A New Voice to Give the Aflac Duck its Quack Back

/PRNewswire/ -- Aflac today announced its plan for a nationwide casting call to find a new voice for the iconic Aflac Duck. The company plans to hold auditions in six cities across the United States during the first week of April. Interested parties will find a complete job description and information about how to secure an audition appointment on Monster.com and at Quackaflac.com, where job seekers can also submit applications online.

Live auditions will be held in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Las Vegas, Austin and Atlanta. While these audition slots will be limited, the online casting call is open today and will remain open until April 1, 2011 at midnight Pacific time.

Since 2000, the Aflac Duck has appeared in 52 television ads and numerous radio ads, helping increase the company's brand recognition from slightly more than 10 percent to an amazing 93 percent. The Aflac Duck is also a symbol for the company's primary philanthropic cause, helping Aflac raise more than $62 million for the treatment and research of childhood cancer.

"Being the new voice of the Aflac Duck carries responsibilities far beyond recording duck sounds," Aflac Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Michael Zuna said. "The Aflac Duck symbolizes our promise to be there in times of need. It represents the philanthropy and the ethical values embraced by our employees and more than 72,000 independent sales agents across the nation, so we are looking for the best person to help advance our brand and business in a way that demonstrates our values."

"Aflac reached out to Monster because of the great success we've had finding talent for really cool jobs," said Ted Gilvar, global chief marketing officer for Monster Worldwide. "We are so proud to do what we can to help Aflac with the nationwide search for the new 'spokesduck' and also provide the millions of job seekers that visit Monster with a once in a lifetime opportunity."

Immediately following the initial auditions, a selection of candidates will be chosen by a professional casting agency, with the top contenders invited for a callback. Candidates will be judged on their ability to communicate an entire vocabulary in one word, Aflac, and how their voice can help the Aflac Duck sound informative, frustrated, happy, hurt, or angry, including grunts, groans, and mutterings, but no words other than Aflac. Prior voice-over experience is preferred, but not required.

All auditions — online or live — will be a maximum of 30 seconds and will irrevocably become the property of Aflac. There will be limited availability for live auditions, so those seeking to interview in one of the six cities where casting calls will take place should make an appointment by following the instructions on Monster.com or Quackaflac.com. Live interviews will be held by appointment only . The ten finalists selected for a callback will be required to conduct a second audition either via satellite or in person in New York City.

"The Aflac Duck is fun, but it conveys a very important message," Zuna said. "We believe this is the best job available in America today, so applicants should prepare like this is the opportunity of a lifetime."

While searching for the new voice of the Aflac Duck, Aflac is continuing its television advertising schedule with "Silent Movie," which stars the Aflac Duck in a scene that resembles an old silent movie genre film. In "Silent Movie," the Aflac Duck rescues a damsel in distress in much the same way that he provides a safety net for policyholders who are sick or injured.

Applicants should consider the following job description before applying:

Job Title: New Voice of the Aflac Duck

About the Job

This position will be integral to forging Aflac's voice in all manner of communications. In this role, you will find innovative ways to use one word to convey to consumers that they need Aflac to complement their major medical plans.

Responsibilities

* Creates innovative and original quacking that helps consumers understand how Aflac is different from major medical Insurance.
* Strategically develops ways for the word "Aflac" to communicate that the company's insurance provides a safety net for families.
* Translates complex messages into a single word that tells people, "Aflac is the insurance company that they can count on in their time of need."
* Provides exceptional and creative use of the word "Aflac" for advertising in television, Web sites and other marketing communications.
* Embodies the spirit of caring and ethics that Aflac is known for both in and out of the recording studio.


Special Skills

* Requires correct pronunciation of the word Aflac
* Must be able to present complex information clearly and concisely into an effective reading of the word "Aflac"
* Ability to improvise
* Skilled at making people laugh
* Unique and memorable voice
* Bilingual or trilingual skills (English with Duck and Spanish Duck)
* Prior acting and or voice-over experience is preferred, but not required.


