#adgrad

Public Relations… So like HR?

How is that different than marketing?

I wish my major was as easy as yours!

Is that in the business school?

So you’re good at public speaking?

What’s the starting salary for that?

Advertising? Ugh, I hate commercials.

How did you hear about the Most Promising Multicultural Students (MPMS) Program? I heard about it from an AdGrad/MAIP Alum that worked in my department during my internship at Google this past summer.

What did the MPMS program consist of? What did you do while you were there? The MPMS program is a one-week networking immersion program that connects 2 students, selected from each participating advertising school around the nation, with top industry professionals. We were exposed to agencies ranging from the Publicis Group, Omnicom Media Group, IPG Group and other private agencies, including GSD&M, Droga5, and Widen + Kennedy, and more!  Everyday we had different panelists from different agencies and heard from a few of their Chief Diversity Officers that instilled a yearning desire in each of us to continue fighting for more diversity and inclusion in this industry. Each person brought more insight about the industry, how it has evolved and how the future looks. We even had a mini Career Fair with over 30 agencies ready to network and interview the MPMS Class of 2016.

What was your favorite part about being in New York for a week? It felt like I was in Disney World for ad majors… I was in the heart of the advertising industry. Literally, our hotel was on Madison Avenue and reeked of Mad Men vibes. Everyday brought more knowledge and a burning passion to burst into the advertising industry and start brewing new ideas to help brands flourish. Until we got back to the hotel after eating dinner around 10pm, played catch up with school work, and knocked out (like a little kid after walking through all of Magic Kingdom in one day-hence the Disney World reference).  

Do you believe that being a multicultural student has benefitted you in any way throughout your career? So far, it has. Programs like MPMS, MAIP and Google’s BOLD Internship have opened their arms for a young, dedicated Latina student like me, and I could say the same for my other multicultural peers. However, I’ve seen many people neglect these opportunities, but I urge you, don’t be one of those. Take advantage of these (paid) opportunities.

Do you feel that this program has created more opportunities for you?   Definitely, I networked like I’ve never networked in my life. I met so many influential people in the industry that each inspired me in their own way to keep doing what I’m doing. The Advertising program here at UT has definitely prepped me with enough knowledge and experience. However, I now feel ready to get some experience on the field. This program has allowed me to connect with agencies I had never thought about interacting with until I was actually standing in front of their table or standing in their very own office during our daily agency visits. Within MPMS I formed life long connections with my fellow MPMS class. We are the future, and I can’t wait to see where each of us end up.

In a perfect world, what do you see yourself doing in ten years and where? Running my own department within an agency, eventually my own agency (maybe in 15-20 years)!

You are in both the Media and Creative sequences, something that not many students can say they have accomplished. What has this experience been like for you? This experience has been very rewarding and I feel very fortunate to have been accepted into both sequences. I applied to both of these on a whim. I started off with a passion for creative and ended up falling in love with media planning the next semester as well.  Now that I’ve gotten a chance to take all the required coursework for both, I have no regrets.

Can you name the one thing that you’re most proud of achieving over the course of your professional career? The proudest moment I’ve had in my career so far is being a elected as the Director of Public Relations for the Hispanic Business Student Association. I owe what I’ve learned about this industry and how to run my own little Advertising/PR agency by being in this role.  

You graduate in a few months. What’s next for you?   Hopefully some traveling before starting the full time job (TBD). I’ve got family in Venezuela, Spain and Germany that I haven’t seen in years. So, we’ll see where this summer takes me. But I’m hoping to continue leveraging all the connections I’ve made while participating in MPMS and will keep you guys updated with the agency that decides to make this girl’s advertising dream come to life. \m/

Do you have any advice for underclassmen interested in Advertising or Public Relations as a career? Don’t be afraid to pursue a career in this industry. It’s got it’s ups and downs, but ultimately there will always be a brand that needs help positioning itself in front of the right market with the right message. Also, keep in mind that the industry is going through a paradigm shift where we no longer create advertising, we create brands. And with this means, creating relationships with people that use these brands. With wearable tech, VR and AR all marking their territory in advertising, this is the perfect time for underclassmen like you to take initiative and make yourself a subject matter expert in these new topics. Prove to your future agency that you’re ready to tackle and excel at any new media form that may come your way.

And most importantly, take advantage of the opportunities you come across as an advertising student here at UT. Apply to the creative and/or media sequences, if that’s your calling, and even take BFP courses. Don’t forget about MAIP, MPMS and BOLD Internship program once you hit your last two years of college!

BEFORE 1. Practice your elevator speech - Out loud! Get conversation rolling. Recruiters will take it from there. - Give a firm hand shake

2. Plan your attire - If you have a suit, sure wear it, do you have to buy a suit- “no” - Start thinking NOW about what you want to wear

3. Research, research, research! - 90 companies - Come up with A B and C list - You need to make sure that the people on you’re a list that you research the company - Don’t say “Hi what does your company do?”

4. Keep it manageable - Go online next week to view map - Look at the Career Fair App!

5. Bring multiple copies of your resume - Enough for A & B list plus 5 because you never know who you will run into

DURING 1. Survey the room and make a game plan

2. Anticipate speaking with each recruiter for about five minutes - This is where your research and elevator pitch prep come in handy!

3. Do a little eavesdropping - Listen in on conversations so that you don’t ask the same questions

4. Write down after each visit with a recruiter - Get contact information from the recruiters

AFTER 1. Follow up with an email - “It’s to get your name back in their heads” 2. Apply online - Submit your materials to companies who accept resumes and documents online 3. CCS is here to help!

Student questions: Q: “Is it too early to go to career fair in fall if you are graduating in May?” A: “No definitely not. In fact, you need to.”

Q: “Are juniors and seniors the only ones who should go to the career fair?” A: Freshmen and sophomore definitely need to experience

Last advice from Kubena “You don’t want to monopolize their time” “When you’re in line, eavesdrop a little - you don’t want to ask the same questions plus you can use the info you learn” Get a “padfolio” and take time to jot down some notes “One good questions would be: what would be the first project I would work on?”