10 Tips To Keep Your Twitter Tidy

To many, Twitter has become a forum for expressing random thoughts, opinions and for logging minute-by-minute activity (or even second-by-second, for some). Whether from your computer, under contract, or with a T-Mobile prepaid phone plan, Twitter is so interactive that even celebrities can keep tabs on us seemingly insignificant users. If celebrities can Retweet and reply to you, think about how many future employers can do the same–don’t give them something to fire you about! Maintain a professional profile with CL’s Twitter tips.

 

1. Your display photo — It’s the first indication of the kind of person you are–after all, it’s displaying you! No matter how shiny your hair looks, avoid setting a photo of you at last night’s party, surrounded by red cups, dominating the Beer Pong table. Instead, crop out the cups, brighten it if it’s a bit dark, and choose one that puts your personal qualities forward, not what you like to do on weekends. Utilize sites such as picnik.com to edit your photos (but do it soon–Picnik is shutting down on April 19!).

2. Classy-up that background — Personalize your background with something to give visitors an idea of your interests. Avoid making your background a picture of a mostly nude celebrity, a photo of you and your significant other swapping spit, or a profane quote in crafty font.

3. Think of your bio as a resume preview — You only have 160 characters to do so, but show your prospective followers how well-rounded you are with a catchy, professional bio. Often times, users with jobs that have Twitter accounts will link to those pages in their bio, including a tidbit of their job description. Then there are others, who use their bio to downplay themselves with negative, unappealing statements. Don’t choose the latter.

4. Less is more — It’s easy to get carried away with this (especially if you’re new to the Twitter realm), but go easy on the follows. Following less pages than there are pages following you shows that you are a person with an opinion worth caring about. It also shows your interests are circulated around those specific people, organizations, or magazines you’re following.

5. What are you tweeting? – If you are looking to work in a specific field, get the attention of people already in that field with your tweets. Mention them and you may just get a reply back!

6. Who’s following you? – Users choose to follow other users based on what they’re discussing. If big-names start to take notice in your profile (corporations, verified accounts of fashion designers, magazine editors, CEOs…), you must be saying the right things.

7. Save those retweets — Don’t swallow your profile with endless amounts of retweets. See retweeting as what you do with statements that you can’t put into your own words. Meaning, don’t retweet something such as: “This donut is delicious.” What a waste of space!

8. Those #hashtags — CL sends a big thank-you to the genius who invented a new way to converse–the “hashtag.” Hashtags magically help you see who else in Twitter land is talking about the same topic. Use them with care and purpose, rather than to summarize your thought(s) with swear words or something similar.

9. Share professional links — Articles have Twitter applications for sharing them via other sites on purpose. Use them! Your followers are always curious to know what new discoveries you’re making and reading about.

10. Watch what photos you upload — Keep your stream of “Recent Images” classy by uploading pictures of you dressed nicely, looking happy (without unsightly red cups), and of things that make you happy, from friends to your pets!

Tiana Blue is a Senior Writer for College Lifestyles™. This fourth semester sophomore at Penn State is a print journalism major with a penchant for food, stilettos, and the city that never sleeps.

CL’s Guide to Finding an Internship!

As a classy co-ed, there’s a good chance you’ve heard the internship speech a hundred times over. Parents and professors are constantly telling us the importance of finding an internship in college. While these speeches can get repetitive, they do have a point. Internships are the best way to get experience in a field you are interested in. And while they look great on a resume, they also teach you how to be a good employee, manage your time, and be a go-getter. The process of internship hunting can be a daunting task, but fear not, co-eds! CL is here to help you every step of the way!

To help you begin your search, here are CL’s suggestions on where to look for internships:

1. Your school’s career center: This suggestion may be obvious, but you’d be surprised how many co-eds never set foot in their school’s career center! Career centers exist for the sole purpose of helping students find internships and jobs, so take advantage! Meet with a career counselor and discuss your future plans. In addition to helping you find an internship, a counselor can help you with resume and cover letter writing and even set up mock-interviews for you to practice before you do the real thing! Many career centers also have online job boards where they post internship opportunities for students. Be sure to see if your school has one!

