JOB SEARCH FOR COMMUNICATION MAJORS

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JOB SEARCH FOR COMMUNICATION MAJORS

• A Life Learning Workshop
• Laura Godwin, Career Services
• November 2, 2004

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GOALS FOR THIS WORKSHOP

• Learn about some of your career options, and how
  to research them
• Understand the components of a successful job
  search
• Learn how to market yourself effectively in a
  competitive entry-level job market

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WHAT CAN I DO WITH MY COMMUNICATION DEGREE?

• Communication is a liberal arts degree.
• Broad preparation for a number of career paths
• You cannot rely on your degree alone to land you
  a job.
• What do you want to do? What do you want out of
  a job, a career?

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SELF-ASSESSMENT

• Values
• Interests
• Skills
• Personality
• Meet with a Career Services counselor for
  self-exploration activities, tests, and
  interpretation.

Check out DISCOVER - a free online assessment on
the Career Services web site
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SOME OPTIONS FOR COMM MAJORS

• See handout
• Most graduates pursue careers involving
  public/personal contact, communicating.
• Common Themes E (Enterprising), S (Social), A
  (Artistic)
• What industry interests you?
• Find something you are passionate about!

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HOW TO RESEARCH OCCUPATIONS

• Recommended web resources
• Occupational Outlook Handbook
• ONET Online
• Informational Interviewing
• Your own network
• Meet-a-Mentor Program

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WHAT ABOUT JOURNALISM AND BROADCASTING?

• Communication vs. Communications
• Extremely competitive! Will require
• Intense writing training
• Specialized coursework not offered at UB
• Internships and a professional network
• More realistic entry level options
• Ad sales for a newspaper
• Promotions for a radio/TV stations
• Traffic assistant for magazine

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WHAT IF I AM ALSO CONSIDERING TEACHING?

• NYS teaching requirements do not recognize
  Communication as an acceptable undergraduate
  major
• Other states may be more flexible
• Other options to get you started
• NYC Teaching Fellows Teach for America private
  or parochial schools
• Speak with UB Graduate School of Education for
  complete information

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BE AN INFORMED JOB SEEKER. KNOW YOURSELF, AND
KNOW YOUR OPTIONS!

• Recommendation 1

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HOW DO I GET A JOB?

• Focus
• Commit yourself 100 to your goal
• Assertiveness
• Opportunities dont just fall in your lap, you
  need to make them happen
• Realistic approach
• Indispensable first steps
• Receptionist, intern
• Timeline 4-6 months (or more) is typical

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THREE JOB SEARCH STRATEGIES

• Applying to vacancy listings
• Prospecting
• Networking

The iceberg analogy
Listings 15
Prospecting Networking 85
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ICEBERG ANALOGY
Larger companies, large HR budgets High
turnover Third party recruiters temp agencies
VISIBLE JOBS
Smaller companies, small HR budget Lower
turnover Represents large majority of job growth
in US economy SMALL COMPANIES
HIDDEN JOB MARKET
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VACANCY LISTINGS

• Where are they?
• Newspapers, internet job sites (classified
  ads), geography specific sites
• Employer web sites
• Ex government sites large companies, small
  companies
• Special-interest sites
• Idealist.org
• Riley Guide www.rileyguide.com
• Employment agencies third party recruiters
• UB Career Services

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VACANCY LISTINGS How it works

• Submit resume and targeted cover letter to
  employer
• You are one of many in a large stack of
  applications
• Company contacts you IF they are interested in
  meeting you
• Follow-up on applications not always possible
• No phone calls please or Fax resume to
• Not always clear who the company is!

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PROSPECTING

• Def targeting potential employers and contacting
  them directly
• The idea is to get to them BEFORE they need to
  advertise their vacancy!
• How to do it
• Directories Chambers of Commerce
• Professional organizations
• CareerSearch
• Business Journals

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PROSPECTING How it works

• Send resume targeted cover letter via mail or
  email
• Need to find the right contact person its not
  always HR
• Follow-up via phone or in person
• Informational interviewing can give you an in
• Continue to stay in touch with contacts
  (?networking)

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NETWORKING

• Def the art of reaching out to others in the
  world of work for the purpose of
  developing/maintaining a foundation of
  professional contacts

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NETWORKING RESOURCES

• Family, friends, friends of friends, etc.
• Professors, guest lecturers
• Alumni Associations
• www.alumni.buffalo.edu
• Professional Associations
• http//www.rileyguide.com/union.html
• UB Meet-a-Mentor program
• www.ub-careers.buffalo.edu

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NETWORKING How it works

• Take notes on each meeting or chance contact you
  have
• Request business cards
• Send a thank-you letter within 48 hours
• Establish the next step
• Will you touch base again in a few weeks?
• Will they help circulate your resume?
• Take a long-term view

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NETWORKING TIPS TECHNIQUES

• 10-second soundbite
• 30-second commercial, or elevator pitch
• Networking law of gravity
• Make one call a day
• Mini-resume business cards
• Email signature
• For more, see Collegegrad.coms
• Network Intelligence Gathering

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QUESTIONS

• What do you think are the advantages and
  disadvantages of these strategies?
• Vacancy listings
• Prospecting
• Networking
• How are you going to spend your time most
  effectively?

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KNOW HOW YOUR TIME WILL BE USED MOST EFFECTIVELY,
AND STICK TO IT.

• Recommendation 2

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SUGGESTIONS FOR YOUR RESUME

• Functionalize it with unique sections that
  emphasize your goals and skills
• Marketing Promotions Experience
• Event Planning Experience
• Public Speaking Experience
• (or at the very least, Related Experience vs.
  Additional Work Experience)
• Use work, internships, leadership activities,
  class projects, volunteer work, etc.

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MORE RESUME SUGGESTIONS

• A good set of computer skills make you more
  attractive. Brush up and/or learn
• MS Word, MS Excel, MS Powerpoint (basics)
• MS Access (databases)
• HTML programming, Dreamweaver, MS Frontpage,
  Flash (web design)
• Adobe Pagemaker, MS Publisher (desktop
  publishing)
• Photoshop, Illustrator (graphics)
• Other software specific to your industry?

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COVER LETTERS

• It must be well-written.
• There is no such thing as a generic cover
  letter.
• Customize it based on the job description, the
  organization itself, and your approach
• Try to leave the ball in your court and follow
  up when you say you will.

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INTERVIEWING SUGGESTIONS

• Preparation is key!
• Consider doing a practice interview at Career
  Services
• Behavioral interviewing questions
• Tell me about a time when
• Give me an example of
• (Situation, Task, Action, Result)
• How to handle salary and benefits questions

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MARKET YOURSELF EFFECTIVELY AND SHOW DEDICATION
IN YOUR JOB SEARCH

• Recommendation 3

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GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN!

• Questions?
• Lauras contact info
• Career Services, 259 Capen
• 645.2231
• Ljgodwin_at_buffalo.edu
• Quick question hour daily 3-4 p.m. in Career
  Resource Library