PRSSA Sacramento State

What's Happening in the Hive?

4/14/2018

The weekend is officially here and we are only five weeks out until the end of the semester. So, before our future stress becomes a reality, let’s have some fun!

In the past years, the local music scene has been flourishing. However, since the Naked Lounge stopped providing a space for all ages performances, it has been harder to see some of the incredible artists located here in Sacramento.

Nevertheless, Shine Cafe is an all ages venue still putting on shows. The building is hard to miss with a bright blue neon sign on the corner of E and 14 St. The inside is a wide open space with plenty of seating so everyone can watch the performances from a comfortable spot.

Beginning at 8 pm, this event is only $8 per person! The night will begin with local singer-songwriter, Carenna KT, with a solo set. Next up, Hidden Animal will be bringing in the folk as a two man performance. Closing out the show is local Americana group, Darbytown.

Even though it is an all ages venue, there are still many drink options for those 21 and older, including beer, hard cider. Shine is also a coffee shop and make a delicious Namaste Latte, which is a mix of matcha, a hint of vanilla and sweetened with agave nectar. They do shut down there kitchen during shows, but still make a kickass grilled cheese until closing.

For more information, check out their future events on their website at
shinesacramento.com/

April is upon us, and you know what they say, ‘April showers bring May flowers’. With the California sunshine coming and going so sporadically, we want to make the most of the warm weather when we get the chance!

Located by the river’s edge, Sac State is within perfect distance of some great hiking trails. My job is to help narrow down that seemingly endless list of trails to the best of the best. Heading up river to the beautiful Auburn foothills, American River Canyon Overlook Park (quite the mouthful, I know) is home to many picturesque trails. With gorgeous views of the American River Canyon down below, waterfalls, and great foliage for shade, the 8.6 mile hike out to No Hands Bridge is a perfect trail to spend those hot spring days on.

Another great trail in the Auburn area is Lake Clementine. Get your cameras out for this one! While your 4.5 mile hike along the dirt path may look like any other hiking trail in town, the end result is one for the books! Lake Clementine Trail features a prime Instagram spot at the Lake Clementine Dam. Stand out on the rock (you’ll know the one) and snap a photo with the man made waterfall. You may even be lucky enough to capture a rainbow!

American River Canyon Overlook Park:
855 Pacific Ave
Auburn, CA 95603

Free parking, restrooms, water.
www.sacbee.com/entertainment/living/health-fitness/Bike-hike/article77131532.html

Lake Clementine Trail:
137 Old Forest Hill Rd.
Auburn, CA 95603

$10 parking
www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1141

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How to Build a Professional Portfolio

4/5/2018

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Written by: Dillon Byrne, Eric Phomthevy

When diving into the professional world, it's practically mandatory to have a resume. Most employers are going to turn you away without one. If everyone has a resume, then how do you stand out? Well let's first define a resume as a document used by an individual to state the prior work experience and skills to their potential employers. These employers comb through multiple resumes with everyone claiming what skills they have. Anyone can claim to be adept in writing, web design, or any other content creation. It’s another thing to present proof.

Essentially, that's what a portfolio is. A collection relevant documents and prior projects that you can show your potential employer to provide a visual representation of your talents and skills.

The Portfolio is going to be a visual representation of you so first impressions are important. Your portfolio should not be a loose set of papers, but rather compiled and organized into a neet and presentable document. The first thing in your portfolio should be a title page. This page should include your name, address, email, phone number as well as the date the portfolio is being presented.

Next should be a cover letter. A blog about how to create a cover letter was written earlier in the semester if you would like an example. But this should be a brief summary of your strengths, skills, and goals. Following the cover letter should be the table of contents, highlighting all the major points in your portfolio with page numbers. Next should be your current resume.

Now we start getting into the meat of the portfolio. After your resume, you should have a statement about your current goals. If you are still in school, this should be your educational goals as well as what you hope gain out of reaching these goals. If you have graduated or are about to, this should be what your professional goals are. This section should not be all that long. A paragraph or two.

