At the fourth annual #COMMChella Music Festival, SC&I Communication majors, Master of Communication and Media students, and Communication alumni gathered for a series of interactive “Career Conversations” that offered current students an unparalleled opportunity for professional development.

For the past three years, SC&I Career Assistance and Support, located in the Office of Student Services, has worked with the COMMChella team to organize “Career Conversations,” to provide an opportunity for Communication alumni to network with students to help them prepare for post-graduation career success. When the first “Career Conversations” event was held, 22 alums attended. This year, 40 Communications alumni returned to the Banks to engage with students.

Graduate Assistant Evan Leong, who is earning a Master of Communication and Media at SC&I, and two undergraduate students from a 400-level class in the Communication major helped organize the event and ensure it ran smoothly.

The aim of “Career Conversations,” said Assistant Director of Student Services for Careers Ildi Koczan, “Is to provide students with networking experience and help them practice connecting to their professional networks as these are invaluable skills during any job search process.”

By showing students a broad range of what they can achieve post-graduation, Koczan said, “gaining a basic understanding of the various industries represented and the job market right now gives them a lot of reassurance that if someone else has gotten to their position, maybe they can too.”

As COMMChella is open to all Rutgers students, Koczan noted that it isn’t possible to anticipate how many students will arrive to speak with alumni, but the purpose remains to support all students and answer their career-related questions. Koczan said to handle the crowds, they have recently streamlined the process by using a digital map of all the alumni present, and a QR code at the door listing the alumni and their professional affiliations. Koczan estimates that approximately 250 students attended “Career Conversations” this year.

To support students who experienced anxiety before approaching alumni, or students who didn’t feel prepared to pitch themselves, the Rutgers Public Speaking Organization (RPSO)  ran an “elevator pitch” corner. This support enabled students to practice pitching and receive feedback before they spoke with alumni.

“Career Conversations” was organized to support students at any point in their job-searching journeys, whether they were freshmen preparing for the future or seniors currently seeking employment. Many students benefited from listening to alumni speak about how they launched their careers after they graduated from Rutgers, and they represented a very diverse group of professionals working across numerous industries and fields.

By showing students a broad range of what they can achieve post-graduation, Koczan said, “gaining a basic understanding of the various industries represented and the job market right now gives them a lot of reassurance that if someone else has gotten to their position, maybe they can too.”

Students who were not able to attend “Career Conversations” at COMMchella can arrange to work with Koczan. In addition to discussing career opportunities with students, Koczan also provides resume-writing, interview preparation, and career counseling support as well as managing the CES Career Closet drop-box at SC&I.

Alumni who volunteered their time for “Career Conversations” said they greatly enjoyed the experience and benefited themselves from coming back to speak to students. Many of them also added they were impressed by how future-forward SC&I’s current students are.

Communications Strategist Jennifer Tuck, owner of Tuck Consulting, LLC, who majored in Journalism and Media Studies and has worked for Ketchum, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Novartis, said, “speaking with a number of students throughout the afternoon, I was impressed by their talent, passion, and vision. The future of our industry is in excellent hands.”

Katelyn Reardon, an assistant account executive at Nonni Strategic Marketing, who majored in Communication and also earned a Master of Communication and Media from SC&I, said, “It was a truly rewarding experience to engage with and offer advice to current students, especially those considering switching their major to Communication.”

Students who were not able to attend “Career Conversations” at COMMchella can arrange to work with Koczan. In addition to discussing career opportunities with students, Koczan also provides resume-writing, interview preparation, and career counseling support as well as managing the CES Career Closet drop-box at SC&I.

Learn more about Career Assistance and Support at the Rutgers School of Communication and Information on the website.