Tufts Intern Spotlight: Alicia Sanders-Zakre at the International Peace Bureau

Alicia Sanders-Zakre
Organization: International Peace Bureau (Geneva, Switzerland)

Year: Class of 2016 (graduating a year early)
Major: International Relations with a concentration in International Security
Duration: Summer
Compensation: Unpaid but funded through Tufts Career Center Internship Grant

(photo credit: Alicia Sanders-Zakre)

This summer, Alicia chose an internship that fit her interests and helped her clearly visualize her future. With financial support from a Tufts Career Center Internship Grant (which just started to offer grants to internships abroad), Alicia spent her summer getting to know the international community in Geneva, Switzerland and experiencing what it's like working in the NGO (nongovernmental organization) environment and in disarmament affairs.

Sunrise in Geneva, Switzerland (photo credit: Alicia Sanders-Zakre)

Specialize your search when finding an internship. When it comes to applying for internships, Alicia believes in looking at internships that reflect your specific interests and connections, rather than applying to a slew of organizations that you don't relate well to.

Alicia found her internship by exploring the connections from her previous internship, American Friends Service Committee. After working on a project with AFSC that was endorsed by the International Peace Bureau, Alicia used her professional network to best position herself for her next opportunity. This way, when applying to the IPB, she had the advantage of highlighting work she did with AFSC in her cover letter.

Use each experience to bring you closer to your end goal (photo credit: Alicia Sanders-Zakre)

Independent work is a big part of interning. As an intern in charge of youth outreach, Alicia had many self-teaching moments. Not only did she have to independently research social media management techniques, but she also created a project for herself, the IPB online youth forum, after finding that she needed more work to do.

Organizations can sometimes have difficulty finding and assigning interns work - especially during the chaos of the workday. If your supervisor is often absent or busy, it's important to seek out advice from others and do some research yourself. A model intern, Alicia refused to be idle. She used her previous contacts at AFSC as well as the Career Center to ask questions and brainstorm new project ideas. Additionally, because of the more intimate environment of the IPB, it was easy for her to pitch her own projects. So even if you don't feel like you're getting much attention at your internship, you may have more power than you think. Like Alicia, if you find yourself twiddling your thumbs, don't get comfortable ...

Gruyères, Switzerland (photo credit: Alicia Sanders-Zakre)

Talk to people who are living the dream. By that, I mean, your dream profession. We see this with alum as well - people love to share their experiences and advice about how they got to where they are today. During her time at the IPB, Alicia spoke to multiple members of the United Nations and other NGOs. Through their experiences and advice, Alicia learned more about the steps she would have to take to pursue a career in disarmament affairs.

An intern's job is to learn. Take any opportunity to learn from those who work in the field. It can open your eyes to new opportunities in your desired field, or it can show you that this may not be the best path for you.

United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) panel on cybersecurity 

(photo credit: Alicia Sanders-Zakre)

Study abroad always brings a new perspective. As 40% of Geneva's residents are not native Swiss people, the city is a very diverse and international community. Even though Alicia initially felt nervous about connecting with other interns in her short-term residence, she eventually meshed with the interns from multiple offices and around the world. It was here where she got to speak to other students about their experiences and learn more about the top graduate programs in the UK, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.

Like any study abroad opportunity, Alicia was introduced to an international population and learned more about the opportunities that exist beyond the US. If working abroad is something you're thinking about, it's definitely worth exploring the organization and internship opportunities there! A major takeaway from Alicia's internship was the interactions she had with the people she lived with and the things she learned from them. All in all, the abroad internship experience offers amazing learning experiences in and out of the office.

The abroad internship experience can be sweeter than this giant wall of chocolate
(photo credit: Alicia Sanders-Zakre)

If you would like to learn more about Alicia's experience or the experiences from our many other interns who also received Tufts Career Center Internship Grants, check out the Tufts Internship Profile (TIP) Book for detailed profiles!

Thanks for reading!

Nina Joung
Class of 2018

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Branded: How to Create a Personal Brand Online

Hello fine readers!

Before I begin, I'm going to make a case for personal branding.

Understandably, many Millennials are disillusioned by The Brand Called "You". After all, why should anyone have to market themselves like a product? That very question sums up the philosophy I've gathered from most of my Millennial peers.