The next section is where you have a more detailed description of your work experience. You should have mentioned some previous jobs in your resume, but this section gives you a chance to expand on that. When an employer looks at a resume and a job title, he or she may not always know what that means or entells. This is also a section where you can add how and why you were an important player in that position, if relevant.

Next, the bulk of the portfolio. This section is where you place all of your supporting documentation. Meaning all the examples of prior work you wish to share. It is important to note that you should not put every single thing you have ever worked on in your portfolio. You should only put one or two example of each type of document you wish to provide. For example, if you have several news articles written, choose the top one that you feel shows your skillset the best.

The next section is where you place any letters of recommendation you have aquired. And following it, you should place any relevant awards you have been given.              Next, let’s explain why having a portfolio is important. So far, what was covered was how to make a portfolio, and we skimmed over the importance of one. From a professional standpoint, having a portfolio provides tangible proof of your skills and abilities, which definitely helps if you want to demonstrate that you are a qualified candidate for a specific job.

Providing samples of your prior work and projects not only shows potential employers that you are qualified, but it also shows the kind of individual you are. This allows an employer to not only see that you’re capable of the job, but it also shows that you are a good fit for that job in regards to its culture.

Having a timeline of your previous work also shows how you’ve developed as an individual. Your portfolio is a living document, which evolves over time. This is probably not directly important to a potential employer, but it is important to see where you’ve have started in creating your career. In short, it provides perspective. Having an appreciation for the process of making and understanding a portfolio is the take home message here, and we hope you agree!

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Spring cleaning “Less is More”!

4/3/2018

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Written by: Jordan Farley, Jennie-Marie Britton, Cristina Becerra

With summer just around the corner and the weather outside getting nicer by the day, there is only one more thing to do before we can be totally care free. Okay maybe more than just one thing, but one step in the right direction is… you guessed it! Spring cleaning!!!

With everyone getting ready for the summer time and people starting to look at where they want to live next year, spring cleaning is better off done sooner than later. It is time to go through your closet and donate any gently used items that no longer serve a purpose for you. It is also a great time to throw away anything that is no longer necessary, such as expired food, old used up notebooks, and keep everything organized. Organization is key right now with finals roughly seven weeks away. Make sure in the midst of all the cleaning, that you do not get rid of any important study materials. Try keeping all your school work in a notebook or a folder, so when finals week comes around you are more prepared than ever!

As the end of the school year approaches, it is the prime time for most of us college students to figure out where we are living next year. Moving can often be a dreadful thing for some. However, if you do your spring cleaning right, moving can be a breeze. Just make sure to keep everything organized and remove the extras from your life and house, and you will be in great shape!

To make moving, or even just your room cleaner and accessible, try to minimize your closet! First, with the heat approaching start by packing the majority of your thick winter clothing such as coats, scarves, beanies, etc. Sacramento weather in the summer definitely will not leave you feeling the cold! Second, while putting things away in your storage, take a moment to ask yourself “did I even wear this?” If that doesn’t help ask the question, “have I worn this in the last 3 months?” If the answer is no we strongly recommend donating your unused/unwanted clothing! Some places even offer a trade in/cash for certain items!

Once you’ve managed to dig through all your winter clothing, take a look through your summer clothes and ask yourself a similar question, “will I wear this during summer?” If not, then make sure to throw it in that donation pile you have already started! Minimizing your space can also help with organization and analyzing how many things you really don’t need. If you can identify what purchases you were making that you really don’t use, you can apply that knowledge to all future purchases! The hardest part is just getting rid of those years old clothing and it only gets easier from there!

Now that your material possessions are in line, it is time to spring clean your body, mind, and spirit! Yep you heard that right, now take a deep breath in and exhale those worries away. As mentioned before finals are in view and stress can clutter your life. During this time of spring cleaning try to make time for exercise. Exercise has been known to relieve stress and focus the mind which is very helpful while studying for exams. Second, meditation for just five minutes a day can help clear your mind of toxic thoughts and stress. Last, but surely not least, your spirit. Along with meditation, your spirit can be lifted in many ways including going on a beautiful hike with friends, taking a night to hang out with friends or family completely forgetting about the things the stress you, or simply taking a nap to regroup your thoughts.

