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Helping Students to Attract Jobs

6/21/2012

8 Comments

 
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Sixty aspiring journalists from across the country sat before me in a hotel ballroom yesterday on the first day of the 37th NABJ convention in New Orleans. These NABJ student members immediately impressed me and one another with their poise and enthusiasm during the roll-call introduction. Any recruiter sitting across a career-fair table would likely, at first glance, rush to help them along their career path. But what about weeks or months from now, when they are all back at school, or have just graduated, and there's only one job or internship available, and they must connect with a recruiter who has dozens or scores of applications and precious little time to sort through them all?

NABJ Student Representative Wesley Lowery and convention planners Benet Wilson and Monique Fields asked me to lead a "learning lab" we titled "Branding U: The Student Edition." It's an honor and privilege to present at NABJ so I quickly said yes. The convention program promised: "Sending a resume and cover letter through the mail is so yesterday. Job seekers need an electronic portfolio. This three-hour workshop will give participants strategies for using cutting-edge applications to develop a virtual resume. The session also will offer tips for using Twitter and Facebook to promote a brand, and on creating an action plan that will have recruiters banging on the door."

Basically, I sought to share what I strive to teach my journalism students in the Diederich College of Communication. My presentation focused on, among other things, blogging, digital portfolios, social media profiles, live tweeting and curating, melding personal and professional and networking. I stressed that they all must take advantage of the many ways to demonstrate electronically – preferably from one hyperlink! – their success at telling stories across multiple platforms. I also wanted to inspire them to share what they learned with their friends at school who couldn't attend.

Two points: 1) The Law of Magnetism (from John Maxwell) – Who You Are Is Who You Attract! and 2) from me, trying to capture the recruiter's mindset, How You Represent You Is How You Will Represent Me!

After my presentation, three newsroom recruiters shared awesome tips on how students and graduates can distinguish themselves and best get an interview and or that first or next opportunity. Speaking of digital portfolios, Irv Harrell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch told the students, emphasizing my second point above, "It's your mission statement to the recruiter. I want to know what you're going to be able to do for me." Walter Middlebrook of the Detroit News said: "You got 60 seconds to make an impression on someone. If I don't like what I see in 60 seconds, you've lost a sale." Paula Bouknight of the Boston Globe added that "your website should be where you further the conversation," that is, it should not merely offer what is already on or better suited for a LinkedIn profile.

I hope during the summer to offer new posts on this blog that focus on other aspects of my presentation. For now, I invite students (and faculty) everywhere to check out these prior posts: "Covering the Student Cover Letter" and "119 Tips for Journalism Interviews." Many thanks to all the students who said they got a lot out of my presentation.

"I believe there are 2 types of (journalism) students: those who want a grade and those who want a career" - @HerbertLowe #branduniv #nabj12

— Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) June 20, 2012

Truly enjoyed @herbertlowe seminar! I can't wait to perfect my social networking skills. Already learning so much at #NABJ12 !

— Lauren Scott (@LaurenAlex90) June 20, 2012

Proud mentee that my professor @herbertlowe is teaching the @NABJ Student Learning Lab (and sporting a @MarquetteU polo). #NABJ12

— Marissa Evans (@marissaaevans) June 20, 2012

@herbertlowe knows his stuff. I'm thankful I'm here listening to him. #NABJ12 #journalism

— Michelle Conerly (@MichCon24) June 20, 2012
8 Comments
Kaitlyn Farmer
8/29/2012 02:01:01 pm

You have really helped me understand how to market myself and make a name for myself via social media websites, such as Linkedin. I have also made a professional Twitter profile and now a Weebly. You are truly helping your students, not only learn in a classroom but also gain valuable knowledge to help us obtain jobs.

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Kevon Albright
8/30/2012 05:17:02 am

Your presentation seems as though it was very informative. I'm sure I will hear more from you regarding marketing yourself on social media websites this semester!

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Ethan Niquet
9/4/2012 12:34:23 am

I am very impressed with your drive to help students in and out of the classroom. As a student in need of career direction, I am interested to see what kind of insight you have to offer me. I agree that the ability to market yourself and make connections is just as important if not more so than the grades attained. I am optimistic that this semester will be a big learning experience in terms of developing career opportunities and setting myself up for success in the future.

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Matt Barbato
9/4/2012 03:16:42 am

I definitely could use some help in creating a resume and branding. The only job I have had was at a grocery store and that didn't require much of a resume. I was thinking about applying for a summer internship and learning more about how to promote my brand would be a great tool to earn an internship.

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Courtney Perry
9/4/2012 03:50:38 am

My biggest thing is trying to figure out my "Brand." I'm interested in a lot of subjects in terms of Journalism and branding youself is important. Once you know who you are, it'll be easier to sell yourself to others.

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David Tukesbrey
9/4/2012 11:16:53 am

I find it's tough to find out what exactly "my brand is". I know somebody else agrees with me (above); but it seems that this is something that comes with time. I have an idea about what I want to be like, but it's difficult for it to come across in a certain way. What others may perceive as negative, I may look at is as a positive. It's very difficult to find that balance and I want to find it in this class. #LoweClass

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Stephanie Graham
9/4/2012 01:45:58 pm

What a great opportunity! I'm really excited to put into action the tips that you'll be sharing with us throughout the semester. Like others, I'm still uncertain about what my "brand" is, but I'm sure it will become clear, to me and to all of us, as we work on our projects. And as an aside, I hope your catchphrase isn't suggesting that a grade and a career are mutually exclusive!

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Alexandra Whittaker
9/5/2012 02:24:20 am

I think that nailing down a brand for yourself can be a huge hurdle. From what I've seen, many successful people have a very specific, recognizable brand nailed down, and I think this helps them to succeed. I definitely feel like I could use work on figuring out exactly what my brand is, and how to adequately portray it.

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    My journalism DNA remains strong as I learn and teach new ways to tell and present stories, especially via digital and social media. This blog is where I share what happens in my classroom and my life and, from time to time, offer my views on current events. I appreciate your feedback – either as comments herein or in an email to herbert.lowe [at] marquette [dot] edu.

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