Written by Nia Shaw ’21
Kelly Barnett is the director of the Tina Press & David Rubin Career Development Center (CDC).
She expressed the importance of exploring all career options within an industry.
Barnett graduated with a degree in public relations from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University and later returned to work in career development in 2007. She was unsure about what she wanted to do after graduating, but knew that she was a skilled writer and had a knack for grammar. That passion led her to an editorial assistant role at MIC Communications in Boston, Massachusetts. After spending time in Boston, Barnett realized that she wanted to explore her options closer to home: Syracuse, NY. This knowledge led her back to the Newhouse School where she accepted an assistant director role in the CDC.
Keeping up with the times
Throughout her 11 years working in Newhouse, Barnett has seen many positive changes within the CDC. The office began implementing the use of technology in order to remain relevant and understand the needs of the students. For example, the alumni database has increased job placement because students are able to reach out directly to Newhouse alumni who want to help students network. Moving away from the old “clunky dinosaur database” made students want to visit the CDC and learn how to use the online database. The CDC also began teaching students how to write business emails and even how to network using social media. Now, the database serves as an archive of job and internship opportunities that have been offered in the past, and is regularly updated with new postings.
Practicing skills
As Barnett reflected on her time as a Newhouse student, she recalled that her favorite classes were any classes that allowed her to show off her writing skills. She also noted that the most important skill she acquired during her time as a student was AP Writing Style. “As you go through your career you learn certain things that you like to do and that you’re good at, and that was one that I learned in school.” She recommends that any student focused in writing absorbs and remembers those rules because it will give you that extra skill that an employer may be looking for.
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