Best of luck to you as you tackle these steps on accomplishing successful spring cleaning!

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Top Tips for Conquering Public Speaking

3/28/2018

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By: Christian Guzman, Ashley Melendez and Mesayla Weaver

Public speaking are two of the most feared words in the English language. Unfortunately, it is something that college students cannot avoid. But fear not! We have put together some tips and tricks to help build your confidence and ability to speak in public.

Research Your Speech Material
If the speech you’re preparing requires you to present information, you’ll want to make yourself appear as credible as possible. As such, it’s important not only to sound the part---you’ll have to familiarize yourself with the facts you deliver, as well. To truly help instill self-confidence for your speech day, research and review every fact you include every week. The more you know your material, the easier it’ll be for you to ignore relying on a script.

Format and Organize Properly
Yes, as tedious as it is, your public speaking professors will expect you to follow strict guidelines when preparing your speech outline. And yes, you will have to learn to formulate an outline. It will consist of main points, sub points, sub-sub points, and so on, that will allow you to elaborate on the topic you’re addressing. No matter how unnecessary this kind of preparation may seem, it’ll serve as a guide for you to refer to in the event that you forget pertinent information. Follow instructions for formatting exactly, and arrange all of your content from most to least important. As obvious as it is, having the right attention-grabbers and the most interesting information being delivered early is critical to maintaining your audience’s focus. (They won’t be listening anyway, but at least do it to refine your skills).

Plan Appropriately
Rehearse your speech. It sounds silly, but it does help, trust me. Read it in front of a friend, girlfriend, even a mirror. The more you practice the more confidence you’ll have.

Breathe
I know its hard at the time because of how nervous you are, but take a deep breath. Taking a deep breath really does calm you down by triggering neurons in your brain which tell the body it is time to relax.

Take Action
How are you going to get better at something if you never try it? I’m a terrible public speaker, almost as bad as I am with computers. I enrolled in two public speaking classes as well as a digital media class in order to hone and practice my weaknesses.

Be Yourself
No good comes from worrying about what other people are thinking especially when you are giving a speech. Best way to stay focused on your speech is to be concentrating on you alone and not the audience.

Power Pose
Research has shown that by standing in a superhero pose for up to a minute before giving a speech increases the level of confidence in a person. Having stronger confidence makes it much easier to deliver a stronger speech.

Take Questions Before and After Your Speech
Allowing your audience to ask for background information about the preparation and completion of your speech can potentially calm your nerves when you recite it. It serves as a precursor to the actual material, and the casual tone of everyone’s questions may help you to remember that your speech is not as important as you fool yourself into believing. This sort of process is especially affirming, as audience members will be silently confirming their intrigue in what you had to say.

So there you have it! PRSSA’s guide to public speaking preparation. If you happen to be writing a speech as you read this, we hope you found our advice useful, and that it’ll serve as a helpful reference for others in the future.

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College Hacks: Stress Relievers

3/28/2018

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Written by: Alyssa Brown

Welcome back from spring break! After some great relaxation, it’s that time again for assignments to be handed out and the stress to build up. Yet, stress can affect our ability to sleep and even worsen our grades. We don’t want that, don’t we?! Those are our top priorities as college students! With that in mind, how can we help ourselves remain stress free? Here are 10 tips to not letting your assignments and exams get to you.

1. Yoga and Breathing Techniques

Now, these two go hand-in-hand. Yoga uses controlled poses, mindful breathing techniques and meditation for relaxation. A few poses that are great for relieving stress include salutation seal, cat pose, cow pose, extended puppy pose and much more. Combining these poses with mindful breathing can bring you state of calm in any situation. There are apps available for iOS and Android that can help, such as Mycalmbeat and Calm.

2. Exercise

Working out is a great option and all you need is 10 minutes. A quick jog around the block can do wonders for your state of mind. Sweating out the stress can take your mind off your current situation and help you with writer’s block for those 10 page papers. Regular exercise is the best option, but as college students we don’t always have the option. Even a leisurely walk can relieve tension by releasing endorphins into the body.

