Sports Betting: a Look into the Industry’s Past and its Huge Growth Potential for Job Seekers

By: Alison Doherty, Assistant Director of Career Services for the School of Communications

A little over two years ago, the Supreme Court lifted the federal ban on sports betting, and since then 20 US states have already legalized the practice in some form.  Now allowed in 40% of the country, and continuing to expand, it is clear that this will become a huge industry with an enormous impact on the business of sports.  A hot topic amongst sports enthusiasts and lawmakers alike, it is often viewed as controversial, but regardless of one’s views on it, it is a rising data-driven market that is creating jobs in the areas of marketing, technology, and business development/operations.  I sat down with Bill Squadron, Assistant Professor of Sport Management, who opened my eyes to this growing field as we discussed the history of sports betting, its operations, and how students can best prepare themselves for jobs in this area.

History and Growth

Professional sports leagues have been concerned about sports betting ever since the game-fixing scandal of the 1919 World Series.  The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PAPSA) effectively outlawed sports betting nationwide except for a few states, most notably Nevada which brought in billions of dollars through sports gambling.  Just like during Prohibition however, illegal gambling was still prominent in the US, and the rise of the internet caused black marketing gambling to increase substantially over online platforms.  As NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stated in 2014, “despite legal restrictions, sports betting is widespread.  It is a thriving underground business that operates free from regulation and oversight” and “some estimate that nearly $400 billion is illegally wagered on sports each year.” 

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, wanting to offer sports betting in Atlantic City, challenged the constitutionality of the federal law, arguing that PAPSA did not apply equally across all states.  After several years of litigation, the Supreme Court ruled in May 2018 that PAPSA did in fact violate the 10^th Amendment and overturned the federal law, opening the door for any state to legalize sports gambling.  

How it works

If you’re a casual sports fan like me, you may think of sports betting as gambling on the outcome of high-stakes games, such as playoffs, strictly in terms of who wins and who loses.  But in fact, people can bet on essentially any outcome, in real-time, play-by play, such as how many runs a certain baseball team will score in the next inning.  The odds are constantly updating, allowing spectators to wager continuously as the action unfolds.  I was surprised to learn that people will bet on teams and people they don’t even know, not just those that they follow, and on all kinds of sports around the world.  While football and basketball are the most popular sports to bet on in the US, many also bet on horseracing, boxing, soccer, tennis, esports, and more.  As Professor Squadron explained to me, the scale of it is so much bigger than most Americans realize.

However, policies, procedures, and tax rates vary state by state, so each state that legalizes sports betting is allowed to do so in their own way (for example, the state of New York does not currently allow mobile sports betting).  There are both in-person locations to place bets (which will likely be inside venues and stadiums in the future), and huge online platforms, such as BookMaker, Draft Kings, and Ladbrokes.

Job Opportunities and Essential Skills

It is likely that we will continue to see major growth in this industry as more states legalize sports betting.  Not only is it a huge revenue source for states through the taxes they collect, but it can also increase fan engagement for current fans and bring in more casual fans.  As a very technology and data driven industry focused on risk management, the major employers (casinos and online platforms) will be looking for data scientists, statisticians, mathematicians, and programmers who can calculate odds in real-time and manage complex online platforms.  In addition, there is also a big interest in sports leagues and media agencies who want to work with these employers, opening up plenty of opportunities in marketing and customer acquisition.

So, who should consider a career in sports betting?  It’s not for everyone, but for those who know and love sports, and also understand the math and technology behind it, it may be a perfect fit.  Professor Squadron expressed that employers are looking for exactly that: the combination of sports knowledge and data/technology expertise.  This field may interest students in the School of Communications, especially sport management, strategic communications, and media analytics majors.  Students in business, math, statistics, or computer science would also have valuable skills to bring to the field.  If you want to go into this business, work on developing two major skill sets: technological (math, data science, programming), and communications (marketing, content creation, business development).  LinkedIn Learning, among other resources, can help you develop these skills.  If this field is of any interest to you, make sure to stay informed on this rapidly changing and mounting industry, and the job opportunities it presents.

