The Life of an AE Brand Enthusiast at UW Madison

This past semester, I was granted the opportunity to mesh my interests in public relations and retail by landing an internship with American Eagle Outfitters.  Initial feelings of an anxiety filled job developed into nothing short of a leisurely way to load up my resume, increase engagement with UW students, and earn some extra cash!

As most of you have probably noticed, American Eagle is facing enormous struggles effectively targeting college students, which make up the top half of their intended age group ranging from 15 to 25.  The three UW students hired as Brand Enthusiasts each semester aim to promote the AE brand around campus by hosting events and giveaways in popular Madison areas.  This has included handing out water bottles at SERF exercise classes, undies on Valentine’s Day, sunglasses before Spring Break, and Frisbees at the start of spring.

Our objectives are not limited to campus events. They focus primarily on generating and maintaining a Facebook fan base among our UW community.  The goal is to engage students on our “AE Student Union at UW Madison” page by posting pictures, music links, current AE promotions, and fashion tips several times a week.  At each campus event, we strongly encourage students to like our page and to spread the word about our program.  Although our team is young and going on our third year at UW, we have acquired well over two thousand fans and strive to continue increasing this number.

AE Student Union is not limited to our college campus.  48 colleges and universities within the US participate in this identical program at UW.  Interaction and the spreading of ideas concerning marketing tactics, Facebook post suggestions, and questions are shared between all schools through a private Facebook page and monthly conference calls.  My relationship with other brand enthusiasts at UW and around the country, as well as the coordinators of this program has eased any stress I have experienced with this job.  Our work as a national team is the primary explanation for our success.

I also receive additional perks as an AE employee, including monthly 40 percent off discount coupons, an enormous merchandise-filled gift bag at the start of the semester, and continuous free clothing and accessories shipped right to my door!  The material benefits that I have been granted are great, but the experience I have gained working to promote an international company is what I am most thankful for.

My responsibilities with American Eagle seem to be in line with a large number of internship opportunities offered by companies on campus.  This includes, and is not limited to, Red Bull, Target, Qdoba, Victoria’s Secret, Madtown Munchies, and Captain Morgan.  If you are looking to gain experience in this field, relieve your credit card bill, or simply increase your involvement on campus, I highly recommend looking into similar internships!

Post written by Jenna Crowell- Sophomore and prospective student at The University of Wisconsin School of Journalism and Mass Communication; first year in AWC.

Taking Chances Leading to Great Successes

This past weekend, I attended a convention for a student organization (UW-Madison Circle K International) that I am a part of on campus. The convention had a few workshops for members to attend, including executive board information sessions, and creative sessions. For the second round of workshops, I noticed that there was an impromptu essay-writing contest. This workshop instantly stuck out to me as I read the words on the page of the program. I knew exactly where I would be at 11:00am when the second round of workshops would begin.

My past with essay writing contests has been pretty decent. I participated in one when I was sixth grader through my local American Legion Post, given the topic of Americanism. I somehow managed to win. There was a catch, though. There’s always a catch. I would have to go in to the American Legion Post and read my winning essay to some veterans and other special guests that evening. Suddenly, I was not so excited about reading my winning essay anymore.

Public speaking is possibly one of my greatest fears. I have given speeches in high school English classes, and even some during college as well. Despite how many times I have given them, I cannot help but get unnecessarily nervous for them. When I speak at a student organization meeting, I have no problem getting up in front of a group to talk about something. I am honestly not sure what my problem is.

The night of my essay reading had come, and sixth grade me was dressed quite patriotically in a navy blue dress with a red and white striped sweater. I may have been dressed for success, but my jitters were worse than ever before. I stood in front of an imaginary audience on the couches of my living room, reading my speech as many times as I could before it was time to head out to the American Legion Post.

What I thought was the worst of my nervousness was most definitely not. My name was called to step up to the microphone stand-less podium. I was handed the microphone, to my already shaking hands. I could feel a disaster coming on.

