Setting Your Standards High

By Corinne Feight

As I wrap up my last two weeks as an undergraduate student, I’m trying to tie up my loose ends. And though the reality of the situation hasn’t even really sunk in for me yet, I will be leaving Indiana for a bigger metropolis, New York City, come June. I have been dreaming of heading to this city since I first walked into Purdue freshman year, but I never really thought I’d be making this dream a reality. I accepted an internship at an advertising company and hope that this will help with my acclimation to this new city (where I’ve never been before!).

During one of my interviews for this internship position, I spoke extensively with one of the Creative Directors. She made it a point to spend a significant amount of time talking about the companies her business markets for. She was very adamant in making sure that I understood what I was signing on to do and what writing style was expected of me. I respected her immensely for this because she was making sure that I was interested in the field and not just the position. She explained to me how important it was to love what you do and that she would never want me to work in a place that I wouldn’t thrive in.

Taking the knowledge that I learned from that conversation, I want to pass on a bit of last minute advice for all the internship and job seekers. There’s that age-old saying, “Love what you do and you’ll never work a day in your life.” Don’t discredit this. Remember to always set your standards high because you never want to end up in a position that you hate. This means that your productivity and efficiency will be low, which is not only detrimental to you, but also to the company you work for. Life is too short to waste any time doing things that don’t interest you.

There is nothing wrong with knowing what you want, and certainly, nothing wrong with not settling for less. Now, as a graduating senior, I wanted a full-time position. Yet, this Creative Director’s words echoed with me and I accepted this internship position on the basis that because I have never before written for the pharmaceutical industry, I want to test the waters before I commit to a position I am locked into for a couple of years. This decision has been the best one for me, but may not be for you. Just keep in mind that internships are great not only for experience, but also to help show you what you are interested in. I have done many internships that have showed me my affinity for certain aspects of professional writing and design. You learn as you go, and sometimes that’s the most rewarding part.

As I look toward my future, I am excited (and a little bit nervous), but I know that if I keep an open mind and a strong work ethic I will be able to find my niche in no time and begin making a contribution greater than just class assignments and projects. I am ready to get my feet wet in this new industry and city and hope that when looking for internships and jobs upon graduation, you, too, can be confident in what you want to pursue and keep your standards high.

Saying Arrivederci

By Justin Villa


So it's time for me to move onto bigger and better things as they quite often say. And I am proud to say that for once in my life despite not knowing what my future will look like, I'm excited and not scared. Maybe it has to do with me just growing over time, or actually incorporating all the education I obtained during the course of my time at Purdue. But honestly I think it comes most from the fact that I am now more aware of who I am and what I want more than ever before.

While I continue the job search beyond my graduation in a few weeks, the one thing I won't let happen is for me to become sad or feeling hopeless just because I don't have a career right out the gates. I am fine with this and have accepted this in the past few weeks. But one thing that is pushing me and should hopefully be pushing you is utilizing the knowledge not only from a Purdue education, but also your time at Purdue.

Here are some of the things I'll be reflecting on during my job hunt process to keep my spirits up in a difficult time.

Know who you are  

I can't stress how important it is to know who you are not only during academic times, but at all times. Going into situations where you're asked about your qualities or strengths and not being able to respond is a nightmare. It doesn't mean knowing every aspect of your life ever, but instead being able to present and sell yourself. Know your strengths and weaknesses, have goals that are obtainable and know where to start to reach them . Besides can you expect others to get to know you and see your worth when you can't?

Resources, use them

Purdue has a gigantic list of resources to use such as professors, workers, faculty, students, and centers. I have already talked to certain professors and bosses and gotten letters of recommendation, and its not too late to even approach some this week or next week. Too often services such as career help and preparation go unused by a majority of students. I say no more. Go talk and mingle and make connections, you never know where they will take you.

Show what you have

No doubt during your time as a student you presented some amazing skills of yours maybe in print form, maybe in 3D form. Now is the time to bring all your great works together into a nice neat compact portfolio. This will help you get the upper hand when job hunting. It allows for others to easily see your work and shows organizational skills too!! I plan on collecting all my files during finals week and seeing which better represent who I am to future employees.

Keep Moving

Finally, I will leave you with this final tidbit of information. Don't give up just because times get hard or it seems like there is little hope left. Life is about making mistakes and failing, just so you can learn and grow as a person from this situations. Your dream job won't be available right away most the time, so go for those lower jobs that allow for upper movement, you'll learn more along the way than you could possibly imagine.

It's strange writing my final blog, even more strange to say this though, Goodbye Purdue.

Graphic Design Portfolios & Resumes (Part 2)

By Sarah-Jean Murray

In my last blog post I discussed some differences between what makes a good resume and a bad resume. This time around, I will be talking about portfolios and what makes an effective portfolio. There are three important things to keep in mind when creating your portfolio site.

1. Navigation - Can the viewer navigate your site easily? Can they find what they're looking for? Keep your navigation clean and simple so that visitors to your site do not have to search for it.