Arlette Hawkins, iMedia ’20 discusses the T. Howard Foundation, Cosmo Magazine and how to succeed in a remote working environment

By: Ross Wade, Senior Associate Director of Career Services – School of Communications

Arlette Hawkins (iMedia ’20) discusses her internship with Cosmopolitan Magazine, the T. Howard Foundation internship program and succeeding in a remote working environment.

Tell me about your time at Elon, your experiences, and your internships.

I attended Elon University for graduate school through the Interactive Media program (2020). Before attending Elon, I received my Bachelor of Science in Journalism & Mass Communication with a minor in Spanish from North Carolina A&T. I studied abroad in Seville, Spain in 2018 and went overseas with Elon to Cuba in 2020 (before COVID restrictions). While studying abroad, I vlogged about my experience in my YouTube series, “Arlette Abroad.” I talked about what it was like to be Black and abroad, how I secured scholarships, and what it was like to live with a host family. As a Gilman Scholar, I served as a video correspondent covering specific study abroad topics. Upon receiving my latest degree, I completed four internships in various sectors of the industry including editorial (Cosmopolitan Magazine, 2020), video production (UNC-TV, 2019), broadcast production (E.W. Scripps, 2018), and public relations (A&T Register 2017-2019). I wanted to explore all sectors before graduation to be well versed in the industry.  

Tell me about the T. Howard Foundation program and how it assisted you with finding your summer internship.

The T. Howard Foundation is an organization designed to help minority students secure internships in the media and entertainment industry. Students apply and go through an interview process. After that, they are considered in the Final Talent Pool, which is basically a sitting area for viable internship candidates. As applicable opportunities come through the foundation, they inform students in the Final Talent Pool. Students interview with the companies and are offered internships should they meet the needs and qualifications. I received my most recent internship through the T. Howard Foundation. I was emailed about an opportunity with Cosmopolitan Magazine through the foundation shortly after graduating. The Final Talent Pool qualification lasts until the Summer of the year of application. I applied through the link, interviewed, and was offered the internship the very next day. Life comes at you fast. 

Interning virtually can be a big change in a lot of ways – how do you set your self apart and be seen…and not just be a face on a screen once a week? 

I’ll start with the interview process – I showed a lot of personality. Smile, smile, smile! Video interviews are weird enough, not showing enthusiasm only makes them more dreadful.  Cosmopolitan is a fun brand so I was professional, but I was not afraid to laugh or share embarrassing parts of relevant stories within my interview. I did a little more research on the brand like exploring their media kit, and looking up who I would be interviewing with. I mentioned key points in my interview of things I learned through research to show I wasn’t just hopping on the internship because of the name – I was truly interested. I also mentioned what I was currently doing to show I wasn’t wasting my newfound free time. 
Because no one was looking over my shoulder like they would be in an office space, I had to keep myself busy. Before my official start date, I wrote down ideas I’d like to pitch, set goals for myself, and read through the recent issues of the magazine in print and online. I got dressed every day for work. Yes, I was fully dressed to sit in my room all day. On the first day, I wore a dress and my manager said, “Look at you all dressed up for your first day,” and we giggled because we both knew how weird this new process was. After that I dressed a little more casual but still appropriate. Sometimes I wore a Frida Kahlo shirt and shorts, another day a button-down top and pants. I know they couldn’t see my entire outfit, but the idea of getting ready made me more efficient. I would gauge attire based on what company you are working with. Cosmo’s brand allowed me to be a little more lax than, let’s say, J.P. Morgan Chase.
I always kept good energy. On Fridays, I would wish my team Happy Fridays. On Mondays my manager and I would agree when the Mondays felt very Monday-ish. I took the initiative to see where I was needed of my supervisor from me. I also volunteered to do things for other editors, this way I met more people on the team and learned more about the brand. Because the internship was only 5 weeks – every minute counted….better yet every 30 seconds. They heavily emphasized not wanting to overwork me, but it literally felt like I was getting paid to have fun. I was doing what I loved – writing, pitching stories, interviews. Everything. They also gave realistic deadlines for assignments, so nothing felt too stressful. Some things were more urgent than others so those took precedence. 

