Week 4 Reflection: RISE Self-Evaluation

This weeks reflection video is a self-evaluation film on my Career Development Skills: Media Communications course that I had this month. I'll be discussing what I liked about the course and where I believe I could have improved.

Link to YouTube video.

Week 4 Reflection: RISE Peer Review

Link to Heather's Wk3 Project: Mock Interview.

RISE Peer Review for Heather Garza.

Reflect –

Overall Heather, I thought your mock interview was wonderful and there’s very little for me to critic! I love that you played the role of interviewer and interviewee by switching your clothes for the role. Your dress was interview appropriate, your rooms lighting was great, your voice was clear and undisrupted throughout the mock interview too.

What struck me about your interview was how much background information you knew about USAA. That would go over well in any interview.

I loved your personal story about growing up in a military family. That totally would win brownie points from me if I was your interviewer. This personal information makes you vary valuable and relatable to a company like USAA. This and your experience with customer service are huge bonuses for the position you’re seeking. It made me want to revisit my own preparation to see if there was a personal story I might have, correlated to the job, and see how I could work that story into my interview.

Inquire –

What were you trying to communicate to the interviewer that you’re interested in getting into the advertisement portion of the USAA position? If so, I would love to have heard about any advertisements your made while in school. You could talk about how you learned about guerilla marketing or how you created infographics and your own advertisements for class.

Suggest –

Have you considered looking into the camera and smiling a little more? I know it sounds silly and I probably didn’t even do this in my own video but it does help and it’s goo to be aware of our body language in any interview.

You might want to try to sit still in your chair a little bit. You were swaying back a fourth quit a bit and it makes it seem like you were a little nervous. It was mildly distracting. I know it’s hard to think of all these things for a video for class but just be aware of body language in a live interview.

Elevate –

Perhaps you can add more personalization to your presentation by seemingly reading off script. Your video was fantastic but I could tell you were reading from a script. It would be great if the video felt a little more real. This can be done by getting more comfortable with your information, so it really looks like the conversation is coming easily to you.

Week 3 Project: Mock Interview

For this weeks project we were to create a video mock interview. I chose to be interviewed for the Marketing Coordinator position at Redapt.

Link to Vimeo video.

Practice: Interviewing With Examples

This weeks practice activity was for us to view some mock interview questions that our employer would interview us with and then video ourselves giving the answer. This was done to help us engage in story telling with confidence.

Link to vimeo video

Week 3 Analysis: Virtual Interview Preparation

For this weeks analysis we were to create a video for our future interviewer. This video is set up to give details to the employer that we are ready for the interview and how we've set up a professional space to complete the video meeting.

Link to Vimeo video.

Week 3 Practice: Company Questions

This weeks practice activity was for us to find five questions to ask our interviewer, after our interview is done. This will help the interviewer understand how interested I am in the company and it helps me understand more about the position and the company.

Questions:

1.     What is the single largest problem facing your staff and would I be in a position to help you solve this problem? 

This question is important to my interview process because it shows the interviewer that I want to help the company and the field specific team. It also allows the interviewer to see me in the position as their describing their answer.

By asking this question, I’m hoping to gain insight about the issues that are going on in the position currently. It helps me understand the process and give me a head start on creative solutions.

The answer I’m given to this question will help my with my decision about this opportunity because it opens up the ideas, expectations, and standards the company has. It lets me know if the employers’ expectations are realistic and set a new team member up for success.

2.     Do you offer continuing education and professional training?

This question is important because it let’s me know that the company is willing to help me grow within my field. It also shows the company that I am actively interested in expanding my knowledge.

By asking this question, I’m hoping to gain insight into the dynamic of the company. It let’s me know that they care about current trends and having a knowledgeable staff.

The answer I’m given to this question will help my with my decision about this opportunity because it shows me that the company sets their staff up for success.

3.     Can you tell me about the team I’ll be working with?

This question is important to my interview process because it shows the interviewer that I’m assuming I’ll get the job. It shows them that I’m interested in the company dynamic as well.

By asking this question, I’m hoping to gain insight into the people I’ll be working with. I would love to know the types of personalities I’ll be surrounded by every day.

The answer I’m given to this question will help me with my decision about this opportunity because I’ll have a better understanding about my coworkers.

4.     How do you evaluate success here?

This question is important to my interview process because it shows me an extremely important portion of my job. Evaluations, depending on the company, can be weekly, monthly, or even quarterly.

By asking this question, I’m hoping to gain insight into the companies standards.

The answer I’m given to this question will help me with my decision about this opportunity because if they have some kind of tier system, this may lead to “clicks” within the companies’ community. It would show that that making friendships within the company might become more important than my standard of work, which I don’t like.

5.     What do you like most about working for this company?

This question is important to my interview process because it shows me how positive the employer is about their job. It also gives me knowledge about the perks of working for the company

By asking this question, I’m hoping to gain a personal connection with the employer. I’m also hoping I can get a real honest answer about the job.

