Wednesday, June 1, 2011

DFVP Senior Film Screening Thursday June 9, 2011

Thursday June 9, 2011
Angelika Film Center
5321 East Mockingbird Lane, Dallas
6:30 PM – Doors Open
7:00 PM – Screenings begin
Admission is free and screenings will be followed by Q&A sessions with film directors and producers





Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Seeking Sponsorships for the Upcoming Art Institute of Dallas Silent Auction

Click on image to enlarge

Did You Know 3.0 (Official Video Edition)

Three Big Lies About Business Networking

Once you know the truth about networking, you can build connections that provide continuous business opportunities. Click here for article.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Crash Course in NOT getting "Screened Out"

This is a long article but CRITICALLY important. We received this from the Professional Resume Writers Association. Read on...

"Screen Out"
By Diane Hudson Burns, CPRW, CEIP, CPCC, CCMC

Career Marketing Techniques

The employee selection process is very much a screen-out process. Recruiters and hiring managers have a plethora of résumés to review to create the short list of candidates to be interviewed. So, at every opportunity, there are screen-out measures throughout the application and selection process.

Side note: This is also true for federal HR specialists and hiring managers. Federal announcements go so far as to clearly indicate to applicants that if they fail to accurately complete any part of an application process they will be disqualified. Which means, a highly qualified and otherwise desirable candidate may be removed from competition
simply because they failed to submit transcripts with an application (screen-out factor).

Screen-out Factors in the Résumé

Since the process from the hiring side is screen-out, HR specialists can easily move through résumés and discard any potential candidates whose résumé does not adequately meet the recruiter’s requirements for an open job order. For example, an employment specialist may shrink a large pile of résumés by screening-out for the following issues:

* Missing a clear objective: If the résumé is missing a clear target, the HR specialist will not spend any time trying to review the résumé in-depth to determine the candidate’s areas of expertise.

* Missing a chronology: Résumés that do not provide an employment chronology raise red flags - the HR specialist may wonder what the candidate is trying to hide.

*Typos and other grammatical and spelling errors. HR specialists tell me that they like clean, well-written résumés - this is also a reflection of how the candidate might perform on the job.

*Gaps in time: If the résumé has gaps in time that are not justified, recruiters may not spend time to contact the candidate to determine the reasons for the gaps in time.

*Missing dates: Lack of dates is a red flag for an HR specialist - again, what is the candidate trying to hide (age, gaps of employment, etc.)?

*Missing education: If the announcement requests a specific degree and the résumé does not indicate the required degree - it is easy for the HR specialist to move on to the next résumé.

*Missing experience: If the resume does not adequately express the number of years of experience required on the recruiter’s job order, then it is out.

*Missing skill sets: If the job order is for a Budget Analyst, and the résumé reads - Program Manager and does not describe budget analyst skills - it will not be a good fit for the job (even though the candidate may have stated “I can do the job”). The same goes for specialized skills like speaking a foreign language or having a specific Credential.

*Missing any required documents: Candidates need to be careful to follow the directions of a job vacancy posting closely and submit required documents, i.e., transcripts, letters of reference, a reference list, a salary history and salary requirements, samples of writing, letter of interest/philosophy, etc. Missing documents can easily disqualify a candidate - a requirement used as a screen-out factor.

Job orders are so very specific, that a generic, one-size-fits-all résumé is pretty much a screen-out. To bypass the screen-out litmus test, candidates who meet directly with HR or hiring managers, perhaps via a networking contact, may have an opportunity to express their skills and experience in person - and get screened-in.

Screen Out Factors in the Interview

*Appearance / Dress for success: Candidates need to dress according to the culture of the company; or very professionally. First impressions are formed in the interviewer’s mind in 30 seconds - and there are no second chances for first impressions.

*Poor body language: Interviewers I speak with tell me they like a candidate who provides eye contact; a candidate who does not provide eye contact is normally out. Interviewers also like solid handshakes - not wimpy handshakes. Irritating hand gestures, standing up and pacing during an interview, or placing feet on the interviewer’s desk are all screen-out factors.

*Being too much of a generalist: Just like a “general” résumé is a screen-out, so too is a ‘generalist’ attitude in the interview. Trying to impress the interviewer with a “jack-of-all-trades / I can do anything” attitude can be an interview killer. Hiring managers want to hire candidates who have professional expertise in a specific industry or functional area.

*Using the cell phone during an interview. It seems obvious, but candidates should be instructed to leave a cell phone in the car or be certain it is off during the interview.

*Barking dogs and screaming children during a phone interview: This scenario leads the interviewer to believe the candidate did not plan the interview time well; and it can make for a challenging interview/conversation.

*Telling personal information or irrelevant information: Interviewers want to learn about a candidate’s professional skills and competencies and how they can function on the job - interviewers do not normally ask about personal information, and some questions are illegal (age, for example - unless the position has an age requirement, i.e., law enforcement professionals).

*Making rude or biased remarks: Disparaging a former boss or company is a quick screen-out for interviewers.

*Describing weaknesses in detail. Candidates need to be careful to describe a weakness, that they can work to improve. If the weakness, however, is angry outbursts, and the applicant was fired from two previous jobs for angry outbursts, then that may not be a good example to use in an interview.