As I read, I could not help but shake uncontrollably, despite having both hands attempting to stabilize the microphone in my ever-so-tight grip. I could feel my face turning bright red and my palms, sweaty. All I wanted was to get through reading my essay, so that I could run out of the room, because I was completely mortified by my performance.

Once my reading was done, I handed over the microphone, covered my face, and hurriedly walked back to my seat. I wanted to cry, because of how embarrassed I felt. The standing ovation afterwards made me feel a little better, but knowing that I had given such a horrible recitation of something I worked so hard on was something that I could not get out of my mind.

Sixth grade me and sophomore year of college me are still quite similar. Though I had much more confidence in my writing ability this time around, and knew that I had a time limit to write what I wanted to say, I saw this to be a wonderful challenge in my eyes. Three pages and two over-reads later, I was content with my essay and ready to turn it in.

Fast-forward about 24 hours, and I am now sitting alongside my club at the closing ceremony of the convention. My friend Emily turns to me smiling, noting that the impromptu essay winner is going to be announced after two more awards. Suddenly, my short little anecdote I just shared comes rushing back into my mind. I cannot help but think about how nervous I was eight years before when I was doing exactly what I could potentially be doing again only minutes away. I turn to my friend Laura who is sitting on my opposite side and even say, “I am starting to hope that I don’t win now, because then I can get away with not having to read anything at all.”

The dreaded announcement has come. “And the winner of the impromptu essay contest goes to UW-Madison’s Taryn Grisham!” Oh no. As I hear the applause surround me on my walk to the podium, I try to wash the memories from my sixth grade essay reading away. I step up to the podium and decide that I should even tell the audience about my experience briefly, in order to let loose a little. Some of them even laughed, which actually calmed my nerves quite a bit.

Three pages later, I was finished reading my essay. My words fumbled a little bit, and I may have made little to no eye contact with my audience, but the shaking horror from eight years before no longer existed. I worked myself up for nothing.

I know that my public speaking is no where near anything perfect, but this experience let me realize that I can do and have improved at something that I once was terrified of doing. We all may have bad experiences that might shy us away from trying something, but I believe that taking those chances can lead to greater successes along the way. Even though I was worried about repeating a horrible memory from my past in front of a large convention, I persevered and ended up being very proud of my efforts. Practice makes perfect, and I know that in time, I will be able to perfect the art of public speaking.

__ __ __ __ __

Taryn Grisham is a sophomore majoring in Journalism with a focus in strategic communication, and German language. She also holds an executive board position in UW-Madison Circle K International and is a member of the creative team for the Senior Class Commencement Campaign through the UW Foundation.

Don’t limit yourself

Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the 30^th Annual Chicago Advertising Federation Career Day.  I heard some great panelists speak about their careers and was able to get a glimpse of what my life will (hopefully) be like in a year and a half.  But the highlight of the event was hearing Marlena Peleo-Lazar, the Chief Creative Officer of McDonald’s Corporation, give the keynote address.

I actually almost missed Marlena’s speech because there was, of course, a snowstorm that morning.  Since my dad also had to be in Chicago that day, he (thankfully) could drive me from Milwaukee into the city.  After 2½ hours, my dad somehow got me to the event only 5 minutes late, which gave me just enough time to grab some much needed coffee and find a seat before Marlena began her speech.

Although I felt slightly flustered and disheveled, Marlena immediately grabbed my attention with her witty and articulate manner.

She began by saying that when she was young, her dream was to become the next Barbara Walters.  She wanted to travel the world and interview world leaders and movie stars.  Marlena said she was a “Detroit girl with a big goal” and resolutely stuck to this goal by going to countless auditions and taking any small town broadcasting job she could get.

However, Marlena never could find her “big break” and surrendered for the time being when she was offered a job as the voice of a puppet “Weather Duck” on a small Midwest television news station.  Marlena decided she would rather drive home to Detroit jobless than tell her parents she was the Weather Duck, and so she put her dreams on hold.