Core Competencies

* Inspires trust and behaves ethically
* Is customer-centric
* Has a collaborative spirit especially when it comes to working with ducks
* Is creative

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Georgia Budget and Policy Institute Job Announcement

Position Title: Development Director

The Georgia Budget and Policy Institute (GBPI) seeks to hire a half-time Director of Development. The GBPI is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that conducts research and analysis on a range of state tax and budget issues, with a particular focus on issues affecting low and moderate income Georgians.

Under the supervision of the Executive Director, the Director of Development shall:

* Develop and implement a strategic development plan to include a major donor campaign, direct mail, donor recognition, and fundraising events
* Develop and maintain systems for cultivating, thanking, tracking, reporting to, and building strong relationships with donors and prospects
* Conduct research on donors and prospects, and create and maintain accurate donor and prospect records including profiles, proposals, acknowledgements, and other correspondence
* Coordinate a yearly major fundraising event as well as smaller fundraising events
* Maintain fundraising database (Exceed)
* Perform some grant writing

Minimum Qualifications

* Undergraduate degree with at least three to five years relevant experience
* Major donor fundraising experience a plus
* Strong written and oral communication skills
* Strong organizational skills and ability to multi task effectively
* Excellent Interpersonal skills
* Self-motivation
* Ability to work independently and to prioritize tasks
* Willingness to work as part of a team
* Strong commitment to the mission of the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute

The Development Director will report to the Executive Director. This position will start out as half-time, although it could develop into full-time status after a one-year review. Full-time employees receive benefits including health care insurance, generous vacation, holiday, and sick leave, and a flexible work environment.

To Apply:

Please send resume, cover letter, names and contact information of three references to:

Executive Director
The Georgia Budget and Policy Institute
100 Edgewood Ave
Suite 950
Atlanta, Georgia 30303

Or by e-mail at gbpi@gbpi.org

The Georgia Budget and Policy Institute is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, religious or political affiliation, disability, and any other classification considered discriminatory under applicable law.

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Party City Creates 10,000 Additional Jobs for the Halloween Season

/PRNewswire/ -- The Halloween season is a busy time for Party City as the premier Halloween specialty retailer prepares for an intense seasonal hiring wave in local communities. Party City is creating thousands of temporary jobs throughout America, recruiting 10,000 people to join the Party City team during the Halloween season. The average Party City store will hire up to an additional 15-50 extra employees.

"The creation of new jobs is critically important in today's market as the economy continues to recover," said Lisa Laube, President of Party City. "Our efforts to create jobs serve a dual-purpose: to provide people with opportunities to productively utilize their skills in today's downtrodden job market, and to provide shoppers with exceptional customer service during the busy Halloween season."

The retailer is hiring Halloween Sales Associates who will undertake a variety of positions, including Cashier, Greeter, Roadside Character, Customer Service Associates and Stock Room Associates. All Party City employees are trained to not only find the right costumes and accessories, but also how to find innovative ways to pull off any themed-look. There are also many opportunities for store employees to continue working after Halloween based on specific store staffing needs.

Interested applicants can apply either on-line at partycity.com or in person at their local Party City store.

During Halloween, Party City enables people to completely transform into "something else" from head to toe, whether becoming austere and intelligent Edward Cullen, or pop phenom Lady Gaga. For additional information on this year's Halloween costumes and accessories, visit a local Party City store or visit partycity.com.

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'Reinvent Your Future' Event Counsels Atlanta Job Seekers on How to Stand Out and Get Hired

/PRNewswire/ -- There's good news for job seekers in the South; one-in-five employers is adding full-time workers in the third quarter, according to CareerBuilder's Q3 Job Forecast. University of Phoenix and CareerBuilder have teamed up on the "Reinvent Your Future" event, August 4, at the Georgia International Convention Center, to offer employment counsel with workshops on topics such as interview preparation, resume writing and personal presentation. More than 30 locally hiring companies, including New York Life Insurance, Peachtree Financial Solutions, Kaiser Permanente, Windstream Communications, FedEx Ground and AT&T will be present to meet with job candidates. At a time when the job market is especially competitive, "Reinvent Your Future" attendees will gain valuable advice on how to better market themselves to potential employers.

Activity on CareerBuilder.com indicates that Atlanta employers are beginning to initiate growth strategies once again, with jobs in marketing, sales, health care, information technology and business development experiencing the most growth.

