Career Issues for Communication Majors, Graduate School Applications, and First Job Considerations

1. Career Issues for Communication Majors,Graduate School Applications,and First Job Considerations Dr. Dave Seibold COMM 122: Micro- and Macro-Organizational Communication November 30, 2009

2. Introduction • A. Outline: • Career issues • Consulting careers • Graduate school applications • First job considerations

3. Introduction • A. About YOU? • Graduating this year? Next year? • Career path? First job? Where? Relocate? • Had internship yet? Plan to? Organization? • Consulting career? • Grad/professional school in next 5 years? Degree?

4. Introduction • C. What Qualifies Me to Talk about these Career Issues? • Longevity and 30+ Years Experience as Professor at PU, UIUC, USC, UCSB • 25 Years as a Consultant: >75 organizations, > 125 sites, >3500 participants R = 10 - 70 days annually; Md = 50 days annually 60% = for-profit: products (food, clothing, petroleum) services (financial, hospitality, insurance) 30% = non-profit, government: health, international, municipal, associations, support 10% = pro bono, service learning: hospice, mental health, churches, shelters, charities • Co-Director of Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Management Practice, Technology Management Program, College of Engineering, UCSB

5. Career Issues • Choice of Industry as Important as Choice of Firm • Big vs Small vs Own Organization? • Organizational Innovation > Financials • Move! (Change Jobs, Responsibilities, Locations) • Be Impatient -- But Be Organization-Centric • Job < Role • Search for Next Job Constantly • Learn to Network • Apply Theory to Practice • Legacy of Leadership = People

6. Consulting Careers • Master’s Degree Entry Requirement: OC, OD, LIR, HR, MPA, MBA • Get Experience Before & During Master’s: (1) Pre-mngt track in large org (2) Generalist in small org (3) Specialist in large org (4) Work in consulting firm • After Master’s: (1) Consulting firm (large vs small); (2) Internal consultant for large org; (3) Sole proprietor Rates and Earning Potential

7. Graduate School Applications • Know Program Well Before You Apply • In Application Align Your Career/Degree Goals w/Program Goals • Identify Faculty With Whom You Would Like to Work & Say Why • Understand What a Good Recommendation Letter Should Say • Solicit/Submit Only Good Recommendation Letters w/Applications • Establish Pre-Professional Relationships w/Several Professors

8. Graduate School Applications • Provide Writing Samples That Are Valued by the Program • Least Common Denominator: Do Well on Standardized Tests! • Enhance Your Chances With the Competencies Valued by the Program - Capabilities as a Teaching Assistant - Courses--Methods, Statistics, Languages, Programming - Research Experience - Honors Thesis - Study Abroad - Work Experience

9. First Job • Know Demands on Your Boss, and Help Meet Those Needs • Understand/Adapt to Culture of Organization • Know How You Will Be Evaluated • Organizations are Value Chains: Create Value! • Have Network of Mentors and Advisors In/Outside Organization • Know What It Takes to Succeed in Your Organization • Be a Learner • Read Organization-Relevant “News” Every Day • Be Someone People Like -- But Also Be a “Doer”! • Have Passion About Your Org; Balance w/Love for Sig Others • Start Looking for Your Next Job > 6 Months Before You Need It • Be Willing to Re-Locate to Where the Jobs Are!

10. Endings & Beginnings Thanks and PLEASE Stay in Touch!