What are best ways to communicate with your supervisor regarding how you/the team you are on can best work together virtually?

Don’t be afraid to ask questions for clarity, especially because of the distance. It’s not fun to have to redo an assignment or get it returned with a bunch of errors because you didn’t want to ask a “stupid question” (which doesn’t exist, by the way). I also let my supervisor know what I’m working on so she doesn’t have to wonder or assume I’m too (or less) busy. 
We scheduled check-ins twice a week, and the team mainly communicated through Slack. This broke down some concerns that “oh, she may not be available,” as Slack gives you the option to list your availability through small icons. I could see if she was in a meeting or available. The talent acquisition specialist also worked to ensure we had everything we needed to complete the internship. 

How do you navigate working alone; building and maintaining autonomy; staying busy and productive and adding value?

The first two weeks were pretty slow because there was a lot of on-boarding. My supervisor and I were still crafting what I wanted to do throughout the entire internship. This being the first virtual internship for all of us, we pieced it together step by step – that also eliminated some nervousness. I set up a little space in my room and in the family area as my focus spots. These were also ideal for video calls because of lighting and locations being less distracting. Changing scenery definitely makes a difference. I played soft music because silence can lead to a wandering mind. I kept water nearby so I had no excuse to tour my kitchen. I charged my devices before work, but kept chargers nearby so I wouldn’t go on a midday quest.
I made a daily to-do list of things I needed to do. I woke up a bit earlier than the time required to clock in just so that I was alert and gathered for the day. I made sure I adhered to deadlines by completing tasks as early (but accurately) as possible. My lists helped me decide how much I could handle in a day or week. I could not accept every request, but there were three interns so we balanced them well, ensuring everyone was able to be an asset. 
In adding value, I let my supervisor know my skills including SEO, video production, and puns (yes, being corny is a skill). When she heard about video production she got me in contact with that team to connect and see where I could help there as well. 

How have you been proactive during this time so you can add value to your team? 

On a personal level, I was already working in a digital space. I was updating my portfolio, toying around on Adobe, and pitching ideas with friends of future projects. I let them know where I was (physically) and things I was interested in. So for instance, I’m in Richmond, VA and I told them about the current events around here. That led to pitching a feature. I’m an HBCU graduate and when MacKenzie Scott announced her generous donations to HBCUs, I was able to write that piece from the perspective of someone who could relate to that story on a deeper level. I shared links to more resources about HBCUs because I personally follow them. So my added value, besides my technical skills, was my personal background.

What are best ways to build meaningful professional relationships virtually?

I would suggest being as active as possible. Not just with your leadership, but your fellow interns as well. Even when I didn’t want to look into another camera at 5pm on Friday, I still attended organized Happy Hours. They were so much fun! These may be your future co-workers, bosses, or those who help you land a position at a company. Besides their leverage, they are really cool people. One associate and I studied abroad in the same country and talked about that.
As far as with you supervisors – be genuine. How are you really feeling? And you don’t have to pour your heart out, but express what makes you nervous about applying for jobs. Talk about ideas you and your friends have for the next greatest app. Ask them how did they get their start? Did they move away from home? Did they always know what they wanted to do? Pick their brain – they expect it. If you don’t, they’ll wonder what’s wrong. 

Any final tips or insights?

Leave the door open for the next candidate. Even if you hate the internship, tough it out so that the next person has a chance. Document your work: I kept a running list of everything I did to finally sum it up on my resume (after the program). I asked how could I stay involved after the internship ended, which is through freelancing. Not all industries work like that but it doesn’t hurt to ask. 

Thanks so much, Arlette!

Checking in with 2019 BFA Acting Alumnus, Tanner Callicutt, in NYC

By: Rachael Rysz, Assistant Director of Career Services, College of Arts & Sciences

Tanner Callicutt

One industry that has been majorly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic is Performing Arts. With live theatre at a standstill, Broadway, regional, and community theatres are finding ways to connect to audiences virtually and engage as much as they can. As an advisor supporting students in this industry, I am reminded of the power of networking and online engagement, especially now.

