Communication News

A random search of LinkedIn has revealed that the field of real estate has significant appeal to Business Communication alumni. Among others, Morgan Buckingham, Lauren Shapiro, Matt Staud, Melinda Kane, Patrick Marsiglia, and Kelly Taylor have chosen this field or at least practiced in it for a time. What draws the Business Communication majors to this career path? An article in the Real Estate Express notes five characteristics of the most successful real estate agents. Let's see how the BizComm major addresses this career path.

#1: A desire to help people

Real estate agents are in a service profession. Their careers depend upon their ability to serve others, and classes like Interpersonal Communication and Small Group Communication target and develop the skills necessary to succeed in a service-oriented profession.

#2: Enthusiasm for real estate

The most successful agents love the entire business of real estate, including the sales and negotiation aspects. Business Communication students take courses in Conflict and Negotiation, Marketing, Survey of Accounting and Integrated Marketing Communication -- all of which help students to understand and compete in the world of business.

#3: Energy and drive

The world of real estate professionals demands energy, drive, and organization. Relying on well-developed interpersonal skills, event planning techniques, management abilities, and public relations expertise, the Business Communication graduate is well-prepared for the demands of the job.

#4: A winning personality

Clients are looking for a real estate agent with whom they feel comfortable, and Business Communication graduates have learned the necessity of being good listeners and clear communicators. They pay attention to their clients' nonverbal indicators and are tuned in to other interpersonal signals. Personality depends on relationships, and BizComms are terrific in that area!

#5: Strong business acumen

Real estate professionals not only have to understand complex transactions, but they also have to be able to explain them to clients. So being a clear communicator who understands the world of business and sales is essential -- and that's exactly what Business Communication graduates have learned.

We've noticed that quite a few Business Communication grads have chosen careers as recruiters in a variety of industries. Charlie Taylor (in the photo at left during his internship experience) is working as a technical recruiter at TEKSystems; Julia Cooke has worked as a recruiter for Baltimore Research; and Tiera Willey currently is a talent acquisition specialist for Network Building and Consulting, previously in the same position with MGM National Harbor.  Jess Demko, Frederick Terry, Mike Edwards and Matt Bratter are recruiting for Aerotek, and Travis Douglas is working as a recruiter for StaffEx -- just to name a few! What is it about the Business Communication major that prepares students so well for a career as a recruiter? Let's take a look at what LinkedIn describes as the most essential qualities of a a modern recruiter.

The 9 Essential Qualities of Modern Recruiters, from LinkedIn's Talent Blog

1. Is a good listener and clear communicator.

       For Business Communication majors, this skill is taught from the first day of Public Speaking, and reinforced in Interpersonal Communication, Small Group Communication, and a variety of other classes in which communication skills are stressed.

2. Creates a sense of urgency so that matches actually get made and no time is wasted.

       Two semesters of Journalism are instrumental in teaching students the importance of meeting deadlines, getting interviews completed in a timely manner, and turning in homework and research on time.

3. Has a keen sense of timing, patience and the ability to act quickly when the time is right.

       The faculty in the department hold their students to standards regarding assignment dates, and the curriculum in Business and Professional Communication, as well as a required internship experience, help students to develop these skills. Internship site supervisors help their interns learn the rhythms of the business world.

4. Can filter through a laundry-list of requirements and decipher which are truly motivating factors -- aka. the must-haves vs nice-to-haves.

       Learning how to prioritize is taught in Organizational Communication, and is a skill most interns develop during their experiential learning semesters, when multi-tasking is often demanded on a daily basis.

5. Can motivate, support, and whip someone into shape when needed.

      An interesting fact -- many BizComm majors are NCAA or club sport athletes, so they understand the importance of motivation and support. Their ability to communicate clearly and effectively helps them with interpersonal relationships.

6. Understands available recruiting tools and ability to identify the right bait to lure your catch.

       Majors graduate with a clear understanding of the many tools available to them, whether on a MAC or a PC. Their knowledge of Microsoft and Adobe software prepares them for transfer learning as well, and they graduate adept at picking up software demands.

7. Creates an optimal process that can be customized for individuals.

       Courses in Conflict and Negotiation, and in Public Relations, for instance, teach students in the major how to address the needs of specific audiences. They have learned that language can be adapted to meet the demands of others and know how to do so.

8. Manages egos and expectations.

      By the time Business Communication majors are ready to graduate, they have become exceptional listeners and are able to peel away any interference in the communication channels. They understand the importance of realistic expectations and are able to communicate directly about their ideas.

9. Pays attention to the details. All of them.

       The demands of the major's many writing courses teach students how to be careful readers and writers. Additionally, in Intercultural Communication, students learn to pay attention to the details of their language choices and assumptions.

Stevenson University Business Communication senior and quarterback Dan Williams has been named as one of 169 candidates for the 2018 Allstate/American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team.

According to gomustangsports.com, "the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team has been one of the most esteemed honors in college football for more than 25 years. The student-athletes who are nominated for this award not only demonstrate a unique dedication to community service and desire to make a positive impact on the lives around them, but they also show tremendous perseverance as well as the ability to overcome personal struggles and come out victorious against all odds."

To be considered by Allstate and the AFCA for a nomination, each player must be actively involved with a charitable organization or service group while maintaining a strong academic standing. 

Williams has served as a two-year team captain for the Mustangs and is a weekly volunteer at Baltimore's Mount Washington Pediatric Hospital. He has also participated in the Mustangs' annual spring reading program at Mechanicsville Elementary School in Sykesville, Md.. served as a volunteer with Carroll County Special Olympics, and worked as a football instructor for Special Olympics during the 2017 NCAA Convention in Nashville, Tenn.

On campus, Williams is a team representative to the Stevenson Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and is also the vice president of Stevenson's chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA).

On the field, Williams is a two-time Middle Atlantic Conference First Team selection and the 2016 MAC Offensive Player of the Year and a 2016 D3football.com All-Region selection. He is the program record holder in every passing category and enters his senior season with 55 touchdowns and 6,026 passing yards.  (Thanks to gomustangsports.com for this information and photograph)