The Whole Package
Being prepared at a career fair can be key to getting an interview. One former College of Media & Communication student is still seeing her initial preparation pay off today.
Sara Krueger (BA Public Relations, 2012), works at OCI Solar Power in San Antonio.
Krueger was promoted in April to communications specialist at OCI. As part of the promotion, she reports directly to the CEO of OCI and now leads the communication efforts for the company. She said her responsibilities range from branding to event planning and media relations.
“I met OCI Solar Power at a general career fair held by Texas Tech’s University Career Center,” Krueger said. “I saw renewable energy and thought OCI looked interesting. The communications manager from their parent company was recruiting at the event and she offered to stay in touch with me.”
Krueger said she stood out at the career fair because she was carrying enough copies of her résumé and had different kinds of writing samples. From social media posts to press releases, Krueger said she was prepared to show all of her work to future employers. She said she also emphasized how she would benefit the company as a team member.
“I credit Texas Tech and the College of Media & Communication with everything that I have been able to do,” Krueger said. “I never had a class that was not driven by real-world applications or professional development. We had professional speakers and projects in every class. I really credit the college with preparing me for everything that has come my way.”
Aleesa Ross, director of the Center for Student Success in the CoMC, met Krueger while she was a student in the college and interacted with her when Krueger interned for class credit with the Cure Cancer Foundation.
Ross said Krueger’s willingness to attend a general career fair was smart and that students should realize recent graduates with communication backgrounds could find employment at a variety of places.
“The university-wide career fair has a very diverse group of companies that come,” Ross said. “All of those companies that attend have communication needs. For our students, they can work anywhere and that’s exciting. Taking advantage of a career fair to make those connections will be really beneficial to them.”
“Career fairs are one of the few times when people are actually coming to seek you out,” Ross said. “I really stress to students the importance of going and attending and networking to meet as many people as you can because you just never know when that will come in handy down the road.”
Krueger said the fact that OCI Solar Power is involved with renewable energy is what drew her to the company. She said she appreciates the opportunities provided at her job, including the ability to work with different departments such as the finance and engineering departments.
“I really enjoy the freedom of my job,” Krueger said. “I get to lead initiatives and I have the kind of opportunities now that people might get in other public relations settings a long way down the road.”
Trent Seltzer, CoMC public relations chairperson, supervised Krueger in an independent study course. Seltzer said Krueger was a model student who was engaged from day one and took advantage of every opportunity offered during her time at Texas Tech.
“For the independent study, I would assign her a public relations case and we would discuss it,” Seltzer said. “She would have genuine questions. She was always asking ‘Why?’ and wanted to know this stuff because it would enhance her career. She knew what she was doing here.”
Ross and Seltzer both agree that Krueger’s personality was likely a factor in being offered a job at OCI Solar Power. Ross and Seltzer both said that they enjoyed getting to know Krueger while she was a student at Texas Tech.
“Sara has a wonderful smile and she is easy to talk to,” Ross said. “I would imagine OCI immediately recognized those things in her. Sara is truly the whole package. She has a great personality, skills and abilities. I am not surprised to hear that she has excelled in public relations and she truly is outstanding.”
Seltzer added, “Sara has always struck me as being very mature. She is highly professional, bright and driven. She has a great attitude and is just a nice person.”
Krueger said undergraduate students should be open to looking for jobs outside of their majors and respective colleges. She said one reason she has her job now is that she kept an open mind while attending various career fairs.
“I would tell undergraduate students to go to as many career fairs as possible,” Krueger said. “Students should go to career fairs outside of the ones put on by the College of Media & Communication. When I went to the general career fair, I was exposed to many different industries. I met people from renewable energy to cheese manufacturing. You just never know who you will meet.”
Krueger said she is grateful for all of the opportunities she was offered while a student at Texas Tech. In an effort to give back, Krueger said she is willing to serve as a mentor or contact to students who are looking to start a career in corporate public relations.
“When I was going through the program, agency public relations was a focus,” Krueger said. “One way that I could help the college is to speak with students and mentor students on preparing for corporate communications. As a contact, I could help bridge that gap between the college and corporate communications and how to prepare for a role in different industries.”
(Preston Redden graduated in 2015 with a Master of Arts degree in Mass Communications and in 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism.)