8 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Class

In 24 hours, my Marist College class covering journalism, PR, social media and life will meet for the first time this semester. With the new academic year now underway, here are some thoughts for students on what makes for a great classroom experience.

First, show up. Yes, my class meets at 6:30 p.m. and continues until 9 p.m. and I do not take a break in the middle. However, in all likelihood, you won't be too tired to go out after my class lets out. Heck, at 9 p.m., your evening is barely getting started. I put a lot of effort into each of my class sessions and I expect students to do the same.

Second, pay attention. That means not checking your email, looking at Facebook, or drafting your next tweet, unless it's about something going on in class. It's easy for me to find out whether or not you're paying attention. Just one example. You ask me a question about something someone else just asked and for which I gave a five minute response. There are other ways I know you're not paying attention, but I won't divulge those.

Third, following up on the point above, ask questions or give an opinion. I do not necessarily have to agree with you. We can have an honest discussion and perhaps learn from each other's point of view. However, be prepared to back up whatever point you're making. Your future bosses will expect that, too.

Fourth, hand in assignments on time. Hundreds of students over the past 20 years will tell you that I do not accept an assignment even one second late. A deadline is a deadline. If your boss asks where your work product is and you say, “Oh, I went out last night and didn't get home until 4 a.m.,” have your resume updated. You'll need it.

Fifth, get to know me and allow me to get to know you. You cannot ask me for a reference and I cannot recommend you for an internship or job if you are just a name on the roster, sit in the back, never look up, never speak, never offer an opinion, never answer a question in class, never even say hello or goodnight, or in any other way show you care about what you're suppose to learn in class.

Sixth, do a little bit extra. Are you involved in a club or organization? Write a story for the school paper or write a news release to send to the media. Attend meetings of PRSSA and the student chapter of SPJ. It's not just to pad your résumé. It's an opportunity to give me something to talk about should I get a phone call from a former student to whom you have applied for a job...and whom you don't even know is my former student. And yes, she or he will call me if they even suspect you are or were in my class, whether you list me as a reference or not.

Seventh, when I bring in alumni or bring you to places where alumni work, dress appropriately, show interest, ask questions, network, say thank you at the end and follow up with a handwritten note or an email. I have brought my students to dozens of PR and ad agencies, corporations, newspapers and magazines, even the headquarters of Major League Baseball. When the presenters, nearly all of whom were my students, finish their presentations and ask you a question, please don't just sit there staring at the floor. I'll let you in on a secret. They're evaluating you as prospective new employees. One of them could offer you a job. Treat this as an opportunity to meet an advocate for your hiring and get the inside scoop on a possible employer.

Eighth, stay in touch. I have placed more than 200 students in internships and jobs over the years. I understand I may not be your favorite person. However, if I don't hear from you for three years and you send me an email that only says, "Can you review my résumé?" I will be less inclined to respond as quickly as I do to those who keep in touch with me on a regular basis and don't just write to me when they need a favor.

Are there other suggestions professionals in the field would recommend to current students? Please feel free to comment below.

One last thing...I am so grateful to my former students who approach me with job openings for current students or recent grads as a way of saying thank you for helping them. Students who graduated 5, 10, 15 years ago are now in positions where they can hire and they remember when someone helped them. Now they want to pay that back. I tweet those openings and put them up on LinkedIn and Facebook. Some draw a lot of attention while others are ignored. Whatever the result, I ask my former students to keep sending those openings to me. You know I will only send and recommend someone who has done the things I mention in this post, those whom I know will succeed and not disappoint you. Thanks for giving back to your alma mater and those who follow in your footsteps.

LinkedIn Etiquette: Woo Before You Pop the Question

It's again time for college seniors to send out résumés as part of the great job search. My most recent Marist PR class focused on branding oneself on social media. A student in the Marist PRSSA chapter, Tatiana Miranda, attended a talk I gave to the college's Emerging Leaders program a couple of months ago and asked me to expand on one of the areas I covered -- LinkedIn etiquette -- for the Marist PRSSA chapter's newsletter, "esPResso." Since I provided Tatiana more than she could include in her Real Advice column, I will share my thoughts on that topic here.

Think of LinkedIn as Facebook for professionals. That starts with your photo. It should be a head shot of you, professionally dressed. It should not be you at a party with your arm around a boyfriend or girlfriend, or worse, holding a beer. Your profile is your first impression upon a prospective employer. Think of yourself as a brand. What image do you want to project? Your name is your brand name. Your appearance, not just physical, but also written and photo representations, are your packaging. Always remain a professional.

