oye help me connect - spring 2015

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Oye Help Me CONNECT

Navigating Workplace Politics p. 4 Scholarship Directory p. 6 Reflections of Life p. 10

VL. 1 Issue II Spring 2015 Newsletter

Contents

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3 4 5

6 7 9 10 11-12

Words from the Editor

Navigating Workplace Politics

Scholarship Directory

Maximizing Social Media for your Career

Reflections of Life

Writers Corner

Study Abroad: A World Away from Home

OYHM Connect Spring 2015 © LDMS Media 2015

Preparing for the Workforce

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Will todays college students be able to make their own decisions as to whether or not they will go study abroad? Miguel Loeza did not need Facebook approval to study abroad. If not study abroad than will the average college student find an internship based finding an internship the old way by asking in person? Maybe Jessica Barajas can you a few tips on what it takes to get that internship. Would a college student be able to survive the office politics that are constantly present? If your not sure just read what Angela Howard has to say about office politics. And let’s not forget about using social media to your career benefit said directly by Alfredo Melchor. Regardless of the current circumstance of the college student one thing is for sure they are becoming too relied on social media for their everyday decisions that people once made on their own. Read the newsletter as guideline to assist you in becoming an independent responsible college student that wants to stand apart from the crowd. Learn what it takes to study abroad, find an internship, the 101 of office politics that your professors won’t teach you, how you can maximize social media for your career, and to top it off a little motivation from the words of Karla Ferrari – Miss U.S. Latina 2014. Abrazo and much love, -  Jose L. Fulgencio, Founder & Editor-in-Chief

“Your sense of self-worth comes from you, not the opinion of others.” - Curtis Jackson


As far as the world is concerned we are living in

an era where Facebook friends has become our mechanism to feel loved and wanted. The danger with relying on social media as a mechanism for love and want is that a person will start to question their decisions, moves, and career paths. There was a time when individuals where free to do as they pleased and made their own career path decisions. Office politics relied on whit and a strong mentality and not on the recent Facebook post of your co-worker’s kid doing a headstand in the middle of Time Square. With society relying on social media love and compassion where does this leave the new generation of college students?

Words from the Editor

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NAVIGATING WORKPLACE POLITICS:

WHAT THEY DON’T TEACH YOU IN SCHOOL

No amount of years in a university can ever prepare you for the amount of navigation required to embed yourself into an organization, build rapport, and cultivate influence. Let’s face it, learning the art of office politics is not a 100 level course at your local community college (although it probably should be!). It cannot be taught and it cannot be avoided. To add to the layers of complexity, it is different across every organization you decide to join. There are some general practices that can help you steer clear of common workplace politics pitfalls and leverage positive workplace politics to your advantage:

Accept that workplace politics exist, and it’s not going anywhere – organize individuals with different personalities, agendas and intentions to work on a common cause and “POOF” you get a unique blend of workplace politics and norms. These norms vary across organizations (and even within organizations), because the “formula” is different. Build your network – you need others to succeed, so build your own social network. Ask your boss or other team members who you should meet with the first few months of employment on the job. Understand your key players – workplace politics goes beyond the formal organizational chart (formal power). Determine the formal and INFORMAL influencers, decision makers and the well-respected in your organization. Make friends with these folks, quickly. Listen, observe and listen again – walking into an organization naïve about its unique “formula” of workplace politics is dangerous. Spend 80% of your time listening and observing before doing a lot of talking or assuming. Understanding how you fit into the new workplace culture and what “good” politics looks like is crucial. Don’t give into negative behavior – you will run into a “Negative Nancy” or two as you are looking to build relationships with others in the organization. Don’t give into negatively charged energy. Find and model positive and SUCCESSFUL behaviors to get and stay ahead.

We don’t have all the answers, but a GPS to positive workplace politics may help!

By: Angela Howard


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Studying abroad is more than studying in a different country. It is an opportunity for personal growth which is achieved by leaving behind the comfort of the familiar and emerging yourself in the unknown. The unknown can cause fear, but that fear can empower you to rise above your own mental blocks and make you a fearless individual capable of achieving more that what you think. Living in a foreign country is a challenge, but it is one that will make you a better individual.

I decided to go study abroad far away from all that I

knew. This was a decision that I will never regret because it empowered me to achieve goals I never thought I could reach. Being alone and with everything new and unknown was something positive because it challenged me to constantly step out of my comfort zone. I had to learn about the culture, customs, language, and how to break into the well established group of friends in order for me to build relationships.

Studying abroad is an opportunity to see the world from

a different perspective. You will make friends with people from various countries which will challenge you to think differently and see things from another angle. You will travel and constantly expand your mind learning about history and culture. You will also experience situations that will always stay embedded in your mind and that you will cherish for the rest of your life.

