A Beginner's Venture Into the Business World

Ethics involves the moral “rights” and “wrongs” of society, and in turn, people. If it were simply regarding the obligations or responsibilities of an individual, then I would say that there is an obligation or at least a strong reason to inform the community. It would reduce the inconvenience to the public immensely since it would let them know to adjust their schedules and routines accordingly.

It is a slightly different case when talking about a company or person representing a company. The most ethical or right thing would be to do what is best for the company. We know that putting up constant reminders and notices on construction takes up company time and effort and that it would not affect our customers. Notifying them doesn’t provide our company any tangible benefits but it does show that we take responsibility, that we are conscious and involved in our community. We might not sell our products currently to this community, but in the future, there might be expansion and we would want to have a good relationship with potential clients.

Dear Walter,

Good morning. I received your proposal yesterday and I have reviewed it thoroughly. I have looked at your suggestion to switch advertising agencies from ABC Agency to XYZ Agency. I appreciate the input and hard work you’ve provided to the company in the past, however, I believe that in this situation, it would be best for us to stay with our current advertising agency, ABC Agency. ABC Agency has been a valuable contributor to our company’s marketing strategies for the last ten years and they continue to provide great work. They have helped increase the volume of sales on a year to year basis and increased our profits. There is no need for us to discontinue our relations with them as their work has been satisfactory in the time we have done business with them. I would ask you to reconsider your position. While it is true that a smaller agency like XYZ Agency has less clients and can so divert more time to them individually, I believe you’ll find there are a number of other factors that ABC Agency excels in, such as in cost, creativity, technology, and experience to name a few. We will be choosing to stay with ABC Agency for the time being. Thank you nonetheless for your contributions, Walter. You have been a great asset to our team and I do not wish to discourage you from suggesting improvements or ideas, as I do value the research and work you put into our marketing endeavors.

What will the music industry look like in the future? What’s next after online stores such as Apple’s iTunes and digital players such as the iPod?

In the last ten years, there has been a shift away from physical media to digital media collections. According to the RIAA, sales revenue from CDs has decreased approximately from 5.5B (62.3% of total revenue from music formats) to 1.1B (12.1% of total revenue). Interestingly, both formats are now overshadowed by digital streaming. Streaming services have become more popular, with people not buying songs or albums individually but instead paying to have access to large collections of music such as with Pandora or Spotify.

It makes up $5.7 billion of the total $8.7 billion of revenue from music sales, approximately 65%. These figures pertain to the United States, but it gives a good idea of the trend music formats are following. It seems that at least for the close future, the music industry will turn to primarily non-physical media, and just as vinyls and cassettes became obsolete, so will CDs. It is important to note that the revenues above only include legitimate sales. Piracy and illegal downloading of music also contribute to the popularity and availability of digital music. There is an abundance of music accessible compared to years before and it is only growing.

What comes next? Production of music may come to be made by technology itself. There are already virtual singers and artists present, so it may not be long before they can synthesize music that seems just like the real thing. There is also the aspect of virtual reality and how it may later be incorporated into how we experience music. The future of music could mean being able to broadcast your favorite band playing anywhere and at any time, in a 3-dimensional manner. Replicating the sound and feel of artists playing music on a virtual field, so that we can experience it on a larger level, may be the stepping stone for even more advanced breakthroughs.

Works Cited

User June C. posts a review on Yelp for Entertainment Cinemas, complaining about having to wait in line for tickets, the employees, and the popcorn. The problem isn't on what they are complaining about, but in their approach. This particular review wasn't written under a pseudonym or alias, but under their first name and last initial, so not completely anonymous. 

Looking at the section “Business Etiquette Online” in Chapter 2 of Business Communication Essentials gives some guidelines to follow when communicating with others online. As students planning to go into the business world, it is important to understand the etiquette that should be involved when talking to others online. While leaving reviews online isn't the same as writing an email to your boss or coworker, this section still gives useful tips. I believe they can be applied to more effectively communicate one's point to their intended audience. The reasons June C.’s review failed to effectively communicate their point are the three points below.

 Avoid personal attacks 

Throughout their review, June refers to the employees as ‘barely educated morons’ and to the other customers there as ‘obese’ and ‘idiots.’ 

Watch your language and keep emotions under control 

They cuss and use non-professional language to emphasize their aggravation, but this only comes across as crass and exaggerated. They obviously are angry and this shows, as they do not control their tone. This kind of language and attitude does not encourage people to respond positively or at all. 

Support facts with evidence, don't present opinions as fact 

The fact that they blatantly insult the workers and all the customers for simply being in line and not giving any additional reasoning makes it seem as if they jump to conclusions and as if they are just looking for reasons to complain. If anything, this strips away any empathy towards June’s situation, if there was any in the first place, and destroys any credibility she may have. She cannot be trusted to accurately give reviews and is not reliable to telling the story as it is. 

June C.’s review does not encourage any change or response from the owner or managers. Their thoughts are not organized and this makes it seem as if they are not actually thinking about what they are saying. They seem to be complaining just to vent their frustrations. If they really wanted the issues they complained about to be fixed or at least addressed, they should keep the three points above in mind. An example on how to phrase their situation and problems would be: 

“Dear Management at Entertainment Cinemas, 

On my last visit to your location in Hanover, I had a bad experience with your customer service. There was only one line for tickets and food and drinks. It would be more efficient to have separate lines for each. As it is, people who simply want to buy tickets have to wait longer in lines because of the people who are all buying their food and drinks. It would also help to provide training to your staff to decrease wait time, such as with handling cash and using the registers.

I would also like to ask about the freshness of your popcorn. How often is the popcorn made and how long is it kept before it is disposed for? Is there a way to better ensure the quality of the popcorn? Thank you for listening to my concerns. June C.” 

