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Here’s an article on Communication Career Week from Inside Loyola:
School of Communication (SOC) seniors starting that much-dreaded job search are in luck. Recruiters from Chicago’s top companies will be at the Water Tower Campus on Tuesday, February 7, and the SOC is priming students by hosting a week full of workshops before the big day.
Print out your resumes and spend the evenings of January 30-February 2 learning how to get hired for entry-level jobs in journalism, advertising, public relations, and other communication fields. Loyola staff, alumni, and field professionals will be in Regents Hall on the 16th floor of Lewis Towers each of those days from 4-6 p.m. to offer advice about resumes, interviews, and the importance of marketing yourself in person and on the web.
Cheryl Manley, office assistant and event coordinator for the SOC, says each two-hour long workshop will begin with a panel discussion and conclude with individualized instruction for students. “The first hour will be informative with heavy note taking, but the second half will be Q&A and small group meetings that will lead to more personalized information for a student’s career search,” she adds.
Edelman, ABC, Groupon, Chicago Tribune, and Chicago Sun-Times are just some of the companies that have confirmed their attendance at these workshops.
Here’s the complete SOC Career Week schedule with event descriptions:
Monday, January 30 – “Resumes and Cover Letters”
Industry professionals will meet with students one-on-one to review these two job application necessities. Bring plenty of copies of both documents to have them edited to perfection.
Tuesday, January 31 – “Bragging Rights… And Wrongs”
Learn what’s missing and should be missing (hint, hint) from your Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn accounts. Online branding professionals will teach students the best practices for building a strong, web presence. Bringing your laptop is advised.
Wednesday, February 1 – “Ready, Set, Interview”
You may look great on paper, but seal the deal by mastering the art of the interview. Loyola’s improv group, the 45 Kings, will provide some comedic relief by showing ways to NOT get the job. Attendees will then practice their skills in several four-minute, speed dating style interviews with potential employers.
Thursday, February 2 – “Look the Part, Get the Job”
Five student models will sport their interview-appropriate attire that was purchased on a college student budget. Notable Chicago hair and clothing stylists will explain what looks make for a positive first impression.
Manley recommends students bring resumes and dress professionally for each of the workshops. Food from nearby eateries such as Flaco’s Tacos, Wow Bao, and other Water Tower Campus favorites will be served at each event.
The social media-focused “Bragging Rights…and Wrongs” is brand new this year. Heather Trulock, career counselor at the Career Development Center, believes it’s a timely topic and warns, “It’s not just enough to be online” anymore. She adds, “Because there are more candidates than open positions, having a strong branded online presence is essential in differentiating yourself from the competition and landing your dream job or internship.”
On Tuesday, February 7, students can impress potential employers with their new job-seeking skills at the SOC Career Fair from 3-5:30 p.m. in Kasbeer Hall in the Corboy Law Center, located at 25 E. Pearson.
Martin Gahbauer, employer relations coordinator for the Career Development Center, confirms that 20 companies have signed up for the fair, including Chicago Public Media (WBEZ), Groupon, and Walker Sands Communications. He says it’s typical for others to register last-minute.
Businesses will pursue candidates for full-time positions and part-time internships, so students of all class levels are encouraged to attend.
Gahbauer advises job-seeking students to “have their resumes in hand, have done research on the companies and positions they are interested in, and be dressed smartly in business attire.”
The SOC Career Week/Fair has yielded success stories in the past. Dene Brown, a 2011 graduate, was a Career Week makeover model last year. Brown was a then long-time employee at Victoria’s Secret, and her wardrobe consisted of sweatpants, low-cut shirts, and graphic tees. During Career Week, she scored an interview at a mid-size advertising agency in the north suburbs. The interview, which was scheduled the day after the makeover fashion show, went swimmingly, and Brown got the job. She credits the makeover for much of her success and says she learned a valuable lesson during that week: “Let your creativity speak through your words and work — not your hair and clothes.”
The four workshops during the SOC’s Career Week are open to undergraduate students from any school. However, the Career Fair is restricted to students with SOC majors/minors.
