Chuck Dowdle - Georgia`s Own Credit Union

Ne[x]t Magazine is published by Georgia’s
Own Credit Union for members of i[x]
JANUARY // FEBRUARY // MARCH 2013
Chuck
Dowdle
Get to know one of
Georgia’s Own, Chuck Dowdle
PAGE 4
Also Inside:
Inside the Interview - PAGE
Brain Tumor Foundation
for Children - PAGE 10
8
IN THIS ISSUE
JANUARY // FEBRUARY // MARCH 2013
3 the word, with will
an update from our editor, will.i.x.
4 chuck dowdle
former Sports Anchor for WSB-TV’s Ch 2
8 inside the interview
how to stand out from your competition
10 a foundation of hope & support
helping children with brain tumors
12 connect with i(x)
we’d love it if you’d like us
pg 8
Avoid careless mistakes in your interview process.
[ FROM T HE E DITOR]
The Word, with Will
I hope everyone had
a wonderful holiday
season, and as you are
getting ready for 2013,
I wanted to send you
all warm New Year’s
wishes from everyone
here at i[x] and
Georgia’s Own. 2012
turned out to be a great
year for us. Along the
way, we met Atlanta
Mayor Kasim Reed,
former Atlanta Falcon
Coy Wire, 2016 Olympic
hopeful Jenny Arthur,
the 2012 L.E.A.D.
Ambassador graduates,
gave away $15,000 in college scholarships and helped out
with great organizations such as Children’s Healthcare
of Atlanta, Samaritan’s Feet, and the Susan G. Komen
Foundation. 2012 also brought you an award winning
magazine. That’s right, Ne[x]t Magazine was awarded first
place in the 2012 Credit Union Executives Society’s Golden
Mirror Awards for best Newsletter. Anyway, enough with
what happened in 2012. It’s time to look forward to what’s
in store for 2013.
Continuing with our theme of meeting people who are
from or have made their names in Atlanta, we sit down
with former WSB-TV Channel 2 Action News Anchor and
current sideline reporter for the Georgia Bulldogs, Chuck
Dowdle. Chuck grew up in Atlanta and was afforded the
opportunity to come back and work in his hometown.
Be sure to check out his story on page 4.
As the New Year begins, perhaps one of your resolutions is
to gain an internship, part-time or full-time job. If so, you’ll
want to read our article, “Inside The Interview” on page 8
as we give you some job hunting tips that will give you the
edge over other candidates. This is a great read on how the
little things can make a big difference in your job search.
And finally, on page 10, you’ll find some information
about our i[give] partner, the Brain Tumor Foundation
for Children. The Brain Tumor Foundation for Children
is a nonprofit organization committed to improving the
lives of children and families who are affected with
brain tumor disease.
Thanks for reading and best
wishes for a prosperous 2013!
FEEDBACK.
Thanks to those of you who have sent in your
comments and questions. We always want to hear
back from our readers! Let us know what you
think. Send your comments and questions to
[email protected] and we’ll try to post it online
or in our next issue.
Feature Article
Chuck Dowdle is the
former Sports Director/
Anchor for WSB-TV’s
CONNECT.
Channel 2 Action News
and current sideline
Have you connected with i[x]? Be sure to check us
out on Twitter (@doyouix) and Facebook (facebook.
com/ixgeorgia). We are constantly posting tips and
letting our community know about contests and
giveaways. We also want you to be a part of the
conversation, so let us know what you are thinking.
reporter for the University of Georgia football
team. DOYOU I X .COM
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[ FE ATU RE A RT I C L E ]
G E O R G I A’ S O W N
Chuck Dowdle
Chuck Dowdle is the former Sports Director/Anchor for
WSB-TV’s Channel 2 Action News and current sideline
reporter for the University of Georgia football team.
Originally from Atlanta, Chuck attended the University of
Georgia in his freshman year, where he played forward for
the basketball team. He then transferred to Georgia State
University, where he was a pitcher for the baseball team in
his junior and senior years. After graduating college, Chuck’s
career took off when he was hired at WPGL in Miami, where
he covered the Miami Dolphins and the University of Miami.