*Not having any weaknesses: One hiring manager that I spoke with said he asked a senior level candidate what her weakness was, and she replied, “I don’t have any weaknesses.” He said, “That pretty much ended the interview she’s out.”

*Not being a team player: Much of the interview is for the hiring manager to determine if the candidate is a team player - will the candidate fit in on the team and help the supervisor, department, and company be successful? So, a hiring manager told me that he asked a candidate who was being considered for a supervisory role, “Do you prefer to work alone or on a team?” The candidate replied, “If I had it my way, I would work alone in a corner, and never talk to anyone.” He’s out.

*Introducing the discussion of salary and benefits during the interview or before an offer is presented: Asking for money sends the message that the candidate is motivated for personal reasons - salary and benefits - as opposed to being motivated to see the company succeed.

*Not asking questions of the interviewer: Interviewers want candidates to ask questions - they want to know that candidates have an interest in the position and the company. Candidates may ask questions about what skills the employer wants the person in the job to have to be successful, or perhaps, questions about what initial challenges the candidate will tackle when he/she first joins the company. Other questions may be introduced as the interviewer
describes the position and the company in more detail. The wrong questions to ask, include, “Tell me about your mission.” Job candidates should do their due diligence and research the company in advance of the interview. Interview questions can be tough to answer - and can range from “What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?” - to - “When I call your current boss, what will he say about you?” - to - “Why are you interested in working for us?” - to - “Tell me why you are the best person for this job?” - and so on.

Summary

With recruiters receiving hundreds and sometimes even thousands of résumés for job openings, they are busy screening-out at every turn.

Candidates need to focus on screening themselves in, through the résumé and interview process, and carefully evaluate their résumé and interviewing skills.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Come Out and Join Us!

Click on image to enlarge

2010 Smashing Chili Chowdown This Sunday



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Stephanie Sandoval Company Name: Texas Chefs Association - DallasTelephone Number: 214-217-2818Email Address: mcacservice@milestoneculinary.com
What: 2010 Smashing Chili Chowdown A battle for the best chili in Dallas.

When: 12-4 p.m., Sunday, October 17.

Where: Dallas Farmers Market, Shed 4 (Wholesale Produce Building) 1010 S. Pearl, Dallas, TX 75201

Join the festivities and sample chili from 20 different teams featuring local celebrity chefs, culinary school instructors, student culinarians, and fabulous foodies from all over the Dallas area.

Live entertainment will be provided by international musical sensation, Javier Mendoza. Voted “One of Colleges Hottest Artists” for 2009 by Campus Magazine, Javier combines new influences, musical inspirations and life experiences with the common thread of hope for the future. www.JavierMedoza.com

Attendees can sample 10 chilies of their choice for $10. They also get to be the judge as their votes will select the People’s Choice Award Winner.

Winners will be announced at 4:30p.m. and include bragging rights plus a cash prize of $500 posthumously named in honor of Werner Vogeli, a chef of distinction who left his indelible mark on the Dallas culinary world both in the kitchen and the classroom.

Proceeds benefit the Texas Chefs Association and Friends of the Dallas Farmers Market.

Come out and show your support!

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Good at Debating?

Come out to The Art Institute of Dallas and show off your skills. We are having a debate on many hot topics and are inviting the alumni to share their wisdom and knowledge. Come out and show the students how it is done!


Monday, August 23, 2010
11:30am to 1pm
Chef's Gallery


Click on image to enlarge

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Happy Hour

Last Thursday, August 5, Career Services hosted a happy hour for all Ai Dallas alumni at Gordon Biersch Dallas. It was a good time with good food and drinks! There were also a few instructors that popped in -Carl Rossini, Chad Hardy, and G. Lysa Ausmus.

If you didn't attend this time, don't worry, we're already planning another one for the end of the year! So, hopefully see you at the next one!



You're Invited to Career Services Week!

Click on image to enlarge

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

AiD Grads and Chef Honored


During the recent Texas Chef’s Association state convention, AiD Grad and Faculty received honors:

Aid Graduate, Robert Gillentine, CC, Executive Chef of Medical City was honored as the Dallas Chapter Chef of the Year

AiD Graduate, Kat Kilpatrick, CC, Pastry Chef at Edom Bakery near Tyler was honored as the East Texas Chapter Pastry Chef of the Year

Brenden Mesch, CEC, CCE of the Art Institute of Dallas was honored as the State Culinary Educator of the Year.



Congratulations!!!

Buz Sawyer's Book Signing

Buz Sawyers, a General Education Faculty who currently teaches Writing I here at The Art Institute of Dallas, will be participating in a book signing event with about 12 other local authors at the Barnes & Noble at Firewheel Center in Garland on Saturday, July 31st, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

The Barnes & Noble is located at George Bush Interstate (190) and Hwy 78 in Garland.

Buz Sawyers is the published Author of:

Ø No Point in Dying Now (historical fiction on the Civil War)
Ø A Debt Unpaid (western)
Ø Decades in Anadar (short story collection)
Ø Murder: Shaken, Not Stirred (mystery)