My Perfect Job

Growing up, I never had a dream job. I really did not begin to think about my professional interests until my senior year of high school. Still, by the time I entered college, I did not have any specific career goals and thus registered as an Exploratory major. 

Deciding what I want to do professionally has been a bit of a process of elimination and a long one at that. By my sophomore year, however, I decided to major in Communication/Media Studies. I have always been passionate about effective communication and the broad applications of a communications major appealed to me. I thoroughly enjoyed my communications courses but I soon realized I needed to find a practical application and my niche. At that point I added an Editing, Writing, and Media major since English and writing have always been my best subjects.

Once I began taking EWM courses and integrating them with the material from my Comm courses, I realized my dream career would be in the publishing industry. I have always loved books and have thoroughly embraced the concept of grammar ever since it was introduced to me. This prompted my decision to pursue a career as a book editor for a major publishing company. I am hoping to gain experience in the industry through an internship this summer. This career appeals to me because I can work both individually and as a team. It would provide a creative environment to work in and I would be helping to produce a product that I love. This job sounds ideal to me and I feel as though I could excel in this position. I look forward to seeing where my dream will take me because I think being an editor would be my perfect job.

Guest Speakers

“Del Suggs is an original. He is one of those individuals who comes on stage as a stranger, and leaves it as a friend.  That is a rare gift.”

My Careers in Communication course has introduced many guest speakers who shared valuable information, but Del Suggs is one presenter I found particularly interesting. Del is an award-winning songwriter, singer, and guitarist. He has taught at FSU in both the College of Education and the College of Music. Suggs has co-authored several books and has additional experience in a wide range of industries. The most valuable lessons I’ve learned this semester stem from Del Suggs’ presentation, titled “How to do Anything.”

The information Del provided will be useful not only in making career decisions, but in living a fulfilled life. In his presentation he explained that having a specific quantitative goal can help you accomplish any aspiration.  Having a specific and measurable goal will undoubtedly guide me through the job searching/application process. Del also stressed that the type of person you are really does matter to future employers because it is important to enjoy the people with whom you work. Throughout his presentation he highlighted that a person should always be working to be more grateful, gracious, friendly, sincere, positive, forgiving, and happy. And happiness is a choice. I really took this to heart because I believe that it is more important to devote time building your character than building your resume. Experiences on a resume certainly mold you and build your skill set, but they do not define who you are.



It’s not surprising that Del Suggs’ speech appealed to me the most out of all our speakers; he was named "Best Campus Speaker of the Year" as voted by the school membership of Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities and has received several similar honors. 

Quote source: http://www.delsuggs.com/Bio.html

Changes

My Careers in Communication class is taught mostly through guest speakers’ lectures, which has exposed me to many new concepts and perspectives related to job searching and future success. Processing this information has led me to several new approaches and revelations that will be invaluable during my post-grad job search.

I have gained quite a bit of knowledge that will be advantageous during the interview process of securing a job. Learning about and utilizing the Skills Matrix in the Career Portfolio allowed me to match each of my experiences with a particular skill set developed. I had never mentally mapped this information in this way; the organization has helped me become more articulate in explaining my achievements. I think this will be crucially helpful during job interviews because it can be used to answer just about any question quickly, thoroughly, and thoughtfully.  I have learned the importance of having excellent pre-prepared answers to the questions that will inevitably be asked during an interview.

I have also realized that I know absolutely nothing about money, financing, or budgeting.  Melissa Wright’s financial presentation encouraged me to do some serious research concerning salaries, benefits, and realistic life planning. This research will definitely be instrumental in deciding which jobs to apply for, discussing benefits with a potential employer, and determining which job to take.

All of our speakers’ stories have led me to realize just how competitive the job market is. This realization led to my not-so-exciting discovery that getting my dream job is a process and it might not happen right away. I need to work on accepting this possibility (more like probability) and embrace the fact that there is something to learn in any position at any company. However, setting realistic goals, adjusting my attitude, and preserving may be enough to make my dreams a reality in a more timely manner.

About Me

My name is MaryAlice Skidmore and I am a junior at Florida State University. I’m double majoring in Communication/Media Studies and Editing Writing and Media and minoring Psychology. I’m interested in communication, and specifically editing, because I think being able to refine a message strategically and effectively is crucial to a person or business’s success. Unlike many of my peers, I have thoroughly embraced the concept of grammar ever since it was introduced to me. When asked, I rarely decline the opportunity to proofread a friend’s writing. In fact, many times I will be halfway through an article when I realize I have been subconsciously proofreading it all along. During my sophomore year, I was a contributing writer for The Odyssey, an in print and online newspaper catered toward the Greek Life community. Writing and editing have always been hobbies of mine and I am always eager to broaden my horizon and use those skills in a new way.

Words are crucial in relating information to others and using them effectively can have a powerful impact on individuals. I can communicate information effectively, not only because I have experience doing so, but because I am observant, open-minded, curious, and a detail-oriented planner with very strong organizational skills (I keep a list of my lists.) I am an instinctive leader who appreciates a dynamic group environment and I am known for my sharp sense of humor. My creative and intuitive nature has helped me in multiple leadership roles, whether it is serving on hall government, volunteering at a school for children with special needs, or planning events hosted by my sorority.

My background in the communication field has served as a foundation for my interest in lobbying. During the spring semester of my sophomore year, I started an internship with Florida Atlantic University’s Government Relations team. I had the opportunity to work at the Florida Capitol, reporting on education and appropriation committee meetings during the Legislative session, tracking budget items, and meeting with many Representatives and Senators. I returned to my hometown of Boca Raton for the second half of summer, which gave me the ability to continue working at FAU’s main office. I attended local meetings, managed social media, and started the first newsletter for Institutional Advancement at Florida Atlantic University. In addition, I shadowed the director of the Media Relations Department for a week, which gave me the opportunity to work directly with the press.

Prior to returning home for the summer, I studied abroad for a semester in London through the Communications Program at FSU. Studying the communication process, with courses such as “Public Speaking” and “Rhetoric of Didactic Literature,” through a new cultural lens, left a lasting impression and helped me realize that understanding one’s audience is the key to becoming a better communicator.

This semester, I began working at The Capitol Alliance Group, Inc., a lobbying and consulting firm located in downtown Tallahassee. My job mainly consists of writing and working on campaigns and proposals for the firm’s wide array of clients.
  My broad range of interests makes the field of communications appealing and beneficial. Although I am currently focused on a career in editing or publishing, my previous experience has allowed me to develop numerous skills, all of which I’m confident will serve me well in whatever path I choose.