3. 10 Minute Break

Similar to a quick workout, taking a small break to do something else can give your mind a break from what is causing you stress. Use your phone to time yourself so you don’t get distracted for too long. Then put on a little bit of music, put on a pot of water for some tea and do some light stretching as you wait for it to boil. Doing this a few times throughout a long study session can keep you from feeling overwhelmed.

4. Take a Soothing Shower or Bath

Put your favorite music, show or podcast on in the background and let the warm water help you start fresh from some strenuous studying. But are you looking for a longer break? Try a warm bath. You can even add some lavender Epsom salts to the water and light a few candles. Add some light music in the background and feel the stress fall from your shoulders.

5. Eat a Healthy Breakfast

Eating after you wake up can help you face challenging situations throughout your day and keep you focused. Instead of treating the stress afterwards, breakfast can help you prevent it. Even a quick smoothie can do wonders. Try this recipe: apple juice, spinach, a banana, and some frozen pineapple. You’ll get the nutrients you need from the spinach, without the taste.

6. Meal Prepping

By preparing in advance, you are saving time and stress later when you need a quick meal before class or work. If that’s too much for the limited time we have as students, at least prepare your next meal in advance. Plus, it is 10x healthier than the Del Taco or Taco Bell you were thinking of grabbing instead.

7. Try a Personal Mantra

When you feel things are getting out of control, try a personal mantra you can associate with remaining calm. I like to use this one: Everything is going to be okay. It works for anything, especially before an exam or presentation. Repeating this over and over while practicing deep breathing techniques can help stress induced anxiety subside.

8. Crying

This may seem like a tad too much, but crying can work wonders. Bring up a sappy Netflix movie or show and let the waterworks happen. Letting yourself cry can release any built up hormones or toxins in your body. I recommend This Is Us as the perfect crying material and tension reliever.

9. Phone a friend, call your mom

Calling another person can provide another perspective on the issue and help bring you back down to Earth. Getting social support from someone you trust can put things into perspective and ultimately relieve the built up tension.

10. Snuggle an animal

Petting an animal can be extremely beneficial to a person’s stress level. By simply petting a cat or dog, the body naturally releases a hormone known as oxytocin. As these levels rise, the amount of stress built up in the body will decrease. Already have an animal? Your halfway there! Grab them and snuggle them.

These are just a few of the many things you can do to relieve your stress. As midterms and finals come and go, as the amount of reading increases and your papers are due the same day as a presentation, try these techniques. Some of them may not help you, but as you use them you’ll find what does work. Plus, these techniques can be used in every aspect of life, during and after college. Continue moving forward, do your homework, take your exams and remain stress free.

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What’s Happening in the Hive: Spots for Spring Break!

3/16/2018

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Written by: Alyssa Brown, Ashley Melendez, Jordan Farley

Congratulations, you made it to the last day before Spring Break 2018. We know you have a paper to finish, a mid-term to dominate, and maybe some last minute packing to get done. Let's face it, college and life can get a bit hectic. Now, you finally have time to take a breath and think about the weekend only to remember that tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day, and you have made zero plans. Well, never fear, we are here to get you to that pot of gold that is an amazing weekend.

Old Sacramento is the place to be this weekend if you would like to partake in the St. Patty’s Day festivities. O’Sac St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be taking place on March 17 at 1 pm. This parade is praised for being one of the most colorful and fun traditions of the year. It starts at the corner of Neasham and Front street and will loop its way through the streets of Sacramento. Nearly 1,000 marchers will participate in the parade including bands, bagpipers, Irish dancers, military regimes, representatives from the local fire and police departments, and many more!

The spirit of Ireland will be felt in the streets of Sacramento. So, grab your green gear and head over a little early to find parking (which can be found either at the Old Sacramento garage, Tower garage and Macy’s West). This parade is for everyone from the wee’ babies to the ol’ Leprechauns, from those of Irish descent to those who wish they were for the day. So join in on the fun and show you Irish side!

After marching through Old Sacramento, why not continue the celebration? As the O’Sac parade comes to a close, head over to Gunther’s Ice Cream to enjoy a delicious 50/50, where vanilla ice cream is added to the center of a Fruit Freeze. Or grab yourself an Irish themed dessert, and ask for a cone full of their special Bailey’s Irish Cream. My mouth is already watering at the thought of the ice cold creaminess.