I understand the hesitance. As a Millennial myself, I can vouch that it's hard for us to accept anything that seems disingenuous. After all, there's evidence that Millenials actually value happiness more than other generations. When our goals revolve around genuine happiness, putting up a front to get a job seems counter intuitive. Would anyone even be happy at a job they had to change themselves to acquire?

It's a valid question! Though often dismissed as "Generation Me", Millenials have rational concerns that deserve to be taken seriously. That said, I also think that a lot of us are way too cynical. Branding doesn't have to be as middle-aged-exec-buzzword-y as it sounds. Allow me to offer you my own definition of branding, informed by research:

Personal branding is what happens when you offer a consistent, honest, and streamlined picture of who you are as a person. Notice how I said nothing about changing yourself. You obviously want your brand to be positive, but it's not about making up a new person. Rather, branding is being aware of how valuable you actually are, and showcasing that value for the world to see.

Source

How do you do that, online in particular? Here are a few tips:

Google yourself. This one is pretty standard. I'm sure you've done it before, but take a moment to do so now if it's been a while. What comes up? Take special note of what people will be seeing on the first page (both web and images). Most likely, Google will lead to your social media accounts, which goes to show how important it is to clean up your social media every now and then. Make sure that nothing particularly negative comes up, but you should also be concerned if you find nothing at all! You know how you assume something doesn't exist if you Google it and get no results? Employers sometimes think that way too.

Got a common name? As for what you do if nothing relevant comes up - make sure your name is working for you. A big problem for people with common names is that Google can't find you. This is an issue I had to deal with recently. Despite "Vieira" being a bit obscure, a search for "Kelly Vieira" brought up a ton of people who were not me. To fix that, I decided that I should go by "Kelly F. Vieira" professionally. After changing my name on social media (and my resume, so employers know what name to search), you can actually find me on Google now.

First few results are actually me! It's a start.

Make a digital business card. It's easy for us Millennials to take this for granted, but we have a ton of marketable skills that people twice our age often don't have. Case in point: ask an older relative if they could figure out how Tumblr works in 15 minutes or less. What better way to show off than to have a virtual business card? It might seem superfluous, but having a personal profile on a website like About.Me is helpful. A short summary of who you are is a perfect opportunity to start on that "personal brand" thing. Come up with a short paragraph that you can use across sites - that creates consistency!

Consider a personal website. Having a website is an awesome way to show employers who you are as a person. Maybe this is my bias since I'm a blogger - but reading someone's blog is one of the best ways to get to know their personality. If you're not the traditional blogging type - maybe set up something simple, like a Wordpress or Tumblr where you can put up a nice photo, your resume, and a virtual portfolio of your work. Linking to your own website on your resume will make you seem super fancy and legitimate, trust me.

Shine on social media. I'm sure you've already heard all the horror stories about social media and the job search - that's not where I'm going here. I want to look at the bright side of social media. Rather than being something you hope employers don't find, social media can actually be one way to show off that you're a real live human with fascinating thoughts and interests. Twitter, for example, is a great way to connect with all kinds of people in different fields. It doesn't have to be a way to tell everyone what you had for breakfast.

Since this blog post was all about self-promotion and branding:

Follow me on Twitter @Kelly_F_Vieira or 

Check out my LinkedIn 

Signing off,

Kelly F. Vieira

Class of 2015

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"Fall Cleaning"

Alright, we've all been lectured by our parents about our social media presence. In fact, many of us find that the tables are turning and we are starting to lecture our parents on their social media practices. When it comes to our career, being particularly savvy in our increasingly connected technological world is an asset for a job candidate in any field. The ability to represent yourself virtually as well as in person is a necessity nowadays. Here are some steps toward guaranteeing that your online presence is blemish free.

Since we are going through this journey together, I've created a series of steps to check up on your online presence. It takes less than 5 minutes, trust me!

