At the BYU School of Communications’ inaugural career fair, students had the opportunity to network, explore career opportunities and build confidence as they forge their path in the communications industry. Companies like KSL, the Salt Lake Tribune, Deseret Digital Media and Boncom offered both internship positions and full-time jobs aimed for soon-to-be graduates. Learn more about the event from Internship Coordinator Nicole Norris and Career Director Derek Jack in the Q&A below.
Q: What was the motivation behind organizing this career fair? What successes came from the event?
Norris: Our motivation in planning a Comms Career Fair was to facilitate experiences for comms students to make meaningful and direct connections with industry professionals. By bringing employers to campus, comms students had the chance to seek internships or jobs directly from employers needing their skills, with the intent on helping comms students gain industry insights and awareness that supports their long-term career and personal development. This fair was one step toward building momentum by bridging classroom learning with real-world application, while helping comms students gain clarity and confidence in their abilities.
We hope to establish career fairs as a cornerstone event within the School of Communications that faculty, students and employers eagerly anticipate each year. One example of event success was when an employer who attended the fair called me excited to offer two full-time positions to students who attended rather than the two planned internships. Career fairs can be exploratory for students and employers, or they can lead to internship and career opportunities.
Jack: We’ve done several career fairs over the years, but after looking at our numbers it made sense that we could pull one off specifically for the School of Communications — the majors and emphases in communications are really marketable! We had around 300 students and over 30 companies in attendance. I just got an email from a student who got an internship offer with a company they connected with at the career fair — events like these have the potential to advance students’ careers in great ways.
Q: How did you encourage the students to prepare for the fair?
Norris: Preparation was key to ensuring students approached the event with confidence. A week before the fair, we hosted a Career Fair Prep session where Jack provided guidance on researching attending companies, crafting strong introductions and how to present themselves professionally to help students make the most of their experience at the event. Leading up to the event, faculty and staff encouraged participation, and the School of Communications promoted the fair through Handshake, Brimhall Building screens, newsletters and our @byucommsinternships Instagram story. These efforts ensured students were well-informed and ready to make the most of the opportunity.
Jack: I talked with students about what to do before, during and after the Communications Career Fair to maximize the opportunities presented to them. It’s essential to go into it prepared, having done your research, knowing who's coming, preparing specific things to say to make connections with people. I suggest coming prepared to introduce yourself and effectively make connections with recruiters. All of that could be executed flawlessly, but without the follow-up, sometimes you don't see the results, so we also discussed the steps they should take to follow up with employers after the fair. I also teach Comms 495R, our job search strategies class, in which we do a deeper dive into how to prepare by getting your resume ready and doing mock interviews.
Q: What roles do internships play in students’ future careers?
Norris: Internships serve as the intersection between classroom learning and industry experience, offering students hands-on opportunities to apply their skills, enhance career readiness, gain professional insight and build industry connections. By combining coursework, experiential learning and career fairs, the School of Communications aims to prepare students to not just secure internships and jobs, but to gain clarity, direction and confidence. In doing so, comms students are well equipped to use their talents and skills as they serve and share light in meaningful ways and as they “go forth to serve” both personally and professionally.
Jack: The idea is that you're building a portfolio, which is what employers really care about. One cool thing about the School of Communications is that it has these great, award-winning labs where students can get some fabulous experience that helps them build their portfolio and resume. At the same time, I’d also encourage students to not put all their eggs in one basket — that is where internships or even volunteer work come in. You’re getting experience in an industry that will help you culminate the skill sets that you are learning. Even if you don’t like the internship, it is still useful because you have a better idea of what you don't want to do. That just gives you more clarity and confidence moving forward.
A few helpful strategies for students to make a lasting impression include:
- Be clear and personable in your communication.
- Articulate how your skills and strengths align with the company’s needs and purpose.
- Show enthusiasm for the organization and its mission.
- Be curious! Research companies ahead of time to engage in meaningful conversations.
Q: What advice would you give to students about interacting with potential employers as they explore internships and jobs?
Norris: As comms students navigate the many possibilities ahead of them, approaching employers with a genuine, professional and enthusiastic mindset is key.
Most importantly, remember that networking is not just about finding a job, nor is it only about what will benefit the student. It is an avenue for building mutually beneficial relationships and opportunities that can open doors now and in the future.
Jack: Something I want students to know is that employers are actually really awesome to talk to; they don't have to be terrified. They don't have to walk up to an employer and have a perfect knowledge or perfect resume. I want students to go to an event like the Communications Career Fair with a mindset that helps them be open to insights, tips, advice, things that will help them in their career, an opportunity to just connect with people, being genuinely curious about organizations, asking interesting questions and following up. This is an opportunity to learn how to network and actively apply what they are learning.