But you’re in a dilemma, should you stop for dinner on your way? No need to grab dinner elsewhere, Gunther’s is a one stop shop. They provide multiple sandwich, burger, hot dog and soup options, anything to suit your fancy.

Pop and Iva opened Gunther’s in 1940 and were dedicated to creating quality ice cream. After they survived the lifestyle changes of World War II, they moved locations to where Gunther's Ice Cream presently sits on the corner of Franklin Blvd. and 3rd Ave.

The current owners, Rick and Marlena, have continued Pop and Iva’s vision for Gunther’s. While surrounded by the original decor, you can sit in a wooden booth and enjoy the original recipes still manufactured on site.

Let your mouth water too as you scroll through their Instagram account @gunthersicecream
“With the change of times you can still find a good old fashion ice cream at a good old fashion business” –Gunther’s Ice Cream

Location: 2801 Franklin Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95818
You can’t miss it, a large neon sign of Jugglin’ Joe sits atop the building since 1949.
Hours: 10 am-10 pm, everyday

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Focused On the Finish Line: How to Accomplish Your Goals with a Vision Board

3/14/2018

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Written by Nikki Nelson and Mesayla Weaver

We all dream of life after college, our post grad years. We pick a school, a major, a course, that will open the door to endless possibilities. As college students, we are in constant planning mode to ensure we live to be the best versions of ourselves. At times, all of our planning and dreaming of what we want to do after college can be stressful and overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be!

While we have goals in life, some may seem out of reach or hard to identify. A fun and creative way to visualize and set goals is to construct a vision board. A vision board is essentially a collage of images and text that represent the goals you want to achieve. By creating a visual aid to map out your goals, it’s easier to motivate yourself to be productive. As a bonus, you’ll have a fun project to look forward to at the end of every set of objectives you complete!

If you’re interested in making a vision board of your own, we have a step-by-step tutorial you can use to help you get started.

Step 1: List the goals you want to achieve.
This step is likely the easiest, especially if you know what you’d like to accomplish by the end of the month/year. If you find yourself having trouble with this step, take a moment to consider your weaknesses and the areas of life that you’re struggling in. By thinking about the things that you’re struggling with, you’ll have a better idea of what you want to improve about yourself/your life, and planning how you’ll achieve your goals will become easier. Considering more positive goals of yours is just as helpful. Your list of objectives could include something as simple as learning to pay bills on time, or as difficult as becoming a more patient and kind person. Whatever you decide to tackle is up to you, as long as it’s something you’d like to work toward.

Note: Writing down your list of goals will make it easier for you to remember what content you’d like to include on your board.

Step 2: Gather your materials.
To begin construction of your vision board, the second step is to gather up everything you need. Your supplies list will vary depending on how you want to decorate your board, but a general list of materials will include:

1 board (picture frame, tri-fold poster, etc.)
1 theme idea (optional)
Pictures, symbols, words, etc. that represent your goals
Cardstock/construction paper
Pencils, permanent markers, colored markers, paint, etc. of your choice (adds a decorative element)
Creative scissors
Glue or pins/yarn (use either of them to attach your pictures to your board)
A “plan of attack”

Note: If all else fails, Pinterest is always a great site to use for inspiration.

Step 3: Set a deadline for yourself.
It’s likely that the goals you set for yourself will be long term, so it’s important to set a deadline for when you’d like to accomplish everything you want to. Whether you’d like to take a few weeks or a year is up to you, but finishing everything in due time means getting serious about how long you’ll take.

Step 4: Plan how you’ll complete your goals.
Everyone has a system they use to accomplish their objectives, and now it’s time for you to find yours. Personally, we suggest using incentives. What better way to motivate yourself to be productive than to reward yourself with something you’ll enjoy? If you don’t believe that this sort of method would work for you, perhaps you could set a weekly deadline to complete a particular goal. As long as the system you implement works for you, use it.

Step 5: Decorate your board!
This is the fun part for all you crafters out there. In this step, you’re able to unleash all of your energy into making your vision board as beautiful as possible. Feel free to use whatever creative materials you like, and remember to pin up all of your goals in a way that’ll motivate you to achieve them.

