ADjacks Blog

Your Online Resume

Branding yourself online should be top-of-mind throughout college. Building a LinkedIn page is a great way to start that process. You have control of the page and can direct viewers to other sites, including your blog and online portfolio. Ron Jones just posted a great tutorial called LinkedIn 101 at ClickZ: http://www.clickz.com/clickz/column/2024165/linkedin-101. Personalize your URL so the link shows up close to the top of the search results page when someone does a Google search with your name. Make sure to connect with me and the South Dakota State University Journalism and Mass Communication group where you will find many of our alumni.

 

Advice for copywriters

Mashable's recent post, "5 Tips for Aspiring Digital Copywriters," offers a common sense approach to buiding your portfolio. The article provides advice from some of the top creatives. My favorite tip was written by Sara Williams at Made by Many. She simply states,  “For God’s sake, write!” A quick read will let you know if you are on the right track.

Goodman promotes SD through public relations

 Wanda Goodman, 2004 graduate, is the Media and Public Relations Manager for the South Dakota Office of Tourism. Her degree in Journalism and Mass Communication with a specialization in Advertising and a minor in Business helped prepare her for this position requiring a diverse set of skills.

Primary job duties – At the end of the day, it’s the job of my team and I to drive consumer travel choices to SD using public relations strategies. Our main objective is to develop public relations strategy that coordinates with our office’s marketing efforts. Other duties include writing press releases, pitching stories to journalists, handling media inquiries/phone calls and hosting writers to SD on press trips. My role also includes managing the SD Film Office. One person on my team handles inquiries about SD’s filming locations, helps obtain film permits for production companies, works with in-state crew and service businesses, and helps the in-state film industry to grow.

Most challenging aspect of my job –

• Keeping up with the ever-changing trends in communication and figuring out which of them are necessary and which are not.
• Finding the most effective way to communicate with each of our audiences (staff, the public, the media, board members, the SD visitor industry).

Favorite quote – Do or do not. There is no try. – Yoda

Favorite TV show – I’m completely and hopelessly addicted to Lost.

Most important class I took in college and why – Campaigns; it’s the closest thing to real-world experience you can get from a college class. It taught me the importance of an integrated campaign, and how imperative it is that all elements of a campaign work together.

Last book read – The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls. I loved it, and would recommend it to anyone.

 

I think students should know – Employers are very impressed when you do your research. I once interviewed a potential intern that knew about our 2010 Initiative goals program. This isn’t something we publicize very much, so I knew he did a lot of digging to find it. Because of this and some other impressive qualities, I ended up hiring him.

 

Links:
The South Dakota Office of Tourism: www.TravelSD.com or www.MediaSD.com

SD Tourism on Facebook: www.facebook.com/SDTourism

SD Tourism on Twitter: @travelsd

Wanda Goodman at LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/wandagoodman

Discover the creative part of yourself.

Fabulous. Fun. Quirky. Original.

That describes the alumni work featured in this blog post. Creativity and innovation are in demand in today’s job market. But that’s not why you should discover and pursue your personal passions. I’m inspired to pay a little more attention to my creative side by these alums.

Painter Brandi Brooks moved to San Francisco shortly after graduating from SDSU. She works as the Director of Marketing at the American Academy of Ophthalmology by day and paints in the evening. You need to visit Brandi’s web site to study her work. She has been featured in numerous juried shows in the San Francisco, CA, and Jackson Hole, WY. Brandi says the painting to the left titled, "The Yard’s Full of Yaks 2.0," was inspired by rock cairns she saw on a trip to TIbet. Her online gallery includes mostly oil paintings, but she has recently expanded into jewelry.

Ariela Bonen started her company, RBK Creations, while looking for work in the Dallas area a few years ago. With the true spirit of an entrepreneur, she and her mother, Brenda, opened a shop on Etsy where you can check out her original bouquets, boutonnieres, and other button inspired work. Her most recent work is featured at flickr.

Quite a few bloggers have discovered RBK Creations recently. These posts can be found under Ariela's profile link at Esty. The photo to the right is from Ariela's photoshoot by Rockstar Photography. With a full-time job, she spends evenings creating designs for weddings, baby showers and other festive occasions.

True inspiration.

Denver Industry Links

Quite a few students tell me Denver's a destination after graduation. Start reading the Denver PR blog to learn about the market if this is your goal. Also, check out job opportunities at Andrew Hudson's Job List. The New Denver Ad Club and Ad2Denver are the advertising and marketing communications associations in the region. These look like valuable resources if you are heading west.

