A Newsletter for IABC Student Members
February 2008, Issue #4
Welcome to the fourth edition of the IABC Student Connection. This monthly newsletter will help you navigate your career path, give you a glimpse of life after graduation, and inform you of current hot topics in communication.
If you have any suggestions on how to make this newsletter more useful, or if you have information you would like to share with other chapters, please e-mail
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In This Issue:
Features:
Features:
Advice: Interviewing is a two-way street: Questions to ask in every interview
When you interview for a job or internship, remember that the experience not only allows the company to decide if they like you, but also serves as an opportunity for you to decide if you like the company. To do this, you must answer the interviewer’s questions honestly as well as ask the interviewer some important questions. This article provides questions to ask your potential employer during a job or internship interview.
To determine if an organization is the right fit for you, ask questions about the company without appearing to have neglected to do your research. For example:
- What is this company’s organizational culture like?
- Is the office laid-back or more structured?
- Are personal conversations and relationships encouraged?
These answers will help you gauge how well you will work in the company’s environment.
- Are there possibilities for upward mobility and professional growth?
- Does the company support continuing education?
- How great is the potential for advancement in the organization?
These questions will help you gain a long-term perspective about your place in the company.
You should also ask questions specific to the position and learn more details about your potential job:
- Can you describe an average day on the job?
This question allows you to imagine yourself completing daily tasks and determine if they appeal to you.
- What are the main challenges facing the person in this position?
The answer will highlight the types of obstacles you may face and help you evaluate whether you would be willing to work through them.
- Who would be my supervisor? Whom would I supervise? With whom would I be working?
Find out who your colleagues would be and decide if you would be comfortable working with them.
Lastly, you should ask questions about the hiring process:
- What’s the next step? Will there be additional interviews?
- When will you make the hiring decision? May I call you? When is a good time?
Learning the answers to these questions will provide you with more information about the organization, position and interviewing process. With all of these facts, you can decide whether you would like to pursue this opportunity or look for another one.†‡
Cool Comm Jobs: Laketa Poindexter at Ropella & Associates
A recent graduate of Florida A&M University, Laketa Poindexter has been working in the communication profession since November 2007. She started her current job at Ropella & Associates only three months after graduating. With a bachelor’s degree in business administration, Laketa works as an executive search consultant for the No. 1 executive search firm specializing in the chemical and allied industries.
Laketa enjoys everything about her job. When asked what she would change about her position, she responded, “Nothing. I like it.”
Due to her father’s military career, Laketa has lived in multiple cities around the world. She was born in Sacramento, California, and has lived in Treasure Island and San Diego, California; Guam; Florida; and Washington, D.C. Laketa loved moving around and experiencing new cultures.
Read the following interview to learn about how Laketa found her current position, the amazing people she talks to everyday, and the activities and life choices that guided her career path.
Q: What made you decide to go into the communication field?
A: I didn’t really decide to go into the communication field; it simply comes naturally to me. I think that you should always do something that feels natural to you. Moving around so much growing up probably influenced me, because I constantly needed to adapt to different cultures, which tested my communication skills.
Q: What is your role in your local IABC chapter?
A: At this time, we do not have a local chapter in my area. I keep in touch with the First Coast Chapter [Jacksonville, Florida], which was the professional chapter associated with the Florida A&M University student chapter. I founded the student chapter and served as president while attending the university.
Q: How did you hear about your current position?
A: At a job fair in Milton, on the naval base where my mother works. Meeting potential employers in person is the coolest thing. At a job fair you get to talk to employers; it’s like an interview before the interview. You can also interview the employers, to see if you like their company. Communicating in person gives you a chance to shine and make an impression. When you communicate through writing or over the phone, you only get tone and words. When you communicate face-to-face, you have tone, visual and word components, which adds so much more.
I liked the professional nature of the Ropella & Associates booth. The information and people were well organized, which told me a lot about their company’s culture. I was impressed.
Q: What does Ropella & Associates do?
A: We recruit people for positions such as in middle level management and the most senior level executives in research and development, marketing, etc. It’s a talent war out there—everyone’s looking for the best. We help with the search.
Q: What is your job title? What exactly do you do?
A: My job title is executive search consultant. I help companies fill open employment positions. Generally, the positions pay compensation packages more than US$100,000. I specifically work within the cosmetic/personal care and soaps/detergents industries. I get qualified people interested in the positions by marketing the jobs well and explaining the benefits to potential candidates. Once candidates are pooled, I work with both the client (the employer) and the candidate (the potential employee) throughout the process, ensuring that the candidate has the necessary information to present himself well, and facilitate the salary negotiation process.
