The Life of an AE Marketing Intern

Written by Laura McGehee, Marketing Intern

On my first day of my internship with Academic Enhancement, I was simultaneously excited, nervous, and scared.  After I was hired, I did not really know what to expect.  I began asking questions: What would I be required to achieve? Would I be able to handle the workload? Was this internship the experience I needed to take my skills to the next level?

            All my questions were answered when I had my first meeting with my supervisor, Megan Beach, and two of the other interns.  She was passionate about our team, hopeful for the future of Academic Enhancement, and ready to do whatever it took to continue towards maximum growth and success.

            Throughout the semester I was given the flexibility to create my own hours and complete many tasks at my own pace.  This was extremely important to me as I juggled another internship as well as a full load of classes.  With the freedom to create my own schedule, I was able to offer my abilities when I was needed, as well as carefully prioritize my own day-to-day life.

            While I have had other internships before and feel I have a wide range of skill sets, I found that there was so much more to learn.  I created promotional materials using Adobe InDesign and Movie Maker, learned how to properly target social media outlets, and expanded my vocabulary and writing skills.  I was challenged to take on these programs and ideas while being given the tools I needed to succeed.

            Another great aspect about this internship is the people I have met in and around the office.  These are driven individuals with goals and aspirations similar to mine, and who also push me to be better in all of my work.  I look forward to coming to my job and seeing familiar faces that I can collaborate with on projects. 

            With the freedom of this internship, I was able to find my own niche and complete many tasks I actually enjoyed.  From writing stories about fashion, to interacting with students in classroom visits, I was able to hone in on my already existing skills and make them even better.

            This internship is great for anyone who is looking to better prepare themselves for the career world, learn new skills, and meet a great group of people.  I have enjoyed my time with the AE team.  I hope that whatever job I take on in the future provides me with as much satisfaction as the Academic Enhancement Internship.

Pinterest Pointers

Amanda Laborio, Marketing Intern

As classes begin once again, we are faced with another semester of assignments, exams, and presentations. Also, students will once again be turning to the Internet for new and interesting ways to spend their study breaks. One of the latest crazes engaging students online is Pinterest, a social media site focused on inspiring creativity and connecting with friends.

Joining Pinterest is still on an invitation-only basis, but with the site’s growing popularity it is becoming easier to get yourself an account. There are currently two ways of getting an invitation to Pinterest. First, you can visit the site, give them your e-mail address, and be added to a waiting list. Secondly, and more easily, you can ask one of your friends who is already using Pinterest to send you an invitation.

Once you have received your invitation to join Pinterest and have set-up your account, you can get to the fun stuff: pinning! Users are invited to post images, links, and videos to the site and these are all referred to as “pins.” From there users are also supposed to create “boards,” which are collections of pins. If you don’t want to make your own pins, there are plenty of them already posted on the site that you can “repin” to your board.

When it comes to creating your boards, the sky is the limit. Tap into your creativity and come up with interesting, funny combinations to really make the most of the site. Your friends can follow your pins and vice versa, adding a social media element to the site. While Pinterest may sound like all fun and games, I do have one warning. Once you start pinning, it can be difficult to stop.

To utilize the site as a good study break and avoid turning it into a tool for procrastination, it may be a good idea to set some guidelines. Rewarding yourself with 15 minutes of Pinterest time for an hour of studying could be a good solution. Also, if you’re doing an assignment that requires creativity, try using Pinterest to help you get started. Create a board about the theme or topic you’re focusing on and search the site to make connections between the assignment and topic. This may not work for all courses, but it will at least get you thinking about the material in a new and exciting way.

With limitless combinations of pins, Pinterest is a great way to get inspired, pick up new craft ideas, look at pictures of cute puppies, find recipes, and much more. For a relaxing break from the rigor of that calculus homework, start tracking down your invitation today.

Welcome Back

Written by Laura McGehee, Marketing Intern

Another semester of friends, food, and fun is upon us, but let’s not forget the reason we attend the University of Kentucky- to learn!  Classes have changed and a whole new set of challenges awaits you, but Academic Enhancement is here to help with a variety of services to meet your needs.

1.      Free Peer Tutoring Program- Feel like a certain class may be difficult or tricky this semester? Come in to The Study to work with our certified tutors to learn material, finish homework, and prepare for quizzes and tests.  We are open Sunday 6-10pm, Monday-Thursday 3-10pm, and Friday 12-5pm.  Students can visit our website for more information or just drop by during our hours!

The Study has also expanded its tutoring space and will provide tutoring for in the promenade area by the stairwell when coming up from Starbucks. You may also notice the new check-in desk as well!

2.      Free Individual Academic Consultations- Students meet with a learning specialist and talk about topics related to learning and academic success.  Topics can include: critical reading skills, time management, exam prep, stress management, general study skills, organizational skills, and more! To sign up:

a.       Log in to myUK and click on “My Info”

b.      Click on “myAppointments”

c.       Select “The Study”

d.      Choose the type of consultation you want to attend and a date and time that works for you!

3.      GRE Prep Courses-We offer both Math and Verbal sections of the GRE.  Each course includes two full-length practice exams and additional study materials.  In this course, participants will learn how to approach the exam’s structure, focus on test taking strategies, and complete a practice exam and practice questions.

