Author: tehamagroup

Twenty years ago in my terrible twos, I was throwing obnoxious tantrums and escaping to my parents’ backyard to rummage through recycling bins.

My parents said I’d drink the last sip from Sierra Nevada Pale Ale bottles, a longtime family favorite, mistakenly believing that all things in bottles were for babies.

I now unmistakingly sip full bottles of refrigerated Sierra Nevadas, gather with fellow soon-to-be Chico State grads and have mini-frenzies regarding our impending release from college.

Usually our conversation drifts from reminiscing memories to laughing nervously about our angst of post-grad possibilities.

It seems we’re each suffering from a case of the terrible twenty-twos, an exciting yet uncomfortable phase 80-days or less from college graduation marked by frequent tantrums stemming from fear of increased responsibility and ongoing battles for independence.

Listen to the wise words of Baz Luhrmann’s “Everybody’s Free To Wear Sunscreen” while reading remedies for the terrible twenty-twos:

• Do it once. Do it right.

   Be thoughtful and thorough about the genuine quality of your academics, relationships and leisure activities.

  • Get to know classmates and professors, you’ll soon miss seeing them daily.
  • Stop half-assing assignments, friendships, relationships, job hunting.
  • Do everything to the best of your ability and always see it through.

• Learn to be alone

  You’re not always going to have roommates to come home to. And “FOMO,” the signature Millennial fear of missing out, will be a short-lived justification to be overly social in the real world.Alone time is valuable. It’s a time to reflect, read, write, focus and disconnect.
  And in the words of David McCullough Jr. read to think for yourself, as a matter of self-respect, as a nourishing staple of life.

• Appropriately handle the word “settle”

  As a person in my terrible twenty-twos, “settle” is my least favorite word (yeah, I said least favorite). In a whiny voice say aloud: No, I do not want to settle down, settle in, settle for, settle with, settle on. No settling for me, period.
  An admittedly horrible symptom of the terrible twenty-twos is the “I don’t wanna’s.”

  Settling is a formidable source of angst for terrible twenty-two-ers. Millennials are repeatedly hounded to never settle and to live fiercely and independently—  to travel, move far away, don’t be in a relationship as it only limits your potential, make extraordinary and relatively immediate career-leaps, take bold and risky chances.

  Yes, it’s good to have gumption and audacity. But realize what Mark Manson, a author, thinker and unconventional life-advice giver said: “in our instant gratification culture, it’s easy to forget that most personal change does not occur as a single static event in time, but rather as a long, gradual evolution where we’re hardly aware of it as it’s happening. We rarely wake up one day and suddenly notice wild, life-altering changes in ourselves.”Traveling, moving across the country or a new job isn’t going to instantly transform and free you of “settling.” Change your definition of “settle” to be happily satisfied.

• Wherever you go, there you are
  We’re constantly bombarded with photos and stories of globe-gallivanting young adults creating irreplaceable experiences reaped only from worldly travels. It’s true that travel is a unique fosterer of a heightened state of awareness and perspective.

  But recognize that an authentic, meaningful, impactful, life-altering journey is not dependent upon actual motion. Whether acknowledged or not, we are constantly bound to a perpetual voyage.

  “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans,” John Lennon.

• Learn to make hard choices

  Ruth Chang said hard choices, “are hard because here is no best option. In the space of hard choices we have the power to create reasons for ourselves to become the distinctive people that we are.”

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I’ll leave you with a snippet from David McCullough Jr.—

“Climb the mountain not to plant your flag, but to embrace the challenge, enjoy the air and behold the view. Climb it so you can see the world, not so the world can see you.”

– Kelsey Anderson, editorial director

We’ve all been there. You’ve tried on 20 different outfits and nothing looks just right. It’s either too scandalous with that plunging neckline or flat-out too frumpy.

In today’s age, there are too many interpretations of what it means to be business formal and business casual that it could
make your head spin.

But after conducting some thorough research—thank you Rachel Zoe—I have found several tips that help with those rough mornings when you have nothing to wear while staying stylish.

 

1. Make a friend before entering the workplace

Hasn’t everyone on LinkedIn stalked at one point or another? So put that stalking to use and message someone you’d like to
be friends with from your new office! Ask them what the typical attire is for employees, that way you aren’t too over or underdressed.

2. Leave the minis at home

If you have to ask yourself “Is this too short?” the answer is almost always yes. Avoid it and save it for your weekend endeavors. Bottoms (skirts or shorts) should be at or below the knee, any further up might make you appear a little promiscuous. You don’t want to be that girl at the office. The same goes low-cut shirts. Ladies, cleavage is a 100 percent no for any office environment, whether it be casual or formal. Don’t do it.

3. Wear a fun lipstick

If you’re a makeup lover, try a fun bright pink or red. But keep in mind if you decide to go with a statement lipstick, the rest of your face needs to look clean and polished. Try Ruby Woo from MAC. It’s a beautiful deep, matte red. The same goes for eyes. If you are doing a light (keyword light) smoky eye, keep your lips more natural. NOTE: Don’t be the clown of the office. Keep everything moderate and classy.