I was also reminded of my work with a 2019 alumnus, Tanner Callicutt, through social media and LinkedIn and wanted to check in on his journey both before and during the pandemic. Please see below for updates on Tanner’s life post- Elon and his words of advice for our recent 2020 graduates and upcoming 2021 graduates who are anxiously anticipating breaking into the industry!

Tell us about your major at Elon and why you chose to pursue a career in the performing arts?

I am a proud alum of Elon’s Acting program! There are many things that were factors in my decision to pursue a career in the performing arts, but the most definitive is this: I couldn’t imagine ever doing anything else. 

You gained success booking gigs in NYC right away – in particular at Feinstein’s / 54 Below! What was your day-to-day like as a performer in NYC pre-COVID?

Ahhh life pre-Covid…oh, how I miss that! Just before the virus hit, things were starting to get pretty busy with auditions and callbacks for a few big projects. I had settled into a rhythm of auditioning and working my survival job. The virus did result in the postponement of a few projects, one of which is an encore performance of Broadway Loves Selena Gomez at Feinstein’s / 54 Below. The new date for the concert, where I’ll be performing alongside Broadway alums Ariana DeBose, Andy Mientus, and many others, is January 25, 2021. After taking a stint of time away from the city due to the pandemic, I’m excited to get back and dive into auditions and performance opportunities as they return. 

What virtual resources or media platforms have been most helpful during COVID-19?

Online correspondence has been vital for me during this time. Social media can be such a great tool for networking. Instagram is one of my favorite ways to stay in touch with other industry folks that I don’t get to see regularly because of the pandemic. In addition to keeping in contact with industry professionals through social media, many auditions have moved to self tapes in an effort to not reschedule or cancel altogether. I think it’s safe to say that I put myself on tape for more auditions the first month of quarantine than I had in the preceding year. 

What advice would you have to current students seeking to move to NYC or enter the performing arts industry during this time?

The best advice I can give to current students is to plan and save. It’s always smart to have a plan, but especially for the unpredictable and uncertain times we are in. I think it’s important to set parameters for yourself when making a plan. For example: By what date would you like to be in the city? Do you know what area of the city you’d like to live in? Do you have any potential survival jobs in mind? etc. Like a plan, a budget is imperative. With the current pause on the entertainment industry, now more than ever, it is wise to save as much money as possible before making the big move. Speaking more broadly for someone hoping to enter the industry right now: find ways to continue working on your craft and keep your skills sharp, so that when job opportunities return, you’ll be ready. 

Tanner mentions many times the notion of having a survival job. Often, this can be parallel to the career goals we are pursuing as a performer.  If you are planning a move to NYC, connect with industry professionals, both through platforms like LinkedIn and Instagram, as well as utilizing your network at Elon. Now is the perfect time to work on your craft, as Tanner mentioned, and make sure you’re fostering and building your networking base! Finally, if you are a student and unsure of how to get started, the SPDC can additionally assist you with networking strategies.

Strategic Communications in the Healthcare Industry

By: Kiara Hines, Career Development Graduate Apprentice

If you are a student in the School of Communications, chances are you know what strategic communications entail. If not, it is basically what its name suggests: finding ways to market and communicate products, concepts, and policy with clients in a strategic manner. How companies go about this process is much more complex and involved, but at its core, those interested in this branch of communications should expect to be well-versed in collecting information and media and delivering them to the public effectively. As strategic communications is a niche under the broader communications umbrella, healthcare is a specialized field that enlists the use of tactical approaches to relaying important information to patients, medical providers, and other stakeholders through marketing, advertising, and public relations.

Nicole Friend ’15 and Brooke Muller ’19 recently visited Elon from W2O Group, a healthcare-focused marketing communications firm, to share their take on a growing industry, including what interested students can do to be successful in the field.

How would you describe W2O’s approach to effectively marketing healthcare to its clients?

Overall, healthcare is negatively represented as purely being revenue-focused and all about the bottom line. However, W2O analyzes data and creates campaigns that are patient-focused and places them at the heart of the work we do.

