Transfer Involvement Spotlight: Lauren Lasky

Lauren Lasky, senior public relations major

This is my story…I transferred to SUNY Oswego in the fall 2014 semester from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). You could say I did a 180 turn, changing from biomedical engineering to public relations. After visiting other SUNY schools, I decided to chose Oswego for its public relations program reputation.

Immediately upon transferring, I played on the varsity volleyball team and joined the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), an organization I knew was important to be involved with to further my knowledge and skills.

During my second semester, I interned with iHeart Oswego, where I designed informational posters of local businesses that were hung in the Marano Campus Center. The same semester, I became the VP of Public Relations for Business Management Club and joined the media and marketing team at Campus Recreation as the media relations assistant.

In the beginning of my junior year, I became the public relations intern for the Office of Transfer Services and the secretary for PRSSA, both year-long positions.

As the spring semester is winding down, I am excited for the future that awaits – internships with Albany Medical Center, Baker Public Relations, and Make-a-Wish Northeast New York for the summer. I will also be the co-president of PRSSA next semester, which is something I never thought I would be doing.

With my December graduation creeping up behind me, I am excited to see where life takes me. I hope to work at a public relations agency – the question is just where I plan to accept a job. However, I will always look back at Oswego and feel grateful for the amazing opportunities it has opened up to me. I can’t imagine deciding to further my education anywhere else.

Experience Oswego

If you haven’t already realized, Oswego has a lot to offer. It may be a small city, but if you look around, there’s many places to go and things to see. These are just a few things that SUNY Oswego students love…

 

Bev’s and Rudy’s

From a student’s standpoint, the two places I hear almost everyone raving about are Bev’s Dairy Treat and Rudy’s Lakeside Drive-in, both located next to each other down the street from campus. They are seasonal establishments, so your best time to go is early in the fall semester or late in the spring semester. I have been to Rudy’s and Bev’s, and I have nothing but good things to say about both. Let’s not forget the beautiful waterfront view you’ll get to see!

 

The Bluffs

As for the scenery, the one thing you have to do as a student at SUNY Oswego is go to the Bluff’s. Many students walk from campus, but it can be a long hike. Due to its steep nature, its best to wear the appropriate footwear. I have never been myself, but with only one more semester left of my college career, I plan to make it out there if it’s the last thing I do.

 

Flat Rocks

When the weather gets nice, everyone goes down to the flat rocks. With this year’s winter, the water is anything but warm and is not advisable to swim in. However, it’s a great place to sit and watch the sun set on Lake Ontario. Watch out for slippery spots…I’ve learned that lesson once or twice.

 

For more information on things to do in Oswego, check out iHeartOswego.

Transfer Involvement Spotlight: Kaitlyn Rajner

 

Kaitlyn Rajner, senior public relations major

Kaitlyn Rajner is a senior at SUNY Oswego studying public relations. After a year at Jefferson Community College, she decided to further her education at SUNY Oswego in the fall semester of 2013.

After an open house visit, she knew that SUNY Oswego’s School of Communication, Media, and Arts would help prepare her for a future in public relations.

Upon her transition, Rajner became employed with Campus Recreation as an intramural assistant and became involved with the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) by using her graphic design skills to create a flyer for the Vega Walk-a-thon, the first client-based work the club did that semester.

In the spring 2014 semester, Rajner interned with iHeart Oswego. She worked to increase awareness of locally owned businesses in Oswego among college students by creating informational posters that were displayed in the Marano Campus Center.

The next semester, Rajner began her full-year public relations internship with Career Services in the Compass. She also became the director of public relations for PRSSA and a mentor for transfer students. At Campus Recreation, she was promoted from intramural assistant to supervisor.

Rajner was fortunate enough to have fulfilled her credit requirements in three years. Although her college career is finishing early, she is excited to start her professional career and dreams of working in hospitality/tourism industry of the public relations field.

“SUNY Oswego provided me with so many opportunities that it was hard not to excel here,” Rajner said. “I know that everything I’ve done will help me in the future and all the hard work will pay off.”