2. Internqueen.com- Intern Queen Lauren Berger had 15(!) internships in college. She now runs her own website that helps college students find  internships. Her website features internship postings from all over the country and a variety of different fields. Also, she recently wrote a book that gives advice on everything related to internships. Check out CL’s review of her book “All Work, No Pay”.

3. Internships.com- This website features internships from all geographic areas and disciplines. You can type in what field you are interested in as well as your location, and they will give you internships that match your criteria.

4. SimplyHired.com-This awesome site also allows you to search by geographic area, field, or even company. You can also get daily e-mail alerts when internships that match your criteria are posted.

5. Career Fairs- Does your school have any career fairs this semester? If so, go to them! Put on your best professional outfit, print copies of your resume, and go impress those company representatives!

6. Networking- As a classy co-ed, you are sure to learn the importance of networking if you haven’t already! Network with your professors, friends, family, and anyone else you can think of! Does your dad have a friend who works at a company you are interested in? Ask him to introduce you! Another great group of people to network with is your school alumni! Seek out alumni who work in your chosen field and ask them for advice. They went to your school, so you already have something in common! Also, most alums love to help kind, ambitious students in any way can.

7. The CL Internship and Job Bank- That’s right, College Lifestyles is now also a great place to look for internships and jobs! The CL Job Bank will be up and running by the end of February. It will contain positions for all disciplines. Be sure to check back next month to see if there are any positions you are interested in!

I hope these resources help you in your internship hunt! Find opportunities that catch your eye, then go wow those potential employers! Don’t be afraid to apply for positions that are known to be competitive. Put your best foot forward and always remember, you are amazing!

 

 

Rachel Osman is a sophomore journalism major at Indiana University. She hopes to get a magazine internship in New York City this summer. 

Senior Job Search

Calling all SENIORS! NOW is a good time to start looking ahead to your future, and for some of you, this might mean looking for a job. Here are 10 things that YOU can do RIGHT NOW to start your job search!

Decide what matters to YOU. Your parents may have dreams of you becoming the next CEO of company XYZ, but that might not be what you want. So take the time to sit down and make a list of things that that YOU want to do, companies that YOU want to work for.

Find your strengths. Make a list of your skills and talents. This will not only help you write your resume, but also give you something to think about when researching companies.

Find your weaknesses. Also make a list of things that you aren’t good it. That way, if you see more than one of those skills listed for a particular job, you can scratch that job off your list. Or, if you see maybe one or two of your weaknesses listed, mark that job and come back to it. Call and ask someone in HR how much those skills are involved in the job, and ask how the company could help you to develop those skills.

Do your research. Researching a company helps you in several ways: first, and most importantly, you will learn what they do and why they do it. That way you won’t have to ask those questions during your interview, and if they ask you about their company, you’ll have the answers. And, using your strengths and weaknesses lists, doing research will help you figure out if the job is the right fit for you.

Perfect your resume. Take your resume to family members, professors and anyone else you can think of and ask them if they would hire you. Resumes take time, drafts, and a whole lot of editing to perfect.

Go to your campus’s career services office. Career counselors are there to help you figure out exactly what YOU want to do – so go talk to them. They are professionals and will do whatever it takes to help you find the job that’s right for you.

Do some practice interviews. Interviews can be scary, especially the first, oh, one or five times. See if your career center has someone who can practice with you. You can also practice with professors and family members.

Network online. Facebook. Twitter. LinkedIn. See who you’re connected to and who they work for. You especially want to reach out to your school and your sorority’s alum and ask if their companies are hiring.

Go to career fairs. Career fairs are great places to network, find internships and find jobs. Don’t forget to bring your resume and remember your interviewing skills – you could be asked for an interview on the spot!

Reach out to professors. Chances are the professors who teach in your major have had several jobs in that field. See if they know of anyone hiring. Also, if a job requires recommendations, ask a few professors if they’d be willing to write/call in recommendations for you.

Debra Schreiber, a senior CL writer, is a senior journalism and Spanish double major at Duquesne University. She loves Duquesne University’s Career Services, and credits her career counselor, Coralyn McCauley, for teaching her how to look for a job. 