You are transitioning from your current brand as a Marist student to what you want it to be: an account coordinator for a NYC PR firm, a cyber criminologist, or a media relations professional representing a nonprofit organization. Use your summary for that. That summary doesn't have to be in great detail, but it should create that bridge from your studies and internship experiences to the job or career you want after your graduate.Stay away from jargon and buzzwords. Be yourself. Again, remain professional.

Don't treat your LinkedIn updates like Facebook updates. Share information that is valuable and informative, not that you went to a great party or ate a bagel for breakfast. Have you read a blog post about job searches that you found was very helpful? Share it. Was there an article in the NY Times online that is in your field of interest? Share it. Are you attending an event that allows you to network with others in your field, or are you speaking at a workshop? Share that info. Don't just mention things, share links. People look at posts that include links more than they do when you just write a short statement.

Follow companies, agencies or organizations that are of interest to you. There are many, many groups of interest to public relations students and professionals. Connect to them. There is a PRSSA group, a Marist PR alumni and student group, and groups that discuss areas of personal interest. There are "influencers" you can follow. They often post great tips for students and people working in their fields of interest. For your first post in any group, start with a very brief introduction so others get to know you.

Link to classmates and friends outside of Marist. Link to alumni in your field. Link to people at companies or agencies or organizations at which you'd like to work. For some of these, you can connect because you share a common connection. For others, explain who you are and why you'd like to link to someone. People like to be flattered, but don't go overboard. Explain to your prospective connection that you are about to graduate from Marist and would like to expand your network of professionals to learn from practitioners who have become successful in their careers. If you have no connection to a person but are friends with someone who does, ask that friend to offer an introduction on your behalf.

Once you follow someone or some group, don't jump in right away. Observe before you participate. Get a flavor for the conversation before you join it. Share and be helpful before you ask for something. I'm pretty liberal about accepting requests for connections. However, if after accepting you start pitching me business or asking me for a job, I will delete you immediately. You don't introduce yourself to someone by asking him or her to marry you. You have to get to know someone first before you take the relationship to the next level.

Your profile will be viewed. With each passing day, LinkedIn becomes an increasingly valuable form of networking and job searches, not just for individuals, but for companies that look to hire people. Remember that your digital footprint is forever, so think before you post. Make sure there are no typos or grammatical errors. Ask yourself, would my boss -- or my grandmother -- be OK with what I wrote? One bad tweet, Facebook post, or LinkedIn update can undo years of image building and personal branding or destroy a career. Don't believe me? Google Justine Sacco.

One last thing...My husband Pete and I thank all who made donations to the Alzheimer's Association in memory of his mother, who passed away Christmas Eve. The national organization and local chapters, particularly the one in the Hudson Valley, report receiving thousands of dollars to support their work. We also received many letters and emails from friends who told us how their families have been touched by Alzheimer's. Together, we carry on and support those who will one day find a better way to treat, or better yet, prevent this dreaded affliction. Again, a deeply heart-felt thank you!

So, You Want to Do Good?

No, that’s not a grammatical error in the title of this post. This is about breaking into a field that allows you to do good things on behalf of others, the field of corporate social responsibility, or CSR. 

A couple of weeks ago, I noticed a discussion thread in the LinkedIn group “Corporate Community, Sustainability and Philanthropy” started by 25-year-old Erik Moss, who works for Catholic Charities in Dallas,Texas. Erik wrote, “I'm a nonprofit professional looking to get into the CSR field. Any tips on making that leap? Do most people start out in PR and then move over to CSR?” It was a good question that elicited several responses, including a couple from me and, with Erik’s permission, I’m sharing my mine with you.

I told Erik I entered the CSR field as a paid professional after more than 30 years in journalism and public relations. What helped me was a long-term involvement with community and nonprofit organizations. My career also included high-profile PR positions, which led to me being asked to join some foundation boards.

All of these experiences developed a profile that led a pharmaceutical company, through a connection there, to reach out to me to start their corporate giving and global philanthropy program. That's the other important aspect of this, or any job search – networking and maintaining contacts.

To learn more about this field, visit Web sites like The Chronicle of Philanthropy and the Council on Foundations to learn about CSR, foundation work, and philanthropy. LinkedIn also provides job openings in the CSR field on a weekly basis to members of appropriate groups, including the one mentioned above.