For more information on our services here at Academic Enhancement, visit our website www.uky.edu/AE.  Happy studying and good luck this semester!

LinkedIn

Written by Laura McGehee, Marketing Intern

            Searching for a way to promote your accomplishments, network with potential employers, or find a job? LinkedIn is a social media tool that gives young adults and job seekers the professional platform they need to expand their network and search for future careers.

            With more than 120 million registered users, LinkedIn allows you to connect with career- minded individuals all over the globe. Users of this site can “connect” with past coworkers, current colleagues, or search for connections at other places of employment.  Finding individuals from high school and college can also help grow your connections and offer a networking tool free of the clutter and unprofessionalism of Facebook and Twitter.

            Another great aspect of LinkedIn is that employers can list jobs and contact you through your page.  By using the summary section of your profile to list your accomplishments, skills, and resume, employers can search for individuals who meet their qualifications.  Job recruiting companies such as Brooksource, KForce, etc. use these websites often to search for hardworking individuals who match current job openings.

            On LinkedIn, you can follow certain companies to get information about new job postings or updates on the company.  There is also a live running feed of the activity of all your connections.  Users can also bookmark jobs that they wish to apply for and search directly for employment from their page.

            You can also join groups on LinkedIn to meet individuals with common backgrounds or interests.  For example, UK has a “UK alumni” group which allows users to connect with UK graduates who may have advice for you in your career endeavors.  Joining groups may make it easier for hiring companies to find you and also for you to connect with individuals who work for companies of interest.

            An important aspect of your page is the recommendations section.  You can recommend past employers or colleagues and others can recommend you as well.  For instance, a past employer could write a recommendation saying that you worked hard and were a pleasure to work with at a certain company.  Hiring companies or individuals looking at your page can see that you have succeeded in the past, therefore increasing your chances of obtaining a job.

            While the basic LinkedIn site is free to use, an affordable upgrade of your page is also available.  This upgrade includes features that allow you to see who is looking at your profile, how you have shown up in the search engine, and a graph of the activity on your page over a few weeks period.  These added bonuses can give you an idea of what kind of people and companies are interested in you and also what you may need to change in your profile to get more action on your page.

            There is also a mobile version of the website that puts networking and job searching at your finger tips.  For recent graduates and those graduating in May, this could be the breakthrough you need to find the company you want to work for.  As a current user of this site, I joined to inform companies of when I am graduating, what I have accomplished, and that I would be an asset in specific fields.  LinkedIn provides me a way to show who I am as a young professional and connect with other driven individuals. So, join LinkedIn today; create a profile, connect with others, and find the job you have always wanted.

A New Year, A New You

Written by Laura McGehee, Marketing Intern

               Every year we make resolutions to get fit, make new friends, or even find a rewarding job. While our goals and aspirations for the year are motivation for success, many resolutions die out by February or March.

               Many of us find ourselves making the same resolutions every year and, after vowing to make "this year" different, fall short once again. After talking to many goal setters and searching through goal related articles here is some great advice to help you achieve everything you desire in 2012.

               Start by narrowing down your list of goals to the handful most important to you. If there was one thing you could accomplish this year, what would it be?  Next, determine if this goal is realistically obtainable. If your goal is to save enough money to purchase your dream car, do you have a job that will support such big dreams? Is your income greater than your current spending habits?

               Make sure your goal is measurable. By setting boundaries, you make it easier to gage your success and determine where you need to make changes. An example of a measurable goal would be, “I want to lose 10 pounds by May, 2012.” Losing 10 pounds can be broken down into mini goals and is easily measurable by a scale. Be specific in your goal setting. Simply saying, "I want to stop gossiping" is not specific enough to determine if you are making progress. If your goal would take a 5 minute conversation to explain, it is probably too broad.

               Write your resolutions down and put them in a spot that will be a constant reminder for you. Many experts also suggest that you share your goals with those close to you. By telling others your resolutions you have developed a support system that holds you accountable. If you are trying to save money for school, you may think twice about a wasteful purchase when you are with friends or family. Involving others in your goals can also give you someone to talk to when you feel you may be stuck in a rut. Those who genuinely care about you want to see you succeed and to be the best that you can be.

               Once you have assembled your support team, devise a plan of action. Break your goals down into smaller parts that will make them seem more obtainable and give you something to work towards every day. For example, if you are trying to curse less, take one of the words you would like to rid from your vocabulary and replace it with a more gentle word. Vow to use this word a specific amount of times or for a set number of days until it becomes your new habit.

               To help your resolutions make it past February, reevaluate every few weeks or at the end of each month. Determine your progress and devise ways to make even more progress in the weeks to come. Figure what has and has not been working and make adjustments to move forward.

               It is also crucial that you celebrate your achievements. Reaching big goals can be difficult and you have to pat yourself on the back every now and then. Even the smallest congratulations to yourself can send your motivation in the right direction and push you to keep going.

               Most importantly, you must believe in yourself.  If you believe in the goal and your ability to achieve it, you will continue to motivate yourself and make moves toward success. Good luck in all you set out to achieve in 2012!