Registration for Fall 2015

Fall registration begins Monday, April 6th. Do you know what you’re going to take?

As transfer students, it is important that we have full knowledge of the classes we have left to take and what prerequisites are needed. There are many steps to take to make sure that you’re on track.

• Check your registration status in myOswego. If you have any holds on your account, take care of them ASAP. Nothing is worse than going to register for classes to find out that you have to wait for approval.
• Check Degree Works in myOswego to see the process of your degree requirements. Change the format from Student View to Registration Checklist to see what classes you have left to take.
• Keep in mind the number of upper division level classes you have left to complete. An easy way to earn these credits outside of the classroom are through internships, mentoring programs, or being a peer advisor.
• Plan ahead! Write down a temporary schedule for the rest of your time at Oswego, keeping in mind the number of hours needed for each semester. If you have some extra “wiggle room,” take your hardest classes earlier on to prevent an overwhelming amount of stress your last semester.
• Make an appointment with your advisor if you’re unsure as to how you should set up your schedule. He/she will help you remain on track.

Good luck!

The Importance of Connections

Has anyone told you that it’s not what you know, but who you know? This is why networking is a very powerful tool in any industry.

You may think of networking only as connecting with professionals. However, networking includes everyone around you – teachers, students, co-workers, supervisors, etc. The more connections you have, the more valuable you become.

This is not to say that everyone you come in contact with is going to propel you to stardom. You should not only seek out people that you feel a connection with, but also those that will be able to help you in a professional sense. Here are some tips to improve your network:

• Make an effort to establish relationships with one of your professors, your academic advisor, or a faculty advisor for one of the clubs that you are involved with. They will be more willing to give you a recommendation for an internship or job if they know you personally.
• If you haven’t taken on a leadership role in a club or organization on campus, now is the time! Being a member of the e-board introduces you to members from other clubs and opens up doors to more networking opportunities.
• Attend alumni events and make an effort to speak with the professionals at the event. Make sure to get their business card and send a follow-up email thanking them for their time. Most importantly, keep in touch.
• Take part in the Alumni Sharing Knowledge (ASK) program. You will be paired with an alumni in your interested field and expected to keep a relationship via email throughout a semester.
• Create and maintain your LinkedIn profile. In doing so, make sure that any information is 100% accurate. The purpose of LinkedIn is to connect with people that you know, but if you want to connect with someone you don’t know personally, make sure to send them a message other than the generic example given that explains your reasoning for wanting to connect.
• Follow influentials in your industry on Twitter. If you want to connect with certain individuals, pay attention to what they’re posting and respond to them. Following someone isn’t enough; if you don’t express your interest, he/she won’t ever know who you are.

Looking for connections? Quest is coming up on Wednesday, April 15. Don’t miss out on a chance to network with students and alumni!

Spring Break To-do’s

Spring break is approaching at the end of the week. If you’re not going away on vacation, how do you plan to spend your time at home?

As transfer students, we may feel a little behind the rest when it comes to being involved on campus or taking advantage of opportunities. Now is the time to think about the things that you want to accomplish, whether it’s over the summer or next semester. But spring break isn’t about just taking some time to yourself, but also getting out and having some fun! Here are some suggestions…

• Map out a plan. Using Excel or Word, list the different things clubs/organizations you want to become involved with. Maybe you want to be a teaching assistant for your favorite professor? Or become a peer advisor? If you write them down, you’ll have a higher chance of achieving them.
• Reach out to prospective employers. If you applied for a summer internship, follow up with the person of contact and let them know that you are home for break and would appreciate the opportunity to come in, introduce yourself, and learn more about the internship position (this has worked great for me in the past).
• Take a day trip. If you feel that the semester has you glued to your homework, find ways to let all the stress die down over break. You could go skiing or snowboarding, go to a city that you’ve always wanted to visit, or just get out of town and do something fun!
• Do things you normally don’t do. No, I don’t mean do the most crazy, epic thing ever. It could be something as simple as doing some volunteer work. Take a few hours to go into your community and help an organization with an event or give an extra set of hands at a food kitchen. It will feel great to help those in need and will boost your resume!

