January 2014 by Bline Magazine

January 2014 Issue 21

Wisconsin school of business magazine

Featured article: An Outsiderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tips to Surviving a Wisconsin Winter (p.6)

E H T T MEE

b.Line Executive Board

Jessica Wardlow

Sophie Greensite

Brianna Witte

McKensie Barmore

Amy WALSH

Catherine Alpeter Funding Director

President

Marketing Director

President Elect

Funding Director

Design Director

Kaitlyn Tierney Writing Director

Audrey McKenzie Membership

A Letter from the b.Line President Hello, b.Line had a great fall semester and we are ready to jump into our next edition coming in May. We elected Sophie Greensite as our president elect and are delighted to see what new ideas she will bring to this already thriving publication. I think this issue is our best one yet. You will find tips for succeeding this semester, a guide on surviving a Wisconsin winter from a Floridian, and even easy gifts for Valentines Day. Want more b.Line? Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter, bLineWSoB to receive updates. Visit our website blineonline.org to see old editions and find the answers to the puzzles. If you have any comments or concerns please email me directly at blinemagazine@gmail.com. Thanks and On Wisconsin!

Jessica Wardlow b.Line President

Table of Contents In every issue 4

Student Advice: Dear Bea Line

Faculty Spotlight: Laurie Brachman

Top ten: Ways to Cut Down on Your Spending

For your entertainment

Valentine’s Day Goodies

Featured Articles

Cover Story: An Outsider’s Tips to Surviving a Wisconsin Winter

Tips for College Freshmen

An Outsider’s Tips to Surviving a Wisconsin Winter

Creating a Personal Brand Online

Getting Ready for the Second Half

Valentine’s Day Goodies

What’s Your New Year’s Resolution?

bLineonline.org

Dear Bea Line Student Advice Column by: Kaitlyn Tierney

Dear Bea Line, I am attending the career fair this spring and I am nervous about meeting with employers and how to prepare for the career fair. I know some of the basics such as dressing professionally and bringing copies of my resume, but could you give me a few easy tips that will help me make a lasting impression? Sincerely, Preparation Patty

Dear Preparation Patty, You are on the right track to getting ready for the career fair. Don’t forget to dress business professional instead of business casual for this big event. If you have a suit, wear it! If not, no need to go out and buy one; just be sure to wear your most polished outfit. Remember when dressing professionally to leave your backpack at home before heading to the fair. All you need is your portfolio and your nametag. Also, be sure to have your resume updated and triplechecked for any errors. Career advisors are extremely helpful with perfecting resumes. You can set up an appointment through BuckyNet or stop in for drop-in advising to meet with an advisor. In addition to these very important components of preparation, I suggest you look into which companies will be attending the spring career fair, research the companies that you are interested in, and practice your “elevator speech.” You can find which companies will be at the fair and which positions these companies are looking to fill on BuckyNet. Be even more thorough with your research by using sites such as GlassDoor and the companies’ own sites. Your research should help you develop an elevator speech that is geared toward the companies you plan on talking to and that will demonstrate your qualifications for the position. Don’t forget to practice, practice, practice so that you are comfortable with your elevator speech. I hope these tips help you make a great impression at the career fair! Good luck! Yours Truly, Bea Line

Photo courtesy of Jeff Miller, University Communications

Tips for College Freshmen by: Erica Engstrand

Applying to the Wisconsin School of Business?

For those of you who aren’t already in the business school and have hopes of pursuing a business degree, b.Line presents its “Tips for College Freshman: Applying to the Wisconsin School of Business.” Getting into the business school should be painless and stress free, and these tips will help you prepare for that March deadline.

1. Be Prompt

The application opens January 21, 2014 and ends March 28, 2014.

The application opens January 21, 2014 and ends March 28, 2014. It is never too early to start working on the application. You can find it online at the Wisconsin School of Business BBA website. Your resume and essay make up the application.

Note: The admissions staff can see when you turn your application in. At 11:59 on March 28, 2014 should not be when you’re turning it in. You have a little more than two months to do this.