I also recommend being involved as a volunteer or board member of a nonprofit organization. That will help you understand how they operate. That will assist you when, one day, you are in a CSR position as a donor, cause marketer, or provider of engaged employees to volunteer. Such participation in the nonprofit sector will also help connect you to like-minded individuals who will learn of your interest in this field and see what you have accomplished as a volunteer or board member.

Erik raised a question about his age, with a concern that he would be too young to be considered for nonprofit board positions. I told him at 25, he is a prime candidate to serve as a volunteer board member. From what I have come to learn about him, he has energy, insight into his age group (and others, judging by his current work with parents and children), and he can help breathe new life into an organization.

Daniel Torres, a student friend of mine who recently graduated from Marist College, where I still teach, was elected to his school board at 18 and he is running for the New Paltz Town Board this year at age 23. At 21, I was the chair of our city's transportation commission. Local chambers of commerce have young leaders groups that help develop skills and connect them to their communities.

A good writer is worth his or her weight in gold to a nonprofit organization. With extensive layoffs in newsrooms and a diminishing number of traditional news outlets, prospective newsmakers are fighting for a shrinking number of coverage opportunities. You can help an agency develop a blog, a Facebook presence, or a Twitter account if they don't already have those. You can help them with an online newsletter or enhance their Web site. You can lead them to understand how to pitch stories that will get picked up by media, or perhaps even bypass traditional channels by using your social media skills. I told Erik not to let his age or anyone’s perception of him being “too young” impede him from making a mark on the community in which he lives and works.

My advice: pick a cause about which you are passionate and find an agency that has that as part of its mission. Is there a disease that has impacted your family? What about literacy? Is there a set of social issues about which you have strong feelings? I provided links to groups with which I've been involved, but there are thousands more looking for volunteers.

Erik brings another major skill to the table. He’s bilingual. How many companies, agencies, foundations, or other groups lack the ability to offer services or assistance or information in Spanish as well as English? I have two students in my Marist class this semester who are fully bilingual. My advice to any young person – or anyone for that matter – play to your strengths. We all have much to offer.

Career development takes time and while we can plan for our future, there are twists and turns along life’s path that catch us by surprise. Three years ago, I had no idea I would be in the job I am today, nor did I plan my career to develop as it did. Opportunities arise and you have to be ready to accept and take advantage of them -- and I mean "take advantage" in a positive sense. I also believe in karma -- you do good for others and that good is returned to you. That should not be your expectation. One should do something that is good just because it is good. However, if that good is returned to you through an opportunity, accept it with gratitude and grow with that new experience.

One last thing…After less than two months as a program coordinator at Catholic Charities, Erik was promoted to program supervisor, overseeing a staff of eight. That’s a sign of both who he is and what he can do. Those two aspects of one’s professional and personal life are complementary, so I have no doubt that whenever he decides to make the job into corporate social responsibility of philanthropy, he will land on his own two feet.

Networking Redux

Commencement season is over for the Class of 2013. Time for grads to find a job.

It was a good semester at Marist, with a number of guest speakers agreeing to come up for a visit:  Jake Tapper from CNN; Ryan Davis, then of Blue State Digital and now VP at Vocativ; Matt Soriano from the Council of PR Firms; Adrienne Sabilia of IBM, who brought a famed Big Blue researcher and a PR maven to discuss the results of a study of CEOs’ expectations of graduating college seniors and seniors’ expectations of the marketplace; Stu Shinske, executive editor of the Poughkeepsie Journal; and my husband, Pete Clark, a real estate agent now and formerly one of the top radio sales people anywhere.

As I do each semester, I also brought my class to Manhattan to visit two PR firms where my former students are doing great things. This year, it was Hill & Knowlton, home to David Barton, and Allison + Partners, to visit with Charles Leone.  David and Charles also had human resources execs and newly hired employees join our conversations.

In addition, my former student Andy Clinkman and his girlfriend Caroline Hughes came to hear Ryan Davis’s talk. Andy, at the time, had two entry-level job openings at Kel & Partners, the PR company at which he works in Boston.

These were all great networking opportunities for my students. 

If the concept is understood correctly, networking can provide great value when it comes to landing jobs, and ultimately help you take giant leaps forward in your career.