 In your opinion, what do you believe prepares students for a role in this industry?

• Experience in public speaking
• Relevant experiential learning opportunities (i.e. branding, media analytics, strategic writing, business communication classes)
• Effective time management skills
• A “big picture” mindset
• Involvement in organizations such as Live Oak that will develop transferable skills
• An understanding of analytics and how data drives decisions
• Taking advantage of Excel certification offered on campus
• Knowledge of software such as Cision and Muck Rack

 

What is your advice for students preparing to transition into full-time employment?

Unlike undergrad, it is far less likely to receive constant and explicit feedback on each task that you complete. It is expected of you to do your job and do it well, so don’t be surprised if you are not being notified of your performance every step of the way. Additionally, agency work is fast-paced. It is important to have a can-do attitude and be prepared to jump right in from day one. Elon does an outstanding job of helping students transition smoothly and excel in their roles, so students feeling stressed or overwhelmed should take solace in the fact that they are equipped with the tools they need to be successful!

 

Interested in strategic communications in the healthcare field?

W2O Group has a 10-week, full-time, paid summer internship opportunity for current students and recent graduates in any major. Be on the lookout for more information via the Elon Job Network.

 

November 15- Healthcare Communications Career Trek

Interested students will visit G&S Business Communications and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) in Raleigh/Durham to learn more about Healthcare Communications. Space is limited. RSVP through the Elon Job Network under the “Events” tab (entitled “G&S Business Communications).

Mia Ginaé Watkins @ PlayStation Discusses Careers in Gaming

By: Ross Wade, Senior Associate Director of Career Services – School of Communications 

Mia Ginaé Watkins, ’15, took time out of her busy day at PlayStation to answer some questions about careers in gaming and her experience as a woman and person of color in the industry.

Can you share a little bit about what it is that you did as a video editor and what a typical day was like for you?

 During my time as a video editor, I worked on trailers for games on PlayStation’s lineup. I also assisted the animation team in San Diego in the editorial department, editing and synching motion capture and head-mounted camera footage for in-game cinematics. I was working on something different every day; one task would end, and then I would start on another one.

 Did you always know that working in gaming was what you wanted to do? What was your strategy for finding your first job in this field?

 My career in gaming has been the luckiest wrench in my plans. I planned on going to Los Angeles to jump into the film industry, but I applied for an internship at PlayStation in San Diego and got accepted. I’ve been an avid gamer since I was a kid, so working at PlayStation is crazy awesome. My strategy after graduating from college was to find companies that I really liked and to see if they had any job opportunities.

 Other than editors, what are some other types of technology roles in the gaming industry?

 There are so many tech roles in the gaming industry, and it depends on what area you want to focus on. If you’re into art and animation, there’s motion capture, tech art, character art, graphic art, and motion graphics to name a few. Into sound? Try looking at being an audio engineer, sound mixer, Foley artist, or even a composer. There are a lot of game producer roles, as well as those in research and development, programming, and QA.

 Only about 20% of gaming professionals are women; even less are women of color. Do you notice a lack of diversity in the gaming industry? If so, why do you think that is?

 The main important thing to get more women and people of color in gaming–and with any job field–is exposure. We have to do our part in making sure that people in different communities (socioeconomic classes, ethnic, sexual orientation, religious, etc.) are exposed to opportunities in the gaming industry, while reaching out to them as much as we can. Talk to students at schools and clubs, or join professional groups like Women Who Code and Women in Technology. I believe that the more we include diverse people in video game making, the more that different people will be able to see themselves in games.

What advice would you give to a woman and/or a person of color considering a career in gaming? What do you wish you had known early in your career that you know now?

 Jump in and do it. There is a career in video games for you. If you dream of working in the video game industry, don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it. Work hard and do your research on the roles that you want!

You’ve taken on a new role at Sony PlayStation. Why? When did you realize you wanted to pursue a different career path?

