Body Language and Nonverbal Communication January 28, 2010

Hi Everyone,

This week I will be blogging about body language and nonverbal communication for my Public Relations class.  Body language and nonverbal  communication are very similar. In fact, both of these terms are used to describe types of communication that do not involve oral communication, but are still able to transfer a message. These types of communication are helpful when a person may be attempting to describe something or when he or she are expressing an emotion.  Being able to interpret and understand someone’s body language could help you become more affective in interpreting what they are communicating to you.

Understanding  some specific types of body language and nonverbal clues could even help you decipher when someone is not telling the truth.  According to Changing Minds.org, when a person is speaking to another person and his or her eyes appear to be larger than normal, as well as,  their eyebrows being lifted at the same time, it is often considered that they are not telling the truth. Changing Minds.org thinks this type of body language can determine if someone is lying simple because those are similar types of body-language found in someone who is not telling the truth.  However, this is not certain in all cases.  Body language is also helpful in other areas such as determining how someone feels about you or when they are expressing a simple emotion.

An example of a nonverbal communication and a type of body language that is very easy to read is a smile.  A smile is a type non-verbal communication that communicates that communicates that the person is happy. Another type of body language that is expressed that exactly opposite of a smile is a frown.  A frown is also a type of non-verbal communication that is signaling that the person is unhappy or upset.  These simple gestures or actions  that a person can do, reveals something about them or how they are felling.  Although these are simple examples, body language and nonverbal communication can go into much deeper communication and are unique to specific cultures.

Overall, nonverbal communication and body language can be effective ways to communicate.  Having the ability to read and decipher certain types of these body languages can help a person be more effective in communicating to others.  However, one most still remember that not all body language and nonverbal means the same thing.  I have learned through out my college career that the semantics of body language do not also go hand in hand in certain situations.  For example, if you and your friends joke around by ‘flipping off the bird’ as you pass one another in your cars as a form of nonverbal communication to communicate to each other a “friendly hello”, and you see the same car your friend has and express that same nonverbal communication, that person who you thought was your friend may not have the same reaction as your friend.  So remember that body language and nonverbal communication can have several different meanings to different people.

Cover Letter and Resume Tips January 22, 2010

Hello Everyone,

In my Public Relations Class we are blogging about some good tips for cover letters and resumes. As most of you know, developing a good cover letter and resume is the start to getting the job or internship that you desire.  In order to get an interview or the chance for a company to look at you for a possible internship, a well-organized resume and cover letter are neccessary.  As most of you know a cover letter is attached to your resumes with the  focus being  yourself and the position that is of interest to you.  Cover letters and resumes are important simply because they represent who you are and what you are about on a piece of paper.  

Sometimes in the work force, companies go through so many different cover letters and resumes that it is important that you stand out, with the attempt of making the company take a look at you and make them feel as if you are more qualified than others.  Some future professionals do this through the format of their cover letter and resume.  Others do this through presenting information that shows their experience.  However, I after taking several PR classes I have learned that it is most important to stay organized and present both all of that information in the correct areas being first with your cover letter.  In your cover letter you need to let the company know how you found out about this job, then you need to let them know why you think you are qualified to do the job, or why you feel that you are good for that particular job.

 Then at the end of the cover letter you need to ask for the company to consider your application and to request for someone to look over your resume.  However, it is important that you do this in a mannerly.  Avoid coming off to demanding or strong because it may make the company uninterested.  I have also learned some tips for your resume in my advertising class.  In your cover letter you  can use a unique font, but don’t make it to busy, try to stay professional. In advertising we learned that a personal resume is a small advertisement of yourself. Remembering that your resume is an advertisement of yourself, know that you are selling yourself to a company and should attempt to show your  quality of work and skills.  Having a unique font or format can often times help you get the attention you need, but remember don’t go over board and to still make it easy to read.  Also, some other tips for you resume is to provide the most significant information.  Don’t overwhelm the page with tiny details, try to stay focused with what you think is most important to the company that you are applying for. Also, keep your resume short in length.  My advice is to make it 1 page or less.  I hope that these tips are helpful, and give you a better idea on how to create a great cover letter and resume.

Best of Luck- Kristin