Networking is nothing more than building a relationship. Done well, networking benefits both parties. How can students network with guest speakers or during visits with alums? First, simply go up to the person, say hello, introduce yourself, thank the speaker or hosts for the taking time to meet with you, and ask for a business card. A thank you email the day after meeting someone reminds the person with whom you’re networking who you are. It also shows you are interested in maintaining contact.

Several speakers, including David and Charles and their co-workers, offered to review student resumes and cover letters. If someone offers to do this for you, take advantage of their generosity. It’s free career advice from professionals in your field. Just make sure what you send is perfect, no typos, grammatical errors, and in proper form.

Follow the person you just met on twitter and ask to connect on LinkedIn. Hold off on Facebook friending. That’s more of a personal social network. Stay professional. Let the relationship develop. You also may not want your new contact to see everything you post on Facebook.

Is there something you saw about your new contact’s company? Send a note to say you caught coverage of the firm in the news. Does your contact have a blog? Read it, Comment on posts.

All relationships require work to be maintained. What do you do with friends? You write, call, visit, go out for a meal or a drink. Networking is no different.

What should you NOT do? Don’t ask for something the first moment you meet, unless you’re invited to do so. When someone connects to me on LinkedIn and his or her first message tries to sell me something, I drop that link. Get to know me and what I do first before you go in for the sales pitch.

We all know the adage, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” That is particularly true in today’s competitive job market. You need an advocate within the company at which you would like to work, someone who will raise your resume to the top of the pile, remind someone in the hiring process of your personal and professional qualities, and fill you in on company culture before you go for the interview. You still need the talent and passion to succeed at the job, but when you’re competing with 50, 100, 200 applicants for a single position, you need more than what’s written on paper to advance through the process.

Someday, you will become the person with whom someone wants to network. You may know of a job opening that is not of interest to you but would be of interest to someone else. I tweet many openings like that. They come from friends who asked me to help identify prospective candidates for the job. In other words, there’s a contact there for you. If the opening isn’t of interest to you, perhaps you have a friend, colleague, or former associate who may be. Pass the info along. Give before your receive.

I am a strong believer in karma. You help someone today and that good deed will be repaid to you down the line.

One last thing…I titled this post Networking Redux because I gave an example a year ago of a Marist student who mastered this art and turned a series of internships into maintained relationships that led him to land his first job. That Marist grad, Bryan Terry, recently celebrated his first anniversary with his employer, YNN, Time Warner’s all-news channel, and has been promoted for the second time. He is now video producer for CapitalTonight, a great job for Bryan, who eats, sleeps and breathes news and politics. Remember, networking gets you to a certain point in the process. You then have to prove your value. Bryan understands this. He epitomizes the 12 Rules for New Grads. The results speak for themselves.

It Is in Giving that We Receive

I haven’t been the most faithful blogger lately, but recent interactions with two well-known people have caused me to reflect on a topic near and dear to me: volunteerism. As we look back on one year and prepare to start another, such reflection is natural, a form of examination of conscience. In this post, I’d like to discuss how doing good for others can also be good for you; how altruistic service can benefit your career, though I hope the former is your true motivator.

On December 2, I had a great conversation with C.J.Wilson, a pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. We met at the Winter Wish Gala fundraiser for The Partnership at Drugfree.org, a nonprofit organization with which my employer, Watson Pharmaceuticals, partners.  C.J. presented the Major League Baseball Commissioner’s Play Healthy Award to a student athlete and a youth coach who are committed to fair, clean competition and a healthy lifestyle. C.J. is also a supporter of The Partnership, which is apropos because he lives a “straight edge” life – eschewing alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs – and is a proponent of healthy, sportsmanlike play.

In the course of our conversation, C.J. asked me about the role of a corporate board of directors, and while the technical answer involves a fiduciary duty to shareholders, it is more than that.  A board helps discern a company’s vision, sets compensation for executive management and policy for the organization, and lends its expertise to the proper operation of the corporation.  I told him it’s the same as serving on the board of a volunteer organization. I told C.J., who is also a business owner and race car driver, that whether it’s a local youth group or a college’s board of trustees, serving as a director on a nonprofit board is a good way to lend his expertise in ways mentioned above.  It’s also an opportunity to network with other corporate professionals who, once they learn of his ability as a strategic thinker skilled in more than pitching, may very well invite him to join their boards.  C.J. is no stranger to philanthropy, starting his own nonprofit foundation to help children and teens who have medical, financial or social challenges. He is a role model – not just for youth, but for all of us, especially to those to whom much is given (and much is expected).