After her dad’s friend suggested she look into advertising, Marlena found a job at small agency in Detroit and then transitioned to Leo Burnett where she promised herself she would only stay for 6 months.  But what she didn’t expect to happen was that she fell in love with advertising and ended up staying at Leo for 20 more years.

The rest of Marlena’s speech wound us through her interesting and unexpected advertising career path, and throughout, she continued to stress one message: “Don’t limit yourself.”  She explained the danger of becoming too fixated on what we want to do, and not being open to the variety of possibilities out there.  Although she never became the next Barbara Walters, Marlena said she loves what she does, has fun in her career, and that’s what matters.

In the advertising industry there are countless career options, especially with the digital world continually growing and evolving, and Marlena advised us to be open and adventurous individuals because you never know when a new opportunity will come along and lead you down an exciting path that truly suits you.

After hearing her story and seeing all that she accomplished as the brand leader for McDonald’s, I am hugely inspired by Marlena and admire her as a female leader in the ad industry.  She described her young-self as a “Detroit girl with a big goal,” and like Marlena, I hope to someday be able to say that I was a “Milwaukee girl with a big goal” who found success in a career I love.

————-

Post written by Devin Mulertt, junior majoring in Journalism and History, AWC Social Media and Digital Director.

The Chicago Ad Federation Career Day is held annually, and it is a great networking and learning opportunity for students interested in the advertising or public relations industry.  More information can be found on the website http://www.chicagoadfed.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3358

Feel free to email Devin at mulertt@wisc.edu if you have any questions about the event!

Walking a fine line between professionalism and social media

As members of the Association of Women in Communications, it is clear which field we all hope to be working in one day. Whether your dream job is in advertising, marketing, public relations or what have you, knowing how to navigate your way around the latest social media websites is a must in today’s competitive job market.

However, where do you draw the line between writing funny comments on pictures and making a good impression to future employers who are no doubt checking up on what you write in your personal social media accounts? To say the least, it can be a sticky situation. Even though Facebook and Twitter are fun and interactive, working in the field of communications is all about projecting the right image.

As a result, I have compiled a few basic rules to follow for social media websites most of us use on a daily basis. However, do not feel like you have to censor yourself in order to come off as professional. It is important to find the right balance between showing off your personality and coming off as appropriate.

Facebook:

Even though most of us use Facebook to stay in touch with our friends and family, you would be surprised how many employers look up applicants to see just what photos they upload and statuses they post. I recommend making your Facebook completely private, so that only people you add as friends can see your profile. However, you should still watch what you write on people’s walls and their photos. There is no way to know what privacy settings your friends have or if they know someone who works at the company you just happen to be interviewing at for a job. In conclusion, use your best judgment. Do not swear, try to avoid glaring spelling and grammar errors and do NOT post or tag yourself in pictures from that party where you made some not so great decisions.

Twitter:

Next to Facebook, Twitter has become one of the most popular social media sites. No one can deny how much fun it is to follow your favorite celebrities and tweet how your day is going every five minutes. If you have protected tweets, chances are employers will not see what you post. In my opinion, having a public account allows for more opportunities to connect with companies and the business professionals you may want to work with someday. However, this also means you cannot say whatever pops into your head at any given moment. Try to come off as grammatically correct with your tweets and avoid any unnecessary swearing. Finally, you should tweet articles you read and found interesting on a regular basis to come off as professional and well-informed.

LinkedIn:

If you do not already have a LinkedIn account, you should make one as you apply for internships. Often times, this is the first place employers will go to find out more about you. Since this website is like a professional version of Facebook, do not post about what you had for lunch that day or your plans for the weekend. You should use LinkedIn to build your networking connections, to keep your resume up-to-date and to join groups like AWC for the latest updates. Similarly to Twitter, you can post links to articles relevant to the communications field in order to stay well-informed and help your connections keep up with the latest information. Your profile picture is one of the most important aspects of your LinkedIn profile next to your resume. Since this is a professional website, pictures from Facebook or Twitter may not be the most appropriate options.