I am currently a Community Outreach Specialist. I realized that I wanted to do my part in helping build the culture of the community internally and externally. I do a lot of work on our team’s internal newsletter, and recently I moderated a panel at GDC (Game Developer’s Conference) about diversity and inclusion in the gaming industry. Through my newsletter, I meet so many amazing people from different departments, and I learn about what they do. On an external front, I want to do my part to give back to others and inspire women and people of color to work in the gaming industry.

Communications & Media Fall Recruitment Deadlines: Post-graduate fellowships and leadership development/rotational programs

By: Ross Wade, Senior Associate Director of Career Services, School of Communications 

The start of the fall semester is always a very busy time for career services offices; on-campus recruiting, fairs, panels and an explosion of advising sessions with students facing quick fall recruitment deadlines. For most seniors interested in careers in communications and media, there aren’t that many fall deadlines; most of these employers “hire as needed” so it makes more sense to apply 30-45 days out from when you’d like to start – so in the spring a month or two from graduation. There are, however, some really wonderful opportunities that do have fall deadlines – post-grad fellowships or internships and leadership development programs (LDPs)/rotational programs.  Click here for a list of opportunities!

There is a trend with PR and ad agencies where they like to hire graduating seniors for a summer internship or fellowship (normally paid); and based on the intern’s performance, hire them on full time. Quite a few of these opportunities are posted in the fall.

Be sure to check the Elon Job Network and create a job alert so you don’t miss any of these opportunities!

Other organizations, like Wayfair, offer rotational programs with deadlines in September and October for jobs starting the next summer. Below is an example:

E-COMMERCE ASSOCIATE ROTATION PROGRAM

Wayfair is seeking analytical, enthusiastic, and self-motivated candidates for full-time opportunities in our 2020 E-Commerce Associate Rotation Program. The two-year program offers Business Associates the opportunity to gain experience in core functional areas within Wayfair’s North American Retail and Merchandising business and contribute directly to the growth and success of the company. This is an ideal opportunity for individuals who are passionate about e-commerce and seeking to enter the tech space for the first time and jumpstart a career at Wayfair. 

As an E-Commerce Associate, you’ll join our teams that are driving Wayfair’s “best in class” online customer experience, with responsibility for owning and maintaining Wayfair’s vast e-commerce catalog; executing strategy for product categories and managing supplier relationships; and continually improving the customer’s on-site shopping experience. In addition to the opportunity to explore and test different areas of the business, the rotational program offers robust onboarding programming, exposure to multiple career tracks, interaction with senior leaders across the business, and potential for substantial growth within the company. 

As an E-commerce Associate in our rotational program, you will gain exposure to teams such as Vertical  Merchandising, Merchandising Operations, Promotions, Lifestyle Brands, Exclusive Brands, 3D Visualization & Operations, and Category Management. You will navigate the rotation program together with a cohort of peers, providing a cohesive professional network to leverage throughout the program and beyond.

What You’ll Do:

Analyze data, trends, and use resources to improve the quality of our product catalog in order to drive customer satisfaction, trust, and site conversion rates; researching categories and vendors to build out selection
Create cross-functional partnerships to advance your category through merchandising, promotions, marketing, on-trend product selection, effective pricing and profitability, and operational excellence 
Build key supplier relationships to enable successful negotiations and drive towards a best-in-class customer experience
Leverage data to analyze the competitive environment, report on performance trends, and develop business cases for strategic initiatives 
Represent Wayfair at various offsite events such as trade shows
Manage communication with internal and external stakeholders

LDPs and rotational programs are wonderful opportunities for those with a general interest in an industry, field or organization but are still unsure as to what their best functional role should be. Plus these programs often have wonderful mentorship and professional development opportunities.

For a list of communications and media LDPs, rotational programs and post-grad internships/fellowship click here!

What are Leadership Development Programs and Rotational Programs?