2. Seek Help

If you’re having trouble putting your resume or essay together, seek out your pre-business advisors. They’re available Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. in 3150 Grainger Hall on a drop-in basis. They can even direct you toward some resume or essay workshops. Many admitted students agree that the “Pre-business Essentials” and “Academics 101” workshops offered by the BBA were the most helpful when applying. Furthermore, if you’re having trouble writing your essay, don’t forget to utilize the writing centers all over campus. They can help you formulate your ideas and even proofread. Truly, there is nothing worse than finding a spelling mistake on your essay or resume.

3. Build up Your Resume

In many resume workshops they will tell you that you shouldn’t include things you did in high school. The idea is that if you were involved in high school, you’ll be involved here. If you aren’t at the moment, get involved now; otherwise make sure you explain why you couldn’t be in your essay.

4. Writing the Essay

The essay is 500 words maximum with an optional second essay (250 words max). Start thinking about what you’re going to write about and make sure you have clear reasoning on why you want to go into business. More importantly, make sure you answer why the Wisconsin School of Business?

5. PROOFREAD

Truly, there is nothing worse than finding a spelling mistake on your essay or resume. As stated above you had time to work on this. Read and reread your application. Better yet, have others read and reread it. Otherwise, you will, like me, notice it afterwards and mentally hit yourself for being so lazy.

And...

Many admitted students agree that the “Pre-business Essentials” and “Academics 101” workshops offered by the BBA were the most helpful when applying.

b.Line hopes this list will help you in your application process. Being apart of the Grainger community is something to be proud of; however, it does not come without work. Follow these tips, utilize your resources, and if you have any more questions don’t hesitate to ask around!

bLineonline.org

An Outsider’s Tips to Surviving a Wisconsin Winter from a Floridian... by: Carolina Orr

Let’s not pretend that I know anything about winter, coming from the warmest state in the country: Florida. When I moved to Madison, I had a false sense of confidence that I would be perfectly able to take on a “Wisconsin Winter.” What a joke that was! After the first week of October, where 50 degrees is considered cold to me, I figured I needed to pull myself together and actually get advice from the natives.

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So far, this is what I’ve learned: • •

• •

•

The wind is your enemy. Anything above 10 mph is a physical threat, especially because we live between two lakes. Don’t trust the sun either. The sun being out does not hint that it will be remotely warm or less windy. It just means that it will be brighter and harder to see when the snow is smacking into your face. The sun is merely just for decoration. A good pair of boots is a must. They have to be 100 percent waterproof and have a strong grip on the sole to save you from when you’re sliding backward on Bascom. For heaven’s sake! Have multiple base layers! Not just one or two but, seriously, get four to five. Jeans aren’t enough, and they provide an extra layer for the wind to fight through on your walk to class. I found it best not to get the thin, silky ones. If it hasn’t been obvious by now, you’re not going to be dressing like a fashion icon. Stop thinking about looking fancy because I know that you’re barely surviving, and it’s painful for me to see. To quote a very wise person, “the more you look like an eskimo, the better!” Cover yourself up with as many layers possible that will keep you warm on your walk to class. Just be prepared to strip them all off when you enter the building that will have heat on, making it seem like the burning pit of hell after two minutes of thawing. Carry tissues in your pockets and backpack if you, like me, have a nose that runs like a faucet. Yes, you’ll look like a serious derp when you are wadding up balls of tissues into a stash reserve in your backpack, but this is survival and you just have to do what you have to do.

bLineonline.org

Creating a Perso

by: Syaza Noor Azmi

Before you start reading this article, take out your smartphone, your tablet, or your personal computer, and try searching yourself on Google. What are the first five results that pop up? Like it or not, Google might be the first place your future employers will be looking you up before they offer you a job. Believe it or not, some admission officers have been searching up applicants on Google before reaching a decision. Surveys by Kaplan Test Prep noted a steady rise in the percentage of admission officers that perform internet searches on their applicants in the past few years. Last year, 27 percent of admissions officers had used Google and 26 percent had visited Facebook, up from 20 percent and 24 percent, respectively, in 2011. A research by ExecuNet has also shown that 77 percent of recruiters admitted to using search engines to find out more information about potential candidates.