Superstar Student: CL Interview’s Ariana Pierce creator of Hollywood’s Hottest Nail Line

It’s pretty incredible when Hollywood stars like Lauren Conrad, Eva Longoria, and Selena Gomez are wearing your products and you haven’t even graduated college yet. Michigan State University senior, Ariana Pierce, is the creator of the eco-friendly Superstar Nail Lacquer, an actress, author, blogger, and motivational speaker for young adults. Her nail polish line has been featured in Glamour Magazine, on B.E.T., and InStyle Magazine. Ari’s first company The Billion Heir Club, is a website where young ladies can gain insight on how to be successful and also includes a t-shirt and jewelry line. This business student has been able to take small ideas (f.y.i Ari created her nail line after wanted a nail polish to dry quickly so she could make it to class on time) and turn them into revenue making successes. How was Ariana able to run two businesses, write six books, and attend college full-time? College Lifestyles has the answers for you!                                                                    

CL: You are a businesswoman, author, actress, national speaker, and full-time student at Michigan State University. How do you manage it all? Is there any advice/tips that you could give to co-eds who need to organize a busy schedule?

AP: I manage my business and school career by planning everything. I live by my calendar and agenda. School is very important to me, so I make sure to complete my schoolwork during the week so I can travel, speak, and do my business on the weekends. My advice to those dealing with a busy schedule is to write things down, keep an agenda, and plan ahead so you are never caught off guard.

CL: In a radio interview you called “Superstar Nail Lacquer”, your nail polish line, “a fashionable company.” What are some current nail trends for the winter and spring season? How can we choose nail polishes that compliment our outfit without being too matchy-matchy?

AP: Some current nail trends that are hot for the season are the stiletto nails. The have been spotted on celebs like Rihanna. I recently launched a nail line called Superstar U. It is a line of polish with colors supporting various college sports teams. We are currently in basketball season, so girls are rocking their teams colors. Mine would be Go Green for Michigan State. These colors can be found at styleshoppe.com.

The key to choosing a polish that compliments your outfit without being too matchy is finding a color that goes with your overall color scheme. I wear a lot of neutrals, so colors like black, gray, blue, orange look great. I like to switch it up and be creative. So I will wear a bright pink also. I really don’t worry too much about what I’m going to wear, I just somehow make the polish and outfit work.

CL: Online you’re known as ‘Ari the Heiress’, and regularly update your blog. How can college girls create a positive social media image, web site, and blog?

AP: Girls can create a positive social media image by being positive in their postings. When you post negative things, you are going to attract negative results. If you want to be respected, you have to put out information that is respectable.

CL: In your audio book, 30 Days to Making It!, you give people tips on how to kick-start their passions into reality. Could you share with College Lifestyles a few tips on how you became such a young success?

AP: I decided in my mind that I wanted to be a success. I knew that it would take hard work, especially with me being in school, but I was determined. I also followed other successful people in my industry. Mentors are so important because they help guide you in the right direction. Even if you don’t know anyone personally that is successful in your field, find a mentor by reading books. My mother always says successful people leave clues! Because not everyone has a personal mentor I was inspired to create the 30 Days To Making It Kit to answer questions and give personal advice on succeeding in your business and career. It can be found on my site at arianapierce.com.

CL: Do you have any new projects in the works that we should look out for?

AP: My mom and I host a business conference every year. I love sharing business and success advice with other young people. The conference will be held in Orlando, FL July 12-14. This conference is life changing and I would love to see everyone there! More info will be posted on my site at arianapierce.com.

To chat with Ari be sure to follow her on Twitter

 

Amber Ferguson is a fashion/health intern at College Lifestyles (TM). She is a sophomore at Prince George’s Community College studying English. She’s obsessed with reality TV & loves traveling. Follow her on Twitter @Ms_AmberDawn.

All Work, No Pay: CL Reviews The Intern Queen’s New Book

If you’re in college, you’ve probably heard of Intern Queen, a website that helps you find internships and blogs helpful internship tips (including some from our very own CEO!). The Intern Queen herself is Lauren Berger, so nicknamed because she had  a whopping 15 internships in college. Early this month, Berger came out with a book, All Work, No Pay: Finding An Internship, Building Your Resume, Making Connections, and Gaining Job Experience. So now the big question is – should you buy it?

Pros:
Internship Focus.
There are countless career books, but a book focused solely on internships? Now that’s new. The Intern Queen brings her expertise to the table and spares you the advice that might be useful later but is totally unnecessary now.