• Step 1: Google Yourself!
• I know this can seem slightly narcissistic, but it's extremely important to know what your name is attached to online. You don't want to walk into a job interview and then get questions about why you picked a certain Neopet a few years back, or why "nicky4uballergirl@aol.com" seemed like an appropriate email. Yeah, I don't know why either.
• When Googling yourself, include your school name, for example, "Jane Doe Tufts" or "Jane Doe Hogwarts." Make sure to Google your high school name too! 
• If you have a common name, you might start using your middle initial to differentiate yourself. If you share names with infamous people/celebrities, you might benefit from the inclusion of a middle initial. 
• Step 2: Review your Google images and videos
• Just to make sure none of those embarrassing videos you and your friends made in 2nd grade are still attaining internet fame, double check to ensure everything attached to your name is still relevant and you're comfortable with it being out there.

LinkedIn

Trying to ignore the whispers about the secrets and mysteries of LinkedIn? Set up a profile and haven't logged in for a few months? Have no fear! Here are some suggestions toward maintaining a strong presence on LinkedIn. Not only is LinkedIn the largest online professional networking site (300+ million people in 200+ countries), it also allows you to follow companies and leaders online. Being active on LinkedIn is a first minor step that can guarantee some online swag. One of our former bloggers, Nirvanna Lildharrie, covered some great LinkedIn tips in a post last year. Maintaining an updated LinkedIn profile is linked to an increase in the number of page views you receive, according to Forbes.

• Connections
• Only connect to people you know!
• Join groups that are an easy fit; there are many affinity groups for Tufts students and alumni.
• Six degrees of separation makes the whole world go round, especially in business!
• LinkedIn Photo
• Your LinkedIn photo should be a quality, even professional, photo of you.
• If you need a new LinkedIn profile picture, the Career Center has arranged for the university photographer to take pictures at the Career Fair in Gantcher on Wednesday October 1st.
• List it all!
• Resumes limit you to one page while LinkedIn doesn't adhere to pages. You can go into more detail, describing your experiences and activities without a word count. 
• LinkedIn is dynamic. You can link yourself to companies you've worked for and follow prospective employers, demonstrating your interest in working for them.

Twitter

Twitter is one of the easiest ways for companies to observe your online social media presence. In only 140 characters, companies can make an assumption about the type of person you are, who you affiliate with, and how you will represent the company. Scary, I know. Twitter reveals opportunities for interaction with people you don't know, as well as broadcasting your thoughts to the world within seconds. Once it's out there, it's hard to get it back - kind of like that movie filmed on Tufts campus last year. Here is a guide to Twitter etiquette that, I think, is helpful for students looking to use Twitter to display their communication skills and interests, and also for those who simply want to use Twitter just between friends.

http://gph.to/1tpCY52
Keep it classy my friends!

Facebook

Oh ye olde Facebook, how you have aged over the years. Facebook, though many of us regret to acknowledge it, remains the major social media network today. With the new attractions of Facebook, more people are connected than ever before making it easier for employers to find your profile. Though we use privacy settings to ensure our posts and photos stay within our network, the main theme of the internet still applies. Once it's up, it's up forever. Even with the most secure settings, companies are still able to find your profile, according to the Huffington Post.

"The Internet has been a boon and a curse for teenagers" -J.K Rowling. This fact is especially cringe-worthy considering how cool we all thought we were in middle school. Even though you may never be able to remove all your photos from the internet, it's important to be aware of the photos you are tagged in, and this semester is a great time to start. The Huff Post makes recommendations about the types of photos and posts you wouldn't want a potential employer (and your grandmother) to see on Facebook.

• Red Solo Cups
• There will always be a time when no other drinking receptacle is available, and a picture is snapped
• Limit the amount of these pics posted online!
• Party Pictures
• Hanging out with friends is great but make sure it's not a party you wouldn't feel comfortable explaining to your grandmother from start to finish.
• Grandmothers are great indicators of "classy"
• Complaining Posts/Rants
• As college students, we get motivated by the things we believe in. So, the next time you feel like ranting about the lack of kale served in the dining halls, make sure you remember the Golden Rule - that everyone can see it.

"You cat to be kitten me with that post!"

Start off your year right by taking these small steps to ensure that you will never be taken off guard by your social media presence. Social media is one of the best ways for companies to learn about who you are from another source.  Making sure your online presence is blemish free is an important part of conducting a job/internship search. Feel free to stop by the Tufts Career Center for a drop-in appointment if you need help with social media in your job search. Stay classy and business chic, my friends!

