News Story

What is important to think about right out of college is your five-year plan. Know where you want to be and what opportunities you will have in place to get you there.

It is also essential to diversify your portfolio. Having an understanding of data analysis and how to write concisely will make your portfolio stand out among so many of the others.

Jumping into the world of advertising is intimidating. There are companies of all different sizes with all different values. The panelists recommended that students focus on the companies rather than the work they want to do within the companies.

“Listen to what the company says about itself,” Neslund said, such as “the work that they do, the industry that they’re in, and see what resonates with you.”

End your college experience behaving as a professional, then adapting to the work world will be less difficult.

“Be a student of the industry you want to be in,” Wadler said.

Start reading industry publications and educate yourself on the field. The more you act like a peer of your coworkers, the more they will treat you as a peer rather than a new worker fresh out of college.

In addition to getting into a more professional mindset, the panel emphasized the importance of bringing a specific point of view to a job. Not only will it make you stand out in interviews, but it will also bring new ideas to help your company.

If you want to be a writer, then write every day. If you want to work with social media content, then create a social media following for yourself. If you want to get into the production world, get your hands on as much equipment as possible.

All of the panelists lead hectic lives. They said you cannot be successful in freelancing or building businesses without the hustle to get up in the morning and work toward your goals every single day. Weekends and nights out with friends might disappear, but growing your portfolio after long hours will be worth it.

“The good news is that there are more media jobs out there than ever,” Farr said.

The panelists also said it is rare to find people in media fields that only have one job. Many people balance a variety of roles and jobs.

Berry and Savitt said that they landed their first jobs by weaseling their way in front of people they aspired to be like. Savitt sent out hundreds of emails to media professional, and one day he got an email back saying he could go to New York and meet with executives at MTV.

Berry spoke of going to a networking meal, where she knew a woman worked for Parents magazine would be in attendance. Before she left, Berry looked up a picture of the woman, then worked her way into the seat next to her at dinner where they were able to talk. Their conversation eventually led to an internship for Berry.

Networking and getting your work out into the world can be intimidating. DiCaro said that students need to begin by getting used to putting yourself out there.

“The board at Medical Cook is 98 percent male, and the executive board is 86 percent male,” Lovejoy said. “The lower you get, the more women there are, which is unfortunately how I think it is in many businesses. But that culture is changing.”

One way this can change, panelists said, is by encouraging women to take a stand and speak up for themselves, as DiCaro had to do in the male-dominated field of sports.

“Women just need to learn to ask for what they want. Speak up,” she said. “The idea that we are just lucky to be here, we need to get over that. We deserve to be here.”

One student in the audience asked for tips on expressing that attitude.

“Be confident,” Lovejoy said, as the other three women nodded their heads.

“No matter what industry you’re in, that is a vital skill to have,” DiCaro said.

In the competitive times that make up today’s work economy, women need to stick together, the alumnae said.

“I think it’s been even more competitive among women because we know there’s only going to be one of us,” DiCaro said. “Women are starting to realize that we need each other during those lifts and climbs.”

Helping and supporting each other as women is the only way to make a difference and get to the point where women want to be in the workplace, they said.

“Think of your small circle of influence, and start the change there,” Lovejoy said. “It’s about finding a group of mentors.”

Those mentors, however, may be men.

“I want to follow the people who are the best at their jobs, so I can get better,” Fradin said. “Man or woman.”

Working to reach your full potential, especially as a woman, can be challenging and intimidating, the women cautioned, but it’s something that you have to do.

“Never apologize for what you are doing,” Fradin said. “When I fail, I fail confidently.”

Regardless of the inequality of opportunities, salaries and treatment, none of these women would trade their gender for the world, they explained.

“It’s us against the world,” DiCaro said. “And I wouldn’t change that for anything.”

“Look around you right now. You’re already building your network,” Lovejoy said. “Don’t forget to lean on the people beside you.”

Lovejoy first started working at Cook Medical after one of her IU professors informed her of a job opening during her senior year. She has spent the past eight years moving up through the company. She now handles global and crisis communications.