Over the past few days, I learned of the work of meteorologist and reporter David Brown, who is leaving his dual positions at WCVB, the ABC affiliate in Boston, to become Chief Advancement Officer for the Forsyth Institute in Cambridge, MA.  They are a leading independent oral health research institution, which started as a provider of free dental care for children in Boston. David’s résumé shows a true commitment to helping others through significant involvement in a variety of volunteer positions. I’m sure that in those roles he contributed his own talents and learned about nonprofit operations, especially the all-important role of fundraising.  As Chief Advancement Officer, David will be responsible for generating donations needed to keep the Forsyth Institute in operation.  David is an example of good things happening to good people.  His dedicated service helped prepare him for this new stage of his career.

I could say the same thing about myself.  Over the years, I’ve served on the boards of more than 50 nonprofit organizations.  I did so because I believed in their causes and have a sense of duty to give back to the community in which I live and work.  Jobs that I’ve had over the years, particularly my current position as director of corporate giving at Watson, resulted from contacts or experiences resulting from my community service work.

Whether just starting a career, in the twilight of it, or retired, we all have perspectives, expertise and life experiences that can and should be put to work on behalf of others. All it takes is as little as an hour or two a month to make a difference.  Over the course of nearly two decades, I’ve known hundreds of college students who have talents in communication, construction, finance and fundraising, health and wellness, human resources, law, real estate, teaching, technology, and many other fields.  So many organizations need their – and your – time, talent, and yes, your treasure.  You may not be able to donate all three, particularly if you’re saddled with college debt, but perhaps you will consider the first two to start.  

What’s your passion?  Is there a disease that impacted your family or friends?  Is there a cause in which you are interested, anything from animal welfare to literacy to human rights?  There are organizations out there begging for your involvement.  Contact one and offer your services.  You will be welcomed with open arms.  You may even get more out of it than you put into it, developing your people skills, learning about operations in areas outside your field of expertise, and meeting people who could become mentors, advocates, references, employers or friends.  

One last thing…In my previous post I said I would write about employment benefits, but work and life got in the way.  My thoughts on those will eventually make their way here.  However, as we enter the New Year, and harking back to that examination of conscience I mentioned earlier, I want to provide links to two columns that appeared last week in the New York Times.  The first reflects on philanthropy by the top one percent, or more accurately, the top one-tenth of one percent, and is written by Nicholas Kristof.  The second is by Frank Bruni and causes us to think about what is really important in life.  It’s a valuable lesson on which to reflect each day of our lives. Have a happy, healthy, peaceful and prosperous New Year!

Yay! You're Hired. Now Let's Talk About Retirement.

Congratulations! You’ve got a job offer. Before you accept, start thinking about retirement.

If you’re a 22-year-old with more than 40 years of your career ahead of you, retirement may be the last thing on your mind.  However, by taking advantage of the benefits your new employer may offer, a small investment today will pay big dividends when you’re 60+.

In the past month or so, I’ve had the money discussion with my kids and with other former students who have been out of school and in the workforce for anywhere from one month to five years.  The most important point I stress is to think long-term.  Delayed gratification is a foreign term to many 20-somethings.  They want to go out several nights a week, have a new car, go on vacations to the Caribbean or Europe, have an incredible apartment, and start paying off those college loans – all on a first job starting salary of $27,000.  While some may have the family means to be subsidized by parents to do all of the above, many more find out that living at home for awhile or rooming with friends in a less-than-desirable neighborhood is more realistic.

A first-time, post-college employee is usually interested in two things in a job offer:  salary and vacation days.  There is much more to consider before you accept an offer.  What health benefits (medical, dental, vision) are offered, how much do you contribute toward them, and how long do you have to wait before they start?  Is there a flex-spending account? (More on that in a future post.)  What about insurance coverage, tuition reimbursement, stock offerings, and affinity programs offering reduced prices on company products or other pricing discounts?  Then, there is the long-term item: is there a 401(k) or 403(b) and if so, is there a company match?