"Job seekers must quickly adapt to this new economy to both differentiate themselves and to demonstrate relevance to potential employers," said Brewer Garrick, Corporate Education Liaison Director, University of Phoenix's Atlanta campus. "This event bridges career, education and identity development, helping job seekers take their search to the next level. The tools and information available at 'Reinvent Your Future' will help candidates refresh their job-hunting approach and learn how to best market themselves."

Employers are starting to hire again, but as a result of the recession and the 9.9 percent unemployment rate in the Atlanta area, there is also more competition for open positions.

"In a challenging job market, it's important for job seekers to strengthen their personal brand and stand out from the competition," said Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources for CareerBuilder. "This career fair not only gives people the chance to get in front of employers who are hiring, but also to learn how to position their personal brand ahead of the competition through a stronger resume, sharpened interview skills and an expanded social network."

In addition to potential job opportunities and career retooling sessions, New York Times best-selling author, educator and businessman Stedman Graham will offer a keynote address on the subject of identity and leadership development. Graham will discuss the important role personal identity plays in a job search and how to find and make the most of unique strengths, talents and skills.

"My hope is that people walk away feeling excited and empowered to incorporate identity in their job search and that this results in a fulfilling career," said Graham.

The Atlanta "Reinvent Your Future" event is Wednesday, August 4, at the Georgia International Convention Center in the International Ballroom at 2000 Convention Center Concourse from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This free event is open to the general public.

The Atlanta "Reinvent Your Future" event is the fifteenth in a series of 16 career retooling events across the country being hosted by University of Phoenix and CareerBuilder, featuring Stedman Graham. The next event will take place in Philadelphia on Friday, August 6. For more information or to register visit www.reinvent2010.com and follow us on Twitter @Reinvent2010.

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How to answer job interview questions and be prepared

(ARA) - Job interviews can be filled with anxiety if you are not prepared for the questions and the answers.

Preparing for your job interview is a lot more than updating your resume and getting a haircut. Doing your homework is critical to your success. In the current competitive job market, no amount of research is too extreme, says Jodi Berkshire, assistant director of Career Services at The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale. No one can anticipate every question an employer might ask, but you should be prepared to gracefully handle the most commonly asked questions. To prepare for the job interview, Berkshire says here are a few questions you should be expecting:

1. "Tell me about yourself." Don't mistake this one for an easy question. If you don't carefully prepare your answer prior to the interview, it will show. The interviewer is not interested in where and when you were born, your childhood, your family or your hobbies. Craft a short response that gives a thumbnail sketch of you professionally. This is a great place to insert some of your sterling qualities and accomplishments and make sure that they dovetail with the requirements of the position for which you are interviewing. Be positive and enthusiastic and whatever you do, don't ramble.

2. "What do you know about our company?" "How did you hear about us?" Or, "Why do you want to work for us?" These are all variations on the same theme. The real question is: Did you do your homework? Any interviewer will expect that you have researched the company. That means that you should know their website inside and out. Have you Googled the company? Have you read any recent articles about them? If the only information you have to offer is what any person off the street who isn't applying for the position knows, it shows that you don't care enough and you're not very thorough.

3. "What are your strengths?" "Why should we hire you?" You can count on this question cropping up at some point during the interview. Here's a simple way to prepare. Take a sheet of paper and fold it in half vertically. On one side list all the specific technical qualities that you possess. Look at the job description and consider each skill that is mentioned. For example, if the job description mentions software skills that are required and you have those skills, go ahead and list them. In the other column, list the personal qualities that you bring to the job. These could be things like punctuality, reliability, enthusiasm, work ethic, professionalism, etc. Again, take another look at the job description and anticipate what qualities that hiring manager would be looking for. Here is your chance to sell yourself. Don't be afraid to let them know what a great addition you'd be to their company.

