IMC Hawks Blog

Category: Communication Studies

  • A Framework for Our Future

    I never could imagine all facets of my Communication Studies career at UNCW would come to a close at the exact same time. I am in the cusp of finishing my departmental honors project, currently transitioning positions for the COM honors fraternity Lambda Pi Eta, and now the last day of classes is dawning. I am moderately overwhelmed; however, it is a familiar feeling. As a student entering the department three years ago, I was quite oblivious to what career I truly wanted to pursue come May, 2010. Unfortunately now a week shy of May, I am still just as oblivious. BUT before everyone reading recedes in shock, I DO possess one feeling in regards to my future I did not before, which is passion. Passion for my major, passion for my department, and passion for IMC (not a promo for the class, I promise). Having taken classes in integrated marketing communications truly has opened my eyes to a whole new way of pursuing communication studies.

     Hybridizing marketing and communications while outlying features such as social media, public relations, and advertising, creates a captivating discipline. It is truly unique in that IMC provides a surplus of prospective job opportunities, graduate school programs, and opportunities abroad for students interested in the field of study. IMC students have the advantage of being multifaceted within their major, gaining both client and corporate experience while utilizing new forms of social media to boost their own personal brand. It is such a rich subject that allows students the flexibility for growth and expertise.

    So as my time at UNCW and my participation with the IMC Hawk team comes to a close, more than overwhelmed, I now feel confident. I feel confident in the success of my peers, confident for myself, and confident for our future. No matter what career, school, or volunteer path we decide to take, IMC Hawks rest assured, our knowledge of IMC will be there offering support, and laying the groundwork for all the implausible feats we are surely to face.

    –Stephanie Saulsbury

  • Navigating your career without fear: Tips from the professionals to help secure a job!

    This time of year is particularly hectic in the business world as resumes from soon-to-be college graduates flood HR departments across the country. On Wednesday, April 14th, Capstrat held their 4th Annual Networking Night in Raleigh, NC.  The theme of the night was “Networking GPS:  How to Navigate Your Career”.  There were three sessions of panel discussions, each with their own topic and tips.  Among the panelist were Jennifer Anderson, Social Media Strategist for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, Melody Hunter-Pillion, Media Relations Manager for Rex Healthcare, and Erin Lane, Director of Marketing Communications for Scandinavian Child.  In total, there were 13 panelists who shared their valuable insights.

    The first session focused on career development and the importance of networking.  All of the panelists agreed that networking is about building relationships. Keep in mind, one should never burn bridges because you never know how important that connection could become.  Also, while networking, the word “job” is taboo.  No one wants to be bombarded with a resume. You must first establish a connection.  In addition, go above and beyond the job description. Your first job will not be your last, so use it to propel your career.

    The second session focused on emerging job trends. Contrary to popular belief, according to these professionals, it is acceptable to stay at a company for one to two years and then move on. Businesses understand that the “millennials,” people born from 1980 onward, are in positions to learn skills, and gain experience. Another key insight during this session was to bring something extra to the table. Since many public relations firms are relatively small, a person with an expertise in addition to their PR knowledge will have a great advantage.  Develop skills that aren’t necessarily for your job but that are applicable, such as web page design, social media, etc.

    The final session was on building your personal brand and social media.  LinkedIn is a great tool to use, as well as Twitter.  Follow people on Twitter in your industry of interest.  You never know who is reading your tweets, so make them interesting, appropriate and something people want to read.  While looking for a job, maximize your potential. Create a Web site with your own domain name, post your e-portfolio and demonstrate your capabilities.  Personal branding and social media aid people in developing an online presence and help mold how they want to be viewed.

    Keep all of this in the back of your mind while exploring career options and make yourself standout among the rest!

    Danielle Murray, Writer

    Rachel Kaylor, Editor

  • Event Planning 101

    When many people think of event planning they think of weddings, galas and other extravagant parties. While these are occasions that require an event planner, many other corporate events such as meetings and conventions requiring the expertise of an event planner as well. Event planning is key to the success of IMC. Events can be used to showcase new ideas or products, raise awareness and or profits for a cause or simply celebrate success. A few students from our class are currently exploring the event planning process, helping to plan a 10 year celebration event for a local charter school. Students are learning first hand all the intricate details and preparation that come along with event planning.

    An event planner is someone who coordinates every detail for the specific occasion. They deal with finding and securing an appropriate venue, choosing food and beverages and finding a supplier for AV equipment if needed. With this being said, event planners should be comfortable with details and deadlines. While preparation for an event is the bulk of the work, don’t think that on the day of the event you’ll be relaxing. During the event itself, you are responsible for making sure things run smoothly including registration, raffle prizes, food service etc. The industry does have it’s upsides too. Event planners often get to travel a lot and visit beautiful hotels and destinations either regionally, internationally or both depending on where the events you plan are being held. You are also constantly meeting new people, some who are highly influential in todays world.

    Those in the event planning field can either find work for corporations that have an event planning department in house or they can work for an outside company that is contracted to do work. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, event planning is expected be grow faster than average for all occupations in the upcoming years. The average salary for employees of the field in May 2008 was about $44,000 per year with a high of around $75,000. Event planning provides it’s employees with many options to find work as well as a career with a growing future.