I know there are many more social media websites out there, such as Google +, Foursquare and Tumblr, but I have highlighted the three most common places future employers may use to find out more about you. I hope my tips have helped. Remember, you do not have to come off as bland and boring in order to be perceived as professional. Good luck!

 

Post contributed by Sarah Jarvis, AWC member

Sarah Jarvis is a junior majoring in Sociology and Journalism with a focus in Strategic Communications. She also works as a communications assistant at the Wisconsin Alumni Association and writes freelance social media for Rescue Desk – Virtual Assistant Services.

How To Look Good on Paper

Ladies, lets face it- the competition it tough out there and if you want to break through to an employer, you have to make sure that your resume is dynamite. I know that this is tough and everyone dreads the day you have to spend spicing it up. So in that regard, I thought it would be nice to write a post listing some tips on how to create a great resume!

First things first, you want to make sure that you are only including relevant information for the job/industry you want to go into. Your resume should only be one page, so you need to be picky when choosing what to include. This can be tough for college students because there usually comes a point when you have to decide to include high school jobs or not. For freshman and sophomores, it’s probably okay to list high school jobs if you think you can back them up on how they made you more responsible, independent, a leader, etc… However, if you think you have experience that is more relevant to your career path, you may want to include that instead.

Next is breaking up your resume into sections. Some common section headers are Education, Experience, Campus Involvement, or Skills. Some people also choose to include an Objective section on their resume. This would be the first section of the page and list very specific details about your goals, either for a specific job, an industry you want to move into, or could list the strengths you have that apply to your career/major.

If you choose to do an Objective section you want to make sure that it is very succinct and specific. Here are some examples:

• Journalism student seeking an entry level position in Digital Public Relations
• Public Affairs student hoping to gain real world experience with a marketing internship in a Non-Profit Organization

In determining the flow of your resume, you want to remember to place the most important information at the top. For us AWC-ers, it is most important to convey to an employer that we are students, so you should list Education first (unless you have an Objective).

In your Education section list the school you go to, your major and any concentration you’re focusing on, and your GPA (make sure to include /4.0 so they know the scale). Choosing to list your high school is kind of your own choice, and sometimes depends on whom you’re sending your resume too. If it’s someone from your hometown it might be nice to say where you went to high school since they’ll recognize it, or if you know you both went to the same high school that provides an opportunity for a connection.

Now its time for the biggie, Experience. This is the section where you’ll include everything you’ve done that is relevant to your major/career path and that has helped prepare you for a job. You want to make this as specific and targeted as you can, and you should start with the header. Instead of just listing “Experience” try to be more specific within your line of work. For us AWC-ers an easy one is “Communications Experience”, but you could also use Public Relations Experience, Marketing Experience, Creative Experience, or Broadcast Experience… if you have done a lot of work in a specific field. Then list all the things that you have done that relate to this. It doesn’t only have to be jobs or internships, if you haven’t had a PR internship per se maybe you’ve done some freelance work for a friend, or had a lot of involvement with a club or campus organization, maybe you contributed to a blog! Include anything that is relevant and make sure you add descriptive lines that show what you did, what you accomplished or what you learned.

Finally, depending on how much space you have left, you may want to include a section like Campus Involvement/Other involvement if you are active in a couple organizations. This is also a nice area to show a part of your personality. If I wanted to go into the Fashion Industry and I organized a fashion show for my youth group I could explain this here. You may also choose a section called Skills/Qualifications/Talents. Here you can list all your computer and writing skills, and include other interesting talents like Photography, Photoshop, Fluent in Spanish, or whatever your special skill may be!

