|
|
|
|
 |
|
School of Communication internship fair shows students
that internship opportunities are varied and abundant
(posted April 15, 2008)
by Alyson Boltja
The School of Communication, The Career Center, and Overton’s sponsored a meeting at Mendenhall in March informing students about communication internship opportunities.
This meeting included a panel of speakers who have experience in the communication field. The panel consisted of ECU students, and graduates, who spoke about their experiences with internships.
Dr. Todd Fraley, internship coordinator, and Jim McAtee, Career Center liaison to the College of Fine Arts and Communication, gave brief introductions about The Career Center and how it can help students with their future.
“The hardest thing is to get started," McAtee said. "We are very approachable, so don’t be afraid to stop by and see us.”
After Fraley and McAtee spoke, the panel introduced themselves. The first three speakers were Carissa Etters, executive producer at WNCT; Megan George of Public Radio East; and Beth Atkins of Pitt County Memorial Hospital — each of whom are ECU alumni.
Etters explained that many students believe that interns are given tasks such as filing papers and making coffee, which is false at WNCT.
“We put our interns to work!”said Etters.
Each speaker stressed the importance of having internships throughout college, and how many employers will not except graduates without experience.
Tayleigh Davis and Erin Kate McCarthy are currently working as interns. E. Wayne Sampson interned last summer for CBS News in New York City. He is looking into future internships and recently was interviewed for a possible opening at the Tyra Banks Show.
Davis explained that her internship for East Carolina University’s media relations has helped her get a job. McCarthy, an intern for Tiffany Co., said, “Classroom experience is great, but real world experience lets you dig in and experience it front-on.”
McAtee was pleased with the turnout.
“Students asked good questions and the panel did a good job of answering and engaging with the students,” he said, adding that 52 students attended.
“We will probably do an event like the one with SOC again,” said McAtee. “We are always looking for ways to add value to ECU student experiences and helping to make ECU students more competitive in the workplace.”
Student steps into busy but rewarding world of advertising and sales
(posted March 20, 2008)
Julie Goldfarb
by Melissa Fanelli
A senior at East Carolina University, Julie Goldfarb, was the sales and advertising intern for FierceMarkets in D.C. this past summer.
FierceMarkets is a business-to-business digital media firm that gears 18 different publications toward other businesses in the following industries: finance, health care, information technology, biotechnology, telecommunications and digital media.
Julie worked with the advertising team to find new clients through prospect work. This helped enhance her knowledge in the field of communication. Goldfarb put together the Fierce Markets 2007 gift campaign that recognized over one-hundred of the most supportive clients, which are expected to bring $30,000 to $60,000 of revenue into the company within the next few months. She also worked on weekly campaign reports that made her familiar with a program called, “Sales Force—a way sales associates can keep in contact with clients. It is a way of “logging” clients.
Working under the Vice President of Sales, Jason Nelson, Julie learned how to re-figure the different sales associates’ quotas for the upcoming year, which is divided into two halves during the year, H1 and H2. Quotas are the sales associates’' goals for money they hope to bring into their business during the year.
Goldfarb is currently working for FierceMarkets via e-mail on campaign reports and quota for the company while finishing her last year at East Carolina University.
“I advise all communication majors to take advantage of an internship although it is not required because it teaches you real world experiences that you cannot learn in the classroom,” said Goldfarb.
In addition to her internship focusing on the field of communication, Julie is also very involved with the university to enhance her communication knowledge. She is the Public Relations Director for Panhellenic—the governing body of all sororities that oversee Greek life. Julie produces three newsletters a year called Chapter House that go out to 20,000 Greek Alumni. She keeps alumni updated on how Greek life is helping the community as well as supporting upcoming events.
Goldfarb is responsible for articles in the East Carolinian written to inform the University about Greek life. As public relations director, she informs incoming freshmen about Greek life and about possibly becoming a Greek member. She uses brochures and newsletters to do this as well.
“Julie is a very dedicated, hard working woman who works as a liaison between media outlets and individual chapters for every philanthropic and service events in Panhellenic on this campus,” said Jamie Harrell, Panhellenic president.
Julie was awarded the Panhellenic scholarship in spring of 2007. It goes to a Greek woman who holds the highest standards of scholarship, leadership and service. She is also a member of Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) and on the event planning committee to broaden her communication experience.
Harrell added that Julie works extremely hard with Panhellenic, Delta Zeta, Debu catering and PRSSA while maintaining a 3.9 GPAl.
Julie is currently studying for the LSAT and in the process of applying to law school. She hopes to attend law school in the fall as well as still working for FierceMarkets via e-mail or at another public relations firm. |
|
|
|
|