Q: What skills do you think are important to do your job well?
A: Being able to communicate well in all aspects, not just speaking. Organization skills are important as well, allowing you to prioritize and multitask effectively. Instead, I need an ability to probe candidates and skillfully provide a rebuttal when someone is hesitant. Because I work specifically with cosmetic/personal care and soap/detergent companies, I need to be knowledgeable about these industries, so I read trade magazines, attend trade shows and conferences, etc. It’s a continual learning environment.
Q: If you could ask your CEO anything, what would it be?
A: The thing about my company is that since we only have around 30 employees, the CEO is right down the hall. He actually just left my office. I guess I’d just say hi, and ask him what he was doing for lunch. I’d also ask him what he was thinking of doing next. He has the biggest entrepreneurial bug I’ve ever seen. He pioneered this company, as well as four other sister companies. He’s always thinking and would probably describe another 10 ideas he has if I asked that question.
Q: Is there anything you wish you had known coming out of college that you know now?
A: Yes. I wish I would have known that life after university wasn’t going to be like a fairy tale. I didn’t have a job waiting for me after graduation. I had completed one big step by graduating from the Florida A&M University, but there are so many other big steps in life. I have to be patient. Of course, there are those anomalies who graduate from university and are working in the top of their field already. I thought I would get my degree and make US$80,000 immediately. I found out that doesn’t happen for everyone.
Q: Do you have any recommendations or advice for students thinking about entering the communication field?
A: Be genuine in your communication at all times; it will be the most effective. And learn the art of organization because it will take you far.
Read the full interview
Member Benefit Highlight: IABC Job Centre
Looking for a job or internship in the communication profession? IABC’s Job Centre can help.
The IABC Job Centre is the definitive career resource for the communication profession, serving job seekers and employers in all industries and communication functions.
You can post your résumé online for employers to review, as well as search the listed positions by keyword, location or job type. All of the information you put on the web site is completely anonymous. Your name and contact information is concealed from employers, so you do not need to worry about your current employer finding your listing or receiving unsolicited requests.
The Job Centre allows you to create a Career Profile, complete with your experience and answers to a series of questions called “interviews” to further explain your knowledge and experience within a field, so that you can offer more information to potential employers. If an employer is interested in your résumé, an overview of the job opportunity will be e-mailed to you and placed in the “My Contact Requests” section of your account. You will then have 14 days to review the overview and respond by either clicking the “Contact Me!” button to release your identity and contact information, or taking no action to keep your identity secret. Be sure to check “My Message Box” for messages from employers.
To actively look for employment, you can search the Job Centre using a keyword, a location by state or country, or a job type, organized by job function and industry. You can save your searches to review in the future, or create an automated search that runs each night (or week) called a Job Alert. These Job Alerts will find newly posted job opportunities that match your search criteria. When the alert finds a match, it will e-mail you a brief summary of the position with a link to the job description. This is a great tool to keep you up-to-date on the newest employment opportunities.
You can also organize your search results by saving them under “My Saved Jobs.” Once you apply for one of the jobs in this list, it will automatically be removed and placed in the “My Job Applications” section, which tracks only the jobs that you have applied for using the Job Centre web site.
If you’re using all of the IABC Job Centre’s tools and not receiving any responses, you can ask one of our career experts for advice. Visit the Career Resources section of the web site to get assistance with identifying your values, interests, personal preferences, abilities, accomplishments and work style. You can also receive help on your résumé, researching companies, career development, salary negotiation, interviewing, networking and long-term planning. You can schedule a session with a career coach or ask the experts through the web site. The coaches have also compiled a list of web sites with excellent career advice. Access to this library of sites is free and you can find information on topics ranging from interviewing tips to effective résumés and cover letters to finding the job that best fits you.
Whether you’re just starting the job-seeking process or you’ve found yourself in a rut, access the IABC Job Centre today to improve your chances of finding the right communication job for you.
How will you make time to be creative in your thinking?
by Ed Bernacki
Thinking is crucial for solving problems and creating new opportunities.
Here is the paradox. According to research conducted by NFI Research in July 2006, when senior executives were asked, “Where do you do your thinking?” they said:
- At home (58%).
- Commuting to work (50%).
- At the office (45%).
- During brainstorming sessions (38%).
(Respondents could choose more than one option.)
It’s staggering to consider that half of those surveyed don’t feel that their businesses are effective places for thinking. As students, consider how you will harness your thinking at the start of your careers.
