PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COM 103 October Meeting Where we

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 Linked. In: www. linkedin. com/in/shanemevans

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 Linked. In: www. linkedin. com/pub/amanda-finnegan/7/68/915

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 Linked. In: www. linkedin. com/in/tonyamurphy

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 Linked. In: www. linkedin. com/in/melissas

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 Linked. In: www. linkedin. com/pub/justin-sillner/18/258/41 a

Krysten Gentile ’ 04 • Manages the SAP Community Network, or SCN—the company’s own Facebook • Skills • write well • organized • customer service skills Linked. In: www. linkedin. com/pub/krysten-gentile/8/554/599

Andy Zipfel ’ 84 • Senior Director, USA TODAY Sports Media Group • Skills • Digital Media Marketing • Sales • Business Development Linked. In: www. linkedin. com/in/azipfel

Joe Cahill ’ 11 • Trip Experience Specialist at Airbnb. com • Skills • Social media • Customer service Linked. In: www. linkedin. com/pub/joseph-cahill/14/828/933

Arielle Friscia’ 11 • Associate Producer @ CBS 3 & The CW Philly • Skills • Reporting • Video production, • Editing • Video editing Linked. In: www. linkedin. com/in/ariellefriscia/

Jessie Holeva ‘ 09 • Freelance Fashion Journalist • Skills • entrepreneur • Writing, editing, blogging social media • on-air talent • radio Linked. In: www. linkedin. com/in/jessieholeva

Katherine La Hart ‘ 07 • Sr. Marketing Consultant at Met. Life • Skills • writing • editing • project management • Advertising • marketing communication Linked. In: www. linkedin. com/in/katherinelahart

Donna Capone • Associate Manager Production Operations at ESPN • Skills • Production Management • Field Producing • Broadcast Engineering Linked. In: www. linkedin. com/pub/donna-capone/26/365/a 43

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 Linked. In: www. linkedin. com/pub/gregorymatarazzo/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 e-mail • The alumni are your networking connections for career advice and job opportunities. • Assignment: • Compose an e-mail 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 Linked. In account • Connect to Dr. Jerry Zurek (www. linkedin. com/in/jerryzur) • Search for the one alum who interested you the most • Send this person the e-mail you composed here • Get their feedback and reflect on their response • Submit the e-mail and the alum’s reflection as your second paper for Prof Dev • …look for revised paper instructions on the Prof Dev site.