Carpe Diem,

Nicole Brooks
Class of 2016

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Welcome to the Real World

My name is Kelly Vieira, and I am a senior Political Science major with unofficial interests in English and Psychology.  I spend my free time geeking out over fictional characters, internet browsing, and making art. Currently, I find myself at a crossroads. The “real world” looms its ugly head as I try to navigate the so-called best years of my life.

As a senior, I feel like I should be filled to the brim with wisdom. In reality, it’s more a mixture of new knowledge, confusion, excitement, fear, and a sprinkle of stress on top for extra flavor. The past few years have included some of the best moments in my life so far, and some of the worst. These highs and lows have allowed me to learn a lot about myself and the world around me – something I guarantee will happen to every one of you in time.  Reality can be super overwhelming, but I’ve managed to get by and I’m excited for the future.

Pictured: Kelly being a "Real Adult".
Bonus nerd points if you can identify all three characters!

Before concentrating on that bright future, I’ll spend a moment on the past.

This past summer, I spent the majority of my time at home with my family in Pawtucket, Rhode Island (for Family Guy fans: yes it’s a real place, no there is no brewery). My hometown isn’t the most exciting place on Earth, but it has its own peculiar charm. Historically, it’s the home of the first textile mill in America. As the birthplace of the U.S. Industrial Revolution, I like to think of Pawtucket as a very small place with very big potential.  Insider tip: no one who lives in Pawtucket actually pronounces the “w”. It’s PAH-tucket, not PAW-tucket. The more you know!

While not wasting time on Tumblr, I actually held two different jobs during the summer months. The first was a virtual internship that I did with an amazing youth mobilization group called Americans for Informed Democracy (AIDemocracy.org). I helped out with their social media accounts, which was great preparation for blogging. If you’re wondering what in the world a “virtual internship” is, have no fear! That post is on its way.

My other job was in the wondrous world of retail. What can I say about retail? Well, everything you’ve heard about it is true. I will leave it at that for now.

So, what exactly am I bringing to the table with this blog? My perspective will be multi-faceted to say the least. I will be writing as a senior, a first generation college student and child of immigrants, an eldest sibling, a minority, a budding adult, and an aspiring lawyer. That list makes me sound way more impressive than I actually am.

Adulthood and all its trappings are both exciting and terrifying. Maybe reading my trials and tribulations will make you feel better about it. At least you won’t feel as bad when you have a miniature nervous breakdown. Underclassmen or upperclassmen, we can all get through it. All aboard the struggle bus!

Welcome to my journey through senior year/life. I hope you join me on this adventure full of fear, wonder, discovery, and magic*! At the end of it all, I’ll leave this campus and officially start my life in the “real world”.



*actual magic not guaranteed!


Or, in the wise words of John Mayer, maybe “there’s no such thing as a real world” after all. The best years are yet to come.

Signing off,
Kelly Vieira
Class of 2015

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Visualizing Your Career: Using Visual Social Media to Your Professional Advantage

By Alexis O'Connell

This week at the Career Center, I was tasked with purging the Dowling/ARC Library shelves of expired career advice books. Professional guides from the 1990s fail to cover a critical aspect of today’s job search – social media. However, the popularity of new, visually-focused platforms like Pinterest and Instagram may have you feeling a bit behind the times as well when it comes to your career goals. If you’re stumped about how to use these creative forums to display your talents, find compatible employers, and reach out to companies, here are some helpful image-sharing practices.

Gone are the days when visual-heavy platforms were reserved for those in artsy industries, like photographers, graphic designer, and marketing agents. The internet and its mobile counterparts have turned image-based media into a playing field for job seekers of all backgrounds; some argue that it has, in fact, become mandatory. (Click here to see 7 surprising industries on Pinterest.) While visual sharing remains more applicable to some fields, careerists with a wide variety of interests can benefit from having a virtual presence on this form of social media.

If you’ve been on Instagram lately, you’ve probably noticed that many companies are joining in on the photo sharing. (See who’s doing it best. ) The experts know better than anyone that disseminating photos and engaging followers on various tech mediums is a way to both establish and promote their business. You can

achieve similar marketing successes with the featured brand being you. No matter what your specialization is, there is much to be gained from presenting yourself and your work in an accessible and aesthetic manner.

