PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COM 103 – October Meeting

Where we are now First Prof Dev meeting introduced you to the Comm major First Prof Dev paper asked you to think about your: Talents Interests Skills Abilities Can you recall what you wrote?

Intersection Today, we explore... Your talents, interests, skills, and abilities The needs of employers in the Communication Industry Here’s the potential career for you.

Alumni Comm Professionals Get to know the alumni who found this intersection. Examine their key skills & careers.

Shane Evans ’08 Digital Media Manager at Seattle Sounders FC Skills Writing for the web live tweeting public relations website management social media LinkedIn:

Apply it to you What interests you about this job? What similar skills do you have? What skills & knowledge do you still need to acquire?

Amanda Finnegan ’08 Washington Post homepage editor Skills reporting writing editing web production HTML project management LinkedIn:

Apply it to you What interests you about this job? What similar skills do you have? What skills & knowledge do you still need to acquire?

Tonya Murphy Greater Media | WPEN 97.5 The Fanatic Skills Advertising sales, Marketing strategy Digital media Integrated marketing communication LinkedIn:

Apply it to you What interests you about this job? What similar skills do you have? What skills & knowledge do you still need to acquire?

Melissa Steven ‘07 Web producer, Catholic Relief Services Skills write edit blog social media research marketing press releases LinkedIn:

Justin Sillner ‘12 Multimedia content producer for Philly.com Skills SEO editorial planning Edit, write and publish breaking news on all digital platforms grow website’s traffic LinkedIn:

Krysten Gentile ’04 Manages the SAP Community Network, or SCN—the company’s own Facebook Skills write well organized customer service skills LinkedIn:

Andy Zipfel ’84 Senior Director, USA TODAY Sports Media Group Skills Digital Media Marketing Sales Business Development LinkedIn:

Joe Cahill ’11 Trip Experience Specialist at Airbnb.com Skills Social media Customer service LinkedIn:

Arielle Friscia’11 Associate CBS 3 & The CW Philly Skills Reporting Video production, Editing Video editing LinkedIn:

Jessie Holeva ‘09 Freelance Fashion Journalist Skills entrepreneur Writing, editing, blogging social media on-air talent radio LinkedIn:

Katherine La Hart ‘07 Sr. Marketing Consultant at MetLife Skills writing editing project management Advertising marketing communication LinkedIn:

Donna Capone Associate Manager Production Operations at ESPN Skills Production Management Field Producing Broadcast Engineering LinkedIn:

Greg Matarazzo ‘09 Campaign Manager at The Wall Street Journal Skills digital media advertising cross-platform digital campaigns, including video, mobile, and tablets social media marketing LinkedIn: matarazzo/12/647/34www.linkedin.com/pub/gregory- matarazzo/12/647/34

Discussion Activity Look back at your notes for each person. At your table, discuss the people whose jobs you were most interested in. Describe why these jobs are of interest to you. Explain what skills you have that would serve you well in that role. Identify and talk about the skills and knowledge you still need to acquire. How might you go about acquiring them?

Recap Key Skills Ability to write for the web Forming communities online Problem solving Client relationship management (internal & external) Working on project teams And more…

Recap Employer Needs Writing cross-platform Customer service mindset Leadership of projects and people Increasing the profitability of the company Staying current with trends in the industry, profession Adaptability to change, especially technology change Continuous and self-directed learners Diagnosing problems & opportunities; recommending solutions A person who is a good “fit” with the company culture

Compose an The alumni are your networking connections for career advice and job opportunities. Assignment: Compose an to the person whose job interested you the most. Explain who you are. Explain why you’re writing (to express interest in them and the responsibilities of the role). Pose at least two questions about their job that you would like them to answer. (What will you ask?) Conclude by asking them what career advice they can give you as a first-year student.

Next Steps Set up a LinkedIn account Connect to Dr. Jerry Zurek ( Search for the one alum who interested you the most Send this person the you composed here Get their feedback and reflect on their response Submit the and the alum’s reflection as your second paper for Prof Dev …look for revised paper instructions on the Prof Dev site.