1. Use a professional email and display name. This means getting rid of the old email address that you made when you were ten. No more using tacky emails like ‘rckerz4eva@hotmail. com’ or ‘surfer_dudez_2468@yahoo.com.’ Instead, create a more professional and mature email address for career and educational uses. Use your full name, if possible, so it’d be far more recognizable and professional. Avoid using nicknames like ‘Britney Lovez Candiez’ and ‘BigBooty Judy,’ because it would leave a bad impression on people.

2. Use social networking sites as leverages. Who says social networking sites are bad for you? If you use them in the proper ways, they could help you build a strong personal brand online. Use sites like Facebook and LinkedIn to engage in discussions about current issues. Express your opinions and thoughts about topics related to your intended industry. You can also use social networking sites to create more networks, such as the people you meet at corporate events or through a friend. The more people you have in your network, the stronger your personal brand is.

3. Polish your writing skills. Pliz du nt rite lyk dis. Nothing is worse than bad grammar and bad spelling. Train yourself to use proper grammar while posting anything online, be it a tweet or your Facebook status. You can also improve your writing skills by starting a blog. Not only that you can pick up different writing styles while blogging, but you can also expand your network of friends and spark up discussions about current issues. If you’re worried about what people might find out about you on the internet, well, worry no more! To prepare yourself for future Google background checks on you, here are a couple of tips that would help you while creating a personal and professional brand for yourself online!

Who knows, perhaps your future employer may come across your blog and enjoy reading your thoughts? That’s a great deal for you, as you can showcase your communication skills and your critical thinking skills at the same time!

nal Brand Online 5. Be true to yourself. Now, for the most cliché tip ever: be true to who you are. Do not try to be someone you’re not online; it can really hurt you in real life. Do not try to pose as someone else, or copy someone else’s article and post it on your blog/website as your own (that’s plagiarism!). Do not try to talk about issues that are completely outside your range of interest with hopes to attract more attention to yourself. Doing things completely opposite to who you are will haunt you in the future. Now that you’ve read all the above tips, it’s time to improve your personal branding online. Remember to always check on your progress and improve it from time to time. Google yourself every few months and see how your personal brand is growing. The more unique and professional your personal brand is, the more people will be able to know who you are and the more you can increase your credibility. As said by ExecuNet CEO and Founder Dave Opton, “As the amount of personal information available online grows, first impressions are being formed long before the interview process begins.” What people find about you online is the first thing they know about you, so you would want to make sure that they find out good things about you!

4. Limit the unnecessary updates. It really does not look good if your future employers find those Instagram pictures of you and your friends drunk at a club or your mad tweets about your previous co-worker who used to sneeze every two minutes. This behavior gives a negative portrayal of your character, so while you can, try to limit the amount of unnecessary posts and pictures you post online. You can save all the party pictures in your personal album, but there is no need to share them with the whole world. If you’re worrying about your past Facebook statuses or tweets, don’t fret. As time passes by, your new posts will push your older ones down, and most people would not bother scrolling down your timeline to find out your dark history. But, if you are really paranoid about people finding them, you can always delete the inappropriate posts!

bLineonline.org

Faculty Spotlight: Laurie Brachman

by: Samantha Stubitz

Meet Lecturer Laurie Brachman,

an enthusiastic, energetic, and talented instructor here in the WSB. She instructs Marketing 300: Introduction to Marketing Management. This class is part of the business core classes as well as the first class for the marketing major.

Brachman got her undergraduate degree

at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and then earned her MBA at Marquette University. She then worked in research in product management for Miller Brewing Company (now MillerCoors). After working at MillerCoors, she moved to Hunter Business Direct and worked in business-to-business marketing. Her clients included Toshiba, IBM, and Steelcase. She returned to brand management as a product manager for Brio Toy Company. Brachman then moved to the financial industry as the VP of marketing for M + I Trust and Investment (now BMO Harris). She began teaching about 15 years ago. Brachman began instructing at UW-Madison in 2008.

Her advice to students: Her class integrates applied research

that attempts to find the latest happenings in the field. “What I try to do with my class is provide a foundation for learning the ‘basics’ of a marketing platform as well as investigate the new and significant trends that are happening in practice. We have weekly meetings with the TAs about up-and-coming issues in the field,” Brachman said. “I have a 100 percent focus on building the class.” With a myriad of interesting topics discussed in the course, Brachman’s favorite aspect of the class is the strategic portion of the marketing field. “I enjoy getting students to understand marketing is more than a clever slogan. There are so many opportunities, and I like to find new ways for students to relate to the topic, whether they are quantitative or qualitatively oriented. It’s extremely rewarding to me to see those light bulbs go on,” Brachman said.