Instagramming Pinterest: Social Media Inception

Showcasing your skills, interest, and work experience via social media visuals lets potential employers see multiple competencies at once. And if your desired position is in advertising, public relations, or branding, you’re required to speak fluent social media. What better way to demonstrate this than by displaying informative content of your own? On Pinterest, try making a virtual resume pinboard that includes images of past projects, work, and accomplishments. If you’re looking for something more mainstream, aim for an online resume or portfolio that captures the eye of your intended viewers. This online, visual display of your talent not only sets you apart – it makes your resume, in whatever form it takes, easy for employers to reach and read.

Wherever businesses are, job or internship seekers should be as well, and this means having a presence on visual-sharing platforms. The knowledge that some companies are recruiting on platforms like Instagram makes having a robust and professional profile especially appealing. Tech marking firm ePrize even used Instagram to give one employee an offer. Remember to follow some basic rules if you plan to involve your accounts with your career. First and foremost, commit to appropriate content only. Yes, this means sacrificing selfies and biting the bullet on posting your perfect keg stand. Luckily, Pinterest has done professional users a favor with their addition of secret pinboards. Further demonstrate that your sharing is thoughtful and deliberate by responding to activity on your forums: reply to comments and keep it spam-free. In the end, cross your fingers that potential employers won’t judge copious repinning of food and fashion!

If delivering content is not up your alley, don’t delete your Instagram account just yet.  The content that others pin or post can be just as helpful for finding employers that are worth pursuing. Companies often use their Pinterest and Instagram accounts to show the behind-the-scenes of office life (or lack thereof). Case in point: these pinboards by General Electric, Adobe, and Free People. If a picture is worth a thousand words, one glance might be enough to tell you whether or not you’d make a good fit. With employers filling their boards and streams with images of past projects and industry trends, a little snooping could offer some quality company insight.

If you know enough about the industry but could use some general job search or career pointers, get them delivered right to your computer with a bit of social media savvy. This Mashable article outlines 7 Pinboards to follow for your career. Consider starting your own pinboard of career advice and development (a “jobspiration” board, if you will) to stay motivated through cover letter writing or long workdays.

Still not convinced that Pinterest, Instagram, and other image-sharing social media differ from other mediums? Ponder this: companies are realizing that photo-based interactions invoke different emotions and seek different ends than average information dissemination. Instagram, for example, is a snap-on-the-go app, meaning that even top-tier, multi-million dollar employers are capturing everyday moments like the rest of us. They’re using visuals to tell the story of a company and its employees, personality, and philosophy. This exposure is the perfect opportunity to see, and prove, where you fit into their picture.

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Who's Next? Be The New Career Services Amabassador!

Senior year comes with so many lasts, that I’d almost forgotten that this was one of them: my last semester as Tufts Career Services Ambassador. I’d come on board my first semester junior year, eager to fire off career-related posts and cultivate my writer’s voice. I started out as a “freelance” blogger, if you will, contributing posts 3,000 miles away in Madrid. My experience was only enhanced when I returned that spring to Dowling Hall and became a more official part of the office staff. Now, I am confident to say, my experiences at Career Services remain among the highlights of my college career.

So, what made this experience so particularly meaningful and important? Ahh, there are so many things. There’s the wonderful Career Services staff; the chance to utilize relevant marketing tools; the opportunity to write and publicize career information that is critical to every single one of us.

To break it down a bit, the most enticing benefit of this job is that it allows you to cultivate a wide and essential skill set. The handling of Career Services’ online presence—a task essentially made for us digitalized youths of tomorrow—is by nature multi-faceted, dynamic, and ever-changing. What’s more? These skills have become increasingly necessary for breaking into today’s transforming media industry.

First there’s the writing, or blogging, element---my personal favorite part of the job. Truthfully, I had never blogged before this experience. In middle school, I wasn't brave enough to advertise my deepest, darkest thoughts through the overly popular Xanga. But as soon as I started blogging, transforming my formal journalists’ voice into something personal and accessible, I came to love it more and more. Blogging, about whatever topic of the minute, came to feel refreshingly easy and natural.

