This past Saturday, the New York Women in Communications Foundation (NYWICI Foundation) hosted their annual Students in Communications Career Conference. I attended on behalf of Her Campus and I really enjoyed the event. The same day, the foundation released their scholarship, which is available to all collegiettes™ (and high school seniors) studying a communications-related major in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut. For more information, click here!
The night before the conference, I was invited to attend a pizza party thrown by NYWICI Foundation for a select group of high school girls. The group, who all planned to attend the conference the next day, was chosen by a number of non-profit organizations such as Prep for Prep and Junior Achievement in hopes that they would further their interest in communications. Judith Harrison, Co-Chair of the High School Outreach Committee, said, “Even if they’re not interested in communications yet, we hope that after the conference, they will be.”
When I walked in, the girls were already chatting and smiling. Dayana Alvarado said she was most excited to hear Seventeen editor-in-chief Ann Shoket’s keynote speech. “I read it every month,” she says. Dayana plans on studying for a career in public relations and marketing. Mikaela Smith, who hopes to start her own online magazine for teenage girls, said she was looking forward to hearing the panel on entrepreneurial communications. Naisia Greenwige-James was hoping to learn more about successful women in culinary and travel journalism.
The girls’ enthusiasm was contagious – and the next day, the conference was a success! Over two hundred students and grads were represented from dozens of colleges and universities in the tri-state area. There was also a ton of support from HC Love – while there, I ran into HC Contributing Writer Katie Sanders and HC Career Editor Taylor Trudon!
The conference featured several speakers at the morning address, followed by attendees going to three out of nine panels. In addition to Ann Shoket, speakers and moderators included Amy Cohen, Executive Producer at Fox 5 New York, editors from SELF Magazine, Instyle.com, O, TheKnot.com, and BlogHer, and Kate Lord, Photo Editor at The Wall Street Journal.
My favorite part of the day was hearing Ann Shoket’s three rules for landing that coveted job or internship position. According to Ann, perfecting these three steps practically hands you the job on a silver platter:
1. Cover Letter: “Write a three paragraph cover letter about what makes you awesome, what you can bring to the table, and which qualities you can offer that aren’t specifically listed on your resume,” says Ann. For example, maybe you’re an incredible “people person” – include that in your letter! The cover letter should be personally addressed – stay far, far away from the ubiquitous “To Whom It May Concern.”
2. Interview: “Sit at the edge of your seat and be engaged with the interviewer. It’s your job to tell me a story about you. If you’re relaxed and sitting back in your seat, why should I be excited about hiring you?” Ann asks.
3. Thank You Note: Immediately following your interview, send a thank you note. You should write about something substantive and specific about the conversation you had during your interview. Did it change your view on the position? Did it clarify a point? Put your worries at ease? That is what you should write about, not the generic, “Thank you for your time! I’m so excited for this opportunity!” Ann says that email thank you notes are just as appropriate as handwritten ones.
Are you planning on applying for the NYWICI Foundation scholarship? What do you think of Ann’s tips?