“Keep an open mind. Don’t only have a specific job in mind. Find out what’s unique about you and what you’re passionate about. If you can define that, you can ‘market yourself’ and apply your unique abilities to lots of different career options.”

In formulating the course, Brachman specially recognizes the TAs and the team effort she shares with them. “It’s rewarding

to work with them and harvest their ideas on how to make this course interesting by having two generations of perspective,” Brachman said. “I believe that being at a university is about getting multiple perspectives, from both the academic perspective and practicioner sides of the equation. Multiple perspectives ensure that students are well-rounded, enlightened, inspired, intrigued, and say ‘this was worth it.’”

The marketing field is constantly evolving and changing, presenting new challenges for the focus

of the course and introducing students to marketing concepts. However, this is Brachman’s favorite part of teaching. “I like trying to keep this course intriguing and even inspirational. I want students to like learning and to be curious and find new ways of thinking,” Brachman said. “Madison students are bright and hungry. It is a fun challenge to meet their daily expectations in lecture. As a result, I think after lecture I have more energy than when I started!”

by: Mark Cage

With winter break over and the spring semester beginning,

itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to start thinking about two things:

Trivia 1) Who is the all-time points leader in menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s basketball history? 2) How many players on the current roster are originally from Wisconsin? 3) When was the last time the Badgers made the NCAA Final Four? (See bottom of page for answers)

Warmer

weather and

Badger

Basketball. The Badgers had a great start to the season, and with Big Ten action now upon us, you would be crazy to not catch a few games. With that in mind, here are a few things to get you in the Grateful Red mindset:

Fast Facts 1) With an early December victory at Virginia, Head Coach Bo Ryan became the ninth coach in Big Ten history to reach 300 wins.

Upcoming Home Games January 29 @ 8 p.m. vs. Northwestern February 1 @ 11 a.m. vs. Ohio State

2) The Badgers have 15 straight appearances in the NCAA Tournament, which is the fourth longest active streak.

February 9 @ 12 p.m. vs. Michigan State

3) The current starting lineup is Frank Kaminsky, Sam Dekker, Josh Gasser, Ben Brust, and Traevon Jackson.

February 25 @ 8 p.m. vs. Indiana

February 13 @ 8 p.m. vs. Minnesota

March 5 @ 8 p.m. vs. Purdue

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Answers: (1) Alando Tucker (2) 6 players (3) 2000

Valentine’s

Day Goodies by: Mikaela Lodahl

DIY GIFT

Show your friends and family how much you really care about them through a simple homemade Valentine’s Day card. In our fast-paced society, many people don’t take a couple minutes to write handwritten notes anymore but they really mean a lot. Pick up some stickers, scrapbook paper, and ribbon and spend a little bit of time to create a special card that is guaranteed to make your recipient’s day! Here are a few examples to get you started.

You can never go wrong with baked goods, especially chocolate cake!

Directions

Here are a few recipe possibilities: • Cupcake flavored goldfish, mini marshmallows, and Valentine’s Day M&M’s • Pretzels, almonds, white chocolate chips, craisins, and yogurt covered almonds

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two nine-inch baking pans or line with parchment paper circles and set aside. In a large bowl of a standing mixer stir together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt.

Add eggs, buttermilk, melted butter and vanilla extract and beat until smooth, about 3 minutes.

Remove bowl from mixer and stir in hot coffee with a rubber spatula. Batter will be very runny.

5 Anyone will appreciate some homemade trail mix, perfect for a grab-and-go snack.

1 3/4 cups all purpose flour 2 cups sugar 3/4 cup cocoa, unsweetened 1 1/2 tsp baking soda 3/4 tsp salt 2 large eggs 1 cup buttermilk 1/2 cup butter, melted 1 Tbsp vanilla extract 1 cup hot coffee

Pour batter evenly between the 2 pans and bake on the middle rack of oven for 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

WHAT’S YOUR NEW YEAR’S

RESOLUTION?

by: Jessica Wardlow

Many people make New Year’s Resolutions about physical activity or social events, but what about academic resolutions? Now is the time to think of how you want the year to end before it’s too late. Maybe you want to be on the Dean’s List or join the Executive Board of a student organization. Here are just a few resources the Wisconsin School of Business offers to help you achieve your goals.

