Six Tips for Getting a COMMUNICATIONS JOB

in Silicon Valley  

by René Shimada Siegel

SLIDESHARE BY ARIANNA CHOPELAS

Hi! My name is

René Shimada Siegel.

I took the LEAP from the corporate world and started my own consulting agency 17 years ago.

I’ve connected thousands of clients with AMAZING marketing and communications consultants.

And found my calling: helping people do their BEST work while still having the time and flexibility to pursue their

personal PASSIONS.

In May 2013, I was invited to SPEAK at San Jose State University’s Convocation for Journalism & Mass Communications majors.

Instead of telling the graduates something

ABSTRACT & LOFTY like…

“Follow your

dreams”    

I gave them my practical tips for

LANDING A JOB

and having a GREAT CAREER

HERE’S MY FIRST ONE:

JUST DO IT

In my senior seminar class we had to write a cover letter and resume for a JOB, in any communications field.

The job description said they wanted three to five years of EXPERIENCE.

I’d only done a summer internship so far, but after I turned in my assignment, I SENT the letter and resume to the company.

Believe it or not, they HIRED me part-time while I was still in school senior year—and I started full-time after graduation.

So here’s my tip:

JUST DO IT. Apply for everything. It costs nothing.

Remember: Job descriptions are wish lists. And companies love people who are willing to put themselves out there.

JUST DO IT.

TIP NUMBER TWO: SEIZE OPPORTUNITIES

Two years ago I was asked to speak at the San Jose State Leadership Conference. I made a SPECIAL offer to everyone who was there that day.

If the students gave me their name, email and major, I would match them with a MENTOR from my personal network—FOR FREE.

ONE HUNDRED students received contact info for a professional who generously offered to help propel their career.

We told the students they were responsible for initiating the contact.

So how many do you think out of 100, actually followed up with the mentors?

ZERO. ZERO OUT OF 100.

Everyone wanted the golden ticket, but NOBODY bothered to unwrap the Wonka bar.

I know. Professionals can be intimidating. You’re busy with classes and work.

But you never know when one person may know another person whose neighbor’s daughter needs someone JUST LIKE YOU.

Seize every opportunity. When opportunity knocks, ANSWER the frickin’ door!

TIP NUMBER THREE: BE CREATIVE

My son Adam is attending COLLEGE in Los Angeles and wants to get into the entertainment industry.

Freshman year a woman who was a producer came to speak in one of his classes. Afterwards, he walked and TALKED with her.

He found out that they had both worked at Baskin Robbins and shared the same favorite FLAVOR—peanut butter and chocolate.

The producer promised to connect Adam with a talent agency, but when Adam didn’t hear anything, he called and emailed—TWICE.

Finally, she made the email introduction and he got the unpaid INTERNSHIP at the dance agency.

Now, get this. Adam bought a Styrofoam ice chest, took a taxi cab (he didn’t have a car), loaded the chest with pints of Peanut Butter & Chocolate, and delivered it to the producer with a hand-written THANK YOU.

By the way, Adam’s unpaid internship is now paid and he worked in the Broadway NY office last summer. The agency even offered him a FULL-TIME JOB as an agent after grad.

All it takes is a tiny bit of extra CREATIVITY to stand out. Perhaps it’s not something they teach over in Engineering, but you’re Communications majors.

Be creative. Be unique. Exceed expectations. That’s how you build a professional BRAND.

TIP NUMBER FOUR:

NETWORK HARDER

In my experience it’s not just the hard work you do, it’s the NET-WORK that counts.

Your formal education may have ended, but

your career depends less on

WHAT you know than WHO you know.

GET YOUR BUTT TO

IABC and PRSA

AND ALL THE OTHER PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS WHERE PEOPLE LIKE

ME ARE LOOKING FOR OUTGOING, POLISHED YOUNG TALENT.

In the professional world, you don’t EXIST if you’re not on LinkedIn.

A resume goes to one person at a time, but your LinkedIn profile is accessible to MILLIONS of potential employers.

 

Movie mogul Samuel Goldwyn of MGM was asked how he got so successful. And he said, “The harder I work, the LUCKIER I get.”

TIP NUMBER FIVE:

SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF

You are professional communicators. There is no EXCUSE for sloppy grammar or typos.

You should be fanatical about accuracy and integrity in everything you WRITE, SHOOT or POST.

I still see Public Relations job titles with TYPOS. Try spelling “public” without the “L.” Not so nice.

And guess what, girls and boys, spellcheck is not going to HELP you with that one.

So if you want to be regarded as professional, reliable and educated, take the time to read and RE-READ everything.

MY SIXTH AND FINAL TIP IS A BONUS TIP: THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

TOTO, WE ARE NOT IN KANSAS, AND THAT’S A GOOD THING.

We’re in San Jose, CA – the heart of Silicon Valley. Hundreds of INCREDIBLE companies in a 10-mile radius. You could be graduating from Lower Mediocre College or Nowhere State.

ASK YOURSELF: Do you want to travel and do CREATIVE things? Make the world a BETTER place? Have a stable career that PAYS well? Parents, do YOU want your child to have a stable career that pays well?

Then DON’T be intimidated by Silicon Valley & technology.

You are the AMPLIFIERS. Your job is to make sure the world hears about things that are important and valuable.

SEXY companies like Google, Twitter, Apple, Zynga need great communicators. But there are thousands of other companies that have less competition, and more to do.

So there you have it, my SIX TIPS. Give them a try. I think you’ll be amazed at what

comes your way.

Remember, there’s no carefully crafted career plan for any of us. It’s YOURS to create.

You have the same FOUNDATION I had 26 years ago. A world-class education, practical experience from internships and a wealth of Spartan connections.

YOU’RE ALSO ENTERING THE MARKET WHEN FORBES LISTS

SAN JOSE & SAN FRANCISCO AS TWO OF THE BEST CITIES FOR JOBS.

And employers plan to hire 13% MORE grads this year, including PR, communications and

marketing majors.

Yes, competition will always be fierce and employers will always be PICKY.

It’s okay to be scared. I’m still scared every day. That’s how I know I’m still LEARNING and growing.

I had to create my career from nothing. There was no TEMPLATE. But if I can do it, you can do it too.

Just be a tiny bit braver tomorrow than you are today. In work, and in LIFE.

CONGRATULATIONS EVERYONE. GO GET ‘EM!