Finishing touches tips:

• Save space by decreasing your margins, they can be as small as .5 without looking strange
• Use the same font for everything and distinguish headers by increasing the font size, your body font size can be 10 or 11
• Don’t put Resume at the top of your resume, your name and contact information is sufficient
• Use active verbs in your descriptive lines
• Use bullet points
• Be honest. Everyone has his or her own strengths so there is no need to pretend that you can do something if you can’t. If you save everything till the last minute because you work best under pressure, don’t say that you have good time management skills, etc.
• PROOF READ, PROOF READ, AND THEN PROOF READ AGAIN!!

 

Post written by Amanda Radoszewski, AWC Social Coordinator.

Finding the perfect fit

Getting paid to gain valuable experience? Why yes it exists! Working at the Badger Herald this past semester as an Advertising Executive has given me numerous real world experiences, provided me an income and made me plenty of new friends.

Prior to the Herald I’ve had two internships in the communications field, one with a radio station and one with an advertising agency, KW2. Both provided me a new perspective in this field and gave me opportunities to challenge myself. My internships allowed me to work on real work for clients and for the companies, giving me instances of work to talk about in an interview.

After my internship with KW2 I knew I wanted to do something in the strategic communications field. That’s when my love affair with the Ad department of the Herald began. I had throughout my time at UW written multiple articles in the Herald’s ArtEtc column so I was an avid reader of both campus newspapers.

When I began my job at the Herald it was very fast-paced and overwhelming, I had a desk full of client folders that I was supposed to know and speak to on a daily basis! How the job works is there are two sections in the whole ad department: Display and Classified. The difference is Classified Department; usually smaller (2 people) do display ads and handle line by lines (in the ShoutOut sections on Wed). The titles were given at random and I was assigned Classy Ad Executive. The first few days were tricky; cold calling your clients to introduce yourself and asking about their advertising needs is difficult if you don’t have previous phone experience. But, as time went on I created relationships with my clients through multiple phone calls, client visits and email. From the 100 clients in my desk a majority of them run, but they wouldn’t if I wasn’t so proactive in approaching them.

Having this client relationship is by far the most valuable part of my job. I get to work with passionate people who care about their business and through the Herald we provide them with a way to reach the students. I can walk into all of my client’s businesses and talk to the staff and know them by name. Not in my other internships did I get to walk into client offices. It just doesn’t happen when you’re an intern, they have full time employees where that is their job.

Throughout the semester I’ve been up against some challenges. Deadlines, sales goals, miscommunication with clients; all real life problems you will experience after graduation. I got to experience them first-hand, before getting my degree.

What my other internships lacked was completeness. Never did I feel that I did a whole project from start to finish, at the end having a perspective of success. I worked on many projects, but never did I complete a project full circle. At the Herald, it’s student-run. There are no adults over your shoulder assigning you tasks, it’s all you. My managers and director of course provide guidance, advice and help but, never do they tell you how to do your job. I learned how to do it on my own and through that was able to grow as a person and as a student.

Through this experience I’ve sat with my clients in the beginning stages and talked to them about strategy, their campaign, effectiveness and brand recognition. I’ve created their ad through Photoshop, worked with them to revise and then approve. I’ve handled the process to get the ad in the paper, so Monday when I pick up the paper I see my success on the black and white pages. I’ve succeeded financially as well. Because this job is commission based it also your responsibility to drive yourself. To me those jobs are the most rewarding because I know my success comes from within.

I beg of you (all of my fellow AWC ladies) to find an internship, a job or a volunteer opportunity that you can walk away from with that perspective of completeness. Being passionate about your work makes it that much more enjoyable. My semester at the Herald has been so satisfying in all aspects of a job from creating work friendships, client relationships and monetary gain. Good luck to you all on your future internship/job searches.

 

Post written by Anna Elsmo-Siebert

I am a junior in the School of Journalism pursuing a degree in Strategic Communication and Communication Arts. I currently work at the Badger Herald and will be going abroad next semester. My semester will be spent in Roma, Italy where I will most likely gain 15 pounds and come back speaking the language of love.

