Ohio University students have to overcome the label of attending a party school and turn their reputations into a professional base. Most companies are aware of the reputation Ohio has and usually incorporates it into an interview question. It seems students love the label but when it comes to getting a job it creates an obstacle.
Jane Sojka, a marketing professor at Ohio, brought this idea up in her fall marketing 358 class, Professional Selling Techniques. She talked about the idea that University of Wisconsin, the number one party school, is also number one for having the most alumni with jobs as CEOs. Professor Sojka discussed the idea of party school and how to reverse the negative effect of the label and use it positively. In her thoughts, a party school can also be considered a social school. Ohio University is a very social community.
On the other hand, some students have not seen this problem. Steve Allen, a 2008 graduate from Ohio University, did not come across problems with Ohio’s reputation while being interviewed for his current job. “The company I work for is all OU graduates; of the 30 people I work with like 18 r from OU.” Allen is currently working for Progressive located in Cleveland.
Mary Quinn, a junior at Ohio, studying public relations and English, has come across the party school reputation. “I was recently asked in a phone interview why I chose OU over Ohio State. It was because I wanted a new atmosphere and when I stepped onto the campus I just knew I belonged here.” Quinn also decided to attend Ohio because of its Journalism school, E.W. Scripps School of Journalism.
Overcoming the drinking reputation is on the minds of Ohio students constantly. Students fear that they may be dismissed from a potential job opportunity because of the schools reputation. People are starting to build their professional life to overcome this hindrance.
Allen and Quinn are going about their normal days but using what they have to better prepare themselves for future interviews.
Allen transferred his sophomore year from Miami University Middletown to Ohio. It was not a difficult transition for him. He did a good job of balancing his time between school work and being with friends. Although companies were not as big on researching potential employees through social media, Allen was still cautious. “I made my profile private,” he said.
Quinn found it a little more difficult to build her professional reputation as times have changed. There are more social networks available that she needs to be aware. “It’s a way for me to get my name out there and to get to know people in my job area."
*Photo: http://www.collegefootballsidelines.com/2009/02/ohio-university-cheerleaders/
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