Communication News

Congratulations to Business Communication senior Brittany Whitley who will not only graduate a semester early, but has now been accepted at Georgetown University for a Master's degree program. The degree in Sports Industry Management  will help students "gain a deeper understanding of the dynamics, planning, and operations pertinent to the success of multi-million-dollar athletes, businesses, brands, and events that make up the $75 billion-dollar, rapidly changing sports market," according to the website. Courses for the degree begin in January.

Brittany's interest in the sports management career field was complemented by her participation on Stevenson's NCAA Division III women's basketball team, among other interests. The department wishes her the best of success! (Photo from gomustangsports.com)

(Graphic from Sonya Lawyer via SU)

Reminiscent of the former "lunch lessons" the business communication department hosted for several years, 47 House has created a similar program whereby students can learn from professionals in the communication field. Evening Coffee Chats will take place over the next few months, as the club leads up to the annual business mixer, called BizMix, a networking event that takes place annually in March. 

Kicking off the series of Coffee Chats is alum Claudia Tonti, who serves as the marketing and public relations coordinator at The Modell Lyric Performing Arts Center in Baltimore. This virtual event will take place the evening of Thursday, November 12, from 7 p.m. - 8 p.m.

All are welcome to attend. The link is: https://stevenson.bluejeans.com/275285879

Stevenson Business Communication major and women's basketball senior forward Brittany Whitley was fortunate to grab a Ballpark Operations Internship with the Baltimore Orioles in January, 2020. According to GoMustangSports.com, "A simple search on Teamwork Online led her to the opportunity to work with the professional baseball team." The senior was one of several featured in an article on Stevenson's athletics website.

Even during her basketball season, Whitley was going to the ballpark three to four times a week preparing for the 2020 baseball season. However, because of changes wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic, her duties switched to meeting with the ballpark operations team virtually three to four times a week.

The senior hopes to begin a career in sports PR and communications after she graduates. She told GoMustangSports.com, “Helping athletes or even teams/organizations with public awareness or statements or marketing through social media is definitely a place I want to be a part of... I think what goes on behind the scenes to create a successful game day is so exciting and I know I want to be a part of that magic.”

The senior was thrilled with her internship, noting that it solidified her decision to work in sports. Though COVID-19 ended her internship, she still believes the hands-on experience leading up to MLB Opening Day was invaluable.

Have you been unable to get that foot-in-the-door interview, even though you sent your "perfectly acceptable" resume? Here are some terrific tips to avoid from LinkedIn guru Philip Chesney, a product manager at Alef Education.

1. Are you local? Most employers would generally prefer to hire someone who does not have to upend his or her life to start a job.

2. Are you authorized to work in the USA? There's a lot of red tape to cut through, otherwise. Find out which employers can handle the challenge.

3. Do you meet at least 70% of the minimum requirements of the posted job? Maybe you are not a perfect fit, but you need to meet most of the qualifications.

4. Do you have large unexplained employment gaps? If so, make sure you note classes you were taking or something you were doing during the gaps.

5. Are there too many short stays at previous jobs noted on your resume? If so, do you really need to mention all those jobs of short duration?

6. Did you take the time to actually name your resume correctly? Like, "Bill Smith Resume"

7. Have you carefully checked for spelling and grammar? Try to get a faculty member's eyes on your resume before it's sent out.

8. Have you formatted your resume for clarity, interest and priorities? Some kind of design will set you apart.

9. Is your resume too long? For anyone entering the job market, a concise one-page resume is the way to go.

10. Does your work and study experience actually match the job description?

11. Is your salary requirement in line with what sites like Glassdoor suggest? Or is your ask way out of the ballpark?

Take some time to get that resume in good shape for the job hunt this fall!