If you have any questions on internships, the Herald or in general do not hesitate to contact me! elsmosiebert@wisc.edu

The Badger Herald is currently accepting applications for Advertising Executives for the spring semester. http://badgerherald.com/about/applications/2011/adexec2011.pdf

Exploring new places and making new friends in the Windy City

What better way to spend a Friday than in Chicago learning about my future goals and getting to know a great group of girls?  The members of our organization did a great job selecting FOUR agencies for the group to visit, and each one was just as exciting as the last!  Over the course of one day, our clan of ladies scurried all over town to some of the greatest communications companies in the area.

Members of the team at Edelman, a global public relations firm, provided us with a helpful question and answer session.  They informed us of tips on classes to take through our remaining years as undergrads and discussed possible paid internship opportunities at their company.  Edelman prides themselves on bringing together an intelligent and diverse group of associates and maintaining an entrepreneurial spirit.

Next up on the agenda was visiting the media focused advertising agency, Digitas.  Although they are based out of Boston, Digitas’ Chicago office employs 350 people and continues to grow.  Their workspace is modern and eco friendly and is occupied mostly by a younger crowd enforcing casual dress code.  Digitas has a reputation for being community based, and coworkers spend a lot of time together at company socials and events outside the office.  Our group witnessed their creative and laid-back atmosphere, which includes yoga balls, a massage room, and beer kegs in the kitchen!

Following our tour at Digitas was a visit at another firm, Weber Shandwick. The company employs individuals in many areas of communications, including marketing, buying, media planning, creative media, and public relations. Although they are currently moving their business to John Hancock Center, it was obvious that Weber Shandwick enjoys working in a serious and professional atmosphere. However, they do enjoy celebrating their company’s success through Manicure Mondays, Oatmeal Wednesdays, Bagel Fridays, intramural sports, and regular socials.  A few employees at Weber Shandwick presented us with a slide show about the company’s major accounts including Kraft, Mars, Pedigree, and MasterCard.  They also explained the internship application process and how to get involved.

Our final stop of the day was Ogilvy, an enormous advertising agency that focuses widely on the devotion to their founder’s ideals and practices.  One of their HR representatives showed us a captivating video on the history of the company and the great strides it has taken since opening, including their recent accumulation of SC Johnson as a client.  A tour through their workspace allowed for us all to witness Ogilvy’s trendy and creative environment.  They pride themselves on their employees’ honesty, respect, and intelligence, as well as their lively and enthusiastic attitudes.

As you can see, our trip to Chicago was a huge learning experience, and a great success! If you have any questions concerning the agencies we visited or upcoming trips, feel free to contact any AWC officers.  Can’t wait to see you all at the next meeting!

Post written by Jenna Crowell- Sophomore and prospective student at The University of Wisconsin School of Journalism and Mass Communication; first year in AWC.

jmcrowell@wisc.edu

Thanksgiving potluck… sign up!

Hey ladies! We thought this would be the easiest way to get everyone’s RSVPs and posts about what you’re bringing to the potluck on Saturday night so that we don’t get too many repeats!!

 

When: Saturday, November 19 6-8pm. (Try to get there at 6 but if you can’t, stop by whenever!)

Where: Linda’s Apartment – Aberdeen – 437 W. Gorham St. #85 (buzz up and I’ll let you in!)