Organizational Tools.
When a girl lands 15 internships in college, you know she’s organized. Berger gives the reader the Intern Queen Dream List, a spreadsheet used to keep track of all your applications. But if, like me, you bought this book on an E-Reader, you’ll have to make it yourself. Not that it’s complicated, but hey, I’m in college. I’m lazy!

Tone. Despite all that she’s accomplished, Berger is only 25 years old. Her age shows in her work, which is a good thing. Berger avoids the stuffy tone of many career advisors, and her book is both packed with information and easy to read. Many of her examples stem from her own personal experience or that of her contacts, which serve as a source of inspiration.

Legal Advice. All Work, No Pay has a chapter devoted to the legal issues surrounding internships, and Berger herself deems it “one of the most important chapters.” Berger breaks down the Fair Labor Standards Act from the US Department of Labor, providing a list of the intern’s rights at chapter’s end. It’s the kind of thing that you could and should do on your own, but you know you won’t, so this chapter is incredibly helpful.

Chapter Essentials. At the end of each chapter, Berger provides a bulleted list of its most important points. Not having to go through every single page of the book to find one piece of advice is a major plus.

Cons:
Basic. All Work, No Pay is geared towards newbie interns. So if you’ve been interning a while, or if your school has an excellent career center, much of this information will be repetitive.

Verdict:
Even if you already know the information, it’s nice having it all organized in one place. And if you’re new to internships, this book is indispensable. Buy it.

Already have an internship? Check out the Top 10 Intern Fashion Must-Haves or Ways to Plan Out Your Day: Clutter Free.

Sasha Graffagna is a junior Journalism and Comparative Literature major at New York University. She is currently on exchange at La Universidad del Sagrado Corazón in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Ways to Plan Out Your Day: Clutter Free

Many of you have headed back to school this week anticipating the long study hours and “sleepless nights”. This spring semester is a new opportunity to stop the bad habit of  procrastination. Procrastination comes in many forms with excuses ranging from what others know to be procrastination, to what you have programmed in your mind to think about yourself. The number one cure for procrastination is planning out your time and being organized. Allow me to assist you!

It is not difficult to keep a to-do-list or planner of tasks, responsibilities and personal goals, but it can be difficult if they are not used as should. In order to see the effectiveness of your to-do-list, consider these steps:

The first tip is to keep three planners with attached calendars. Did your eyes stretch wide when you read that last sentence? I had the same response when I realized how three planners helped me to achieve my important goals. As an organized young professional, it is important to know what duties lay ahead and keep to them. A planner should be kept for every huge sector of your life.

Planner number one should be kept for all school work. For all of your classes this semester, look through the syllabus and transfer all of the information from the syllabus onto the calendar. This should include exam dates, and due homework assignments. Make sure to specify what class the work is for. For example, One of my classes are entitled “China Today”. In my school planner you would find on the date of February 20, 2012 “China Today: Midterm exam 1”. If the class title is too long, make a shorter name.  Organizing your school work is giving you a head start on breaking procrastination. With this organized school calendar, you can see the due assignments with a flip of the calendar booklet.

With planner one, school work, do not fail to make a to-do-list. If the calendar organizer you brought has paper for a to-do-list to be attached, this is great! Your to-do-list should be composed of weekly tasks. Keep in mind that this to-do-list is only for school. DO NOT mix in any extra curricular activities. We will get to that later in the article. An example of the to-do-list will be the following:

To-Do-List

Read chapters 1-3 for China Today (2)

Watch Assigned Youtube Videos for International Wealth and Power (3)

Pick group topic for Wednesday’s class- American Foreign Policy (1)

This is just an example. You can also mark, next to the items on your to-do-list, what items you will complete first. I have shown you in the above to-do-list example.

Planner number two should keep all work/intern responsibilities. For this calendar include your work schedule and/ or intern due dates for particular assignments. This keeps me very organized while interning for College Lifestyles!  Also include a to-list-do to go with this calendar of work/intern responsibilities. The to-do-list should be the same  as the to-do-list used in the school work planner. It should be composed of weekly assignments numbered the way they will be completed. Again, do not mix other information that does not have to do with your work and/or internship into this to-do-list or calendar. If you do not have an internship, please stay tuned for latter articles I post.