In 1985, Chuck moved back to his native Atlanta and began
working at Channel 2. As one of Georgia’s Own, Chuck took
some time out of his schedule to share with us his story.
i[x] Tell us a little about your background and
why you decided to attend the University of
Georgia (UGA) and then transfer to Georgia State
University (GSU).
CD I started out at UGA because it got me out
of the house, but was still close to home. I played
basketball there my freshman year, and then
transferred to GSU my sophomore year to help my
parents out by living at home and saving a little
money by doing so. At the same time, I wanted
to continue in athletics and GSU was starting a
baseball team, so I decided to play baseball for
GSU.
i[x] As part of the basketball team at UGA and
the baseball team at GSU, how were you able to
balance the rigors of college athletics while also
being a full time student and maintaining good
grades?
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CD First off, who said I had good grades [laughs]?
No really, what it taught me is to have respect for
the kids who do that now. I think the demands on
young people now are incredible and much more
stringent than it was when I was a college athlete.
For example, look at a young man like Aaron
Murray who graduated early and is now working
towards his doctoral degree while continuing to
play football at UGA. Tavarres King is another one
who has excelled at sports and academics and is
teaching part time while playing football at UGA.
i[x] How did you get started in the TV business?
CD When I graduated from college and began
looking for a job, a fraternity brother’s father
knew of an opening at WJHL-TV in Tennessee.
They were looking for someone to do sports
and weather. As it turned out, I had taken some
[ FEATURE ARTICLE]
meteorology classes in college, and already had
a sports background, so I went up there and was
lucky enough to be hired for $105 per week to do
sports and weather for them.
i[x] What career path would you be following had
it not been for the television industry?
CD I can’t really answer that, because this is what
I always wanted to do. My parents would often tell
the story of myself as a little boy, sitting in front of
the TV and telling them that I was going to do that
one day.
is a great company. Working with former coanchors Monica Pearson, John Pruitt and Glen
Burns was the best.
i[x] Being on TV, I’m sure you’ve had your fair
share of interviews. Is there one person or
interview that stands out that you would call your
favorite?
CD I loved the time I spent with Evander Holyfield
during his career. Evander was an international
star. When you’re the world heavyweight
champion, that transcends nations. He loved local
i[x] Before arriving at Channel 2
Action News, you worked in Miami,
Florida. What did you enjoy about
Miami and reporting sports there?
CD The people and the weather,
in that order. It was wonderful
all around. I covered the Miami
Dolphins, coached by Don Shula
at the time and I also covered the
University of Miami, where I first
met a young Mark Richt.
i[x] After working in Miami for
several years, you were able to
move back to your home of Atlanta.
What was it like to be able to work
in the town in which you grew up?
CD It was fabulous. There’s
nothing like being able to work in your hometown.
There’s no way I can put it into words, except to
say that it felt like a perfect fit. And to bring it full
circle, when I was 5 and 6 years old, I was on
“The Popeye Club” that aired on the station that
I eventually worked at when I made it back to
Atlanta.
i[x] What was your favorite thing about working
for Channel 2 ?
CD Cox Media Group (WSB-TV parent company)
Atlanta media and I was lucky to have a great
relationship with Evander.
i[x] You are now doing work with UGA Athletics.
What do you like most about working with the
program?
CD It’s a great institution that has gotten even
greater over the last 15 years. To see the school
continue to excel athletically while growing
academically has been the most fun to me. I know
I could not get into Georgia today if I was trying.
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“My parents would often tell the story of myself as a little
boy, sitting in front of the TV and telling them that I was
going to do that one day.”
i[x] What do you enjoy doing in your spare time –
if you ever have any?
CD I love to play golf, and I love to play golf with
my favorite player, Dave Preter (Georgia’s Own
President & CEO).
those good habits when they were young. I think
we can all agree that our economy isn’t where it
was 10 to 15 years ago, and we went through
times back then where it was pretty easy to do well
financially, and that’s just not the case now. So,
you’ve got to be smart with your money and work
on creating good financial habits.
i[x] What advice would you give to someone who
may want to get into the television industry?
