President René Siegel shares her job-seeking tips for new communications graduates at San Jose State University's Convocation for Journalism and Mass Communications majors in May 2013. Video and transcript of original speech: http://www.htconnect.com/2013/05/sjsu-convocation-speech-6-tips-for-getting-a-communications-job-in-silicon-valley/

1. Six Tips for Getting a
COMMUNICATIONS JOB
in Silicon Valley
by René Shimada Siegel
SLIDESHARE BY ARIANNA CHOPELAS

2. Hi! My name is
René Shimada Siegel.

3. I took the LEAP from
the corporate world and
started my own
consulting agency 17
years ago.

4. I’ve connected thousands
of clients with AMAZING
marketing and
communications
consultants.

5. And found my calling:
helping people do their BEST work while still
having the time and flexibility to pursue their
personal PASSIONS.

6. In May 2013, I was invited to SPEAK at San Jose State University’s
Convocation for Journalism & Mass Communications majors.

7. Instead of telling the
graduates something
ABSTRACT & LOFTY
like…
“Follow your
dreams”

8. I gave them my practical tips for
LANDING A JOB

9. and having a
GREAT CAREER

10. HERE’S MY FIRST ONE:
JUST DO IT

11. In my senior seminar class we had to write a cover letter and
resume for a JOB, in any communications field.

12. The job description
said they wanted
three to five years
of EXPERIENCE.

13. I’d only done a summer
internship so far, but after I
turned in my assignment, I
SENT the letter and resume
to the company.

14. Believe it or not, they
HIRED me part-time
while I was still in school
senior year—and I started
full-time after graduation.

15. So here’s my tip:
JUST DO IT.
Apply for everything. It
costs nothing.

16. Remember: Job descriptions are wish lists. And
companies love people who are willing to put
themselves out there.
JUST DO IT.

17. TIP NUMBER TWO:
SEIZE OPPORTUNITIES

18. Two years ago I was asked to speak at the San Jose State
Leadership Conference. I made a SPECIAL offer to
everyone who was there that day.

19. If the students gave me their
name, email and major, I
would match them with a
MENTOR from my personal
network—FOR FREE.

20. ONE HUNDRED students received
contact info for a professional who
generously offered to help propel
their career.
We told the students they were
responsible for initiating the contact.

21. So how many do you think out
of 100, actually followed up with
the mentors?

22. ZERO.
ZERO OUT OF 100.

23. Everyone wanted the golden
ticket, but NOBODY bothered to
unwrap the Wonka bar.

24. I know.
Professionals can
be intimidating.
You’re busy with
classes and work.
But you never
know when one
person may know
another person
whose neighbor’s
daughter needs
someone JUST
LIKE YOU.

25. Seize every opportunity.
When opportunity knocks,
ANSWER the frickin’ door!

26. TIP NUMBER THREE:
BE CREATIVE

27. My son Adam is attending COLLEGE
in Los Angeles and wants to get into
the entertainment industry.

28. Freshman year a woman who
was a producer came to speak
in one of his classes.
Afterwards, he walked and
TALKED with her.

29. He found out that they had both worked at
Baskin Robbins and shared the same favorite
FLAVOR—peanut butter and chocolate.

30. The producer promised to connect Adam with a talent
agency, but when Adam didn’t hear anything, he called
and emailed—TWICE.

31. Finally, she made the email introduction and he got the
unpaid INTERNSHIP at the dance agency.

32. Now, get this. Adam bought a Styrofoam ice
chest, took a taxi cab (he didn’t have a car),
loaded the chest with pints of Peanut Butter
& Chocolate, and delivered it to the
producer with a hand-written THANK YOU.

33. By the way, Adam’s unpaid internship is now paid and he
worked in the Broadway NY office last summer. The agency
even offered him a FULL-TIME JOB as an agent after grad.

34. All it takes is a tiny bit of extra CREATIVITY to stand
out. Perhaps it’s not something they teach over in
Engineering, but you’re Communications majors.

35. Be creative. Be unique. Exceed expectations.
That’s how you build a professional BRAND.

36. TIP NUMBER FOUR:
NETWORK HARDER

37. In my experience it’s not
just the hard work you
do, it’s the NET-WORK
that counts.

38. Your formal
education may
have ended, but
your career
depends less on
WHAT you know
than WHO
you know.

39. GET YOUR BUTT TO
IABC and PRSA
AND ALL THE OTHER PROFESSIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS WHERE PEOPLE LIKE
ME ARE LOOKING FOR OUTGOING,
POLISHED YOUNG TALENT.

40. In the professional world, you don’t EXIST if
you’re not on LinkedIn.

41. A resume goes to one person at a time, but your LinkedIn
profile is accessible to MILLIONS of potential employers.

42. Movie mogul Samuel Goldwyn of MGM was
asked how he got so successful. And he said,
“The harder I work, the LUCKIER I get.”

43. TIP NUMBER FIVE:
SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF

44. You are professional communicators. There is
no EXCUSE for sloppy grammar or typos.

45. You should be fanatical about
accuracy and integrity in
everything you WRITE,
SHOOT or POST.

46. I still see Public
Relations job titles
with TYPOS. Try
spelling “public”
without the “L.” Not
so nice.

47. And guess what, girls
and boys, spellcheck is
not going to HELP you
with that one.

48. So if you want to be regarded as professional, reliable and
educated, take the time to read and RE-READ everything.

49. MY SIXTH AND FINAL TIP IS A BONUS TIP:
THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

50. TOTO, WE ARE NOT IN KANSAS,
AND THAT’S A GOOD THING.

51. We’re in San Jose, CA – the heart of Silicon
Valley. Hundreds of INCREDIBLE companies in
a 10-mile radius. You could be graduating from
Lower Mediocre College or Nowhere State.

52. ASK YOURSELF:
Do you want to travel and do CREATIVE things?
Make the world a BETTER place?
Have a stable career that PAYS well?
Parents, do YOU want your child to have a stable
career that pays well?

53. Then DON’T be intimidated by Silicon Valley & technology.

54. You are the AMPLIFIERS.
Your job is to make sure
the world hears about
things that are important
and valuable.

55. SEXY companies like Google, Twitter, Apple,
Zynga need great communicators. But there
are thousands of other companies that have
less competition, and more to do.

56. So there you have it, my SIX TIPS. Give
them a try. I think you’ll be amazed at what
comes your way.

57. Remember, there’s no
carefully crafted career
plan for any of us. It’s
YOURS to create.

58. You have the same FOUNDATION I had 26 years ago. A
world-class education, practical experience from internships
and a wealth of Spartan connections.

59. YOU’RE ALSO ENTERING THE MARKET WHEN FORBES LISTS
SAN JOSE & SAN FRANCISCO
AS TWO OF THE BEST CITIES FOR JOBS.

60. And employers plan to hire 13% MORE grads
this year, including PR, communications and
marketing majors.

61. Yes, competition will
always be fierce and
employers will
always be PICKY.

62. It’s okay to be scared. I’m still scared every day.
That’s how I know I’m still LEARNING and growing.

63. I had to create my career from nothing. There was no
TEMPLATE. But if I can do it, you can do it too.

64. Just be a tiny bit braver tomorrow than you
are today. In work, and in LIFE.

65. CONGRATULATIONS EVERYONE.
GO GET ‘EM!