4. "What is your greatest weakness?" "How have you overcome it?" Be careful with this one. It is a potential minefield. This is not the time to bare your soul and reveal your deepest insecurities. Whatever you do, don't say you procrastinate, have trouble meeting deadlines, arrive late or that you don't get along well with others. You have two good choices here. You can either choose a weakness that is really a strength to an employer (you become so engrossed in your work that you find it hard to take a break until the project is completed), or choose something that you had to master at the beginning of your career that would be an expected learning curve for any entry-level recent college grad (you didn't really grasp project management in your first job and you had to make a deliberate effort to learn about time lines and time management.). If you choose the second example, make sure that you stress how your performance increased once you mastered the missing skill.

5. "What would your past employer tell me about you?" Again, tread carefully. Do not, under any circumstances, say anything negative about any past employer. Settle on a few of your strongest qualities and concentrate on those that reflect your strong work ethic and professionalism. Here is another perfect opportunity to sell yourself, but once again, be careful not to ramble.

6. "Why did you leave your last position?" If you left because you relocated or were offered a better position, you can breathe a sigh of relief. But what if you were terminated by the company? It's not the end of the world; it happens to everyone at some point in their career. Again, do not say anything bad about your last employer. If your position was eliminated due to budget cuts, say so and make it clear that you have nothing but fond memories and good feelings about the company. If you were let go because of something you did, try to take responsibility while making it clear that you would handle things differently today and that you learned a valuable lesson. Keep it short and sweet and don't be tempted to go into long, complicated explanations.

7. "What kind of salary are you looking for?" You can be assured that the interviewer knows what they are willing to pay. Again, there is no substitute for doing your homework. You should research what similar positions are worth in your area. Be careful to compare apples to apples on this one. A copywriter in New York can expect a higher salary than one in Detroit. Also look closely at the amount of experience and the skills required. A recent college graduate will not command the same salary as someone with five to 10 years of experience. You might say something like, "My research tells me that graphic designers in this area are generally earning (average salary range). How does that fit with what your company is offering?" And make sure that you can justify why you should command that salary range you are expecting.

Once you've done your research, practiced answers to commonly asked questions and become comfortable with the idea of selling yourself, remember to smile. In most interview situations, the candidate who appears to be relaxed, confident (not arrogant) and enthusiastic, usually has the best chance of being hired.

To learn more about The Art Institutes schools, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/nz.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Naughty or Nice? How Job Seekers Can Shine During the Holiday Season

(BUSINESS WIRE)--“Have you been naughty or nice?” No one is too old to consider this seasonal question. According to John Paul Tier, a career consultant for Williams, Roberts, Young, a Winston-Salem, N.C.-based partner firm of Career Partner International (CPI) www.cpiworld.com, the world’s largest partnership of career transition and coaching firms, to maximize the unique job-search advantages that the entire holiday season offers, become your very own Santa Claus and make sure your efforts reflect the “Nice” list.

* Naughty. Be a humbug!

Nice. Take time to recognize your individual blessings. Enjoy the holidays, join in the celebration, and remember that we all have something to feel good about. This will actually endear you to friends, family, and others.

* Naughty. Give up and restart your efforts in the New Year.

Nice. Bump your job search efforts up a notch by increasing your holiday activities to stand out from those job searchers who simply give up during the holiday season.
* Naughty. Ask, “What’s in it for me?”

Nice. Lend a helping hand. Volunteering to help others can expand your network of contacts and allow you to demonstrate your talents at a time of year when many corporate, charitable or community support programs are short of help.
* Naughty. Refuse invitations to holiday parties.

Nice. Take advantage of the season’s social hubbub as holiday parties offer great opportunities to expand your network. Also, reignite your network connections and spread good cheer by sending holiday greeting cards.
* Naughty. Have a bleak and negative response to, “How’s the job search?” that revolves around where you have been and why you haven’t found a job yet.

Nice. Have a positive and proactive response to, “How’s the job search?” that focuses on where you are going and what you are looking for.
* Naughty. Focus only on making your interactions with people about job leads.

Nice. Focus more on getting to know other people so you can build stronger, long-term relationships that will create more opportunities personally and professionally.
* Naughty. Give in to the stress and strife.

Nice. Give yourself permission to simply relax. Not only will you enjoy the holiday season, taking a few scheduled days off will help you stay mentally fit and refreshed in the months to come—making you a more attractive candidate and potentially shortening your search.

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