Communication News

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!

From LinkedIn content strategist Shanee Moret -- some terrific words of hiring wisdom that includes advice for job seekers as well:

"We hired a Gen-Z candidate with zero experience. Here’s why...

They arrived 10 min early for their morning interview (respect ✊), pronounced my name correctly (major kudos), had a firm handshake, dressed sharp, and brought a hard copy of their resume (I didn’t need it).

During the interview they smiled, made eye contact, and were honest about having zero experience (I value honesty).

They asked me questions and were eager to learn!

To all the hiring decision makers out there, don’t disqualify someone because they don’t have 'experience.'

If the candidate has integrity and a desire to learn, they can develop skills and experience with your guidance.

More 'experience' does not guarantee a harder work ethic or a better fit.

Sometimes the Gen-Z or Millennial person with little to no experience- who is grateful just for the opportunity- is the better fit because they are humble and hungry to learn.

All they need is for someone to give them a chance to prove their ability, regardless of their lack of experience."
 

Interested interns can look at different careers and put to work their abilities and skills, while still building a professional portfolio and network. Many of these micro-internships are also paid. Interns spend their time working on projects for their employer, and can develop relationships with mentors and other employers.

Here's a possible example of a marketing micro-internship: The intern... "will draft a 1,200-1,400 word article that is consistent with existing content your team has published. The content will include at least two outside sources to backup claims. Just provide the topic and any requests or preferences (e.g., which outside sources to cite, formal versus informal style, examples you like, etc.) and the [intern] will handle the rest. When it’s done, you can use the article for blogging, downloadable content, social posts, and more."

Micro-internships also afford a chance for the intern to see if his or her chosen career path is the right one before making a full-time commitment. When employers look on resumes for job experience, a micro-internship may be just the thing. It's easy to get started on your search -- it takes only five minutes --  by clicking here.