2. Work - Obviously you will need a page to display your work. You want to keep the gallery portion of your project page very clean and simple too. If you want to separate your pieces such as print and web, certainly do so but don't get confusing with it. You want clear titles so that the viewer knows what they are looking at.

3. About You - This is your portfolio, include some information about yourself. You can also include your resume on the site so that potential employers who find your site have easy access to it. Keep the about you section short and concise. There is no need to ramble on about your childhood, simply talk about how you got to where you are today, what inspires you, and where you hope to go.

Now for the examples of portfolio sites!

Foundry Collective



I think this site is a really great example of a portfolio site. Now, this isn't a personal website but still take note! The navigation is really easy to see and easy to understand. There is a fantastic use of a grid which makes the web page look very organized and clean. The page is not too simple that the viewer would become bored but rather entices the eye with large, interesting images. This is the perfect balance between image and text.

Buffalo



Another great example of using the grid system but in a new and interesting way. The site uses a great sense of symmetry to create a clean, site. The color scheme really pops against the light background and the design uses the black logo and type to create hierarchy. The navigation of course is also easy to see and neatly organized. Each image takes the viewer to a page where they can learn more about the project. Remember, when creating a website, you want to emphasize your work above all.

As you can see from the above examples, they kept their portfolio pieces the main priority. Keeping a clear grid structure will always make the design look clean and sharp. Remember to keep plenty of white space around your images and text and use big thumbnails.

This is also my last blog at this LACD internship. It's been really fun to be able to write about myself and things that interest me and inspire me. I hope I've peaked your interest and kept you entertained. If you want to keep reading my blogs you can read them at http://sjeanmurray.wordpress.com/

Remember to always follow your dreams, no matter what and BOILER UP.

Peace Out Purdue, I'm onto the Job Hunt

By Katy Claucherty

How has it already been four years here at Purdue? It feels like I just unloaded all of my stuff into Wiley (my first home here) last semester. But here I am, with graduation right around the corner... and no solid job lined up. This summer I’ll be doing an unpaid internship with Treefrog Marketing and Communication - I even get to work with the lovely Samantha Werry again! I’m truly excited for this opportunity – I get to stay on campus, work with a Christian company, and continue working with clients on brand management, social media, and marketing! That still leaves me without money for rent (anyone have a spare couch?) but I haven’t given up! I’m searching for jobs every day and getting my resume out there. So lucky you, I’m about to unload some wonderful words of wisdom I’ve learned while on the job hunt.

Don’t Snub Opportunities

Every graduate hopes to leave Purdue with their dream job lined up. I hate to burst your bubble, but that’s not the case for many students. I’ve got an unpaid internship – but I’m doing it because I really want to get involved with Treefrog Marketing and the internship has the possibility of turning into a paying job. So now I’m hunting for a local job that will allow me to pay bills. So my next piece of advice: apply for JOBS not COMPANIES. By this, I mean if you find a marketing job at a car dealership, why not apply and see where it goes? I’ve been applying to a ton of companies all over Lafayette hoping to find an opportunity.

Get Your Portfolio Up-to-Date

Portfolios are a great way to showcase your skills and personal brand. Update your portfolio with

·         About Me

·         Volunteer Work

·         Design Samples

·         Resume (tailored to the job you’re applying for)

·         Reference Names

·         Sample Writings

·         Sample Presentations

·         Contact Information

Make sure your samples are recent work and your information is current. All of the materials in your portfolio should be directed specifically to the job you’re applying for. Maintain your personal brand throughout your portfolio, using colors, fonts, and experiences that shows who you are professionally and personally. Take your portfolio to all of your interviews and go through it with your interviewer, proving you have quality experiences under your belt. Not many people bring polished portfolios to interviews, so you’re sure to stand out from the sea of candidates.

Network, Network, Network

Network with everyone you meet. Professors, advisors, other students, employers, co-workers, friends of your family – when you’re looking for a job, take advantage of the connections you have! Get the word out that you’re looking for opportunities and contact everyone in your network to see who knows of any openings at their company.

Just Keep Hunting

Everyone has seen Finding Nemo, right? So take a cue from Dory and “just keep hunting, just keep hunting” until you find a job! Search for jobs on LinkedIn, on company websites, CCO Express, through your network connections. It’s possible that you’ll get a job that you don’t want to stay in for long, so keep applying and don’t be afraid to take advantage of a new opportunity!

It’s been real Purdue – thanks for four years of unforgettable memories! Boilermaker for life! BOILER UP!

A Final Farewell

By: Samantha Werry

Being a senior in Visual Communication Design, I am sad, yet happy to say I AM GRADUATING! Due to that, this post is my final post EVER. I am sorry that none of you will get to hear the amazing advice from the wonderful Samantha Werry anymore, but there will be some new interns coming in next year who have some great advice and talent. Since this is my last post, I wanted to focus on how to wrap everything up.

