Your Social Media Profile

Alex Newby, Marketing Intern
We all know the basics. Don’t take pictures with red solo cups, don’t look like a maniac in your profile picture, and set your page to private.  But with more and more employers using social media to research and screen job candidates, knowing how to use your Facebook and other social media accounts to your advantage is something every student should know. After researching the do’s and don’ts of social media profiles, we came up with the best advice for students who are ready to start the job hunt!

Go solo in your profile picture:
Even though most of us would choose a picture that includes friends, significant others, or our dogs and cats, many sources suggest using a profile picture that is of just you. This helps cut down on confusion when someone is searching for you and also gives you a better chance of having a professional looking picture.

Use LinkedIn:
LinkedIn is a social media site dedicated to professionals that want to network and showcase their resumes.  Once on the site, you can add former co-workers, current bosses, or even follow potential employers. It’s a great resource to use when looking for jobs and connecting with people in your field. To put your best food forward, consider getting a professional picture done to use for your profile. For more information on LinkedIn, read: http://ukthestudy.blogspot.com/2012/01/linkedin.html

Watch what you say:
Ranting online about how you hate your current boss won’t look great if a potential employer looks you up. As much as you enjoy telling the world how you feel through your status updates or tweets, it’s best to avoid sharing about political opinions, angry rants, or other controversial material might offend someone.

Customize your privacy settings
Privacy settings on Facebook and Twitter can be a little confusing, but knowing how to customize them can save you a lot of heartache. For example, on Facebook, you are in control of who sees what. If your Facebook profile is private, but you’d like anyone searching for you to see your interests or work experience, you can set those to show up on your wall. On the other hand, pictures from your awkward teen years, wall posts about wild weekends, and things like political views can be set to be shown only to your closest friends. Even with the added security settings, however, many sources suggest keeping a close eye on what you post and are tagged in anyway.  Some employers have been known to ask candidates to pull up Facebook pages during an interview or to have interviewees “friend” a human resources employee for the company.

Get your own “Personal Brand” page:
This might be a little too extreme for some students, but creating a new Facebook page for your professional self could help you make sure that only the best side of you is shown. Choose professional looking photos, add your resume, and post things that are related to your future career or current job. This can be a great way to show that you’re up to speed with all of the current trends and information in your field and can be a more casual way to show your professional accomplishments and qualifications. Students can also find free templates online to create their own website. Sites like wordpress.org and www.wix.com make it easy to customize the look and settings of your personal website!

Pick your Interests/Hobbies carefully:
 Since most privacy settings allow for employers to see the hobbies and interthe About Me section, make sure that all of these spots are filled with relevant information. If LinkedIn
is the platform to show your professional side, Facebook is the platform to show the more “human” side of yourself. These areas give the employer a chance to see your personality, creative interests, and hobbies. In today’s world, employers are looking for well-rounded, happy candidates that can contribute many things. By showing them your personality, you can give employers a better picture of who you both in and out of a work environment.

For more information on making our social media account employer-friendly, check out these websites

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443759504577631410093879278.html

http://durangoherald.com/article/20121204/NEWS04/121209822/-1/s

Get Involved with Club Sports

Josh Eversole, Marketing Intern

In SEC (South Eastern Conference) country, sports are king. Unfortunately, many high school athletes are not fortunate enough to play in big time college athletics. This was especially true for me. I was an average player in a sport with little varsity representation. Club sports gave me an opportunity to continue playing the sport I loved, rugby.

Club sports are University of Kentucky (UK) sponsored clubs that are operated by students. These clubs offer the opportunity to compete against other colleges in their sport. No matter what your favorite sport is, or what sport you want to try, here are some answers to frequently asked questions to help you learn about club sports.

How do club sports differ from varsity and intramurals?

Varsity

Varsity sports are governed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Club sports teams are governed by the Campus Recreation department of their university or by a national, sport-specific, governing body (i.e. USA Rugby).

Intramural

Club sports and intramurals differ in the amount of freedom offered to the students. Club sports teams have the ability to create their own schedules, recruit and travel. Intramural teams are also comprised of students, but their competition is limited to other students within their university and offer less diverse choices in activities offered.

Who can play club sports and how do I find the sport for me?

At UK, the club sports program allows students, faculty and staff the opportunity to play. UK offers a large variety of club sports from which to choose. The list of current clubs can be found at: www.uky.edu/studentaffairs/CampusRec/club-sports/current-clubs.

Can I start a club sport that isn’t offered?

The University of Kentucky encourages students to form their own clubs. The process is outlined on the Campus Recreation website: getinvolved.uky.edu/register/

Can I play a sport that I have never played before?

Many club sports encourage students to participate in sports they have never tried before, especially if it is a sport that is less prevalent in many schools (i.e. water polo, dodge ball). Some clubs require try outs, and will be straightforward in the recruitment and information periods on whether or not they are required. For information about requirements to join a club, check the contact information here: http://www.uky.edu/studentaffairs/CampusRec/club-sports/current-clubs

Are club sports expensive?

Club sports are student run and operated and will incur expenses in order to make sure that they are able to properly function. Most clubs require you to pay dues in order to participate, but are usually very affordable and offer discounted dues for first year participants. Contact the club you are interested in for more information about dues as they differ from club to club.

Do you travel with club sports and are there games during the week?