(https://www.monster.com/jobs/search/?q=Accounting-koch&where=Wichita__2C-KS&jobid=622b0755-750e-4365-8c99-ebf4dd6df234) 

What did you learn about this organization that would help you write an application letter?

I chose to research the position from my last blog post. Looking at the job posting, the title states it is for a position for an Accounting Associate at Georgia Pacific; however, the actual summary of the job description states it is for Flint Hill Resources. Both are subsidiary companies of Koch Industries. I learned about the qualities they value in their employees, and so also, in applicants. Innovation, ambition, and excellence are all traits they look for when hiring. This helps in knowing what kind of information to emphasize when applying for a job. I also found out about the industries the company itself operates in. It is involved in manufacturing and agriculture, more specifically, in fuels, biofuels, and chemicals in these fields. This is important to know since it influences what type of clients they have. Since I am from Southwest Kansas, I have some background experience in agriculture, and in at least connecting with clients.

What Internet sources did you use to obtain this information? Do you trust these sources? Why?

I used the Flint Hills Resources company website (www.fhr.com) along with Koch Industry's subpage on Flint Hills Resources (www.kochind.com/fhr/). While they are of course, biased sources, this is actually a positive for looking to see what they consider important in applicants. I trust them in showing what they want in employees, because lying or excluding information only makes it harder on them to find employees.

What aspects of your background do you think might appeal to this company’s recruiters?

As for my background, I have an Associate of Arts in Accounting, so effectively 2 years of education in accounting. I have also taken Computerized Accounting and have experience with Quickbooks. I have a good handle on the basics and concepts, but of course, the next 2-3 years of my Bachelor's and all the upper-class courses should improve my knowledge significantly beyond where it is currently. Once I graduate, I will hopefully have already worked 1-2 internships in accounting-based positions and will have applicable experience in the field. I will have my BA in Accounting and will be looking to pass my CPA exams. From my prior work experience, they would be able to see that I have been at Dillons for almost 4 years with great attendance, proving I am dependable and loyal, and will be there when needed. It is a testament to my work ethic if I get hired.

If you choose to apply for a job with this company, what keywords would you include on your resume/application letter? Why?

In a job application for an Accounting Associate, or specifically, this position, I would include the following key phrases and examples:

Customer Service Experience, since I do have approximately 3 years of customer service experience from my job at Dillons 

Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, since that is a skill that is essential in order to effectively communicate with co-workers, bosses, and clients

Ability to multitask, since I am quite adept at dealing with multiple situations at once without becoming overwhelmed

Once I graduate, I'll be looking for an accounting position at a public or private accounting firm. I'm still not sure if I'm inclined more towards audit or tax, as I haven't worked in any positions that involve either so I haven't had actual experience yet. I am also not sure on whether I want to go into public accounting or private accounting as both have their pros and cons, though I will probably still get my CPA exams done in order to get my certification. The position listed in the job posting below is similar to the jobs I would consider in my senior year or after graduation.

Accounting Associate at Georgia-Pacific:

https://www.monster.com/jobs/search/?q=Accounting-koch&where=Wichita__2C-KS&jobid=622b0755-750e-4365-8c99-ebf4dd6df234

10 keywords/phrases:

Strong communication skills

Strong interpersonal skills

Customer service experience

Self-motivated

Able to multitask

Fast-paced

Detail-oriented

Meticulous

Strong leadership

Collaborative

In a resume tailored towards this position, it would be smart to include the keywords above or examples that show them as well. As a retail worker, I have developed customer service skills in dealing with customers and their situations on a daily basis. I have learned how to be patient and when to be firm. The person I was before I started working and the person I am now are different. Before working at Dillons, I used to be very shy and reserved, but have become much more open and confident in myself than I used to be. Now, I find it easy to communicate with others, whether verbally or through written means.

I have a strong work ethic. I am timely, dependable, and able to be relied on. I do not miss work because my personal stance is that someone being absent only makes the workload on those that are there harder. I do like to work independently foremost, but enjoy working with others to accomplish a common goal. At work, I primarily do the customer service desk, but when needed, I manage the front end. I’ve learned to be a leader who works alongside others and does not simply delegate tasks, in order to keep operations running smoothly. I am also used to a fast-paced environment where multiple things are happening at once and everything is going haywire. I can be a fast worker without compromising quality.

Christopher Edmin

LinkedIn profile:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-emdin-1961185b/

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Chapter 6, “Crafting Messages for Digital Channels”,  goes over different forms of media that businesses use in communication. Many of us use multiple forms of social media in our daily lives, platforms like Facebook, Instagram, etc. Businesses also use social media to stay in contact with those within the company and outside of it as well, from its employees to its customers.

The book describes three different kinds of social media: public networks (both specialized and general) and private networks. As an example, the place where I work, Dillons, has its own social media for its employees called Yodel. This would be a private network since its purpose is to be used within the company. Usually, it’s department heads and managers posting pictures and talking about things such as promotional events, any major accomplishments their workers have done, etc. It’s meant to maintain a candid kind of connection between individual stores and districts.

Social media can be both a personal and professional tool. There are similarities and differences between how individuals use social media and how businesses use social media. Let’s look at the way individuals and businesses approach social media. An important factor to look at is who we design our social media and the messages it conveys, for.  Social media in our personal lives is usually intended for friends, family, and others we are close with. While we may have coworkers and bosses as part of our friends list, we don’t normally tailor our message to these people. Individuals can also use social media for business purposes. For example, I have social media accounts for recreational platforms like Facebook and Snapchat, but I also have accounts for LinkedIn and Twitter. The type of stuff I post differs between platforms.