I suspect it will not be in front of a computer. Computers are good for recording ideas. I have yet to meet people who find them useful for brainstorming original insights and ideas. Ideas will come in meetings, in conversations, in collaborations, over coffee or in reflection. Therefore, what tool can capture your thinking to create value? I suggest you invest in quality notebooks and turn them into your idea journals. Journals were useful for Rembrandt, Edison and Einstein and they still have a purpose.
Divide your journals into three sections.
Use the first four pages to capture insights, those “A-ha!” moments that leave you saying, “I never thought of that before.” These are important as they draw your attention. Capture them.
Use two or three pages to answer this question: Where do I need creative thinking? Write down this question at the top of a page. Think broadly. What do you want to create over the next year? Define challenges that need solutions. For now these challenges may be small, such as future assignments. But they could be used to develop programs or resolve staff issues. This is your contents page. Number each challenge.
In the third section, take each challenge and write it on the top of a new page. If you have four challenges, then use four separate pages. Whether you are sitting at school, at home or on a bus, pick one of your challenges and think about it. Don’t be worried if the big idea does not come right away. Start by asking:
- What assumptions have we made about this situation? Are they still valid?
- Have we tried to solve this in the past? Why did the solution fail?
- What’s possible if this idea is successful?
Once you have an idea, ask, “What’s great and what’s not so great about my solution?”
Capture your observations, insights and conclusions. Sometimes nothing comes to mind. Don’t fret—it takes time to develop ideas. The key is to advance toward a solution, remembering that your first ideas may be good, but they will need more creative thinking to become great. There is little point acting on mediocre ideas when a great idea could take only a few days of focus to achieve. Invest the same amount of time each day.
The best definition of creativity I know is this: To be creative you must create something. The best ideas will be those you create. Focus on insights that intrigue you. Define the challenges you face. Focus on finding solutions and create something. An idea journal is a perfect tool to capture your thinking.
About the Author
Ed Bernacki created the Idea Factory to help people be more innovative in their thinking. He has used journals for about 15 years and still reviews older ones to rediscover old ideas and insights. He also created specialized journals for people who attend conferences called the Conference Navigator Guides.
Student Spotlight: Chizzy Igbokwe - An American in Paris
Chizzy Igbokwe of Maplewood, New Jersey has always wanted to study abroad. Perhaps this desire stemmed from her extensive travels as a child. Every year, Chizzy spent her summers and winter holidays in Nigeria visiting family. At the time, all she wanted to do was attend summer camp and take swimming lessons, but she now appreciates these trips to Nigeria and plans to give her children the same experiences.
Chizzy is fulfilling her desire to study abroad by attending the American University of Paris (AUP) for a master’s degree in global communication. Chizzy plans to pursue an international career, and feels that studying abroad was the best first step. Her first two attempts to study abroad didn’t succeed—due to program requirements. Then the AUP established a new global communication program and Chizzy knew she was destined to participate.
Read the following interview to learn more about Chizzy’s experience studying abroad and her career aspirations.
Q: How did you choose global communication as your area of study?
A: I’ve always been interested in communication. When I started school, I studied business marketing. I considered switching my studies to communication, but making that change would have added another year to my undergraduate career, so I decided to attain a master’s in communication instead. The program at AUP is a more creative, yet strategic track than getting an MBA. It incorporates a global aspect, which is important because we need to understand things outside of our own environment. I’m attracted to companies with international locations because when you know what others are doing, you gain a better understanding of what you should be doing.
Q: What are you most proud of?
A: I’ve always followed my passion. My parents were concerned about me going to Paris, but I knew that there was no better opportunity than studying global communication in a global environment with professors who have taught in multiple countries. I also choose my jobs based on whether I like them, not solely based on pay rates. I’m patient enough to follow my passion and let it lead me to where I want to be.
Q: What is the first thing you think when you wake up?
A: “What do I have to do today?” The answer determines whether I get up or go back to sleep.
Q: How many jobs/internships have you held? What were they?
A: I’ve had a lot of different jobs and internships. I’ve always had part time jobs, but I recently had my first real 9 a.m.–5 p.m. entry-level job as an account administrator at an advertising research agency. It didn’t work out. The position didn’t fit my interests, but it helped me piece together what the industry was about. I looked at my supervisors and didn’t see myself being happy in their positions. It was good to try, because now I know I don’t want to work in that area.
Q: Do you currently have a job or internship in a communication field?