Alum writes blog for young professionals

Check out Renee Halgerson's blog at Cooper Ink Designs. She offers interview and resume advice, along with sharing interesting articles about the job environment and trends.

Copper Ink Design Blog

Have you started branding yourself online with a blog and social media strategies? If not, it should be at the top of your list of New Year's resolutions.

Jobs, Jobs and More Jobs

Many employers in our industry rely on networking and word-of-mouth to fill positions, however, following are a few sites to check out during your job search.

AAF Job Bank, Talent Zoo, and The Big Shoes Network are three great places to look for internships, and entry-level and senior level jobs. Talent Zoo touts itself as “the #1 site for Ad, Marketing and Media Professionals." Search for jobs nationwide in advertising, marketing, media and digital. Big Shoes Network’s primary focus is Wisconsin and Illinois. AAF Job Bank provides options to search by state and category. The job bank at MinneADpolis isn’t very comprehensive, but provides some listings for member agencies in that market. 

Local media are obvious and essential places to look for local opportunities. Another good strategy is to check out the local American Advertising Federation (AAF) sites for cities you are interested in working. For instance, the South Dakota Advertising Federation web site offers a few internship and career opportunities in Sioux Falls. AAF Omaha does the same for the Omaha market. A quick search for AAF and the city name will uncover the local AAF chapter, or go to AAF.org for a directory of member clubs.

Find seasonal and full-time state listings for South Dakota at http://bop.sd.gov/workforus/. The city of Sioux Falls has an "Interns in Industry" site that may provide some leads.

Another trick is to use Google maps to find listings of local advertising and marketing firms. Specific jobs aren't listed here, but it is a good way to research a local market. Go to Google maps, type in “Sioux Falls marketing” or “Rapid City advertising,” and check out the listings.  

Good luck with your job search. Post any additional sites or tips under comments.

Promoting MinneADpolis

Learn a little about advertising in the Midwest at MinneADpolis, a relatively new site branding Minneapolis as “the city of advertising.” Students check out the working here section. Twin Cities Business Senior Editor Gene Rebeck discussed the campaign on his BTW: Business, Trends and Whatever blog post, “Putting MinneADpolis Back on the Map.”

Reviving the Handwritten Thank You

Are thank you notes really important? We all know the answer to that question, but sometimes we need a reminder. Click here to read Jael Trieb’s response to a handwritten thank you from students in our MCOM 372 Advertising Media Strategies class.

If you are interviewing over spring break, don’t forget to say thanks.

Alumna and owner of Copper Ink Design

Renee Halgerson

Job title: Marketing Specialist at SDN Communications and Graphic Designer for my own business, Copper Ink Design.

Primary job duties: At SDN, I help to make sure the corporate brand sets us apart and is on target with our customers’ expectations. I also get to create brochures, design logos, layout the newsletter, organize big events, attend trade shows, and help plan the marketing strategy for the year. I started Copper Ink in 2006, and help small businesses establish their branding through graphic design and marketing strategies.

Year graduated: May 2005 (Journalism Major with Graphic Design, Marketing, and Spanish Minors)

Internship while in college: Daktronics Commercial Marketing

Other industry activites: AIGA board member, SDSU Staters board member, member of SDAF, volunteer for Junior Achievement, member of Toastmasters, and helped start a monthly professional development book club in Sioux Falls.

Favorite quote: “You get the best out of others when you give the best of yourself.”  ~Harvey Firestone

Favorite movies: The Shawshank Redemption, The Fugitive, A Few Good Men

Favorite ad campaign and why: The Dove Campaign for Real Beauty. I think that campaign has so much depth. It not only sells the product, but supports the “The Dove Self-Esteem Fund” and conducts workshops for girls. In a country obsessed with looks, weight and vanity, this campaign reminds women that real beauty starts from within.

What no one knows: As a kid, I loved the Ninja Turtles and MacGyver.

I like to: Travel. I’ve been to 10 foreign countries so far and hope to visit all (new) 7 Wonders of the World some day. “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.”

Advice: Do as much as you can to be involved. Volunteer for an organization you are passionate about and make lifelong contacts along the way. Networking at events will be much easier when you are in involved with the business community.

I think students should know that: You are so fortunate to have outstanding instructors in the SDSU Journalism Department. Don’t take them for granted—learn from them, challenge yourself, and take advantage of opportunities they offer you. Your teachers can make great references when you are looking for that first job.

Links: SDN Communications, Copper Ink Design, AIGA South Dakota, Renee's LinkedIn Profile