Your questions on school, career and life?

This upcoming summer I am doing an internship that is unpaid but is for a huge company. Do you think unpaid internships are worth it if you are moving to a different city? 

As an aspiring digital strategist, what is something I should know so that I can get ahead in the industry at a young age?

I was a TA at BEIJING ROYAL SCHOOL when I was high school student, and it is fun experience, But it was not easy to did, I did lots of works prepare about How to help teacher and student communicate efficently, and my favorite job was deal the ralationship. Also I want do some jobs in the future related Public Relationship. 

As a young people, I joined summer camp for my high school as a tutor. It's meaningful for myself and have a graet memory. I'm working in the school and helping new student to solve their basic life problems, and their study problems. It's so funny and interesting!

I would like to ask what will be the best form of advertising if someone was starting up a business right now. Would it be a smart idea to do a mix of advertisng? Or would it be smarter to focus the advertising in one area, such as social billboards?

I worked as an Inter at Ogilvy & Mather this summer. What I have learned in class,  I feel is not useful. Is that true, it's not about how much you learned in school, it's how long you have been in this career? I thought advertising is about idea, creative and your personal ability. 

I'm interning at an organization that fundraises money to give students for post-secondary education, they have been around for about 5 years now but it wasn't until the past 2 years that they have gotten interested in including social media into their public outreach but they don't really know how to go about it. How can I help them without overstepping my position as an intern?

Recently my boyfriend and I were having a discussion about Superbowl commercials.  He was saying how much he hates the Puppy monkey baby commercial and I agree with him in that I hate it.  Being the Advertising major I am however, I was playing devils advocate and talked about how even though the execution was awaful, the creative was weak, and the tie together between the weird message and the product was not made very clear the commercial was talked about across many platforms.  Even though we hated the commercial we were still having a conversation about it so was it really a bad commercial? I think that if a commercial sparks a conversation or draws more earned media to the campaign then it is a successful commercial.  While the product might not be showcased in the commercial that well people are talking about it and may end up doing more research on the topic.  What are your thoughts on this?

I work at a Photography studio, that just recently opened. They don't have much in terms of advertising or marketing to promote their business. We recently just made a Facebook page to draw more business, do you have an suggestions to promote the Facebook page to current customers or future customers?

What is the biggest challenge you have had to overcome when it came to switching from one job to another. Or maybe even from one career to another? What would be your biggest piece of advice? What is your worst "war story?" Best "war story?"

As a young professional entering into the workplace, what would be your most critcal advice in terms of creating an effective and confident team? I belive that transitioning into a new job and creating a sense of trust and cooperation with your co-workers is one of the hardest things to do, so how would you go about creating that trust?

I am looking at an internship abroad this summer working in social media marketing and am wondering what types of differences I should prepare for if I decide to go? Should I expect a completely different experience or am I safe to assume that things like social media usage and trends will be similar across different countries?

I took this class for a chance to learn about social media and how to use it to maximize the work place. I work for a company who is trying to expand their social media outreach. How can I help them without overstepping, they still see me as just learning (doesnt help that I say, well I learned in my class that such as such is a great way to do whatever). Also why doesnt this site have spell check?

How can one stand out when applying for out of state jobs when most employers are most likely to hire or set up interviews for in state applicants?

I have an internship with Michigan.com in an advertising Sales role.  I have been out on may sales pitches, need evaulations, and other just general appointments with clients and I have noticed that some clients STILL in 2016 have a real resistance to digital products.  Sales Reps will throughly explain what the products do and how beneficial they can be however people (especially older more traditional clients) have a hard time understanding or buying into digital advertising.  What do you think is the best way to truly win business owners or decision makers like this over?  When the facts dont work, how would you suggest showing them that digital is going to benefit their company? That showing up on google, and toward the top is important to business success! 

What type of position can one move up to after working strictly with social media?

As a senior I am faced with the challenge of choosing between two potential full-time job offers. Do you have any advice on how to go about this situation and have you ever been faced with a similar situation?