The panelists also spoke on the difficulty of finding a first job in the public relations industry and advised students not to dismiss internships or extracurricular activities when writing resumes.

“Any time you can prove that you took advantage of leadership opportunities in school, overcame any challenges or showed how much you care, you should include it on your resume,” Aprison said.

One student expressed concern over not having enough experience to qualify for open positions and asked for advice.

“I remember the frustration of seeing ‘one to three years of experience required’ on every posting,” Lovejoy said. “Remember that you really need to capitalize on those internships and leadership roles that show your work ethic.”

Panelists also said that the best way to find jobs and make your resume stand out is to connect with potential employers before applying.

“I’ve gotten a lot of jobs from openings that weren’t even posted,” Brown said. “I kept connections with the people I worked with, and that’s why, when a job opened up, my resume was at the top of the pile.”

Students also learned about the importance of keeping a clean image on social media, how to prepare for an initial interview and ways to take advantage of their remaining time in college.

Prince agreed. At the beginning, you should be willing to go anywhere and do anything for work.

“Look for something other than your dream job,” he said. “Open it up a little bit.”

Students also asked for advice on how to land internships and jobs and how stand out in a pool of countless applicants.

The takeaway: It’s all in the cover letter.

“Take time to sit down and read the job description,” Berry said. “Customize and write your letter really well and even send some extra clips and links to show how diverse your work is… Show us the stuff you’re proud of.”

“The resume is the what and the how, and the cover letter is the why,” Linstroth said. “The cover letter tells us what your resume doesn’t, so make something personal.”

Another important factor, they said, is how you portray yourself both in your personal and professional settings. Employers look at all of it when they are making the decision on whether to hire you or not.

“I know some people who will read the last four things you tweeted,” Lennie said.

Berry also said maintaining a healthy social media presence will help you in finding an employer you like as well.

“If you are on social media, you are a brand,” Berry said. “You need to keep that up so you can decide ‘whose brand can link up with mine?’”

Then, once you get that job or internship, maintain a good work ethic to keep that position and get better ones down the road.

Linstroth emphasized the importance of being a self-starter in the office, especially as an intern.

“Come in with your own curiosity, and challenge yourself,” said Linstroth. “Take your own initiative.”

According to the alumni, inquisitiveness going forward as a journalist or member of the media is critical.

“Get off your phone. You learn so much more when you overhear and engage in conversation,” said Lennie, warning against the “echo chamber that is your newsfeed.” At the very least, he said, diversify the accounts you follow and surround yourself with all different kinds of people.

Linstroth said that, if it “feeds your journalism career,” then it is not a bad experience. He encouraged students to go abroad and work in a foreign country.

“When you are living in another culture, you notice more and you gain confidence,” he said.

The alumni also shared journalism tips on working in a professional media setting. When asked where and how they develop story ideas, they said methods range from reading old newspapers to localizing current national and international stories.

Prince said his personal interests and history play a role in the stories he tells and how he tells them

“Experiences shape the understanding of your story,” he said.

No matter how well journalists report and write the stories, they will be edited and critiqued. Berry said every time she sees her work covered in red ink, she tries to remember that “your editor wants you to be good, too.”

“That is how you can tell the difference between a pro and an amateur,” said Linstroth. “A pro can take criticism, especially from the boss.”

Despite the challenges of the industry, especially right now, speakers said they love their jobs. Prince said if you are happy to spend a full day in the office and then go home and do more work, that is a good sign.

“If you have a job that you don’t want to turn off, then you know you love it,” he said.

Ariel Stein, a sophomore studying journalism and sociology, said she gained insight needed to become a better journalist right now. She said she came to this panel mainly to hear from Prince as she has an interest in sports journalism. She also is an avid NPR listener, so Linstroth’s presence was a draw.

“I learned to not be afraid to voice your opinion,” Stein said. “Make sure that if you have an idea, voice that idea.”

Stein also learned that, even as a student, she has some of the tools she needs to tell a great story.

“I learned that I can use my knowledge of the world to shape what I write about,” she said. “Every experience I have can have an impact on my storytelling.”