CHEROKEE CHAT: Scholarship Preparation 101: Social Media

Social media does have an impact on scholarship opportunities as does other communication.

Before you review your social media and other communication practices, determine what your career goal is so your communication reflects who you want to become.

Phone etiquette includes properly answering the phone, leaving voice mail messages, recorded answering messages and music when folks catch your voice mail rather than a live person and more.  Be clear, leave your phone number twice, your first and last name and use a moderate pace.

Before you need to do an in-person interview, learn 'behavioral interviewing' skills which teach STAR methods.  STAR stands for situation or task, action and result.

Texting nor Facebook are not email nor acceptable communication for scholarship applications unless you know the person, personally, and limit the questions to yes or no type answers.  The only exception if they have instructed you to use other forms of communication such as social media and texting.

Treat email as formal written correspondence.  Spell check and have your editing team review for grammar and other possible errors.  Include your legal name, address, phone number and email at the bottom in your signature.  Do use first This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. but do not This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  Make sure your email account setting show your First and Last Name capitalized even if the email is your name.

Social media itself is an extension of your communication skills and reflects on you to the outside world.  We hear about the Division I athletes losing scholarships because of their posts, but we do not hear about the rocket scientist losing their college money.  But, it does happen.  Clean up your social media.  Make sure your pictures, posts and 'Friends' reflect the person you want to become or risk losing college and job opportunities.  If you think decision makers are not going to review your online presence, you are wrong.

Be respectful of their time or risk losing an opportunity.  Go get the money!

Do follow-up with handwritten thank you notes.  This is a lost art which has a huge impact and is worth the one dollar investment.

All of these skills will lead to more college money as well as jobs and promotions.  Scholarships skills are life skills and career skills for success!

If you are unable to make it to the Rogers County Building at 416 South Brady in Claremore on November 1st from 1pm to 4pm, email me for the handouts.  Facebook messages, phone calls and text messages are not email.

To receive daily scholarship opportunities by email, email Cara your name, city and state at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and asked to be added to the OPC AISES listserv.

To receive Cherokee Nation daily news and event information by email, email Cara your name, city and state at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and ask to be added to the Cherokee Nation News listserv.

If you have questions, issues or concerns about the Cherokee Nation government, please email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or write me at P.O. Box 2922, Claremore, OK 74018. 

For daily news and event notices, ask to be added to my Cherokee Nation News and Events email listserv.  You may, also, find me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, LinkedIn, Google+ and Twitter.  Lee Keener is at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

To contact the Tribe, call (918) 453-5000 or visit www.cherokee.org.

Cara Cowan Watts is an elected Tribal legislator within the Cherokee Nation for portions of Rogers and Tulsa Counties.

Cara Cowan Watts
caracowan.com

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