Planner number three should be used for clubs and organizations. As a young professional, being involved on campus is the prime way to network and to be noticed by other young professionals. In this calendar include meeting times, locations, and  be specific on what organization the meeting is for. Do not fail to include a to-do-list. This is important especially if office positions are held. As an officer of an organization, staying organized is the best thing to do. This planner for organizations can also be mixed with personal tasks. Personal tasks can include going to your sister’s baby shower, getting your nails done, or making a specific date to go grocery shopping. A to-do-list for something like this might include a personal facial time!

Lastly, keep important times entered into your phone to remind you of important events that require time notice. If your sister’s baby shower starts at three in the afternoon, do not plan to meet up with someone at two in the afternoon for something totally different. Although you are learning how to be more organized this semester with separating different sectors of life, it is pivotal to also learn that it is okay to have gaps in your schedule. Use those gaps for study time or my personal favorite, “Me Time”!

This article gives great ways to stay organized. Remaining structured is the key to ending procrastination as a bad habit. Through experience, I have learned that separating sectors of my life is the best way to remain organized and I am sure you will find comfort in this technique. I never try to mix personal with business, and through this I have remained healthy relationships with those who I would have risked it with being too consumed on one sector of my life. Be more organized, and find yourself having more time! <3

Said with love,

Charlene Alexander is a Professional and Relationships Writer, Social Media, and Special Events Intern at College Lifestyles ™. Charlene is a Mass Communications Undergraduate at University of South Florida. Miss Alexander is an analogue girl in a digital world who enjoys writing.

Health, Nutrition, and Food – So you Want to Be a Dietitian?

Nutrition lover.  Foodie.  Health educator.  Chef.  Health promoter.  Wellness counselor.  Diabetes educator.  Health reporter.  Teacher.  Spokesperson.  School nutrition.  The list goes on and on and many of these individuals have two letters behind their name, RD – Registered Dietitian.

As a registered dietitian, I am often posed questions many questions about the field.  ‘What do you do?’  ‘What was your major?’  ‘What classed did you take?’  ‘How did you get into writing and media?’

I am here to clear up the confusion on our fabulous profession and tell you a bit about the basics on becoming a registered dietitian.

 What was your major?

I have a Bachelors and Masters of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics.  My Bachelors is from Nicholls State University and my Masters is from Louisiana Tech University.

Do you have to participate in an internship to becoming a Registered Dietitian?

Yes.  In order to site for the RD exam, one must participate in an accredited internship approved by the Commission of Dietetic Registration.  I completed my internship through Louisiana Tech University.

 Do you have to have a Masters Degree to become a Registered Dietitian?

No.

What type of classes did you take to become a Registered Dietitian?

Along with my university requirements, specific nutrition courses I took included:

• Food and Nutrition
• Applied Nutrition (Lab Included)
• Nutrition and Health Education
• Nutrition and the Life Cycle
• Community Nutrition
• Meal Management
• Medical Nutrition Therapy
• Food Science
• Institutional Planning
• Organization and Management
• Quantity Food Production
• Methods

Please view the Nicholls State University dietetics catalog for a description on each course.

In addition to the nutrition courses, I took various biology courses/labs and chemistry courses.

While many programs vary on their nutrition offerings (for example, some may offer sports specific nutrition courses and counseling), the nutrition basics are quite familiar.  In addition, various health and social care courses vary university by university, so make sure you understand the program coursework.

 What was your favorite class in undergrad?

My favorite class was Quantity Food Production.  Think of it as running and promoting a restaurant.  Weekly we prepared and served food (all healthy) in relation to a specific theme.

 What was your favorite internship experience?

One of the competencies was to complete a ‘Theme Day’ for the employees at a hospital.  I was very lucky mine was at a Children’s Hospital (Shriners), and we went with a ‘Football Theme.’  We served traditional tailgating food and was able to get hospital permission to wear jerseys.  In addition, I had arranged for local dance teams to perform for the kids.  It was wonderful!  This introduced me to the fabulous world of PR!

 

So you graduated in dietetics and now are the Editor in Chief of College Lifestyles?  How did that happen?

