Thoughts on "Media Career Guide: Preparing for Jobs in the 21st Century"

Recently I've been reading a text written by Sherri Hope Culver and James Seguin entitled: "Media Career Guide: Preparing for Jobs in the 21st Century" (8th Ed.). So far, I'm loving this book. As a soon-to-be college graduate, it offers an awesome perspective on what the communications job market is like and offers loads of helpful information for entering the field, interviewing, resume writing and just about anything else you could possibly want to know about communication careers. I would definitely recommend picking it up if you're at all interested in the field of communication. The ninth edition is currently available for less than $12 here.
I wrote a short reflection on the first chapter from Culver and Seguin's "Media Career Guide" and thought it would be a good piece to introduce you to the text and some of what it has to offer. (*NOTE: Although the 9th edition is published, I currently own the 8th edition and my reflection represents my interpretation on the information published in the edition I own*)

Sherri Hope Culver and James Seguin created a helpful, honest and updated text when the two collaborated to write “Media Career Guide.” With the ninth edition newly published in June of 2013, the pair of authors continue to update their work as to remain as relevant and helpful as possible. Culver and Seguins’s first chapter, “Considering a Career in Communications,” offers the reader a wide range of information regarding the current job market for communications graduates. Outlined in Chapter One of “Media Career Guide” are expectations of employers, relevant statistics regarding entry level positions as well as important factors to consider when hunting for a job post-graduation.

For a soon-to-be graduate of a Communication Studies program, Culver and Seguin’s book is definitely a reliable handbook for survival in the corporate world of communications. On page nine of “Media Career Guide,” Culver and Seguin present the realities of a job search in the communications field, outlining areas of opportunity, areas that are not exactly flourishing at the moment, average starting salaries, what employers are looking for and where job recruiters look for qualified candidates.. The authors highlight certain skills a job candidate can have that will increase chances of making it to the top of the résumé pile such as “international experience” and speaking more than one language fluently (9). Culver and Seguin also state that employers are looking for people with leadership skills, who research a company thoroughly before interviewing and critical thinking innovators (12). Well-rounded individuals are the ones who rise to the top, not just candidates with the technical skills outlined in a job advertisement (12). Culver and Seguin do make it a point to say that even an ideally qualified candidate cannot escape the importance of a good GPA (grade point average) and suggest using opportunities to take courses or internships in college to better chances (12).
For students with an interest in social media, Culver and Seguin have some good news. Due to the New media communications are constantly evolving and being created exponentially. Culver and Seguin state that, “employers have an insatiable need for graduates with technical expertise" (13). It is interesting to note, however, that companies are not solely looking for applicants with technical knowledge/expertise. According to Culver and Seguin, being technologically advanced is certainly a plus, but most companies are looking for well-rounded, flexible individuals who can grow as the company does (12).
To help individuals become more aware of where to look for job opportunities (outside of the internet), Culver and Seguin wrote a section devoted to explaining where job recruiters look for qualified candidates. The authors point out that most companies strive to find the best candidate using methods that incur the least amount of expense to the company (13). This means that word-of mouth referrals are the preferred method of hiring, but the most popular methods remain campus co-ops/internships and college fairs (13). The authors make an interesting note that many job and career fairs, while worthwhile, rarely focus on careers in the fields of media and communication (14). The authors suggest looking for job fairs hosted by professional associations such as the National Television Academy, Public Relations Association, Women in Communications and a few others to find jobs more closely related to the field in which a person has interest (14).
Chapter One of "Media Career Guide” provided an interesting perspective on the current state of jobs in the communications field. Culver and Seguin present the reader with relevant and useful information regarding the business world, what to expect and what is expected of applicants. Overall, the chapter is incredibly useful for any person considering a career in communications, but especially for those graduating and applying for entry level positions.