Besides the whole, leaving Purdue thing, I know I will also be leaving an amazing team who has helped one another through thick and thin. Some of you will come to this point in your life and have to say goodbye to employers and team members. When this day comes, always try to do your best to leave on a good note. Make sure you get and save all of their information for you to contact them in the future. You will never know when you will run into them again or need anything from them in the future! Make sure you also actually stay in touch. Send them an email, Facebook message, LinkedIn post, Tweet or even call them every once in a while. It shows to them and to future employers that you will be loyal to where you work. You also never know if you will end up working with them again! I know I am going to be working with the wonderful Katy Claucherty again this summer!

Before you leave, obtain work you have done to help build your portfolio. Always leave with the original files because you will never know if you will need them again. It is always a good idea to have your boss or manager write you a letter of recommendation. It will help you stand out from the rest and help you realize what they thought your strengths were. A letter of recommendation will also be a great addition to your portfolio.

Overall, if you end everything on a good note, it will help you in the future. Networking and staying in touch with everyone will help you grow. I am sad to be leaving Purdue and the LACD team, but I am happy to be starting a new chapter in my life. My final piece of advice is to keep working hard. Never give up. You will end up right where you need to be in life. GOODBYE EVERYONE!!

Responsibility to Uphold

By: Janna Parke

Last night, I learned a lot about what type of leader I am, and who I can be! Let me catch you up on the position I am talking about.

I am in the Entrepreneurship program here at Purdue, which has been very helpful in my knowledge of starting a business, financials, and teamwork. As a communication major, this program has given me a different aspect of education that I originally did not experience. On another note, at the beginning of the semester we were placed into teams of four people from various majors. On this team, we are given many tasks, assignments, and have been creating an original and new business venture.

When being put into group projects, I am always nervous that I will be stuck with a “bad” group. I define a bad group as students who are not willing to help and do not contribute ideas or time. I was pleased to find that my team of entrepreneurs meshed well together and is well rounded. As far as the team goes, we established our places within the team early in the semester, and I found myself in the leadership position. Although this is not where I originally wanted to be, I discovered that I am one who can organize, plan, and delegate in the most effective way, while having full support of eager team members.

While the semester has been going smoothly, last night our team hit a bump in the road. One member could not make it to a meeting, and therefore was unable to contribute to one of our last projects. After working for about an hour, the team decided that it was only fair to ask the other member to present the work on the upcoming Tuesday. Not only did the absent team member not want to do this, he basically refused. As the leader, this put me in a tough position to handle at 12:00am, through text. In order to keep all team members on a level playing field, it was only fair that he present, therefore we all put in an equal amount of effort.

Although it was hard, I decided to stick to our original plan of having him present, although he was not happy. If this happened a year ago, I feel that I would have taken things into my own hands and done the presentation myself. The reason I did not do this is because I trust my team members to put fourth the effort that I put fourth. Being a leader in this class does not mean doing everything, it means being able to take the team’s strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities, and creating a successful business venture. I learned that I may feel bad and it may be hard, but sometimes other people need to take responsibility. When you are on a team when I am designated the leader, I expect nothing less than 100% effort! Now that it is the end of my sophomore year, I think I am finding my specific leadership style.

I know you are probably wondering how the presentation went….

How to Write a Press Release

By: Maureen Corbett

For all my fellow PR students out there, the idea of writing your first press release can be daunting. The first time I had to write one was when I was an intern at Advocate Condell Medical Center. I was a pre-com student who had just finished my freshman year of college, and I had no other experience in this area other than basic communication theory that I had learned in my introductory courses. I was told that the press release I had to write would be published on all the local news media outlets, so naturally I felt quite a bit of pressure about performing this task. In order to alleviate my readers from feeling the same stress I experienced, here are a few basic tips that will help make your first press release a hit.

Layout

Check out my first press release above! While it may look quite boring and simple to the average viewer, there are several key elements to writing a press release when it comes to its design. First, you have to make sure that the proper contact information is at the very top. You can't forget to include the name of the company you work for, and a title that accurately explains the main idea of your press release. The date and your company's logo are also must-haves when creating the layout of your first press release.

Intro Paragraph

This is the most important part of a press release. Think about it this way: if someone were to only read the first paragraph you had written, you want all the important information contained within the first few sentences. Make sure to answer the questions "Who?" "What?" "Where?" "When?" "Why?" and "How?" right away so your audience knows exactly what you are talking about right from the beginning. Try to make this as concise as possible, your readers are busy people so give them all the facts they need to know and nothing more.

Cut Out the Fluff

In my previous writing courses, I was always taught to use descriptive adjectives and imagery to capture my audience's attention. Forget all that for a press release. Make sure you stick strictly to the facts. Your readers are interested in your press release for its information purposes, and they can draw their own conclusions about the topic later. 

Boilerplate

This is a short, 2-5 sentences summarizing the press release. It could go into more detail about the author (which in this case it you!), the details about the company your work for, or include more information about who should be contacted with comments or questions. Every press release has a boilerplate and most companies have a uniform template that is always used, so make sure you talk to your boss first about what they want included. 

With these quick tips, all your fears should be alleviated when writing your first press release! As a PR student you will probably write thousands of press releases in your life, so be prepared to master this skill in no time at all.