May 2005

Michigan News

The University of Michigan Entertainment Coalition, a nonprofit organization comprised of U-M alumni in the entertainment business, will host its second film festival in June. Films by up-and-coming Wolverine filmmakers will be screened at Above the Line: An Evening of New Michigan Short Films on June 8 at 8 p.m. at the Silent Movie Theatre, located at 611 N. Fairfax Ave. in Hollywood. Screenwriter and director Lawrence Kasdan, '70, MA'72, HLHD'00, who wrote and directed "The Big Chill," is scheduled to appear as UMEC's guest of honor. Ticket information and other details are available online.

In the Know

Don't know which digital camera to buy? Perplexed by the plethora of cell phone plans on the market? Let Epinions.com help you out. Epinions can help you make informed decisions on virtually anything you're looking to buy by providing consumer reviews and in-depth product evaluations. You can even get personalized recommendations by customizing your searches. Whether you're spending $5 or $500, check out Epinions to get the scoop first.

Association News

If you haven't visited inCircle, the Alumni Association's online directory and networking community, today is a great time to start! Now through June, one daily random visitor to inCircle will win a free Michigan T-shirt. On June 30, we'll give away four iPod minis to inCircle users. We're also now offering free, 30-day trials to U-M alumni who are not members of the Alumni Association so you can invite all your friends—whether members or not—to join your inCircle network. For complete details on inCircle, including how to get started and the contests, visit our Web site.

Career

You've been working at your new job, and by all accounts, things are going well. Or so it seems. CareerBuilder.com details the four biggest career mistakes recent grads make that can cost you credibility or even your job:

• Coming in late
• Presenting negative attitudes to co-workers and customers
• Spending too much time on personal business at the office
• Not asking questions

Now that you know what not to do, find out what five skills you do need to ensure your success.

The popularity of weblogs has skyrocketed in recent years, and now it seems like everyone from your neighbor to your grandma has an online personal diary. But while sharing your daily thoughts with the Internet can be exciting, be careful what you write. CNN Money reports that "there's a false sense that employers can't punish their workers for voicing personal opinions—on their blogs or anywhere else." Case in point: Numerous employees at major corporations have been terminated for writing about their jobs online. So be careful what you write—and if you're not sure whether something is appropriate, avoid it altogether.