4. Add a statement necklace

A fun necklace can make any outfit go from drab to fab. You also don’t need to spend a fortune to find a perfect office necklace. Try this necklace from Forever 21. The chain detail is a big trend and looks great with a cute blouse!

5. Avoid “sexy” shoes

The general rule is nothing more than 3-inches tall belongs in the office. Regardless of the rule if you are dressing casual or formal, there are so many options for shoes. Your shoes don’t have to be a basic heel, especially with the cold coming! Try these booties from Nordstrom. On almost all websites you can sort by the style and height of the heel you are looking for. Utilize all your resources!

 

Above all else, use your best judgment. Just think, “Would I want my boss seeing me in this?” If the answer is maybe or no, don’t risk it. Keep it classy, but stay true to yourself.

– By Kylie Ramos, account executive

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjEBz8HhjZA&feature=youtu.be

 

The 2014 academic year has finally ended and so has life in college. Feelings of panic and excitement are common for recent graduates and the fear of the unknown can be overwhelming.

The terrifying realization of an unset path transitioning out of college can be stressful and nerve-racking. But making your way into the “real” world and landing that entry-level job is achievable. If you’re looking for what to do, follow these tips and your dream job can be yours.

 

1. Define Tangible Goals:

Before you even think about beginning your job hunt, take a moment to write down your short-term and long-term goals.  Writing down what you want to achieve puts your objective into perspective and helps you visualize what the step should be.

 

2. Network:

Networking is not just a fashionable term. It is one of the most important tools for individuals looking for a job. The job hunting process is all about who you know and the connections you have within the industry you strive to work in.

Keeping in touch with previous friends, professors, colleagues distant family members can give you an edge on your competition.

Networking via social media platforms can be extremely beneficial. Using social networking sites like Facebook and Linkedin as research tools can help you target potential networking contacts and make connections with the people you wish to connect with from the people you’re currently networked with. But your presence on social-networking is only useful when it results in face-to-face communication. Use it as a starting ground to get to in-person interaction.

 

3. Brand Yourself

You just graduated, and you feel on top of the world. But then reality smacks you in the face when you realize there are thousands of other graduates competing for the same job as you.

Employers are looking for individuals with skill sets and personality traits that aren’t cookie- cutter. Building a personal brand that sets you apart from your competition can be the deciding factor on whether or not you get the job.

 

4. Be Proactive

Your dream job is not going to coming falling out of the clear-blue sky and drop right into your lap. Looking for a job after graduation can be time consuming and energy-sapping, as potential employers are not on the manhunt for potential employees.

Researching a company and field you are passionate about can set you apart. Think about things you do well and enjoy doing. And then find a company that fits that criteria and become a master of that company.

Don’t be lazy and wait for your dreams to happen. Go out and start making those dreams a reality.

 

Graduation is a time of celebration with friends and family. It should be a time to celebrate the hard work and dedication you put into the past four years. Don’t stress about what to do after graduation.

Follow these tips and you’ll be on your way to the future you always imagined for yourself.

 

After I first decided that I wanted to pursue a career in the public relations industry, my dad purchased me a book titled “The Power of Nice: How to Conquer the Business World with Kindness.” It was almost the end of the semester and I was so busy trying to prepare for finals that it took me almost two months to begin reading the book. Once I finally got around to it, I read the book cover to cover within three days. The book taught me the most important lesson of my professional life: be nice!
It is such a simple lesson, but being nice is crucial when you are networking. The public relations industry is all about who you know. Therefore, it is important to always grow your network, whether it be through social media channels or sending emails to keep in touch with industry professionals. Here are some tips to help you network successfully in order to improve your professional career:

Be nice: You never know who you are going to meet. Someone you hold the elevator door open for could be the person interviewing you for a job, so be sure that you present yourself in a polite manner.
Be genuine: Build trust in your relationships and see how you can help others besides just seeing how other people can help you.
Show interest: Ask people open-ended questions during networking conversations. This shows people that you are interested in the discussion and care about what they are saying.
Follow through: If you meet someone who could be a potential connection, be sure to email them right away, say that you enjoyed meeting them and ask if you could get together sometime to share ideas. Also, be sure to thank them for their time if they helped you or gave you advice.
Be specific: When you contact a potential connection, be clear with what you are looking for. Do you want advice on the industry, a reference or an introduction to someone else?

Getting ahead in the public relations industry means that you are willing to connect and engage with other people. No matter if you meet them at an industry event, career fair, through social media or from a personal relationship, be professional and remember that just being nice can get you far.

Happy networking!

 

The Waves, music video, was an individual class project for Field Video Production for Communication Design, Media Arts. The story is about a girl who is trying to drift away from her problems and enjoying the peacefulness of Lake Tahoe. I found the location, wrote the storyboard, directed, and edited in Avid Media Composer. I wanted to film through an artistic point rather than lip-syncing. I used the song, Waves, by Mr.Probz. Being a creative designer and interning for Tehama Group Communications has given me the freedom to follow my passion with photography, web designing, and videography.

