Myspace and other sites such as this, people tend to be free with what they publish, but as one of my articles shows, companies can research you through these websites and if they like what they see, they can offer you a job.

Here is a list of Do's and Don'ts for Social Networking:
1. Do pay attention to people you are "friending" on these sites. If they are people from work, they may not need to know everything about you.

2. Do create a separate Facebook, Twitter, or other social networking site for people you meet in interviews or people you meet professionally.

3. Don't tag yourself in photos that are of a comprising nature. Make sure you untag photos your friends have posted on these sites.

4. Don't use office time to update and check your social networking sites. Do that on your own time, not while you are getting paid.

5. Do have a set amount of time you want to spend on these sites and don't neglect work, family, and.or friends for these sites.

6. Don't forget to set the privacy settings on your social networking sites. Decide who can see things and what things they are privileged to see.

7. Do think before you post your opinions and moods. Remember, the whole world could be seeing this.

8. Don't share bad or personal news on these sites. Don't post things that could make people uncomfortable, such as "I found out I'm not pregnant today"

9. Do be the same in person as you are online. Don't change your personality because you are online, and therefore feel safer. Be yourself at all times!

10. Don't badmouth previous/current employers or bosses. In fact, don't badmouth anyone on your social networking sites.


In short, be smart about what you post on your social networking sites. You never know who will see it.

"Who am I?" Managing my online identity

Managing an online identity can be a scary prospect for some. If you are a person who chooses to share everything online, including photos and personal blog posts, it can be hard to reel it in. Social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook, and Myspace have made it easier for people to connect with one another, but they have also made it a lot easier for people you don't know to obtain personal information.

When managing your online reputation (your personal brand), a person must decide what they would want potential employees to know about them. Do you really want your new boss to know how many drinks you had last night? Probably not. The website we visited earlier this week to calculate how digitally distinct we were is a great way to get started on finding out just how much information about you is out there.

Googling yourself is another good way to see what type of information comes up when you type in your name. Google also has a link that will send you an email every time your name shows up in anything on the web. This can be a daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly search they provide for you. I recommend going through the first couple of pages of images and videos, not just the text that shows up. I would also recommend changing the privacy settings on Facebook, Twitter, Myspace and any other social networking site you have.

If you want to set up a more professional image of yourself online, I recommend Linkedin.com. I set this up last night and have already received information on a potential job. This website allows you to post your resume, make connections with others in your job field, previous employers, and anyone else you may know. It seems to be a great way to network, and they post jobs in that may interest you.

The Internet can be a great tool in marketing yourself, but it can also damage your reputation without you ever being the wiser. Be smart about what people can see and learn about you; you never know who will be looking.