Along with blogging, there’s the opportunity to co-manage the office’s increasingly “likable” Facebook page. This includes the chance to brainstorm posts, advertise new job opportunities, and generate content that will zoom right into students’ newsfeeds. As all of us media hawks probably know, social media has redefined the way we read and digest professional news. Today, a journalist’s popularity is easily gauged through his or her teeming collection of Twitter followers and Facebook fans, for instance.

Beyond this, the job of the student ambassador is to strategize ways to reach Tufts student audiences. This takes creativity, thoughtfulness, and drive. But we’re also in a familiar position: simply put, we’re targeting the student population—that is, ourselves. We have the privilege of living among students and directly gauging what it is they want to know. And we have the accessible online tools to drive these messages home.

Simply put, the opportunity to develop and publicize Career Services’ online presence comes with wonderful professional benefits. So much of our communication is occurring via the web—through online news stories, quickie blog posts, Facebook, twitter, and more. Regardless of which industry niche you’re looking to navigate, experience in blogging, social media, and marketing strategy will give you an important edge in the job market. These are critical skills to add to your ever-growing repertoire.

Beyond the resume boost, however, is the gratification of feeling like my writing is making a real impact. The one thing you can bet students are discussing, whether calmly or in a state of frenzy, is the fateful career hunt. The job-hunt is universal, and it affects every single one of us. Covering everything from interview tips to job-hunt sites to networking follow-ups, the blog offers a relatable, accessible lens on the whole process. It’s been incredibly satisfying to contribute to the dissemination of helpful and critically important career knowledge.

As I started weighing my career options (I do work at career-services after all), I realized this was something I could see myself doing full-time. The job has pushed me to discover the types of writing and publicity work I love, as well as the media jobs I can see myself pursuing professionally. Between the writing, marketing, and creative components, this job is truly all-encompassing; it allows you to dabble in various online mediums and discern your specific strengths and fortes. And it all happens within Tufts’ hub of career-discovery, right here under Career Services’ roof.

The best part? This position is still transforming. Nothing is rigidly defined or set-in-stone. If you have a penchant for a certain type of skill, or if you’ve brainstormed a new approach to our traditional way of doing things, Career Services wants to hear about it. We are Tufts’ fresh, young student voices after all, here to bridge the gap between the office’s resources and our student body. Your voice and ideas really matter. Simply put, the job is truly what you make of it; it’s there to be molded and reshaped by the unique ambitions of whoever is next in line.

Career Services is currently hiring a new ambassador to create content for the blog and utilize online and social media platforms to connect with the Tufts community. If this position seems like a good fit for your skills and interests, apply by March 16, 2012. Click here for an application.

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How to Land a Media Job: My Takeaways

Last week, I had the opportunity to attend “How to Land a Media Job: Tips for Seniors,” a media panel co-sponsored by Tufts Career Services and the Communications & Media Studies Department. The event featured five panelists, who represented five different media professions: children’s production, advertising, film production, local reporting, and public radio. For those who didn’t attend, I thought I’d share a brief overview the event, the who’s who in the panel, and what I gathered about the state of modern media.

Before I go on, let me introduce the five panelists. They were friendly and personable, combining the serious stuff with colorful anecdotes. And they were honest, unafraid to tell us, point-blank, who they would hire and what it takes to get in the door.

Carol Greenwald: Senior Executive Producer of Children’s Programs at Boston’s WGBH. She manages the production of popular kid’s shows like Arthur and Curious George. (Who doesn’t love Arthur?)

John Davidow: The Executive Editor of New Media at WBUR Radio (and a proud Tufts alum). He oversees the content of WBUR’s hip new website.

Molly Crean: A Junior Recruiter and Internship Coordinator at Arnold Worldwide, responsible for recruiting new and creative talent to the ad-world.
Richard Lodge: Editor-in-Chief of GateHouse Media West and Metro Units, a daily newspaper that covers local community news.

Evan Mark Rimer: Assistant to the President at Anschutz Film Group, a subsidiary of Walden Media. Evan recruits new film projects and oversees film development.

At first, I figured this would be yet another helpful albeit depressing panel about the hopelessness of media. This would be temporarily confirmed by a comical film clip, featuring two cartoon characters discussing journalism. “I want to work for the New York Times,” the first cartoon robotically said. “You will not work for the NY Times,” retorted its pessimistic counterpart. “You will report insignificant stories and get laid off and move to the middle of Kansas”. (Okay, totally not the real dialogue, but you get the jist.)