CD Get an education and try to gain as much
experience as possible. Take jobs at the school
newspaper, radio station, and television station as
a place to start if you can.
i[x] Are there any charities or organizations you
are involved with? If so, how can our readers get
involved?
CD I’m the honorary chairman of the United
Way of Northeast Georgia where we serve nine
counties. I’m also a long time member of the
board of the Starlight Children’s Foundation,
which helps seriously ill children and their families
cope with their pain, fear and isolation through
entertainment, education and family activities.
There are many ways to help with the Starlight
Children’s Foundation, from donations to hosting
fundraisers. A list of ways can be found online at
www.starlight.org/georgia.
i[x] i[x] is a program all about being smart with
your money. Why do you feel it’s important for
today’s youth to practice smart financial habits?
CD I think it’s more challenging today for adults
to prosper and be successful if they didn’t develop
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i[x] What is one thing you do personally to make
sure you are on the right track financially?
CD I try to make sure that I’m wise about my
investments, all of my financial decisions in
general, and I always look to the future and not
the right now.
i[x] Anything else you’d like to leave us with?
CD If I could say one thing, it would be to always
surround yourself with good people.
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Visit doyouix.com/college
for more information
IN
IN
[ M O N E Y M A N A GEM ENT ]
INside the Interview
Tips from headhunting experts
on how to stand out from your
competition.
A new year means new goals and new opportunities.
Perhaps one of your new opportunities is a part-time or
summer internship, or maybe you’re on the search for
that elusive first job after graduation. Well, with the help
of some of Georgia’s Own Credit Union’s exceptional
human resources and head-hunting employees, i[x] has
compiled some useful resume and interview tips to help
you stand out from your competition.
By the very nature of job-seeking, there are always
more candidates than openings, so potential employers
will look for ways to rule you out. Avoiding careless
mistakes can help you get past the first rounds of
elimination and increase your chances of landing a
position. This means ridding your social media of any
unflattering pictures, tweets, or postings. In the context
of resumes, this means proofreading to ensure there are
no typos or grammatical errors.
If you’re sending your resumes out electronically,
make sure that your email address is professionally
presentable; “pinkponies1259” or
“laxbro2015” might have been
passable for your friends and
family, but they don’t give a
great impression to working
adults. Bear in mind that for
each opening, employers
receive a tremendous
surplus of resumes, so
make your resume as
readable as possible.
This means listing
skills relevant to the
position at the top
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of the page, and highlighting your accomplishments
with bold font and eye-catching formatting (bullet
points, separate sections, indents, etc.). Keep cover
letters concise and pertinent. You’re not going to win
the job by writing something extravagant, you’re just
trying to avoid elimination at this stage; there will be
plenty of time to impress during the interview.
Before you land an interview in-person, you’ll likely
have to undergo a telephone interview. Again, this is
a technique implemented to help employers eliminate
more than evaluate, so avoid making any glaring
mistakes. If you’ve sent out resumes, you should be
expecting phone calls from prospective employers,
so don’t get caught off guard. Answer numbers
you don’t recognize professionally in a room free of
distracting background noise. “Yo!” or “’Sup?” is
not the first word you want your interviewer to hear.
Also, in case you can’t answer the phone at the time,
ensure that your voicemail is passable for a working
professional. Your Christopher Walken impression
won’t impress someone looking for a reliable
employee. Standing up during a phone interview will
help you project better and give a more confident and
impressive tone. Also, be sure to have your resume
and all your notes on the company handy so you can
access them easily and use the information to your
advantage. Don’t be panicked by silence, remember
your interviewer is likely taking notes or sorting
through information on paper or the computer, so just
be patient. Making a good impression during your
phone interview can greatly help your chances of
landing an invite to an in-person interview.