Top Countries to Study Abroad:

1.  Dublin, Ireland

2.  Aix-En-Providence, France

3.  Sydney, Australia 4.  Florence, Italy

5.  Rabat, Morocco 6.  Heredia, Costa Rica 7.  Rome, Italy

8.  Barcelona, Spain 9.  Heidelberg, Germany

The list was compiled by the

2013 Study Abroad 101 website.

To learn more check out www.studyabroad101.com

Study Abroad: A World Away from Home

Don’t stop yourself from having this life changing experience. Do not let money be a roadblock because there are various scholarships and grants to help you pay for studying abroad. One of these grants is the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. Studying abroad is a window to the world that expands your mind and gives you a global perspective that helps you understand other people better. Do not let the opportunity to go study abroad pass you by. It is something you will never regret and always hold dear to your heart.

By: Miguel Loeza


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Latino College Dollars www.latinocollegedollars.org Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Scholarship Database www.chci.org ADELANTE Fund www.adelantefund.org/#!scholarships/crij Scholarships for Hispanics www.scholarshipsforhispanics.com MALDEF (Mexican-American Legal Defense & Educational Fund) Scholarships www.maldef.org Fondo Futuro http://www.fondofuturo.com/ff-aboutprogram.html USHLI – United States Hispanic Leadership Institute http://www.ushli.org/student/scholarship_guide.php Hispanic Scholarship Fund www.hsf.net/scholarship Hispanic College Fund www.hispanicfund.org LULAC scholarships www.lulac.org Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute www.chciyouth.org HACU Scholarship program https://scholarships.hacu.net/applications/applicants/ Gates Millennial Scholars Program http://www.gmsp.org/ Big Future Scholarships https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search


OYHM Scholarship Directory

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Preparing for the workforce: Landing an Internship

In today’s competitive job market, getting a job after graduation is not only dependent on your academic knowledge, but also on its practical applications, which is why work experience is a key component that employers are looking for when making hiring decisions.

One of the best ways to gain this work experience as

a college student is through internships, which usually take place during the summer. I was fortunate to land an internship every summer during my college experience and below are some of the tips I want to share with you for how to do so:

The first step towards finding an internship will involve a little introspection from your part. Think about what kind of job you want to have post college? What kind of work experiences are employers looking for in your desired job? It is always useful to look carefully at the job applications of the job that you envision yourself with, and start thinking about the type of skills that you want to build through an internship.

Build and maintain close-knit relationships with professors and academic

advisors in your field of interest. Your professors or academic mentors that know what you are passionate about can be a great source for finding an internship in your field. Either they might know of internships, know people to connect you with, or be your biggest advocates by writing letters of recommendation.

Another great source is by making the connection with older classmates at your

college, or alumni that have gone out to the real world, and are working in your field. A live meeting or a phone conversation with them can give you insight into specific internships that you may want to pursue and other people to connect with.

Touch base with your college’s career center since organizations are constantly

recruiting at colleges, and they may also direct you to specific opportunities that you can apply for, or connect you to the appropriate alumni.

Lastly, start thinking about your internship experience early in your college

experience. There are certain internships that are only open at certain grade levels, so you don’t want to miss out on them.

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Remember pursuing strategic internships throughout your college career will help ensure that you are more competitive for a job after graduation.

By: Jessica Barajas


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www.oyehelpme.net

#OYHM is on Social Media

[email protected]

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The Higher Education Landscape is ever changing. Over the last few years changes to financial aid regulations, an economy in slow recovery, and an increase in competition to recruit and retain students among colleges have made the higher education environment competitive among institutions. But what happens to students after they graduate? After graduation students sometimes find themselves in a situation where it’s difficult to get a job with the degree they earned, much less find a job. The following are resources that students often overlook or underuse when looking to maximize their career opportunities:

Career Services- Almost all colleges and universities have a career services or job placement center on site. For those students who are still unsure of their major, career services often offers placement tests and career finder software to help students match their passion with the major for them. Career Services also offer workshops on resume writing, cover letter writing and interview skills. All things employers will expect but students do not necessarily learn in the classroom. Finally, career services are the landing spot for job opportunities from local and national employers. Often, specific companies or organizations will seek students in the area your college is located because of new business in the area or the reputation of your school for providing quality employees. Jobs outside a specific major field- Employers are beginning to look for more broad skills when hiring employees instead of very specific sets of skills and this trend was further re-enforced a few weeks ago at Oklahoma State University’s Economic Outlook Conference when Deidre Myers from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce said that most jobs at their core require critical thinking and analytical skills. In a job market that can vary, students should consider perhaps taking a job outside of their major field if critical thinking, analytical skills, project management skills, and interpersonal skills could potentially be developed. Sometimes, students take the first job offered to them after graduation because they have bills to pay but it’s smarter if you take a job where you can develop skills that can transfer to a variety of fields.