Lots of hard work!  I always loved PR and media, and I was fortunate enough to serve as a spokesperson for the Louisiana Dietetic Association.  I learned how to pitch media, as well as put together TV segments.  I took the work I learned and developed the then blog, College Lifestyles.  From there, we moved up to the site we are now!

 

 

Ms. NY Belleza Latina 2011: Helen Troncoso chats with CL!

Helen Troncoso isn’t your typical beauty queen. Yes, she is stunning but Helen is also a women’s health activist, an acclaimed blogger, and a proud Latina. Whether she is hosting a celebrity fashion charity event or walking to raise money for breast cancer research, Ms. New York Belleza Latina 2011 Helen Troncoso is always giving back to the community. She is an empowering and inspirational role-model for all. College Lifestyles had the honor of interviewing her. Check it out:

 

CL: Why are you so passionate about promoting cervical cancer awareness and other women’s health issues?

HT: It was my own brush with the Human papillomavirus or HPV, the virus that causes cervical cancer and also what happened afterwards that made me realize the lack of information available to me. I felt embarrassed and overwhelmed because I was clueless. I never want another person to feel like that. The latest research studies from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) state that up to 80% of the US population will have had HPV by the time they reach the age of 50. With numbers that high, you would expect more people to know what it was and how they can prevent themselves from being another statistic. What I learned from that experience is that I needed to become my own health advocate. I needed to make my health a priority. Too often as women we find ourselves pushing aside our own checkups and stop listening to our bodies because we are too busy taking care of everyone else. I hope the more I talk and bring awareness to this and other women’s health issues, the easier it will become for others to find the information and support they may need.

CL: College Lifestyles recently launched its Beauty by Confidence Campaign to show young women that beauty is not defined by outward appearance. What is your meaning/interpretation of beauty?

HT: I think your campaign is right on with it’s message that beauty should not be defined by outward appearances. Especially when our definition of external beauty varies so much based on our cultural and personal preferences, and also the media. Our outer appearance is just a shell for what to me is true beauty, a person’s essence or being. While there is nothing wrong with taking time to take care of the exterior, too often we focus solely on that and forget about everything else. Then we become a beautiful shell that’s a mess inside. Focus on yourself. A compassionate, intelligent and confident woman who knows who she is, will always turn heads when she walks in a room. That’s the “it” factor, the spark that separates you from everyone else.

CL: What are your must have beauty and accessory items?

HT: My must have beauty items are false eyelashes (Ardell wispies), mascara (Dior show) and concealer (MAC studio sculpt) because if all else fails and I have little to no time to make up my face, a pair of lashes, a dash of mascara and a bit of concealer will go a long way. I love semi-precious gemstones pieces by Jewels by D.LaPaix, because even if you’re wearing a pair of jeans, a sparkly bracelet or necklace will instantly help pull your outfit together.

CL: You have a great polished, sophisticated, and modern look. Do you have any fashion advice for college girls who aspire to get involved in the pageant circuit, want to look presentable at an interview, or who want to maximize the selections in their closet?

HT: Making a first impression whether for a pageant competition or for an interview are the same with regards to keeping your wardrobe selections tasteful. Great tailoring will make clothing that may not be expensive, look like they are. My wardrobe staples are things that are forgiving and can take me to just about any event like a wrap dress, a pencil skirt and a good pair of nude pumps. I also like to play with textures and layer accessories to complete my look.

CL: You have a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey. Are there any study tips you could give co-eds who are busy balancing academics and a social life?

HT: Balancing academics and having a social life can obviously be very challenging. My only study tips or principles are the same ones that I still use now out of school, which is if you really want something, you will make time for it. You need to prioritize and just accept that sometimes it will be hard to strike a balance. There will be moments when academics has to be your main priority and it just makes you appreciate and plan wisely the time you do have with your friends.

CL: What are your plans or goals for the future?

HT: This has been an amazing year and I am so grateful for all the new opportunities coming my way. It also helped me discover one of my passions, which is educating and motivating other women. I plan to start contributing toward a health column for a national newspaper. I started writing a book with another talented woman and I also signed on to play a small role in a yet to be released film next year. My ultimate goal is to be on television as a women’s health expert/commentator.