Throughout my time at MSU, I have been able to chat with many graduates and professionals who have offered great advice about the industry. One thing I did notice, however, is that people are no longer spending 25 years at the same company and retiring. It seems that, more often than not, young people switch jobs multiple times throughout their career. Some even leave a company to go elsewhere and end up returning to the original company down the road. It seems so common nowadays, even HR professionals have touched on this topic to my classmates and I during company information sessions. 

How exactly does one go about moving from one organization to another without burning any bridges? 

What would you say is the biggest turn-off when it comes to choosing a company to work for? What has been your most favorite job throughout your careers?

I agree that one's education is the greatest platform to develop your career since this field is so competitive already. I worked in the digital department in a company and saw how some people with digital positions may have had different college degrees in relation to the field they were in. Since the digital age for companies is now thriving, some said that earning a degree in something more tradtional pushed them a step back in the wrong direction. As someone pursuing a degree in advertsing and media, and besides earning a New Media Driver's License, how else could you prepare to grip the growing and evolving world of digital media for business use? How do you adjust to and learn all these changes in new media or media outlets in the future that have not even been invented yet? In this article it says to attend industry events. I believe this could seriously help some people/companies especially mom and pop businesses who may struggle to get a solid social media platform created. Another article mentioned something I thought was interesting and said to review your own analytics and reports. Have you ever done this for a company you have worked for? If you did, how did you go about it and take criticism constructively?

Throughout your years in the world of advertising and marketing, what is the biggest problem that you have been faced with when it comes to working your way up through a company and trying to build a strong team of employees?

Before you gained a lot of experience in the industry did you have any mentors that helped you get to where you are today? Were they online influencers, social media gurus, or personal connections? 

Advertising and marketing are very competitive fields, so any advice on how to stand out would be helpful. I would like to know what you think is the most important thing that I can do in an interview, on my resume, or on LinkedIn to stand out among the other qualified individuals? 

As a senior enduring a current job search, deciding what company you want to work for can be very difficult. The process can get extremely difficult when you have an offer on the table and don't know whether or not to accept it. My question for you is, when you were deciding about accepting your first job, what criteria helped you reach a decision?

What types of places can someone work in the field of media sales?

Many of the students taking this course are seniors graduating in a few short months. I am also one of those students graduating soon and I have just obtained my first real world job in Chicago. Going through college I knew I loved talking to people and had a competitive spirit so I knew a job in sales was the right fit for me. I haven’t exactly figured out what type of sales is my niche so I took a job in the logistics field. My question for you is what do you think are the potential pros/cons of taking a job in a certain field for any reason other than that you love it.

I have always heard the saying "It's all about who you know" when it comes to job opportunities. I know that a lot of people happen to land jobs or internships from their parents or their parents' friends without having much experience with that profession at all. My question would be do you think that this quote proves to be true? And is it better to accept some sort of internship than none to put on your resume even if it doesn't really relate to what you want to be doing in the future?

Thinking about the future and leaving college is extremely nerve wrecking. I think I am ready to be on my own and start a job, however I feel it is going to be very different than college. I think what I am most nervous for is starting a new job and not knowing what to expect. I feel that my classes at Michigan State have taught me how to be successful but I know I am going to encounter many road blocks throughout my first job. My question for you is what has been the biggest obstacle for you when starting a new job? Is it the job itself, interacting with coworkers, or learning new things?

This class will be the reason I create a LinkedIn account for myself, which implies, I do not have an acount. I'm curious as to how this account will benefit me and in what was. Could I really get a job off of this website by just adding people? I want to know more about this and the maximum benefits you could recieve from a LinkedIn page.

How many years of social media experience would I need to get a full-time position as a social media manager with any professional sports team in the sports industry? Are there other certifications besides this course that I can show that I am fully knowledgeable and a professoinal with all types of social media especially Twitter and Instagram? How can I break into the social media companies like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram?