The answer I’m given to this question will help my with my decision about this opportunity if the employer has a difficult time answering, it shows me there’s some issues within their job.

Week 3 Exploration: Company Research

This weeks exploration project was to expand on our Week 2 Target List. I decided to do research on the company, Nintendo. They currently have an opening for a Digital Marketing Manager. This research will help me better understand the company and also help me decide if this is a company I really do want to work for.

Please click this link to expand the infographic.

My MCBS MultiMedia Story Video

This is a visual story about my journey of going back to school at Full Sail University and what Full Sail has taught me over the last three years.

Link to YouTube video.

Week 2 Practice: Elevator Pitch

For this weeks discussion we were to create and "elevator pitch." Creating this pitch was done to help us introduce ourselves to the industry professionals within the industry we're planning our careers. My pitch is specific to the event planning and gaming industries.

Link to Pitch video on Vimeo.

Week 2 Project: Network Email

For this weeks project we were to find someone in our professional or personal network and draft a professional email to him or her. The purpose of the email is to ask them for advice, resources, and time, to better understand the industry we want to get into.

Subject: I Want YOU to be MY Mentor!

Hello Mr. Crombie,

My name is Taylor Wickman and I’m currently attending Full Sail University. I’m set to graduate in May 2016 with a Bachelors of Science in Media Communications. Upon graduation I’m setting my sights on the gaming industry. I plan to break through the industry, making my way into the trade show division. I want to help guide companies when they exhibit their games and products at conventions and trade shows. I am a media guru, specializing in Event Planning, Communications, Public Relations, and Media Design. I have dozens of certificates completing courses for Adobe Creative Suit, Microsoft Office, and many more programs. I have a personal advantage with over seven years of experience in customer service and a pervious background in the gaming industry,

I’m reaching out to you, Rob Crombie, because you have worked for Nintendo of America for 14 years within several departments. I know you have gained a lot of knowledge about how Nintendo of America operates. I believe you can help me gain insight and advice into the inner working of the gaming industry and you help me understand what it takes to reach my career goals. I look forward to hearing from you and discussing our passion for the gaming industry. Thank you for taking the time to review my request and considering speaking with me.

Sincerely,

Taylor Wickman

Analysis: Building A Professional Network

For this weeks analysis we were to research our current professional network. This was done to find out how we can expand that network and help us gain traction in our industry by making connections and understanding how to create more. 

Link to Prezi.

Information within the Prezi:

10 Current professional/personal communities:

1.     LinkedIn - Connections: 112

2.     Youtube

3.     Facebook - Connections: 327

4.     Twitter - Following: 111 Followers: 34

5.     Instagram - Following: 237 Followers: 106

6.     Pinterest - Following: 63 Followers:142

7.     Full Sail University Media Communications Facebook Group - Member: 234

8.     Full Sail University Networking Facebook Group – Members: 10,473

9.     Full Sail University Alumni LinkedIn Group – Members: 9,495

10.   Family - Connections: 20

Target List – LinkedIn first, second, and third connections

Company: Nintendo

1^st – Sr. Business Development Manager Alex Palomares (former co-worker)

2^nd – Senior Technical Recruiter – Ryan Graves

2^nd – Assistant Manager, Public Relations - Krysta Yang

Company: CRG Events

3^rd – Senior Event Manager - Brittney Schrag

3^rd – Senior Event Manager – Desiree Rook

3^rd – Event Coordinator - Cori Rosenberg

Company: Valve Corporation

2^nd – Steam Business/Marketing – Nathaniel Blue

2^nd – Business Development/Marketing - Erik Peterson

2^nd – Events – Arsenio Navarro

Company: PopCap

2^nd – Product Support Expert - Lauren Detjen

3^rd – Head of Marketing – Gary Clay

3^rd – Sr. Mobile Marketing & Live Services Manager – Plants vs. Zombies – Michael Lee

Company: Pokemon

2^nd – Consumer Marketing Director - J.C. Smith

2^nd – Producer | Online Marketing – Thomas Wiggin

2^nd – Merchandise Development – Rey Perez

Connections you need to make in order to be connected to Target List organizations

In order to connect to the companies within my Target List, I need to connect with current employees and recruiters on social media websites like LinkedIn and Twitter. This will allow traffic to my LinkedIn profile and my personal website. Employees and recruiters will be able to view my accomplishments and reach out to me.

Strategies, conferences, or approaches to make connections:

1.     Attend conferences like: IMEX America and Experiential Marketing Summit.

2.     Join professional events/meeting industry groups like: Meeting Professionals International and Professional Convention Management Association.

3.     Volunteer for a company event that you’re interested in working for to gain company insight.

4.     Get referrals from current network.

5.     Network and become more active on social media.

Using these techniques will help propel me in my journey to finding future employment. Building a professional network will allow me to make connections with companies I want to work with. It will help me gain insight into how these companies operate and what I may need to do in order to achieve employment. Attending tradeshows, conferences, and business events will help me stay on top of my industries trends, which will make me more valuable to employers.