For too many people, Social Security is their only retirement plan.  Who knows what that program will look like five years from now, much less 50 years from now?  The days of private companies offering pensions are pretty much over.  It’s an expensive proposition for them, and of course, for the private sector, it’s all about the bottom line.  I only worked one job that offered both a pension and a 401(k), and I left that position almost 20 years ago.  Still, it’s nice to know that my five years and eight months there still qualified me to receive just over $300 a month for however many years I have in retirement.  Public employees on the municipal, county, state and federal levels still have pension plans, at least for the time being, though nearly all are now contributory, meaning you put in a little to help fund your own retirement.

That’s really what 401(k) and 403(b) plans are.  You contribute a portion of your salary either pre-tax or after-tax, and often the company matches a portion of that amount.  It’s more important for a 22-year-old to contribute even a small amount than it is for someone my age putting away the maximum allowed each year.  Why?  It’s all about compounding.

One of my former students, Andrew, remains a close friend.  We chatted the other day about finances and, as I knew he would, he has made some very wise decisions. Andrew is 23 and works for a major employer in Connecticut.  He participates in his company’s 401(k) and plans his expenses accordingly.  Because the deduction is taken out even before he gets his direct deposit, he doesn’t miss it.  His company offers a 401(k), match up to 6 percent of his contribution to the plan.  That’s “free money.”  Hopefully your employer also has some form of match.  It means your employer is giving you money toward your retirement.  The longer you are employed and do not participate in the 401(k) plan, the more “free money” you lose.  Some companies have a “vesting period,” meaning you need to work a certain amount of time (normally one to two years, but sometimes longer) before you actually own the company match.  Leave after six months and you don’t get the match.  Andrew is setting himself up now for a more comfortable and secure retirement.  That’s smart and pretty forward-thinking for a 23-year-old.

To illustrate the power of compounding, I will use an example provided by my employer.  Jennifer and Brian are the same age.  Suppose Jennifer started saving $2,000 a year (that’s just $38.46 per biweekly paycheck) from age 25 to 35, and then stopped saving. Her friend Brian started saving $2,000 a year at age 35, and continued until he was 65.  If both accounts earn 8 percent annually, at age 65, Jennifer will have $335,000 in her account, but she will have contributed only $22,000.  Brian, who started saving at age 35 and contributed $62,000, will only have $247,000.  Both cases do not include a corporate match but do include the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains and no current taxes paid on earnings in a retirement account.  The lesson is simple.  The longer you invest, the more you can earn trough compounding.

A 401k or 403(b) – in general, they are pretty much the same – is not the same thing as having a pension.  First, you, not your company, make your own investment decisions.  There is no guarantee of gains and, in fact, you may lose some of your principal (the amount you invest, plus your corporate match, not just any dividends you earned) sometime during the course of your career.  During the Great Recession that began in 2008, at worst I lost about 30 percent of my portfolio and for a brief time, those losses ate away at my principal – the amount I contributed.  With the gains in the stock market recently, my accounts have bounced back.  Fortunately, I have no plans to retire anytime soon and kept contributing to my 401(k), picking up some bargains thanks to lower stock prices.  Your tolerance of risk and the amount of time you have to invest will determine the type of investment you make.

I’m not a financial advisor and I won’t get into all the various possible investment scenarios to consider.  But, with a traditional 401(k) or 403(b), you invest with pre-tax income, which reduces your gross pay, meaning you pay less income now, with the thought that you may be in a lower tax bracket after you retire.  You will pay tax on the amount you withdraw and there are penalties for early withdrawals (before age 59½) except for some specific circumstances.  In a Roth 401(k), your salary deferrals are made on an after-tax basis and your earnings grow tax-free.  You will not have to pay taxes on the money when it’s withdrawn, provided you’ve held the account for at least five years and you have reached age 59½ or have become permanently disabled.

The average 401(k) balance in the United States is less than $75,000.  That’s not enough on which to retire.  Most financial advisors tell you to spend no more than 5 percent of your retirement fund balance each year.  Five percent of $75,000 is just $3,750 a year, or a little over $300 a month (like the pension I mentioned above). The average monthly Social Security payment is just under $15,000 a year, or about $1,200 a month.  Today, would you be able to get by on just $18,500 a year?  If you plan to live with your children and stay healthy – perhaps.  Don’t plan on it.

One less night out a week, invested over the course of at least 40 years, can help ensure you don’t have to work until the day you die.  What I cited in this post is for illustrative purposes only.  Talk to your HR reps, your parents, a financial advisor, and become a student of finance and the markets.  The payback will make it worth your while.  There are many retirement calculators online.  Try this one from CNN, and don't be shocked by the amount of money you need to put away to retire in a manner in which you will be comfortable.