Nailing the in-person interview has as much (if
not more) to do with what you’ve done before you
arrive as it does with the interview itself. Make
sure you’ve done your homework on the position
and the company itself. Be aware of the company’s
primary function, their biggest competitors, and what
your position does to contribute to the company’s
[ M O N E Y M AN A G E M E N T ]
Answer numbers you don’t recognize
professionally... “Yo!” or “’Sup?” is not the first
word you want your interviewer to hear.
objectives. Memorize the layout and contents of your
resume so if you’re asked any questions about it
you can answer them without needing to break eyecontact or waste time scanning for the information.
Make a trip to the interview location so you’re aware
of things like traffic, parking, and construction that
could potentially make you tardy on the day of the
interview.
After completing your prep work, it’s time to impress.
This means arriving slightly early, well dressed
(always dress up a little nicer than the company’s
dress code for the interview), and with your phone
turned off. Receptionists are often asked their
opinions of candidates’ demeanor, so be sure to
use your best manners when you check in, and wait
with patience in a professional posture. When you
greet your interviewer, shake hands and establish
eye-contact. In order to present yourself positively
without sounding boastful, provide examples of
accomplishments instead of mere adjectives like
“smart” or “diligent.”
extra to compensate
for a particular
shortcoming.
Remember, you will
be working for this
company, so the
ability to demonstrate
servitude is important.
At the same time, you
will be dedicating a
significant portion
of your time to this
position, so be sure to ask some questions that pertain to
your curiosities about the company. Remain tactful, and
avoid uncomfortable questions like salary or vacation.
Instead, inquire about the culture of the workplace.
Conveying an honest portrayal of your personality is
just as important to an interviewer as the skills you
have. Many aspects of your position are likely things
you will be trained for after you are hired. Regardless
of qualification, companies don’t want to hire a poor fit
for their current work environment, nor do you want to
commit to a position that will make you miserable.
Being prepared, honest, and respectful will put you in
the best position for consideration. Following up with
brief and sincere thank-you letters adds a nice final
touch. Keeping your resume up to date and staying in
contact with your professional network is the best way
to obtain the most quality employment opportunities. If
you consistently give an exceptional impression through
your paperwork and interviews, it’s only a matter of time
before an opportunity pans out and becomes an offer.
While most people have the ability to say something
good about themselves, what can set you apart
is your ability to effectively answer the inevitable
question, “What is your greatest weakness?” No
one is perfect, so do not feel shy about answering
the question honestly, and don’t try to be too cute:
“Sometimes I work too hard” is not a response
that’s going to do you any favors. Instead, provide
an example of how you are working on improving
on that weakness, or how you have done something
CareerChallenge.com Job Seeking
Statistics:
90% of Recruiting Firms do a Google search of
prospective candidates. 45% of Hiring Managers
screen social networking websites of applicants. Only
36% of interviewees regularly send Thank You notes,
75% of companies expect or at least appreciate such
letters. Over 90% of employers seek their assistant’s
opinion of interviewees, 70% of employers eliminate
candidates based on what they find online about
them, only 7% of surveyed applicants were concerned
about their online reputation.
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[ GI V E BAC K ]
A F O U N D AT I O N O F
Hope & Support
SM
www.braintumorkids.org
Most people are shocked to
learn that children, even babies, can
get brain tumors. But brain cancer
is a harsh reality for hundreds
of children in metro Atlanta. In
most cases the diagnosis will turn
life upside down for the entire
family. Since 1983 the Brain Tumor
Foundation for Children has been
here for families at what will
probably be the most difficult time
of their lives.
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From providing books
that teach parents about
the disease and what
to expect… to treating
children and their families
to fun events in the midst
of the grueling and lengthy
treatment protocol…
to helping families pay
household bills when a
parent must quit her job
in order to care for her
child… to helping with
funeral expenses, for
which no parent is ever prepared. The Brain Tumor
Foundation for Children does all this and more for
children and families in Atlanta and the southeast.
Fortunately brain and spinal cord tumors in
children are not as common as most other
diseases. But when they do happen, the Brain
Tumor Foundation for Children is here to help
families cope.
Learn more at braintumorkids.org.
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