Contact info: Linda’s cell – 708.204.0975

What to bring: Your fave thanksgiving dish or dessert

AWC will supply beverages…………

 

COMMENT ON THIS POST IF YOU’RE ATTENDING AND TELL US WHAT YOU’RE BRINGING! Please try not to do too many repeats! can’t wait! If you have questions, just post them. xoxo

Event Coordination Internship Experience: Target After Hours Shopping Event

This past summer I experienced the best possible internship experience a hopeful college senior could ask for. It was as if the internship gods opened the gates, answering the countless hours I spent searching and stressing for an internship, rewarding me in the form of this summer opportunity. Here is my story:

My junior year I worked an exclusive event for incoming freshman called the Target After Hours Shopping Event (AHSE). This event shuttled thousands of new badgers to the closest Target, providing them an opportunity to snag some last minute dorm necessities. But, this was no ordinary shopping trip to everyone’s favorite retailer. There was a DJ, coupons, games and countless free samples of everything from food and soda to laundry detergent. Sound fun? You’re darn right, and I was referring to working the event.

I was determined to be the AHSE Brand Ambassador Manager the following year, and that’s just what happened. I was hired by Periscope, the largest independent advertising agency in the Midwest, headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Periscope was hired by Target to organize, plan and execute around 60 ASHE across the country. My responsibilities included ­­­­­­hiring a team of over 60 people to work the event (many of which were AWC members. Thank you!), assist coordinating on-campus promotions prior to the event, maintain the Target College Events at UW-Madison Facebook page by posting weekly statuses and answering comments/questions and attending monthly conference calls with other brand ambassadors around the country. I received the opportunity to work indirectly for Target and directly for Periscope, two solid companies. I knew the summer would include a lot of hard work, but I wasn’t prepared for the amount of fun I would have during the process.

Each Brand Ambassador Manager was assigned a producer that would serve as his or her “boss” for the event. I put “boss” in quotations because these people are the farthest thing from a stereotypical boss. They get to know you, answer any questions you have with a positive and helpful attitude and are there for you every step of the planning process. Each producer I worked with went above and beyond his or her job description. I am happy to say I am still in contact with them today and strive to work with them again in the future.

I cannot put in words how much fun I had working the event. The two-hour event was attended by 2,250 students, generating $52,000 in sales. Of course there were some minor roadblocks, but what’s a crazy, freshman-packed event without a few issues? These issues were only turned into opportunities. The hard working members of my student teams helped pull it together, making the event a success.  But most of all, it was the producers who lead the event to victory. I was a small play, while they were the playmakers. Their all around helpful, determined and friendly attitudes are key reasons why the event went as well as it did, but also is why I can say I loved my role in the event. This was not your normal internship. My work paid off and was clearly seen throughout the event. I felt as if I made a difference, unlike many summer internships today.

Event coordination is not a career path we discuss very often. But the truth is event coordination is an intricate part of PR, advertising and marketing and is rightly so an up and coming career path. My internship showed me event coordination and brand advocacy are something I love to do and hope to do one day as a career. If you have any questions about my experience, how I received the position, advice on finding these types of opportunities, event coordination or the company I was oh so lucky to work for, please let me know!

Post written by Megan Kraft – Senior majoring in Journalism with an emphasis in Strategic Communication; AWC Fundraising Director/Treasurer –

meganrkraft@gmail.com

Periscope link: http://www.periscope.com/

Job Search 101

The AWC has the great privilege to have professionals from the communication industry come and speak at our meetings. We gain knowledge from different professionals about the industry including different agencies and their focus. However, at the last meeting Jeff Carrigan, the CMO of the Big Shoes Network, focused on how to find jobs at some of these great agencies.

At first, the thought of finding a job in this economy appears to be a stressful and daunting task. However, right off the bat, Jeff started out on a positive note saying that the job market is better today than it was in 2008 and 2009 with job opportunities in almost every industry getting better each year. And lucky for us, finding jobs in the entry level and mid level is the strongest.

As for ways to find these jobs that are actually out there, Jeff went over some key tips. One big tip Jeff said was to make a profile on a social networking site–for professional use, mainly, LinkedIn. Jeff said it’s important to keep increasing connections especially with UW alumni. Jeff also recommended connecting with professional networks on LinkedIn, such as his own Big Shoes Network, which you can find here.

Post written by Maggie DeGroot, AWC Vice President