Club sports teams usually schedule their activities for weekends and save weekdays for practice. Your team will travel to other universities or locations for games, matches, tournaments, etc. You will be encouraged by your team to attend these events, but it is not mandatory that you travel every weekend. Travel also varies depending on the club. 

What are the benefits of playing club sports?

Joining a club sport gives you the opportunity to meet a new group of people with similar interests to yourself. Moving away from home can be scary, but placing yourself in a group that you can relate to can make it a more comfortable experience. Not only will your teammates share your interest in the sport, but expose you to a wide variety of different backgrounds and beliefs. Club sports offer you the opportunity to expand your horizons and learn more than just the game.

Finally, you will meet lifelong friends and gain memories that will last a lifetime. Through my club sports experience, I met some of my best friends and was able to travel across the country competing against other great universities. I encourage all students to join a club sports team. Not only will you have an amazing experience, but also you will learn valuable life skills and contribute to your organization and represent your university.

To Go, Or Not To Go

Alex Newby, Marketing Intern

In college, the first day of each semester is arguably the best. You’re finally ready to get back into the swing of things, you’re one more semester closer to finishing, and almost every class is short, sweet, and to the point. Syllabus Day, as students have deemed it, is a day to relax, make some friends in the class, and find out what the upcoming semester will hold for you—including how many classes you’re allowed to miss.

Each year, the attendance policy is one of the first things that students look at. Are the notes online? Will the class be hard? Do I have to come if its not? Depending on the answers, and your view on attendance, Syllabus Day could be the first and last day you attend. But is skipping classes justified? We took a look at the debate.

Excuse # 1 – “ The class is boring, and I can teach the material to myself a lot easier.”

We’ve all been in those classes that seem like they drag on forever. The professor has one pitch and the PowerPoint slides are filled from top to bottom with notes no one can understand. In these situations, especially if attendance isn’t taken, it’s hard to make yourself want to come to class. However, being there might just be what’s most important. Woody Allen once said,"Eighty percent of success is showing up." Learning real-life course material and hearing anecdotes in class may be even more helpful than facts found in textbooks or on PowerPoint slides.

 “The classroom is the easiest place for students to learn,” said UK 101 Peer Instructor Stephanie Anderson. ”It’s always hard to make yourself read or study during your free hours, but if you just go to class, your instructor tells you what’s important and what to expect on the test.”

Excuse #2 - “The professor doesn’t take attendance, he or she will never know I wasn’t there.”

It’s true that in large lectures, it can be difficult for professors to get to know students or know when they are skipping class or not. However, some professors use alternate attendance methods throughout the semester. For instance, my sophomore year Astronomy professor gave the class random quizzes throughout the semester using a clicker system. If you were there, the questions were easy and the quiz was virtually “unfailable”, if you weren’t, however, you missed the easy points. These points can add up and can sometimes be the difference between an A and B.

Excuse #3 – “This class isn’t even in my major so it doesn’t matter if I go.”

Each class, despite your major, will count towards your overall GPA. This can be a huge factor in determining whether or not you are even accepted into your future program and/or grad school. Plus, skipping class means that you have less of an opportunity to get to know the professor, and more importantly, for the professor to get to know you.  This may not matter much now, but in the future when you’re applying for scholarships, study abroad trips, or graduate school, you’ll need teacher recommendations. Making a connection with more teachers now will give you more options for great recommendations later. One of my greatest teacher recommendations came from my professor in a Gen Ed class that I struggled in. After visiting her in office hours, and attending every class, I was able to get to know her well and she could vouch that I was willing to work hard for a good grade. On the other hand, if you’re skipping smaller classes, the teacher will notice and will be less likely to want to tell others what a great student you are. 

Excuse #4 – “ I’m paying for school so I should be able to decide if I go or not”

Below is a chart of tuition rates for undergraduates at the University of Kentucky. Using the numbers that relate to your specific situation to calculate the cost of each class meeting.

1. Divide the tuition that pertains to your situation by the number of credits you are taking this semester to calculate per credit costs.

2. Multiply that number by 3 for the number of credits earned for any individual class.

3. Divide that number by the number of class meetings this semester.

            a. 30 for TR classe

            b. 45 for MWF classes

You’ve now found the amount of money you’re wasting for every class you miss!

Per Semester Full-Time Tuition and Fees
Undergraduate Lower Division
Resident	$4,838.00
Non-Resident	$9,932.00
Undergraduate Upper Division
Resident	$4,978.00
Non-Resident	$10,065.00

 This means, depending on your status, you’re spending between $18 - $82 per class. While it’s true that you have the freedom to decide whether or not you go, any excuse to miss class better be worth this amount of money to you. Somehow the nap you desperately desire or the lunch date with friends during class time seems a little less important.

Excuse # 5 – “I’m way too busy to go to class.”

You’re behind in another class, you need to go to the bank, and you really need to start on job applications for the summer. You’re just too busy today to go sit in class for a few hours. According to Timothy Kroboth, a student columnist for the Kentucky Kernel, students still have plenty of time. “You may protest that your time is too valuable to attend class, but consider that a week has 168 hours. If you carried 15 credit hours and went to every class, you would have 153 hours left to do whatever you wanted every week.”  That’s 153 hours to cram in all the “me” time any student could possibly want.
Also, consider the time that you would have to spend outside of class catching up on the things you missed. Skipping eventually can become a habit and students almost always have to expel more effort trying to recover and catch up then they would have if they had just gone to class.


Resources:
TimothyKroboth's Kentucky Kernel Article