Whatever you choose to do over break, make it fun and enjoy your time at home!

Importance of Balancing School and Exercise

As college students, sometimes the load of homework, combined with club meetings and other extracurriculars, can become overwhelming over the course of the semester. Exercise is an important aspect of a healthy lifestyle, however getting into an exercise routine can be difficult for some students.

First off, you may be thinking, “Why should I take the time out of my day to work out?” Here are a few reasons:

• help set a schedule and routine
• reduce chance of getting sick
• fight off stress and depression
• reduce hunger and cravings

Second off, you must want to exercise. You have to think, “I choose to say yes to going to the gym.” Yes, it is somewhat corny. But it’s true! You need to have the right mindset. Working out shouldn’t be a chore; it should be something positive that you feel motivated to do.

For everyone, exercise means many different things. To you, this could mean cardio – running, biking, using the elliptical machine, etc. It could also mean attending Zumba or an ab strengthener group class. For others, it means lifting weights.

Additionally, find your purpose for exercising. Is it because you want to lose weight or build muscle? Is it one of the reasons listed above? Or maybe you simply want to feel healthy. Whatever your purpose, focus on it. It will help you get through the days when you feel like you’re just going through the motions in your workout.

Not sure how to find the time to go to the gym? Try to schedule in when you plan on exercising. Even if you can only get 30 minutes of a workout into your day, remember that it’s better than nothing! Keeping a consistent workout schedule will make it even easier to get yourself on track. Also, try your best to exercise on Mondays. If you start off the week with a workout, you will be more likely to exercise throughout the week.

For more information on exercise, here is an article from Harvard School of Public Health.

 

On campus students: for information regarding SUNY Oswego Fitness Centers, click here.

Off-campus students: for information regarding Planet Fitness in Oswego, click here.

 

 

How to Land a Summer Internship

Internship, internship, internship. For many majors, this seems to be the biggest advice your professors stress to you. Internships can help you gain new skills, get a taste of the real world, and network with professionals. Most importantly, it can serve as an important stepping stone into a career. Many times, interns receive a job offer from the company after graduation (that is, of course, if they do an amazing job).

When I heard how important internships were as a public relations major, I jumped headfirst. The first semester I was here, I interviewed for two positions, and I luckily got an offer from one. I was so proud to be a second semester sophomore and have an internship. That was the stepping stone to my summer internship, my former job with Campus Recreation, my current internship, and one I was offered for the summer. There are many things I have learned over the past year about obtaining an internship…

•  Think about the big picture. Do your research ahead of time and find what companies and internship programs look most intriguing. You can either do a Google search, use internship search websites,  or utilize Lakerleads, a free system for SUNY Oswego students. There is no such thing as Inquiring too early. Some companies have their hiring done by December or January for the summer season, whereas others don’t start interviewing until March. However, it’s much better to stay on top of the game and apply as soon as possible.
• Call the company’s office and ask for more information or make an appointment to come in to shadow a professional. When it comes to the hiring process, you will stand out and since they will recognize your name or know your face and how you interact with others, you will be more likely to get a call back.
• ALWAYS send a cover letter with your resume, unless the company’s page says specifically not to. It shows that you went the extra mile.
• Once you send in your resume and cover letter, don’t wait for them to contact you. Follow up within a week or two either by email. If a week later, you don’t receive a response, call the office and ask for an opportunity to come in for an interview. This method has worked for me multiple times, and it is one of the reasons I landed my past summer internship.
• Before the interview, make sure that you have a considerable amount of information about the company. The interviewers may ask what you know about the company. Additionally, have a list of questions prepared to ask towards the end. If you don’t have anything to ask, it may look as though you’re not interested in learning more about the company.
• For the interview, show up 10 minutes early and look the part. I would recommend a suit because the more professional you are, the more seriously they will take you.
• Nerves are almost always an emotion before an interview. But don’t let them take you over to the point that you feel your mouth dry up, your palms get sweaty, and your heartbeat thumping out of your chest. Take a deep breath and try to let all your anxiety go. Interviews are not a one-way communication process; they are supposed to be a conversation, so let your personality come out and be yourself.
• ALWAYS send a thank you note. No, I am not referring to a quick and boring email. I am saying the old fashioned method – a hand written thank you note mailed to the office of the person who interviewed you.

