Interviewing With Us?

Austin Communication Group is currently interviewing applicants for our sales and marketing team. We know many of you are upcoming college grads, and it is your first time interviewing, so we wanted to give you some friendly advice for interviewing with Austin Communication Group, or any other company! This infographic from CollegeAtlas.org is also a great tool. 

1. Dress for the job you want: When you schedule your interview, ask detailed questions about what to wear. If you are not sure what a phrase like "Business Professional" means, ask! It is never a good thing to come to an interview underdressed.

2. Be mindful of your first impression: 

• Be on time!
• Be polite and friendly to anyone you meet, whether it is the CEO, the administrator, an employee passing through, other interviewers, or even a maintenance man! Although the interview may not have begun, you are likely going to be judged based on how you are in the lobby as well.
• Do not talk on your cell phone or even text while you are waiting for your interview to begin.
• Smile, give a firm handshake, and keep eye contact during your interview.

3. Follow the company's lead: During the first interview, you should find out about the interview process and what to expect. If you know there will be multiple interviews, be patient. Don't ask about compensation or benefits until the interviewer brings it up (usually by the end of the 2nd interview in most companies).

4. Have questions prepared: At the end of the first interview, an employer will typically ask if you have any questions for him. Don't be a deer in the headlights! Here are some great questions to ask:

• What are the opportunities for advancement with this position?
• How long have you been with the company?/What do you enjoy about your position?
• What are the company goals for this year?
• How have employees in this position really stepped up, or even fallen short in their role in the past?

5. Follow up with a Thank You email! About 15-20 minutes after your interview, email a thank you note directly to the interviewer if you have their email. If not, just email the recruiter or generic HR email address for the business. This will set you apart from other candidates and show that you are truly interested in moving forward in the interview process.

We hope this has helped give you some good action items for your upcoming interview with Austin Communication Group or other companies that you will come in contact with!

Copyright Austin Communication Group, 2014

What Separates Good Leaders From Great Ones

At Austin Communication Group, we are privileged to work with some really great leaders. People who believe in leading from the front, not just telling others what to do. Our main goal this year is to continue developing our best people and guiding them to become amazing leaders. A team of leaders beats a team of great salesmen any day.

1. Great leaders aren't afraid to get personal. We've all heard the saying, "it's not personal, it's business." Great leaders understand that business is personal. Business is about the people around you that make up the team, so doesn't it make sense to understand those people? If you want to get the best out of someone, you have to understand how he thinks, perceives information, and what experiences he's had that make him the way he is.  

2. Great leaders say "we" instead of "you." We need to make this happen for the client. We need to hit our first quarter goals. 

3. Great leaders don't wait for a leadership title. John Maxwell, the guru on leadership, wrote a book called The 360 Degree Leader. If you haven't read it, pick up a copy ASAP! Maxwell discusses the idea of learning to influence those around you, below you, or even above you. You don't need to wait for a promotion or a fancy title in order to set the right example and positively influence others. 

4. Great leaders can cast vision. We've all had managers who have barked orders and told us WHAT to do, but really great leaders help us understand WHY we're doing it. A good manager keeps everyone in line and helps the organization run like a well-oiled machine, but a great leader can set out a vision for the organization that inspires everyone to work with a purpose towards that end goal. 

5. Great leaders are the rock. Everyone needs a certain amount of consistency in the workplace. A boss who comes in everyday in a different mood can be hard to look up to. Part of being a great leader is being reliable: they arrive at the office at the same time everyday, they answer your emails in a consistent timeframe, they have a cool disposition for the most part, and although they can get heated, they are usually even-keel.

Austin Communication Group is a sales and marketing firm in Austin, TX. We have three locations, and have big goals for expansion in 2014. Check out our website at austincommunicationgroup.com, and "like" our company Facebook page. 

Copyright 2014 Austin Communication Group

A Winning Attitude

Time and time again, we see that your attitude can determine your result. Do you think Tiger Woods walks up to the tee thinking, "You're going to miss this. You're probably not going to win this tournament." No way! He's focused on his shot, his form, and most of all, his mindset. We see the effect of belief in modern medicine too. Heard of the Placebo Effect? When conducting a medical study, someone taking a sugar pill typically reports close to the same results as someone taking an actual medication. All because they EXPECT it to work. It's all in our minds. At Austin Communication Group, a lot of our business has to do with sales. We find that when it comes to two people with the same training and set of skills, the person with a more positive belief in his outcome will make more sales. If this is the case, when sharpening our skills, or brushing up on the fundamentals of our craft, doesn't it make sense to also spend time working on your attitude? You're probably nodding, but don't know exactly how to do this. Here are some thoughts:

• We all naturally call ourselves out on our mistakes, or remind ourselves of our shortcomings. Clearly, this is not a winning formula, but it's something you can't necessarily stop doing, since it's subconscious. However, you can counteract those bad thoughts with good thoughts. Science has found that it takes 17 positive statements to have the same impact that one negative statement would have about one's self. Negative thoughts about ourselves hurt more than positive thoughts help, so this makes sense. So by this logic, you should take every chance you get to tell yourself how great you are. Maybe don't go as far as Kanye West does, but start by consciously saying "That was a smart idea," "You've really improved your public speaking since the last meeting," "You look amazing today," and so on to yourself. Yes, it's cheesy, but it works. Remember, these are things you say in your own head, not out loud, so be as cheesy as you want. We can't prevent the negative thoughts from creeping in entirely, but we can make sure to give ourselves plenty of positive reinforcement. It takes practice, but it's worth it.

• Write down your goals, and keep them in a place you'll see them. If you are constantly bombarding yourself with what you plan to succeed at, you have less time to tell yourself that you'll fail. I would suggest writing your goals on your mirror at home with a dry-erase marker or in lipstick. If you wake up late one morning, and you have bags under your eyes, you'll catch a glimpse of your goals on your mirror as you get ready, and you'll spend less time beating yourself up for hitting snooze. Your day will probably turn out a little better if you've begun it thinking about what you intend to accomplish rather than with self-loathing. Also, keep notes about your goals at your desk, on post-its around your computer screen, and in your car. 

• In the same vein, bombard yourself with things that inspire you. Keeping an eye on your goals is great, but it's also a good idea to plant little motivators around. Maybe that's a picture of your dream vacation on your desktop, or your dream house on your fridge. For some people, motivational quotes do the trick. Instead of having a picture of my dog or my family on my iPhone lock screen, I have a motivational quote. Every time I unlock my phone, I read it. Eventually, you look past things you see over and over, so be sure to change things up from time to time to increase your awareness. Looking forward to results can help us to stick to our goals. Similar to the photos of your dream house or dream vacation, photos of our ideal physique can help us stick to an eating or exercise plan. Looking at a photo of the new car we intend on purchasing can help us to stick to a tight budget. 

Although it can be an abstract thought, sharpening your attitude is just as important as sharpening your skills, if not more so. Take the time everyday to build yourself up, and focus on what you want, rather than how you've failed, or how poorly you're doing. You'll be surprised how quickly you see results.

Copyright 2014 Austin Communication Group, Inc.