LinkedIn- A variety of social media platforms exist today that didn’t exist even 4 or 5 years ago. Besides Facebook and Twitter, we have Tumblr, Whatsapp, Instagram, Vine among many others but the crown jewel for career opportunities may be LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a social network that allows you to connect with people that you may know and furthermore allows you access to their network. Recent graduates can start meeting people who may offer them a job in the future. Furthermore, many organizations have people who scout for employees on LinkedIn and post job opportunities on the website.

Maximizing Social Media for your Career By: Alfredo Melchor


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Life is like mountains, with ups and downs. However, it depends on you if you want to live it with joy and happiness. Sometimes everyone needs a few words at the right time as a warning to do the right thing, but not everyone has it. This is the reason why I wrote a few thoughts that have always helped me in some situations throughout my life, bad and good, but I think that one day it will be useful for some of you. I hope you can identify with me and see beyond that everyone does.

•  Smile, life is beautiful. J •  Dreams are an essential part of life, because without

them, life would be meaningless. •  You are pure energy, call on the good things, and they

will come to you. •  Be thankful for what you have and what you don’t.

One day you will learn to appreciate the real value of things.

•  Remember the past, live the present and work for the

future. •  Believe always in yourself, so others can believe in

you. •  There is time for everything in life, get organized and

take the most of it. •  See your dreams, dive yourself into it and it will come

true. •  First, help yourself as a person, and then you can help

others. •  You create your own destiny, so choose well the path

that you will take. •  If you give place to doubts, you are making room for

failure. •  The mind is like a new sponge; make sure that it

absorbs the best. •  Everything has its time, so be patient and do not

despair, that everything will be faster than you think. These are some reflections that some of you forget at some point, but we should keep in mind for the rest of our lives. Only you have the power to have the better or the worst in life because you are the responsible of what you are and what you are going to be.

Reflections of Life By: Karla Ferrari


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Jessica Barajas is currently a Research Assistant at Stanford’s Understanding Language Initiative. Jessica earned her Masters Degree in Policy, Leadership, and Organizational Studies at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Education in 2014. Her former professional experience includes working as the Manager of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation’s Latinos on Fast Track (LOFT) Program, and working as a field organizer in Albuquerque New Mexico, to re-elect Congressman Martin Heinrich to Congress. Jessica received her Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Education with a minor in Latin American Studies from Swarthmore College. Jessica was born in Los Angeles, California, and raised in her parent's native Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.

Angela R. Howard is a dynamic people development and performance improvement professional with a passion for helping individuals and organizations tap into human potential. After earning her B.A. in Psychology and Human Resource Development and her M.A. in Business Psychology, she has worked in a variety of positions in vastly different industries that have sharpened her organization and people development expertise and increased her exposure to a plethora of transformational projects. In addition to being a Freelance Career Coach, Angela works as a HR Business Partner and strategic Talent Management arm at a large, global non-for-profit organization. She takes pride in the fact that she is able work with management and staff to improve people and business performance through development and an enhanced work experience.

Miguel Loeza successfully graduated Magna Cum Laude from Northeastern Illinois University with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, becoming the first one in his family to obtain a college degree. After college, Miguel was selected to participate be a fellow at Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute in Washington D.C. While in D.C. Miguel worked in the United States Senate, General Motors’ public policy office, and was part of the Semester in Washington program at the George Washington University. Today, Miguel works for Allstate Insurance Company’s Investment and Business Transaction Law department where he continues to network and develop as individual and professional.

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Jose L. Fulgencio is the Founder of The Oye Help Me Series, a college resource to assist Hispanic students graduate from college. Jose is a proud graduate of Northeastern Illinois University where he obtained a B.A. in Political Science with Cum Laude honors. Jose earned his M.A. in Political Science and M.S. in Entrepreneurship from Oklahoma State University - Stillwater. Jose is an advocate of higher education, entrepreneurship, and civic education. Aside from working on Oye Help Me Jose is an adjunct faculty member of the Political Science Department at the University of Central Oklahoma.


Karla Ferrari is Miss U.S. Latina 2014, which goes beyond beauty as the award recognizes academic excellence and outside life achievements. Karla is an Account Manager at Monscierge, LLC. a software company in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Karla graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Telecommunication Engineering from Fermin Toro University (Venezuela) in 2009 and obtained her M.A. in Liberal Arts with a concentration in Leadership and Management from Oklahoma City University in 2014.

Alfredo Melchor is a recruiter at Oklahoma State University- Oklahoma City. He also serves on various committees in the Oklahoma City area focused on access to higher education for underrepresented groups on college campuses.

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www.oyehelpme.net

oye help me connect - spring 2015

Documents

social media love

ldms media

art of office politics

average college student

todays college students

career path decisions

career benefit

local community college