By: Kiara Hines, Graduate Apprentice for Career Development

One of the many projects I’ve been working on this semester has consisted of researching leadership development programs (LDPs) and rotational programs for Business students. These opportunities are unique in that they give undergraduate students and recent graduates a chance to gain experience in various industries that can result in an internship or full-time employment. Rotational programs are generally 1-2 years long and consist of literal rotations around the company every few months, allowing the participant to experience a variety of functional areas within their industry of interest and possess a comprehensive understanding of the field. They are great for students who may not know exactly what they want to do after graduation while gaining valuable experience in various functional areas. LDPs can also include rotations depending on the employer but are typically aimed at current undergraduate students and usually take place during summer, spring, or fall terms. Some LDPs may be classified as internships, associate programs, junior rotational programs, or a plethora of other related titles, which can make it difficult to search. Elon’s Student Professional Development Center website has a running list of programs that we have found thus far in industries such as Communications, Retail, Sports, Healthcare, and Financial Services. This can serve as a starting place to find language that may generate additional results through external searches. The following are a few opportunities I’ve found recently for the 2019-2020 school year. Be sure to check our website regularly for updates.

Disney Accounting & Finance Rotational Program/Internship: Burbank and Glendale, CA (accounting, finance)

The Hartford Marketing Leadership Development Program: Hartford, CT (marketing, communications, business management)

Deloitte Accounting Fellowship: Deadline: January 30, 2019 (accounting)

NCAA Postgraduate Internship Program: Indianapolis, IN (administrative services, accounting, championships, marketing, communications, education & community engagement, executive, inclusion, governance, public relations and regulatory affairs)

 

So you want to work in Hollywood?

By: Amber Moser, Assistant Director of Career Services, School of Communications

In the last few months, I’ve met with many students who ultimately want to land in Los Angeles working in the Entertainment industry after graduation. More and more of them have indicated a preference for starting their career at a talent agency.

There are 6 well-known talent agencies in Los Angeles. The top 3 agencies include:

• United Talent Agency (UTA)
• Creative Artists Agency (CAA)
• William Morris Endeavor (WME)

There are also 3 other agencies:

• ICM Partners (ICM)
• Paradigm Talent Agency
• The Gersh Agency (Gersh)

While all of these agencies have a location in Los Angeles, many of them have an international presence. Depending on the agency, they represent directors, producers, writers, authors, actors, corporate brands, musicians, athletes, broadcast journalists, and many more. If you recognize names such as Channing Tatum, Post Malone, Michael B. Jordan, Mariah Carey, and Meryl Streep, then you know their clients.

In learning this, it is no surprise that our students want to work at an agency. However, entry-level hiring looks a little different than it does at most companies. It varies based on the agency, but most employees start out in a cohort working in the mailroom or as a receptionist, eventually moving their way up to work as a Junior Agent. It can be a challenging and competitive process, but the opportunities to network and learn from industry professionals are well worth the work for those who are dedicated, even if it’s not your ultimate goal to be an agent.

Zach Bocian, a Cinema & Television Arts major, who graduated from Elon in 2017 is currently an Agent Trainee at United Talent Agency. When asked about how he secured his opportunity with UTA and what he recommends for our students, he said “Be strategically proactive. Reach out and follow up, but do it with a persistent, polite attitude.” Zach is one of the few alumni I know who secured a post-graduate opportunity in Los Angeles before he relocated to the area and he started his role before crossing the stage at graduation.

In summary, agencies have been described to me as the “graduate schools and gatekeepers of Hollywood – you can go anywhere afterward.”

A necessary skill for ALL MAJORS – MICROSOFT EXCEL

By: Cindy Sweeney, Associate Director of Career Services

“law of nature” by sophie is licensed under CC BY 2.0

So you majored in Philosophy even though your parents asked what you would do with that after college. Or maybe it was Art History, Psychology, English, History, Anthropology, Geography, the list goes on. There are so many pluses to your choice, not the least of which is that it interests you!

You may have heard it before, employers care less about your major and more about your skills. Now if you are a Computer Science major, you’ve got some hard skills you can tout on your resume that may be directly applied to your internship or job. But there are a host of soft skills that matter a whole lot to employers: creative thinking, problem-solving, resiliency and adaptability, endless curiosity to name a few.

All Arts & Sciences majors at Elon develop these skills through their discipline and Elon’s Core Curriculum, but there is one hard skill that I highly recommend for ALL majors…Microsoft Excel. As one of my MBA professors said “it is a powerful tool,” and it certainly is that.