The ominous mood was set. But as the event went on, and as each panelist opened up about his or her colorful media jobs, we all relaxed. What I took away instead was a much more complicated view of the industry. Media is struggling, yes, but it’s also rapidly transforming, now more than ever looking to recruit new talent.

So, the question we all want to know: what does it take to land a media job? The panelists first emphasized the importance of relevant internship and work experience. Prior experience shows that you are capable of handling professional media tasks and can thrive in fast-paced work culture. Interestingly enough, Carol also stressed prior employment, whether at your local supermarket or DQ. As she put it bluntly, employers like seeing that you know what it means to have a job.

In the vein of digitalization, the panelists—Richard particularly—said they love those with a versatile skill set. They are always eager to fill, “what’s not there”. So if you have a penchant for say, photography or slide-show making, or perhaps HTML coding, make this clear! Even if you aren’t too comfortable with digital tools, there’s still plenty of time to learn. Also, it’s always a plus to be familiar with social media and online news sites. Yes, they’re ultra-experienced, but these media veterans want to learn too. As Richard said, “I want you to teach me something new.”

The employers also touted writing as the most important skill for media success. Even more than your GPA, your clips prove that you have knack for clearly and concisely relaying information. So what to do now? Write, write, write. Publish news stories. Blog (even if it’s about your love life). Tweet. Force your friends to follow you. As these panelists stressed, we should do all what we can to cultivate our writing voice and just publicize ourselves. And it’s good practice while we work towards the days when we’ll see our byline in some glossy magazine.

Of course, the panel couldn’t end without discussing the all-too-important networking process. Each panelist encouraged us to cultivate as many connections as possible—particularly key for breaking into media, which essentially thrives on networking. In this block of time before the actual job-applying season (most media jobs have a 2-3 week turnaround period) the best thing we can do is establish a large web of contacts, which we should continue to build and build. The larger our networking pool, the higher the likelihood of being nudged toward a job.

But say you don’t have a readily accessible pool of media contacts to schmooze with. The reporter attendees, particular Richard, encouraged the die-hard journalists to try cold-calling newsroom. Isn’t that what journalism is about, anyway? Of course, it’s important to do your research—to know who exactly you’re speaking with and to plan a smart, well-planned pitch. You never know where just one phone call could lead.

The final take-away - for me at least? If you love everything media, just go for it. The panelists were honest about some of the less-than-promising trends. But beyond this, they conveyed a rare passion for their current careers and a staunch dedication to exploring its exciting future. It’s this love for communicating information—the writing, the reading, the filming, the reporting—that makes these challenges and budget-cuts well-worth it. As proud members of this next online-savvy generation, we’re the ones media is depending on.

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Clean Up Your Digital Dirt!

A recent graduate of a small upper Midwest university was only a few weeks into her first post-graduation job when the boss called her into his office. He had discovered the young woman’s personal blog, where she had been writing in detail about how miserable she was in her new position. She soon became a former employee.

A student at a school in the Southeastern US was being courted by a small business owner for a key position – that was until the owner saw the student’s Facebook profile, which featured explicit photos and stories about the student’s drinking.

A chemical engineering student at a university in the Northeast was eliminated from consideration for a job opening after a company recruiter Googled the student’s name, discovering, among other things, that he like to blow things up.

Source: Keep Your E-Image Clean by Peter Vogt, Monster.com

If you're like me, you probably laugh at these stories and say, "Oh, but that would never be me!" Even so, it's important to think about how potential employers will react to your online presence. Have you Googled yourself lately? Checked out the latest privacy settings on Facebook? Think about how you're marketing yourself through various social media platforms. Is the info "grandma-appropriate?" (You may share everything with your grandma, but how about someone else's grandmother?) Hopefully, you get the point.

For help getting started, check out this job-seeker's self-audit: Job-seeker self-audit


Want more? The Student Branding Blog has a lot of great information about social media and marketing yourself online, including:

10 Reasons Why YOU Should Care about Personal Branding
Building a Consistent Personal Brand
7 Personal Branding Predictions for 2011

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