    As with most careers a great place to start is with an internship. Nonprofit foundations, wedding planners and schools are just some of the many businesses that could offer potential internships or volunteer opportunities. Classes that the UNCW Communication Department offers such as interpersonal communication in addition to IMC and Adv. IMC will help better prepare you for the job as well.  Although there may be a lot of details and pressure involved with event planing, the people you meet and places you can go are endless.

    Jess Smith

  • Com Studies Graduates Share Their Experiences

    Today, I had the opportunity to see a panel of five recent (graduating between 2004 and 2009) UNCW Communication Studies graduates. After giving a brief introduction of where they each studied at UNCW and what their current job positions involve, the floor was opened up to questions. I would like to share some of the panelists’ responses that struck me the most.

    A common theme shared among the panelists: make the most of your time in school. Panelists especially urged seniors to challenge themselves by taking as many 400 level courses as they can, because those classes will provide the best experience and preparation for post-graduation life. Similarly, panelists talked about how internships played immensely important roles in their development and transition to entry-level positions. Continuing the thought, when asked about the importance of GPA’s and transcripts in the interview process, panelists unanimously expressed that little concern was given to GPA’s and transcripts, and that employers were much more interested in extracurricular activities and work experience.

    Here are a few other comments that I found particularly useful:

    Regarding the need for strong written communication skills, Chris Duke stressed the importance of writing “clear and concise.”

    When asked about bringing new ideas to an organization, Laura Smith suggested spending time learning everyone’s preferences, because unlike teachers’ seemingly endless enthusiasm for participation, professionals may not always be so receptive.

    And lastly, my personal favorite insight of the night came from Chris Duke. Paraphrasing, Chris said, “Use the opportunity during the interview to ask questions that give you a feel for the organization and the culture.”

    Wrapping up both Business Week and Com Studies Day, we hope everyone was able to use the myriad networking opportunities. If you feel you may not have done enough networking, or perhaps you’ve got “the networking bug” now, be aware that there are plenty of networking opportunities in Wilmington regularly. Visit WilmingtonNetworkingEvents.com for a calendar with each month’s events.

    For a full transcript of our Com Studies Day live-blogging, click here.

    – Terry Hayes

  • Com Studies Day

    Today is UNCW’s Com Studies day. Through out the day we have events happening, such as a fashion show, an alumni panel, and a reception which our class will cover through live blog. You can keep up with us through out the day by clicking here

  • Networking opportunities galore!

    The Communication Studies department offers a wide variety of events for students to connect with professionals in the field including internships (which was discussed in a previous blog post this week), Project Protégé and the alumni panels on Communication Studies Day. The Communication Studies Society sponsors Project Protégé where students are paired with professionals in the Wilmington area. Students must apply for placement in the program. It offers students a valuable opportunity to network and gain insight to their respective fields.

    Tomorrow, Friday, March 26, 2010, is Communication Studies day, which is sponsored by the Communication Studies department. Communication Studies Day is an annual celebration of our discipline that allows students the opportunity to network with alumni who work in communication related industries.

    Tune in tomorrow for our exciting live blog where our class will update information on who is speaking on the panels, what the panelists experiences have been in the field, the panelists advice to students and what to wear/what not to wear to interviews via the Dress for Success fashion show. We hope you join us on Communication Studies Day! Below is the schedule:

    10:00-11:00 Panel presentation by alumni (Leutze Hall 125) (LIVE BLOG)

    11:00-11:30 Networking session with panelists (Leutze Lobby)

    12:15-1:15 Dress for Success Fashion Show presented by Communication Studies Society (Warwick Center Ballroom) (LIVE BLOG)

    2:00-3:00 Panel presentation by alumni (Leutze Hall 125) (LIVE BLOG)

    3:00-3:30 Networking session with panelists (Leutze Lobby)

    4:00 Social at Wrightsville Grille

    -Rachel Kaylor

  • Exploring The World Through Communication Studies

    Now more than ever, it is important for us as future employees to set ourselves apart from the competition. What better way then to study and live in another country? UNCW encourages travel abroad and specifically our very own Communication Studies Department, offers a multitude of opportunities.

    The Office of International Programs and our department offer a variety of programs tailed to fit any student seeking to gain insight into life across the pond or even across the world.  Programs can range in a length from about 10 days all the way up to one year. A variety of university’s in a number of counties are already approved for study, specifically to the Communication Department, Swansea University. During the Spring 09 semester we even had one of our own faculty members serve as a leader for students.

    While abroad there are many opportunities one can engage in to enrich their cultural experiences.  Students can take classes at accredited universities, which count toward their degree from UNCW.  Communication classes can be taken in marketing as well as public relations and advertising. Taking classes in a different environment helps to put a fresh outlook on concepts we have learned. Various internships are also available through certain programs and in certain countries. Imagine gaining work experience internationally! Traveling is encouraged during school breaks and weekends to other countries via train or air.  This is a great way to see parts of the world you might not otherwise have such easy access to.

    Studying abroad not only allows you go places you’ve never been, it is also helpful in giving a fresh prospective to your academic studies and sets you apart to future employers. Experiencing things you may not have the opportunity to on a traditional vacation makes you more aware of the world we live in. Take advantage of any opportunity available to you and I promise you won’t regret it!

    -Jess Smith