Workshops Prepare Students for Strategic Communication Career Fair
Personal Branding, Social Media Presence and Resume Reviews Among the Topics Discussed
Columbia, Mo. (Feb. 6, 2014) — Strategic communication students planning to attend the annual Strategic Communication Career Fair recently participated in three workshops designed to develop their professional presence.
Missouri School of Journalism students learned about Branding Yourself: How to Keep Your Name at the Top of the List from Kirk Kirkpatrick, group creative director at Trozzolo Communications Group in Kansas City, Mo. Kirkpatrick’s expertise in the creative field gave aspiring art directors and copywriters an inside perspective on how to organize their portfolios and pursue job opportunities with confidence.
Talent finder Dalina Tobar-Rottman from Empower MediaMarketing in Cincinnati addressed the do’s and don’ts of interacting with recruiters on social media during the Improving your Online Presence workshop. Students were given insight into what recruiters search for when visiting candidates’ social networking sites. They also learned and how to build an online presence that acts as an extension of a resume.
Social media has influenced the way recruiters view and seek information about job candidates, according to Margaret Duffy, chair of the strategic communication faculty.
“Students need to understand how to manage these channels in a way that will enhance rather than detract from their personal brands,” Duffy said. “I am confident that our students will be well equipped with all the tools to land a great job or internship.”
A panel of industry professionals shared experiences with hiring candidates in the Resume Panel and Review session. Students met with the professionals afterwards for an individual resume review. The presenters included Brian Corlis; director of customer service and sales at Starlight Theater, Kansas City; Stacy McCullough; president and CEO at Tonic, Kansas City; and Beth Ward; a senior recruiter at FleishmanHillard.
“The workshops and career fair are just another example of how the Missouri School of Journalism prepares our students to succeed, said Assistant Professor Jamie Flink. “This consistent type of exposure to industry professionals really sets our program apart.”
The Strategic Communication Career Fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 13 in the Reynolds Alumni Center.
MOJO Ad, the premier student-staffed professional-services advertising agency in the country, organizes the Strategic Communication Career Fair. Approximately 43 companies represented by nearly 100 recruiters actively seeking qualified Missouri Journalism candidates for full-time and internship positions. The Strategic Communication Career Fair is only open to junior, senior and graduate level strategic communication majors.
Updated: July 22, 2020