Last week, more than 160 University of Miami School of Communication students, faculty, and alumni filled the Frances L. Wolfson courtyard to mingle with industry leaders and network with specialists in film, multimedia, design, public relations, journalism, and various other communication fields.
Students met with representatives from more than 20 organizations including ESPN, Yahoo, and Fox News. Each company rep was able to speak with students one-on-one to discuss their organization’s corporate culture, the opportunities available, and how interested students could get involved.
According to first year public relations student Elizabeth Pozzuoli, the Communication Meet-Up gave her a chance to make a personal connection with the companies she was most interested in working for.
“I was able to put a face to my résumé and speak to them directly. During the Meet-Up, I got to talk to company representatives, and give them a better sense of who I am and what I can offer them without having to fight for their attention,” says Pozzuoli.
One of the companies Pozzuoli was able to network with was Sly Fox. Sly Fox is a digital marketing and public relations firm that focuses on creating innovative communication strategies in the southern region of the United States for clients like Walt Disney Pictures, Inc., Marvel Studios, Pixar, and LucasFilm.
According to Arthur Antonio, Sly Fox brand solutions coordinator, this is the firm’s third year coming to the Meet-Up. Antonio says the talent and opportunity to make personal connections keep the firm coming back.
“The talent here is always great. Our best interns have been UM students, and it’s the most convenient way to put a face to a résumé. We prefer the face-to-face interaction, and UM does a great job at providing that,” says Antonio.
Motion Pictures student Jessie Gonzalez is working as an intern for Sly Fox. He met Antonio and learned about the opportunities offered at the company through last year’s Communication Meet-Up. According to Kebrina Maharaj, career services and internship manager, success stories like Gonzalez’s are common at the annual Meet-Up.
“A majority of students in attendance go on to be hired. It all depends on the needs of the employers and the demand for certain skill-sets or majors. Out of all employers in attendance, about 90% get their recruiting needs satisfied,” says Maharaj.
As the event wrapped up, recruiters left with a healthy stack of résumés and expressed their gratitude for the opportunity provided by the Meet-Up.
“I received emails from the recruiters and other guests expressing gratitude for the opportunity to network with our alumni, students, and faculty and letting me know that the event has helped them tremendously with their recruiting efforts. We expect that many of the students who were in attendance will get picked up for an interview and eventually, a job or internship,” says Maharaj.