Hey Ross, I've been currently looking for jobs at digital and media marketing firms, do you think that an internship is completely necessary before looking for a full-time job in the field? 

My resume is pretty dull right now and I want to know how to improve it! How do I make my resume better?

Hi Ross,

I have recently learned that there are many different ways to land a job. My friend had a gifted me a Mary Kay facial party and I really liked the whole idea of the business and the consultant that did it for us. I started to talk to her and two days later I met with her and her boss and I ended up becoming a beauty consultant. What do you think are some good ways for me to get my business out more?

As a sophomore, I'm at the finding internships and being too young to be consiered for them stage. What are the best steps to take while waiting or applying for internships...such as clubs, online information, or any tips where I could impress future interviewers? What is the best way to manage your time and make waiting for these internships a successful use of time?

Is experience more important than knowledge in the job?

Hello ross, 

I would like to know what are the main differences between a marketing and advertising career paths. The two sound very similiar.

What are some good things to put on your resume to make it stand out to employers, such as certifications or special skillsets learned?

LinkedIn in the easiest way to connect with people on a professional platform in a professional manner and it is something that everywhere you turn more and more professionals are using as a networking tool.  I understand the value of LinkedIn and how it can truly help me in my professional career, so I have jumped on the LinkedIn bandwagon.  I made a LinkedIn account that is complete with over 200 connections.  I will connect with people all the time from work, school, or family friends.  

I understand that connections and networking is the driving force but I am not sure what proper LinkedIn etiquette is?  Am I allowed to add recruiters that I meet at events as connections on LinkedIn or should I wait for a greater connection to form?  How long after an interview with a company is it acceptable to add the interviewer on LinkedIn or to view their profile?  Before the interview? After?

Am I allowed to reach out to someone that I don't know but could potentially but me on the right track to my dream job even if I have never met them in real life? Today almost everyone is one LinkedIn and it is becoming a bigger and more frequently used tool in the hiring process and professional world in general but I don't feel like anyone discusses the Do's and Don’ts’s of LinkedIn. 

I guess I would just like someone to give me a clear set of LinkedIn "Rules of thumb" 

Even though this blogpost is from last semester, a big question on my mind lately goes along with this. Obviously, in this class a LinkedIn Profile is important. I've also had other professors recently stress the importance of LinkedIn and encourage students to join if they haven't already. I'm just curious about the benefits of the site. How many career opportunities actually arise? Are you likely to have a 1-up on job competition if you have a strong LinkedIn profile? 

Although I see this this post was from last semester, I have a question on this topic.

I am a Kinesiology student hoping to pursue a final career in Physical Therapy. I've had a job in Marketing department of a Law firm for the past 3 years. What is something I can be doing to help me get a leg up in the field as I feel I am already lacking a lot of practical knowledge since this is my first Marketing class. 

Hi professors. I'd like to know how to improve my Linkedin profile. What would be best to do?

In advertising, how necessary is it to go to grad school?

Do you think it would be smart to get an MBA right after you graduate with your bachelors or wait until you have some job experiance and then go back and get your MBA?

I am going to grad school now but I feel like pursuing a more professional degree to be more competitive. Do you think it is necessary?

During the process of applying for jobs, I've seen that there are very few entry level positions at widely known advertising agencies. So obviosuly there are going to be a lot of applicants for those positions. Do you have any advice on how to stand out from the rest of the applicants? (Whether it's through experience or certifications on your resume or even sending an email to whoever is in charge of hiring)

With the gap between advertising and public relations widening today (they are more defined and structured), a course like NMDL acts as a bridge. Do you see the two paths converging again (like in old time when everything was broadly classified as mass media or communication) with the expassion of avenues in new media and social media channels?

As an advertising major in the management/media side, do you think it is necessary to go to grad school?

Where do you suggest looking for jobs as a recent graduate (graduating in May2016) for advertising management?

I was wondering how can I connect what I learn in school with what I’m going to do in my job.