 

 

 

Public relations receives a scarce amount of public attention, if it’s done right. The PR that we hear about most often is negative which has allowed the public to develop misconceptions about the nature of PR and the people who practice it. Here are four of the most common misconceptions about PR.

1. PR, marketing and advertising are the same thing
   The Public Relations Society of America defines PR as, “a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their publics.”

This definition allows for marketing and advertising practices to be used within PR. But, they’re ultimately three separate practices with different goals.

2. An organization only needs PR once it’s in hot water
   Any organization that stands behind that is in for a rude awakening. An organization is more likely to get into bad situations if it doesn’t have an updated PR plan that’s founded from continuous evaluation of the business and its publics.

Effective PR allows an organization to maintain its good reputation and mend weakened relationships, which are both known to prevent potential crises.

3. PR is a 9-5 job
   PR is the perfect profession for natural workaholics. Sure, you might get to the office at 9 a.m. and leave at 5 p.m., but as far as the client is concerned, you’re available 24/7.

Because most PR practitioners bring their work home with them via laptop or cloud computing, a big issue they face is learning to disengage from work at the end of the day. Some have found success in implementing a “cut off time” when they stop checking emails or merely turn off their work phone on weekends.

4. All PR practitioners are spin artists
   Anyone who has spent time studying or practicing PR has heard this before. More often than not, PR practitioners are about telling the truth and building trust between an organization and its publics.

As with any profession, PR has a few bad eggs that make the rest look bad, but those are few and far between. Visit the PRSA and read its member’s code of ethics for more information about what PR professional promise to do and not to do.

As public relations professionals in training, it’s no secret that we like to talk, a lot.

And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

After all, you don’t find too many wallflowers in the world of PR.

With that said, it’s important to replace stale phrases and overused jargon when communicating with colleagues, clients, professors and people in your industry network.

Although a bit dated, the following are not banned words:

1)    Obviously
Not even a Hallmark card could make this word sound appealing. No matter the speaker’s tone of voice, it comes off rather condescending. You never want to make people feel unintelligent.

Our purpose is to build bridges, not burn them.

2)    To be honest with you
Are you typically dishonest with people? The PR world revolves around being transparent. This phrase sounds like you’re revealing a vital secret to one person and telling another person something else. If you’re being sincere, your words or actions shouldn’t need a preamble.

3)    YOLO
It seems like new acronyms surface on a daily basis. Not only are they difficult to keep track of, they have an informal, immature nature. Although we want to build relationships, we need to do so in a professional manner.

Unless you’re Drake, keep YOLO, SMH and LOL to group texts with your buddies.

4)    Cutting edge
Was there a knife involved? Didn’t think so.

5)    Probably
This word plants the undesired seed of uncertainty in someone’s head.

Because once the seed is planted it gives itself plenty of water and sunlight to grow into a big tree of doubt.

If you don’t know the answer to something, be honest. Don’t make something up or guess what’s probably going to happen. Tossing this word around can cause you to lose credibility.

When it comes to the ever-evolving world of PR and communication, it’s critical to be clear, concise and transparent. Be aware of expired buzzwords and recognize when it’s time to put new buzzwords on your PR vocabulary palette.

For most people senior year is completely different from all their previous years as a student. Often seniors find themselves juggling a full course-load, a part-time job and an internship.

With school, work and an internship, you might feel like your head is about to explode and now you have to start thinking about applying and interviewing for jobs. Except these applications aren’t for an easy part-time job, they are the first step in your future career. It’s an extremely stressful, overwhelming time, and it’s easy to fall behind.

However there are some simple steps you can take to stay organized and keep your sanity.

1. Buy a planner and carry it with you everywhere.

That planner is your new best friend. Write anything and everything into your planner and review it often. Inside that planner make a daily to-do list and check things off as you go. This to-do list helps to make sure assignments or tasks are not left forgotten. If you’re a person that uses their smartphone for scheduling, try making your to-do list on a free app called Todoist.

2. Do your work ahead of time.

Often professors will attach a schedule to their syllabus showing what assignments are due and when. Use this to get a head start on homework that might not be due for another week. You don’t want to work too far ahead and get lost, but if you always stay one week ahead, you will be more prepared for class and have more time for assignments you may not be anticipating.

Also, if you have one or more classes with a big project due near the end of the semester, get a head start on it and do little pieces at a time. This way you’re not doing the whole, lengthy assignment during finals week.

Procrastination is your enemy. Do everything you can to avoid it.

3. Take time to relax.

If you don’t take a break and enjoy some time to yourself, you will burn out fast. Make time for weekly bubble baths and bad reality TV, or a night out on the town. If you get stuck on something, take a break and come back to it later. It’s important to turn your brain off and give yourself a rest, especially when you’re stressed.

It also helps to do all of your work in the library, and treat your home as your sanctuary.

Senior year is hard, but you can and you will get through it. If you stay organized and stay focused, you’ll be a college graduate in no time and on your way to an exciting new career.

For more college organizational and study tips, check out these two awesome blogs:

Hack College

Blog Her tips