Step 6: Act!
This is easily the hardest step about this process, but taking action will definitely be worth it in the end. Remember to review and complete as many of your goals as possible every week/month. Every step you take in the right direction will fill you with confidence, so get on it and you’ll feel more fulfilled each year!

So there you have it: six steps to completing your very own vision board. Trust us. The more strategies you have to accomplish your goals, the harder it’ll be to avoid them, and the better you’ll feel for putting effort into your personal development! It’s difficult for everyone, but if you plan on using any self-improvement exercises, you’re already ahead of the game.

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In the famous words of Ross on the show Friends, “WE WERE ON A BREAK!”

3/12/2018

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Written by: Jennie Britton

  As we come back from Spring Break, it is time to log out of our Netflix and Hulu accounts and get back into the library. It can be super hard to stay checked into school when summer is around the corner, but it really is in your best interest to put school first. Here are a few tips to hopefully keep everyone focused and finish out the spring semester stronger than ever!

   One of the best things to do when trying to stay on you keep a good work/life balance. With proper planning, there can be enough time for school and fun! Proper planning will also help you out most when it comes to finals week. It is important you know when to start studying and how to use your free time to the fullest extent.

   Another huge tip: make sure you are still attending your classes! More often than not professors actually do take attendance. Attendance is essential to passing, even the online ones. We all know how hard it can be to get up and go to class everyday, but it is absolutely necessary if you plan on actually passing your classes for the semester.

  The last tip for finishing out the semester strong is to take a deep breath. There we go in, out, in, out, in and out. Keeping calm is the most vital. Extra anxiety is the last thing that any one needs when trying to finish out the semester strong. A good idea is to make sure in the midst of all your classes and studying, you give yourself a break. It would not be the end of the world if you logged into that Netflix or Hulu account maybe just one more time, but only to watch one episode of your favorite show. No more binge watching people! Let us show this semester who is in charge!

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What's Happening in the Hive?

3/9/2018

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Written by: Christian Guzman

#Enough: National School Walk Out
Women’s March Sacramento Youth Program and Women’s March Youth Empower is calling for all allies to take part in a #NationalSchoolWalkout for 17 minutes at 10 a.m. across every time zone on March 14, 2018. This national event is to protest Congress’ inaction to do more than tweets, thoughts and prayers in response to the gun violence plaguing our schools and neighborhoods. Supporters are encouraged to not only participate on school campus’ but also within the workplace, their home, or simply spreading the word throughout the population around them.

Women's March and their partners will also be holding a rally near the California State Capitol to bring media attention, speakers and messaging to the issue of gun control and lack of legislative efforts to prevent a mass shooting from happening again.

Location: 555 Capitol Mall, Sacramento CA, 95814

Many believe this is a problem in our country that needs to be addressed more seriously. What are some ideas you think could help solve this problem? Let us know in the comments section below!

For more information and possible ways that you can contribute, visit the website:
https://www.womensmarchsac.com/national-school-walkout-sacramento/

Midtown’s Cantina Alley
Trying to spice up your evening? La Cantina gives you an opportunity to live the traditions of Mexico in our beloved California capital. Once you step into the restaurant it feels like you crossed the border. It is filled with artifacts, paintings, and artwork straight from Mexico. Not only does it provide an authentic atmosphere, but it also offers you with the best hand picked tequila, mezcales, craft and draft beers imported from Mexico.

Since its opening in the Summer of 2017, it has won four awards including Best New Restaurant, Best Mexican Restaurant and Most Trendiest Bar and won the 2017 Vegan Chef Challenge.

I highly recommended for casual outings, dinner with the family, or late night munchies. La Cantina offers food during hours many restaurants can’t provide. On the weekends after 11:00pm they serve street dogs and tacos inside their patio.

The decision to go here is easy, choosing what to eat may be the hardest part. Never drink and drive. Lyft and Uber offer a safe alternative way to get home.

My top five recommendations would be: the baja fish taco, the pambazo, ceviche, tingas, and al pastor taco. For cocktails, I strongly suggest the Abuelitas ponche and the Mezcalita.

