November 4 – Recent Grad Panel

Backgrounds:

Margaret Fox

Margaret is a Marketing Coordinator at Siemens Digital Industries Software. She graduated from Ohio University in May 2024 with a B.S. in Journalism, specializing in Strategic Communications and a minor in Business Analytics.

Sam Spinale

Sam works as a Social Media Manager at Creative Ave. She completed her degree in Journalism – Strategic Communications in December 2023 with a minor in Sports Management and a Social Media Certificate.

Allison Young

Allison is a Marketing Coordinator (Contractor) at 84.51°. She graduated from Ohio University in 2024 with a major in Communication Studies and a minor in Advertising and Public Relations.

Lauren Reed

Lauren is a public relations coordinator at MediaSource. She graduated from Ohio University in May 2024 with a B.S. in Journalism, specializing in Strategic Communications along with a minor in Marketing and a Social Media Certificate.

Key Takeaways:

Gaining Experience at School:

• Margaret: Served as an academic coach and VP of Finance for PRSSA and participated in the Bateman competition, focusing on data analytics, research and event planning. Transitioned to her current role through an internship.
• Allison: Started with a local social media internship, then secured an internship at 84.51° for her senior year, which led to a full-time role through strong networking.
• Sam: Completed three internships in sports media, served as VP of Digital Communications for PRSSA and managed social media for Ohio University Athletics.
• Lauren: Held leadership roles in PRSSA as VP of Finance and VP of PR and used LinkedIn networking with alumni to help land her position at MediaSource.

Job Search Tips:

• Network actively: Use LinkedIn to reach out to alumni and make genuine connections.
• Prepare thoroughly: Have a game plan, know common questions and come up with key points you want to convey.
• Use specific examples: For situational questions, be precise and show measurable results.

Remote Work Insights:

• Margaret: Fully remote; schedules regular check-ins and social calls to stay connected with colleagues and manage workflow.
• Lauren: Finds the lack of structure for her hybrid role challenging but focuses on creating boundaries to manage her workload effectively.

Salary Negotiation:

• Sam: Advocates for negotiating confidently, even with imposter syndrome. Be reasonable and prepared with justifications.
• Lauren: Researched the average salary for her role and presented her case based on her contributions, successfully securing a raise.
• Allison and Margaret: Suggest negotiating beyond salary if needed and seeking advice from mentors before finalizing an offer.

Life Post-College:

• Adapting to structure: Allison notes the shift to a structured routine and learning to separate work and social life.
• Financial adjustments: Sam highlights managing new financial responsibilities and exploring diverse lifestyles outside of a school environment.

Finding balance: Allison enjoys weekend trips, while Margaret appreciates remote work flexibility but ensures she maintains social connections with coworkers.

Connect with Allison, Margaret, Lauren and Sam on LinkedIn.