Tips from the Careers in Media Speaker Series

Last week, the Faculty of Arts and the University of Alberta Career Centre hosted a Careers in Media speaker series featuring Shelby Carleton (Senior Narrative Designer, Sledgehammer Games), Andrea Chidley (Global Brand Associate Associate Manager, DECIEM - the Abnormal Beauty Company), Shane Riczu (Digital Content Strategist, University of Alberta) and Topher McFarlane (Line Producer, Blue Ant Studio). What do each of these talented individuals have in common? They all have Arts degrees…English, Political Science and Latin American Studies and Sociology! Whether you are interested in a career in media or something completely different, the diverse and knowledgeable panel had some great advice for all Arts students. Here’s what they had to say: 

Nobody puts their failures on LinkedIn. In other words, even the most successful people have experienced their share of challenges throughout their careers. Just because they don’t put them in writing or post them online doesn’t mean that the person in your dream job hasn’t faced rejection in one way, shape or form before (sometimes at several points along the way). All of our speakers encouraged students to stay positive when roadblocks arise. Learning what you can do to be a stronger candidate next time will inform your next steps and build your determination and confidence. 

Networking requires more than a friendly face. Although it is important to make a great first impression when meeting professionals in your chosen field, our panelists said that working hard and gaining a dependable reputation through your work is just as important. Especially in close knit industries (television and media, fashion, etc.) where everyone seems to be connected. The quality of your work and your reliability will build trust among your peers, leading to new and exciting opportunities. 

Critical thinking skills go far. You may not even be aware, but you are learning to take different perspectives and think outside the box every day in your Arts courses. These critical thinking skills (including observation, analysis, inference, communication and problem-solving) that are developed throughout your degree are highly sought after by employers and will open doors you might not expect.

Let your degree surprise you. You may think that the career selection you will have after graduation is limited to the scope of your major, but that is not always the case. By the time you graduate, you will have gained an impressive and diverse range of skills that may or may not lead to a career in the subject that you studied. Take risks, explore career options and see where your Arts degree will take you!