Want to be more involved? Check MyBiz for daily updates. This blog is essential in keeping up with everything happening around the school.

Want the perfect job once you graduate? Join a new student organization. Each organization has different events for their members that could set you up with the perfect employer after college.

Want to be on the Dean’s List? BLC is not just for struggling students. Join a BLC course to ace your next class.

Want to become a leader? Explore the leadership certificate in the ALC and apply to attend LeaderShape in August.

Curious about other majors? Make an appointment with your academic advisor through BuckyNet to get advice on the right major for you.

While the semester may just be starting, now is the time to set yourself up for success! Photo courtesy of Bryce Richter, University Communications

bLineonline.org

Top Ten Ways to Cut Down on Your Spending by: Syaza Noor Azmi

Happy New Year everybody! It is time to bid farewell to 2013 and say welcome to 2014. Well, before we start raking out ideas for our 2014 resolutions, perhaps we could review our past (and most probably failed) 2013 resolutions. One of the things we need to think about is how we’ve been spending our money lately and how we can cut down some of the unnecessary expenses. After all, ‘saving money’ and ‘cutting down on expenses’ are perhaps two of the most common New Year resolutions!

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Not only can you get six months of free two-day shipping on eligible items, you will also receive email alerts for discounts and promotions. This can help you save some money on shipping charges, especially if you are into online shopping like I am!

Make your own coffee

I know, nothing beats the taste of a hot Starbucks coffee on a cold morning. But sooner or later, your wallet will feel lighter. Perhaps it is time to start making your own coffee in your room. It’s not that hard anyway, all you need is some hot water and a bag of instant coffee mix.

Buy or rent used textbooks

Manage your expenses

Install an expense manager application on your smartphone and record everything that you buy, from the small little things like buying a slice of Ian’s pizza to the big spending like booking a flight back home. This way, you can track all your expenses and it will help you recognize all the unnecessary expenses that you can forgo.

Be smart about housing options

If you’re living off-campus, make sure you find affordable housing options. Rent an apartment with a group of friends, and try to get a place that includes all utilities, heat, and Internet so you do not have to worry about incurring extra charges at the end of the month.

Make use of your student ID

It is universally known that the cost of buying new textbooks is alarmingly high. To save some money, you can either buy or rent used textbooks from the bookstore or online retailers, as well as buying your textbooks from your fellow classmates who have taken the courses previously.

Your Wiscard can get you discounts on a lot of things, such as $5 for a movie on Thursdays at Marcus Point Cinemas or lower prices at the Apple store. Using Campus Cash, a Union Meal Account, or a Housing Meal Account can also get you extra discounts on campus. Maximize these student discounts to save money on your purchases!

Go on routine grocery shopping

Separate ‘wants’ from ‘needs’

Try to go on weekly grocery shopping trips, instead of going whenever you feel hungry. You will be tempted to buy more food than you really need if you go grocery shopping on an empty stomach.

Limit dining-out options

Try to limit the number of times you go out to eat, perhaps to once or twice a month. It definitely does not do any good to your bank account if you eat on State Street every single day of the month.

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No, you do not need to have that new Xbox right now. Try to limit impulsive purchases by assessing your priorities. You can save a lot of money by not following your impulses.

Travel wisely

While you might like to go off during the breaks with your friends, try to save money by planning ahead. Last-minute flight tickets can cost more than buying them a couple of months earlier. You can also use STA Travel for cheaper student trip deals!

for your entertainment

answers can be found at blineonline.org things needed to survive a wisconsin winter blankets boots coat earmuffs gloves handwarmers hat hotchocolate longjonhs mittens scarf snowpants bLineonline.org

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b.Line staff would like to thank the following: Wisconsin BBA Program Steve Schroeder Loren Kuzuhara Marty Blalock Cover Photo: Syaza Noor Azmi