Excel has been around since the late 80’s when it burst onto the software scene, massively better than the competition, and quickly became dominant. It hasn’t been knocked from its perch since then because no one has created something that offers enough new function to warrant ditching Excel and learning something new.

Excel is commonly used for financial related activities but is also very popular among professionals with a science background as it allows them to easily work with statistical formulas and graphing. The flexibility of Excel allows the user to define the structure of information they need to manage. Some organizations use this spreadsheet software to generate memos, track sales trends, mail merge, manage various forms of data not just numbers.

Ok, ok, so it’s great, how do I learn it? There are lots of ways to become proficient in Microsoft Excel. Elon offers an online course that includes Excel:

BUS 211 MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Microsoft Office Excel is a rich computer application with impressive analytical capability and more and more businesses, especially those dealing with statistical and financial information, are finding its powers critical to their future success. This course exposes students to some of the advanced capabilities of Excel, including statistical analysis, financial analysis and modeling, PivotTables, scenario tools, a variety of add-ins, the creation of macros, and advanced charts and graphs. After taking this course, students will have demonstrated knowledge of the more advanced features of Microsoft Excel.

This article outlines 11 places to learn Microsoft Excel for free: https://www.inc.com/larry-kim/11-places-to-learn-microsoft-excel-for-free-that-w.html

 Free is great but if face to face instruction works better for you, check your local Community College this summer. In a few short weeks, you can have a certification in Microsoft Excel and a valuable hard skill to tout on your resume.       

10 Tips: Media Analytics

By: Beth Mannella, Career Advising Fellow

Panelists Ryan Sweeney (‘10, Strategic Communications) and Nicole Martin (‘03, Business and Economics) engaged with Elon students to discuss all things related to Media Analytics, which was not a major when both panelists attended Elon. Elon introduced Media Analytics as a major for the 2014-2015 academic year, which is exciting for our current and prospective School of Communications students!

Below I’ve listed 10 tips from Ryan and Nicole’s experiences regarding starting a career and being successful in Media Analytics. Personally, Media Analytics was fascinating to learn about as a Career Advising Fellow with no prior knowledge. If you are also new to Media Analytics, keep reading to learn more!

1. Communication: In Media Analytics roles, you need to tell the story and communicate it to your audience. Especially with agencies – clients are in the daily trenches. You have to see ideas and tell them what they need, while supporting it with data. In addition, it is crucial to be able to have a wealth of info but be able to boil it down.

2. “Tell me about yourself”: Do not go into your life story about siblings unless it is truly fascinating. This really means: how can you fit in here? Your response can include: I am able to change my perspective, I am very data driven, organized, off the cuff, open-minded thinker, strategic, and more! *Think about key words related to Media Analytics

3. Interviews: You will often be asked, “What did you think about our website?” Be able to give examples of what you like/what you didn’t like. Also, show your curiosity – this shows that you do not necessarily accept things as they are and you want to dig more.

4. Language: R – stats language is increasingly becoming a favored language for statistical analysis. It is all open source and free.

5. Skills: Basic business communication is really important – you have to be able to speak colloquially to certain people. Cannot jargon, jargon, jargon because people will get lost!

6. Social Listening: As trends in the industry are constantly changing, stay current with Avinash Kaushik, Seomoz, FlowingData, Social Control.

7. On Failure: Failure is fantastic. Although failure is sometimes expensive, so as long as you can plan it out and test, then you have learning opportunities versus huge financial failures.

8. Advancing your career: Psychology is very important. Panelists recommended students obtain a Master’s in Psychology over pursuing an MBA.

9. Internships: If there is no internship available at your desired agency/company, offer to come in and write whitepapers for the company – this is a great way to get your foot in the door!

10. Hiring: Employers want people on the team that are passionate, can be trusted, and can see the big picture. Keep this in mind (in other industries as well)!

We are thankful for the insights of Ryan and Nicole, and are hopeful these 10 Tips: Media Analytics resonate with you, whether you are pursuing Media Analytics or were unfamiliar with the field and opportunities!