A: Yes, I am working as an intern for the ECU film festival, which takes place in the second weekend of March. I am doing some event planning and online marketing.
Q: Do you have a mentor?
A: No, not yet. This is another area where IABC can help. Kristen [Sukalac], the IABC/France chapter president, has talked to an established branding professional about me, so hopefully I can speak with him soon and learn from his experiences. IABC allows you to connect with anyone in the field and make a name for yourself.
Q: What is your ultimate career goal?
A: I’d like to have my own brand management consulting firm, helping start-up companies build their brand in the beginning instead of restructuring older companies’ brands. There is irony behind my goal. Just a short while ago, there was little that could convince me to buy a particular brand. Now, for example, I only use Arm & Hammer body products. Ten years ago, I couldn’t imagine thinking, “Oh, Coca-Cola makes this, it must be good.” But now, I trust the brand, not just the product. And to me, understanding why is the fun part.
Q: What is your favorite benefit that IABC offers?
A: Networking with business professionals. I wanted to join the American Marketing Association when I was an undergraduate, but I never did. Now, I have a second chance to become involved in an association related to my career aspirations. I like that IABC provides a tight-knit community through chapters, while also connecting you to a large membership of communication professionals. This allows you to cater IABC’s services to your own niche.
Q: What would you say to other students who are thinking of joining IABC or starting a chapter?
A: Don’t wait until you’re in graduate school to join IABC. If I had known about all of the benefits IABC provides when I was an undergraduate, I would have joined immediately. Take action now—don’t wait
Read the full interview
Student Submission: School assists in success at work
by Matt Jeneroux
Being a part-time student and full-time communication officer at Alberta Blue Cross in Edmonton has its challenges, but the most rewarding aspect of doing both is that I am able to apply what I learn in the classroom to my job. By taking specialized public relations courses at Grant MacEwan College and practicing the techniques in real time at my job, I’m becoming a better student and an experienced practitioner. This experience contrasts with my time attending the University of Alberta. I can’t even recall the names of some of the classes I took, let alone what I learned in them, but when you study public relations, you truly practice every component of what you learn.
In my position as communication officer, I’ve been able to put into practice what I learned in my classes by developing strong communication plans, using effective techniques when interacting with external clientele and writing with correct grammar. More specifically, working in the insurance industry provides me with numerous opportunities to learn hands-on skills that make me a well-rounded practitioner. I’m able to work for a large, credible organization with many opportunities available to me, whereas if I worked in a smaller organization, these tasks wouldn’t necessarily be required. For example, we have an internal newsletter that’s published weekly, which allows me to practice my writing skills by contributing articles. I can see a tangible outcome from my work every week.
I also participate in larger corporate projects where I’m able to develop communication plans and determine which audiences to address and why, subjects I learned while attending part-time classes at Grant MacEwan College. My job also offers a large degree of diversity; working with an excellent design team, I’ve been able to create a variety of projects such as brochures, bulletins, reports and web site content. The basics of print design are another component I learned while enrolled in various public relations courses. It makes it easier to adapt and understand the techniques our graphic designers use throughout a project, which is a necessary skill to have in any organization.
One of the largest aspects of my job is working on our extensive advertising and marketing campaigns. I’ve been able to learn the techniques of dealing with numerous external clients hands-on. These are the same skills I learned in my public relations courses—skills you wouldn’t necessarily learn in any other profession.
I highly recommend that existing practitioners and students learn all they can from their public relations classes, as everything is practical and applicable in the real world.
Write a piece for the newsletter
As always, we want to hear from you. Now’s your chance to see your byline in an internationally-distributed newsletter.
Sections for submission include:
- Advice – Articles with practical tips on what to do while in school and after school to find a job (interviewing recommendations, internship insight, etc.).
- Cool Comm Jobs – Interviews with young professionals working at interesting jobs in the communication field.
- Member Benefit Highlight – Explain how using a member benefit helped you and why other students should take advantage of it.
- Student Spotlight – Interview an IABC student member you admire.
- Miscellaneous – Discuss a past event or current job. Recommend classes or books. Write about any other issue relevant to students.
You can submit any original article you think would interest your fellow IABC student members. You will be notified if we decide to use your piece.
Submit your original work to
and gain bragging rights about being published in an official newsletter.
†Source: Letourneau, T. M. (2007) Secrets to interview success. Job Choices for Business and Liberal Arts Students, 48-51.
‡From the UCSB Writing Program’s Business Communication Emphasis, Class of 2007, http://www.bizcommucsb.com/nl/v2_interview.html.
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