Location: 2320 Jazz Alley, Sacramento, CA

Hora Panchanga (happy hour): 3 - 5 p.m.

Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 3:00pm-10:00pm
Friday 3 p.m. - 2 a.m.
Saturday 12 p.m. -2 a.m.
Sunday 12 p.m-10:00pm
Monday Closed

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The Key to Creating a Perfect Cover Letter

3/7/2018

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Written by: Dillon Byrne, Jordyn Dollarhide, and Mesayla Weaver

It's likely that you did not have a cover letter when you applied for your first job. And why would you? Society has taught us that most minimum wage paying jobs are not formal enough to require a cover letter. But what is a cover letter?

A cover letter is a one-page document that accompanies your resume when you apply for a job. This document is meant to help you introduce yourself to your future employer, and it explains why you would be a good fit for the job. A cover letter is meant to complement a resume by addressing the information your resume cannot cover, as well as further elaboration on the details it enlists. A well-crafted cover letter paired with a well-written resume can offer a more descriptive insight for an employer as to who is applying for the job.

All cover letters should begin with both the contact information for yourself as well as
your future employer. A quick tip: try to only put your phone number, name and email as ways of contact. Only add your address if specifically asked for. Including an address may restrict your options of occupations, and employers might not be interested if you live a good distance away. This is true even if you are interested in relocating.

Next comes the introduction. This is a short paragraph where you tell your future employer who you are and what position you are applying for. This often includes how you heard about the company or the position. It is important to note that you should never start off with “To whom it may concern.” This is informal and it is very common. If you want to stand out and impress your future employer, do some research. Find out on LinkedIn who will be interviewing you, or you can call the company and ask. But this little extra something will show you have drive.

The second paragraph is where you sell yourself. In this section, you’ll describe your skill set and abilities, as well as relevant past job experiences. Use examples from your past occupations and relate them to the qualifications specified for the job. One way to really personalize the cover letter for the employer is to word and reference your skill sets in a way that directly answers the qualifications and skills specified in the job posting. It's important not to oversell yourself, but also don’t sell yourself short. Make it seem like you are truly the best fit for the position.

The third and final paragraph is where you wrap it all up. Tell your future employer that you would love to sit down with them for an interview. Mention that there is more about you that you would like to elaborate on. Add that you will be in contact with them in about a week’s time for a follow-up. And, most importantly, thank them for taking the time to read over your qualifications.

Lastly, don't forget to double check your work. A single grammatical or spelling error will make you appear unprofessional. When you use names, make sure you spell them correctly too.
Below is an example of a cover letter template from thebalance.com:

Your Name
Your Phone Number
Your Email

Date

Name
Title
Organization
Address
City, State, Zip Code

Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name:
I am interested in the author's assistant position at ABC Company, as advertised in XXX. I am currently employed as legislative director for Assemblywoman XXXX, Chairperson of the NYS Assembly. I believe that the skills and experiences I have gained at this position make me an ideal candidate for the job of author’s assistant.

As legislative director, I have developed strong writing and editing skills. For example, one of my main duties is to prepare Assemblywoman XXXX’s personal legislation, which deals with issues related to her position as Senior Member of the NYS Assembly Standing Committee.
This duty requires meticulous writing and editing skills, and an ability to convey complex legal ideas clearly. I have prepared dozens of pieces of legislation and received praise for the clarity of my writing.

I have also gained extensive experience in legal and policy research – fields that you state the author’s assistant must be familiar with. My experience in the NYS Assembly has afforded me the opportunity to become familiar with the consolidated and unconsolidated laws of the State of New York. In particular, through my work with Assemblywoman XXXX, I have become heavily involved in the current welfare and Medicaid reform movement. I am always eager to learn more about state legislation, reading up on these topics on my own time to become more knowledgeable. I would love to bring this passion for policy and law to your company.

I am confident that my experience in the Legislature and my research and writing skills qualify me for consideration. If you would like, I can provide you with current samples of my work. I have also enclosed my resume. I look forward to meeting with you and discussing my qualifications in more detail.

Sincerely,
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