Special Guest Speaker: Jessica Mattly

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While enrolled in the HTM 201 class, our lucky class was awarded a great
opportunity to hear from some super special guest speakers throughout
the semester. This special guest speaker was one whom I was really
connected to, in terms of learning. The name of the
guest speaker is Jessica Mattly. Mattly works at the
Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel, where she spends
her time as a training manager. Her career path was
nothing short of ordinary, she started off in a variety
of career choices. She started of working in a bank,
and then from there her networking took her to
places she never thought she’d be part of. Jessica’s
journey from where she started to where she ended
took many years. She is now a board member at the
San Diego Bayfront Hilton and also participating in the Hospitality Human
Resources Association. She explained how she loves to help out her Hilton
family, by training managers who are soon entering their new position.

Jessica Mattly had several themes which she focused on during her
presentation. Her main theme was how to tell a “story” on your resume
when you are applying to a job. Jessica, when she introduced herself,
explained her “story” and how she developed a clever way to making her
journey sound professional and systematic. She stressed the importance of
explaining your experiences in the jobs you previously had and turn those
experience stories into something glamorous. During her presentation, she
had an array of slides with examples on how to spruce
up your resume; she explained how you should not use
“blanket qualities” or add a generic objective on your
resume. On one slide, she listed the 8 best practices for
resume, the types of font you should/should not use,
and how to better your chances of getting hired. She
explained how a solid resume will get you a call back,
and the more you personalize it while staying
professional, the better the interview will be if you are
awarded one. After she talked about how to form an exquisite resume, you
should then develop a clear and cohesive cover letter. She expressed how
the cover letter is the preface to your story, this is where you explain how
you got the position and why you have chosen to apply to the company that
you are sending your resume to. The cover letter is important because
within the paragraphs you explain briefly why you are applying, what you
can offer that organization and why you are a great candidate, and how
you will follow up with your excitement to discuss further.

Based on Jessica Mattly's presentation, I would say she falls into the
People Savvy kaleidoscope competency. Jessica exemplified strong
communication, and networking skills. She explained how, if you wanted
your resume to be noticed that you must contribute interesting skills and
the ability to be coachable in the position that you are applying for. Jessica
Mattly is people savvy because she works closely with her employees and
colleagues and had a good sense of interpersonal communication and great
networking skills. The visit of this guest speaker really connected to me
because as a senior who is about to graduate, I need all the help I can get
when writing a resume and cover letter. Her
visit put me at ease, because she explained
everything so professionally and it was easy
for me to understand. I think that I will take
what she said and apply it to when I am
searching for a career. The one part of her
presentation that I really took away from
was when she told us if we do get a call in for
an interview to think back to when you were
really nervous for something and look at how
after that thing happened you were fine. She compared that story to the
interview process because you should have some nerves, but at the end of
the interview you will feel os much better and hopefully more comfortable
because she said that they once were in your position too. She was a very
helpful guest speaker because she really tried to connect to our class and to
some of us individually with her knowledge of perfecting your story for
your resume.