Don’t forget to contact Helen:

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/MsNYBellezaLatina2011
Twitter: @MsNYBL2011
http://helentroncoso.com
email: Helen@helentroncoso.com

 

 

Amber Ferguson is an intern at College Lifestyles (TM). She is sophomore at Prince George’s Community College studying English. She’s the first girl out on the dance floor, is obsessed with reality TV, and loves getting stamps on her passport when she travels to new places.

Fashion & Life: CL Interviews Laura Kathleen from Project Runway

 

Hailing from Saint Louis, Laura Kathleen embodies classic, sassy, and chic in her designs and personality. On Lifetime TV’s “Project Runway” Season 9 Laura was the finalist with modern edge and sophistication. College Lifestyles chatted with Laura about her undying determination, education, and her awesome fashion tips. Check it out!

 CL: What was the biggest life lesson you learned while competing on “Project Runway?”

LK: “I’d have to say it reinforced a life lesson I already learned. Stay true to who I am as a designer and as a person. I wanted to have a great experience since this was/ is a once in a lifetime opportunity. If I held back on who I was it would only hinder the whole process.”

CL: Were you involved in any activities while you studied at Western Kentucky University?

LK: “Absolutely! I was/ am a Kappa Delta, a Western Kentucky Hilltopper Cheerleader, and in the family and consumer sciences honor society Phi Upsilon Omicron. My sorority, KD, took up a lot of my time. I was head of a lot of committees and formed strong friendships with my sisters. I only cheered for 2 years, eventually Kappa Delta became what was most important to me.”

CL: What are some must have fashion items that every college girl should have in her closet? 

LK: “Every college girl should have an awesome pair of flat leather boots. She can wear these to class tucked into jeans, with skirts, or dresses. It’s chic but doesn’t look like she is trying too hard. Also, she should have some amazing tailored blazers or jackets and great totes to carry to class. If she is greek, the totes have to wear your letters ”

CL: I read that you tried out for “Project Runway” four times. What motivated you to keep designing and trying to make it on the show?

LK: “When I set my mind to something I am very determined to get what I want. It’s natural for me to never give up so I wasn’t going to take no for an answer. Project Runway is the type of publicity people pay tons of money to get. You have to understand what you are signing up for, but if you are okay with that, then game on.”

CL: You’re really into vintage. How can a young fashionista incorporate vintage pieces into her wardrobe?

LK: “I love vintage. For a young fashionista to really incorporate vintage pieces into her wardrobe she would need to educate herself on what is really vintage and what is just thrift store. Not that thrift store isn’t interesting but there is a huge difference. By just taking a belt, clutch, or sweater you can mix and match modern pieces with vintage to make it updated.”

CL: I recently found out that you teach fashion design at a charter school in St. Louis. How is that experience for you? Do you think it is important for aspiring designers to be mentored by established designers?

LK: “Teaching to children at a charter school is very rewarding. I want these kids to know that you can make a career out of something you love. Any designer can always use more mentoring. I think it’s a little unrealistic to say that you are ever done learning. I still apprentice under designers that I respect and that have had more life experience than me. I believe it’s one of the best ways to learn.”

CL: Your fans want to know, what’s next for you?

LK: “The next step is to concentrate on growing my ready-to-wear collection for Fall 2012 so it’s more available to customers. I want to ease into this naturally without ungracefully falling on my face. I want to make sure that my clothing continues to be the main focus.”

Be sure to follow Laura on Twitter, check out her website, and like her on Facebook!

 

Amber Ferguson is an intern at College Lifestyles (TM). She is sophomore at Prince George’s Community College studying English. She’s the first girl out on the dance floor, is obsessed with reality TV, and loves getting stamps on her passport when she travels to new places.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, You Want a Career in PR?

PR.  2 letters which spell a wonderful career field for some.  Does the world of PR peak your interest?  Do you see yourself executing events and planning press releases for small businesses and non-profits?

College Lifestyles receives a number of PR questions – and many of our interns start out with College Lifestyles and have moved on to jobs in the magazine and PR industry!

But how does one start?  Are certain classes required for a career in PR?  College Lifestyles turned to 2 experts in the field of public relations to answer your burning questions on getting started in the field of PR.

