By Ashlee Hall, M.K. Bryant, Drew Roberts, Lydia Hendrieth

The Department of Communication and Career Development Center co-hosted their largest career fair to date. Communication Career Day featured over 20 employers and welcomed back almost 20 alumni.

Mass Communication seniors came prepared to network and scout future employers. Here are their takes on Communication Career Day.

Last One, Best One

Ashlee Hall, student journalist

Senior year is coming at me fast. I have spent the last few weeks applying for any job that seems remotely related to my area of interest and I have learned that the online application process can be daunting.

I much prefer face-to-face networking and knowing the person behind the email I am sending my resume to. Communication Career Day was the perfect opportunity for me to put my people skills to use. I really enjoyed the array of different communication fields represented. I could talk to someone from a news station one minute and someone from a magazine the next.

I have been to a multitude of career fairs throughout my time at Montevallo and this has been the best one yet. Having the opportunity to connect with alumni and network with employers before sending in my resume, which always gives someone a leg up in the application process.

Figuring Out the Future

M.K. Bryant, student journalist

At the time I’m writing this, graduation is in exactly two months.

I have, admittedly, been struggling to figure out what I want to do after I graduate. I have far too many interests, and it’s difficult to narrow everything down into a single plausible career path. I’ve submitted a few different applications for job openings that I’ve found through Indeed and LinkedIn, but this can quickly start to feel impersonal.

I’m grateful for Communication Career Day because it gives me an opportunity that is often overlooked and taken for granted in an overwhelmingly digital age– the opportunity for in-person networking.

I was able to have meaningful conversations with professionals about my personal career goals, and I was even able to hand out some of my business cards to representatives of companies that have current openings.

I think it’s important for students, especially graduating seniors, to be given opportunities like this. It makes the process of job-hunting much less intimidating.

Sampling Future Prospects

Drew Roberts, student journalist

It’s hard to believe that my time at Montevallo is almost over. Thankfully, however, I’m not too worried about my future.

After getting accepted into my first choice graduate school at Ole Miss, I’ve successfully managed to postpone entrance into the real world for a few more years. That being said, I wanted to take advantage of Communication Career Day. Sifting the waters of the job market and sharpening my networking skills couldn’t hurt.

I got there late, so I could only visit a few tables. I started out with Alabama Media Group, a company I could definitely see myself working in. I’ve grown quite fond of Southern storytelling, so anything in that realm is certainly on my radar.

I then drifted over to Hibbett Sports. As an athlete myself, it seemed right up my alley. I enjoyed the marketing aspect of their branding quite a bit, and I could certainly see myself fitting in well there. Who knows, maybe they’ll need some running content later down the line.

I rounded out my time with Rev Birmingham, a company focusing on promoting commercial districts in Birmingham. While I’m not sure if I’ll end up in Birmingham, this career path seemed right up my alley. I had a good conversation with the representative about the importance of the skill of writing and our respective experiences working for The Alabamian.

Overall, Communication Career Day was a great experience. Events like these put me at ease as I look at potential career paths.

Moving Forward

Lydia Hendrieth, student multimedia journalist

The journey to the real world has been a long one. But I feel patent and prepared for the next steps in life. With graduation being around the corner, I have had times where I felt uneasy about being able to make the transition.

Communication Career Day has changed that. The face-to-face interaction with potential employers opens up a huge line of communication and introduces you to details about what the job market is really like. I have attended multiple times throughout my time here as a student and have created relationships with professionals I can now reach out to.

I would easily say it’s one of the best connection opportunities and really makes transitioning out of college a smoother experience.