One last thing…I will try my best to write more frequently and will follow up with a piece on other job benefits soon.

A Case Study in How to Get a Job

With about a month to go until many students graduate, the search for a job should begin in earnest.  Actually, it should be in high gear. A typical hiring process could take a month or two…at least.  A job opening is posted and applications solicited.  Interviews must be scheduled and references checked before an offer is made.  The successful applicant then should give at least two weeks’ notice to his or her current employer.  If this is your first full-time, post-college job, you may still want a couple of weeks to prepare for your entry into the workforce.  Just to give you an example, I left my position at Marist on January 6, and it appears that no decision will be made on a successor until May at the earliest.

A Marist Communication/Journalism major graduating on May 20 personifies the textbook lesson in how to land a job.  A week after he receives his Bachelor of Arts degree, Bryan Terry of Colonie, NY will start as a news assistant at YNN, a 24-hour news channel, in their Albany, NY hub.  How did Bryan do this? He earned it.

Bryan reminds me of myself at his age.  We were both news geeks, very focused on broadcast journalism.  It is that early interest in what he wanted to do with his life that helped Bryan create a path to his first job offer in the field he has wanted to enter since he was in the sixth grade.

Bryan took advantage of many opportunities offered to him.  He has a 3.9 GPA, plays trombone in the band, studied abroad in Florence, worked with the Marist Poll, and selected three internships that provided him valuable work experience from both sides of the reporter’s notebook – the newsroom of WRGB-TV in Schenectady, the team that produces Capital Tonight on YNN, and the press office of New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn. At each employer (and you should always consider your internship provider as an employer, whether or not you are paid), he worked hard, doing more than was required; was not a clock watcher; and shared his knowledge of social media.

How well did he do? You can see the respect and true affection his employers had for Bryan in their video tributes.  He may forever be called “Intern Bryan,” thanks to being assigned that moniker during his tenure with Capital Tonight.  His dedication, tenacity, and passion for his work left an indelible impression on each employer.

Bryan also maintained his relationships with his supervisors, sending them an occasional email or visiting if he was in the neighborhood.  I have written before about the importance of networking.  When you meet someone, you shouldn’t think, “How is this person going to get me a job?”  You should show genuine interest in the person with whom you’re communicating, and consider how you can help him or her.  Is there information you can provide?  Do you have knowledge in an area the other person does not and that you would be willing to share?  Was there an interesting item you read in mainstream or social media that is worth passing along? Bryan did this. An email here, a phone call there, an occasional visit, none intrusive, just enough to keep his “top of mind awareness” among potential employers.

Bryan blogs as a class project, but his work product shows he has a reporter’s instinct for news, that he writes well, and that he is not afraid to tackle tough issues.  He follows the right people and organizations on twitter, exhibiting an interest in national, state and local government topics, trends in journalism, a familiarization with his craft.

He checked in with people who would know what jobs might be open now or in the future. That’s how Bryan found out about the opening for a news assistant at YNN.  He had advocates within the organization who could attest to his skills.  He had references who could provide specific examples of his outstanding work (rather than a blasé chat that a human resources professional could sniff out as BS in less than a minute).   His résumé and cover letter extolled his virtues but addressed the needs of his employer rather than thumping his chest about who he is or what he’s done.  Both were also error free, having been proofread by several people.  After his interviews, Bryan immediately sent thank you notes to those who met with him, reiterating his interest in and qualifications for the job.

Bryan’s reward:  a job that is waiting for him a month before graduation.  He communicated his passion and ability, put those qualities to work to create a positive reputation, and as much as this is positive for him, it’s just as positive for YNN, which is fortunate to have someone as talented as Bryan on its team.

One last thing…A couple of weeks ago, I tweeted that one of my former students had a summer internship in finance for a prestigious firm in Manhattan and that anyone interested should direct message me for details and I would connect them to her.  Only two people did: A Marist sophomore and a student in London, England. The Marist student follows me on twitter, but I can’t honestly say that I know him well.  Still, the fact that he contacted me quickly, explained his credentials in 140 characters, and went back-and-forth with me to exchange information, always expressing his appreciation for helping him with this connection, spoke volumes about him.  He got the internship and thanked me immediately after getting the offer.  It was networking all around – my former student contacting me; my using social media to connect with prospective employees, and someone who follows me on that medium to reach out, follow through, and land the gig. That’s an age-old process that still yields results in 2012.