Jessica Kleiman and Meryl Weinsaft Cooper have a combined 30-plus years experience in the public relations industry, having worked both in-house and on the agency side.  Kleiman is currently VP-public relations for Hearst Magazines, one of the world’s largest publishers of monthly magazines.  Meryl Weinsaft Cooper is a co-founder and principal of Allen/Cooper Communications, a marketing, exhibitions and events company with a focus on art and lifestyle brands.  Both are authors of the book, Be Your Own Best Publicist:  How to Use PR Techniques to Get Noticed, Hired and Rewarded at Work.

(A Side Bar:  Be Your Own Best Publicist is used in lesson plans with the College Lifestyles interns due to its amazing, realistic content one can relate to in both work and personal life.  Mine is personally full of sticky notes and fully highlighted.)

 

Jessica and Meryl took time out of their busy schedule to answer our questions on the field of PR.

CL:  What are personal characteristics and strengths are needed for a career in PR?

Jessica and Meryl:  An outgoing nature, ability to be creative and strategic (in Be Your Own Best Publicist, we call it “streative“), persistence and a thick skin (because you have to deal with a lot of rejection!).

CL:  What are professional characteristics and strengths are needed for a career in PR?

Jessica and Meryl:  Knowledge of the media who covers your particular area, a nose for news, social-media savvy and strong writing and editing skills.

CL:  Should students focus on particular classes/internships for career in PR?

Jessica and Meryl:  Not every college has a PR major or even classes in the discipline (University of Michigan, where Jessica went, does not; Meryl’s alma mater, Ithaca, does) so you should just make sure you have a good foundation of writing and communication skills, regardless of your concentration. Internships have become increasingly important because your resume these days is your calling card; going to a good university helps get the attention of potential employers but if you can come in with some practical experience, that will make you a more attractive entry-level candidate.

CL:  What are your biggest tips on getting started in a PR career?

Jessica and Meryl:  Network, network, network! Get in touch with alumni in the PR field and ask for informational interviews. Most people love to talk about how they came up the ladder and would be happy to give a future publicist career advice. Attend events put on by professional organizations such as Women in Communication (they often target college students and, in fact, give Matrix Award scholarships every year – find out more at www.nywici.org) or join the PRSSA at your school if they have a chapter. Intern in the field, even if you can’t afford to live in New York City for the summer — there are usually PR agencies in every local market.

CL:  Any other suggestions you have? 

Jessica and Meryl:  Don’t give up!  It’s a tough job market out there and not an easy time to be looking for internships or post-graduation positions but if you make as many connections as possible, build up your personal profile and get some PR experience while you’re still in school (even if it’s volunteering to promote your sorority’s charity event!), you’ll have leg up versus the competition.

Stay connected with Jessica and Meryl through their website Be Your Own Best Publicist.  

To order a copy of Be Your Own Best Publicist, follow this link to their website and/or to our book on Amazon.

 

Jessica Kleiman is currently VP-public relations for Hearst Magazines, one of the world’s largest publishers of monthly magazines. She has guest lectured about publicity at NYU and the Radcliffe Publishing Course at Columbia University and has written for various newspapers, Web sites and magazines.  A graduate of University of Michigan with a BA in Communication, she started her career at a magazine publicity firm and then served as director of PR at The Knot, a wedding media company. Kleiman lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband and daughter and enjoys posting words she finds funny on Twitter, Facebook and her blog, Funny Word of the Day.

Meryl Weinsaft Cooper is a co-founder and principal of Allen/Cooper Communications, a marketing, exhibitions and events company with a focus on art and lifestyle brands.  Previously, as managing director  of the DeVries Public Relations‘ Home & Lifestyle division and as SVP-Partner at LaForce+Stevens, she led programs for a variety of hospitality and consumer brands including Veuve Clicquot, Viceroy Hotels, Vikram Chatwal Hotels, BR Guest Restaurants, Tourism New South Wales, Magnolia Bakery, Belvedere Vodka, Pepperidge Farm, Samuel Adams Beer, New Amsterdam Gin and Ecco Domani Wines.  A graduate of Ithaca College’s Park School of Communications, her PR experience includes stints in art, music and entertainment, including time at the Screen Actors Guild’s New York office.  She lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband and dog, and spends her spare time writing and producing films as well as seeking out the best culinary, travel and art experiences, which she documents in her blog, Searching for Jake Ryan.

Both authors are contributing bloggers on Forbes.com’s Work in Progress section.

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