Although internship hiring is done for the current semester, think about the future. What skills do you need to gain and what experience is recommended for the internship you want? Look for the internships that will give you what you want, and go for it.

My mom always tells me, “You don’t get in life what you deserve, you get what you negotiate.” In other words, you have to fight for what you want. If you’re applying for a prestigious internship program, think creatively and make yourself stand out from the rest. Perseverance is key, and when employers see how badly you want something, that might just be your winning ticket.

Just remember, you win some, you lose some. You might have an amazing interview and feel great afterwards, but don’t get the offer. Keep your head high and continue on. It’s true that when one door closes, another opens.

What Can Employers Dig Up on You?

Career Services PR intern and Director of PR for PRSSA, Kaitlyn Rajner, giving a Digital Dirt presentation to PRSSA members

Do you love using social media? Do you freely post on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram?

It can be very easy to tweet about something you think is funny, yet offensive or post a picture of you at a party with a beer in your hand on Facebook and think nothing of it. You may think that what you post has no effect and will not harm you in any way because who else would view your profiles besides your friends, right? Wrong – a possible future employer could be looking at yours at this moment.

Although employers are not supposed to search your online profiles because it can form a bias or they can find someone with the same name, many still do it. A recent survey found that as many as 90% of companies hiring for a position viewed social network profiles as part of the screening process (Hays, 2013). This is why it’s important to create and maintain a positive online presence. A tweet, Facebook post, or Instagram picture can be the difference between getting a job and having your resume put in the “no” pile.

There are many things you can do to monitor what other people can see. Check your Facebook privacy settings, log off your account, and Google search your name to see what comes up. On Twitter and Instagram, you can make your profiles private. However, it is important to keep in mind that if you are a PR/communications/marketing major, companies are expecting to see that you have a public profile.

Personally, I have two Twitter profiles – a private one that I use to communicate with my friends and a public one I use to interact with professionals in the field and share industry news articles. I’ve found that it to be very helpful to have these two different accounts. The purpose is not specifically to “hide” any photos of me having fun with friends on weekends, but rather to establish my professionalism online.

Do you need help cleaning up your social media profiles, but not sure where to start? Talk with Career Services in the Compass located in the Marano Campus Center. You can sit down with one of the interns to do a Digital Dirt on your social media profiles.

For more tips, click here.

Struggling with Roommate Issues?

Photo cred: SUNY Oswego Residence Life

It’s true – you always remember your college roommate. To make a new environment away from home feel like a comfortable atmosphere, it’s important to have relational harmony with your roommate. If you’re not happy with who you’re living with, it can have a bigger effect than you realize. Studies have shown that avoiding conflict with a roommate is integral to a student’s happiness in their first months on campus.

Many times as transfer students, we haven’t had the “college experience” before, meaning that dorm life and living with a roommate are completely new concepts. Unless we request to live with someone we know, we are placed in a room with a complete stranger. It can be an awkward and uncomfortable experience at first becoming accustomed to living with someone in the same room.

Boundaries and issues aren’t always talked about in the beginning of the semester, and later on, it can create a problem. So how do you address a conflict with your roommate? Whether you’re someone that doesn’t mind bringing up a sensitive topic or someone who avoids conflicts at all costs, it is important to speak up. If you don’t address the problem, then there isn’t a conflict. Here are some steps to take:

1. Pick the right timing to address the situation
2. Use “I” statements when describing the conflict, such as “I feel upset when…” instead of “you” statements, such as “You make me so angry when…”
3. Explain your needs and consider your roommate’s needs
4. Come up with a solution that satisfies both you and your roommate
5. Implement the solution
6. If it doesn’t work, address the continuing conflict and create a new solution

For more roommate tips, click here.