Listening to the Stars Will Get You a Job

Last night, two of the best sports communicators in the business gave a down-to-earth lesson in finding a job and enjoying what you do. 

My long-time friend Mike Breen was gracious to accept an invitation to come to Marist to inaugurate the college's new Center for Sports Communication.  Mike and I both went to Fordham, though I was three years ahead of him and did not meet Mike until he joined WEOK/WPDH as a news reporter after his graduation in 1983.  I had gotten out of the radio news business and was the assistant to the chairman of the Dutchess County Legislature, which meant Mike and I had the "hack" and "flack" roles.  I truly detest those terms, but use them here to show how false they are.

I saw in Mike a desire to learn, be the best, set goals, achieve them, and be helpful to others.  We had incredible fun working together in our separate roles, and we spent a lot of time hanging out together outside of work, becoming very close friends.

What impresses me now about Mike is that he is, without a doubt, the most successful and best known sports broadcaster in America today, yet he remains truly humble, giving of his time and talent to young men and women who want to move into any area of the sports comm world, in front of the camera or in the studio.  What was supposed to be a 90-minute seminar on Mike's career and tips for success turned into a Q & A session followed by a meet and greet with 200 Marist students that took us from 7 until 11 p.m.

Mike was introduced and joined by Marist alumnus Ian O'Connor, one of the best sports columnists and authors around.  Between the two of them, they provided Marist students insight into leveraging their talents and connections to get them to where they want to be. They reiterated what I tell my class, but it had more meaning coming from two men who are stars (though they would both dislike being called that).

Here are some of their tips:

Be passionate about your work. "You have to love going to work every day; follow where your heart leads you." You can't value your success by salary alone.  Discover your passion and pursue it.

Excel as a writer, because there aren't a lot of good ones out there. When Mike was asked by one student what classes he should take since he has some spots to fill in his schedule, Mike quickly responded, "English." Take as many English courses you can and write, write, write.  the more often you do it, the better you get at it. The same is true for on-air delivery. The more you find yourself behind the microphone or in front of the camera, the more comfortable you will feel and the more conversational you will be in delivery. Ian added that you need to read great writing to know how to write well, so read, read, read.

Gain as much experience as possible through internships.  As Mike said about Marist, "You guys have something really special here." Marist offers incredible internships, particularly in communication. If you don't take advantage of those opportunities, you will be behind the competition when it comes time to look for a job.

Network and take advantage of connections. Mike will give a closer look to a résumé from a graduate of Fordham because it's his alma mater, or Marist because of his close affiliation with the Home of the Red Foxes. He got his start in TV as an analyst alongside the great play-by-play man Dean Darling, broadcasting Marist men's basketball games in the mid-1980s during the Rik Smits era, and he holds a special place for Marist in his heart. Mike got his job at WEOK/WPDH because his then-girlfriend's mother was having lunch with the mother of the station's news director. It's not even six degrees of separation. It could be just one or two.

Be at your best every day on your job. Mike sometimes broadcasts games five nights in a row. He could be on MSG calling a Knicks-Celtics game one night, a Lakers-Heat game the next night on ABC, then be on ESPN for a Timberwolves-Raptors game the following night. He has to be "on" for each one because while it may be three in a row for him, a fan may only be watching one and deserves the best play-by-play and analysis.

Ian and Mike told some great behind-the-scenes stories, which I'll save for those who were in attendance.  When you can keep students in their seats for two-hours past the scheduled time of an event, you know you've captured your audience, and judging by the tweets during and after their talks, both men hit it out of the park. (I know, it's a baseball metaphor, not basketball.)

I also appreciated Mike's comment to Ian that "Marist is one of the hottest schools in the country." It's nice to have that third-party affirmation, even if it is from a close friend with perhaps just a little bit of bias.


One last thing...apologies for not posting for more than a month. This has been my busiest semester in almost 17 years at Marist. There are many things I've wanted to "say," but trying to eke out some time when I'm not attending meetings and events on- and off-campus, talking with students, or writing news releases and pitches has been nearly impossible.  Last night's seminar was so good and the messages so valid and valuable, I had to break the "cone of silence" and put them here. Congratulations to Dr. Keith Strudler, chair of the communication department at Marist, for putting together a great seminar for our students and for being the driving force behind the development of one of the top sports communications programs at any college or university in the country.