Event deconstructs the marketing and communications industries

Event deconstructs the marketing and communications industries

April 11, 2014
Over 100 students and 25 alumni participated

The Office of Alumni and Career Services brought 25 alumni who work in the marketing and communications industries back to campus Saturday, March 22, to speak with students seeking industry insight, career advice and job-hunting tips.

The first Deconstructing Marketing and Communications event welcomed alumni in the fields of advertising, brand management, business development and sales, fashion marketing and merchandising, market research, and public relations. The daylong workshop allowed the nearly 100 students present to attend three information sessions conducted by alumni in that field before reconvening to hear from Marissa Klein, ’99, who manages the creative division of staffing firm Choice Personnel Inc.

Klein spoke about her work in human resources, creating a strategic resume, and why no student should worry if he or she has not yet received a job or internship offer. She emphasized the strength of the Spider network and encouraged students to reach out to her and other alumni during their job-search process.

Other alumni shared their personal stories of career exploration. Matt Mattox, ‘02, Ryan Keefer, ‘06, and Brittany Brown, ‘06, started out in law before transitioning to advertising.

Brown, who was unsure of what she wanted to do as a college senior, said she discovered her passion of advertising because it allowed her to be a “professional student and engage deeply on a subject.” As a strategic planner working on the Chevron account at mcgarrybowen, she traveled to Kazakhstan to learn about its people, culture and cars.

Alumni also shared tips that helped them get the job. After being asked a tough question in a case study interview with Clinique, Meghan Bydlon, ’06, did market research on the question and sent a PowerPoint to the interviewer with her findings, she said. “Do something outside the box,” she advised students.

Edith Vega, ‘10 a demand planner and strategist at Calvin Klein, highlighted the power of networking. She received an offer from Calvin Klein after sitting next to an employee within the company at dinner and impressing him with her knowledge of current events, she said.  

After receiving advice from fellow Spiders and making some new contacts, students were ready to revamp their job and internship search. Klein reminded them to also “have fun, graduate and then come to me.”

Pictured (from left) are Matt Mattox, '02, Brittany Brown, '06, and Ryan Kefer, '06, presenting on advertising. 

Many alumni across various industries are willing to help students learn about an industry or help with their job or internship search. Join the UR Career Connections on LinkedIn to meet and network with some of them.