CEL E-Newsletter October 3, 2008

"Looking for post graduation employment? Now is a great time to take advantage of the great St. Olaf network. Make sure to utilize your current network by asking for informational interviews or job shadowing opportunities. Also continue to build new contacts through professors, teachers, and friends. Lastly, don't forget about the Ole Alumni Directory. It is an excellent tool to expand your network with alumni who want to share their experiences with current students."

On-campus recruiting is happening now! Are you interested in finding information about and contacting potential employers? Get a jumpstart on your job and summer internship search using OleRecruiting, St. Olaf's online management system for internships, jobs and CEL events. OleRecruiting is your source for up-to-date job and internship postings for organizations recruiting through St. Olaf. Create a profile for yourself in order to use OleRecruiting to search for job postings, apply for positions, and to schedule interviews. If you have questions about how to get started, check out the flyer, or stop in the CEL and one of our Peer Advisors can show you how to use this fabulous on-campus resource.

MATT TIANO

What did at your summer internship entail this year (where it was, typical projects, etc.)?

My summer internship was with the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer in their communications department. I wrote feature stories about Red Bulls players, coaches and the organization, wrote press releases and assisted with general media relations responsibilities.

How did you find the internship and what was the application process like?

I knew that Major League Soccer and its member organizations ran a high-quality internship program. I was attracted to the Red Bulls because of its immediate location— in New York, the media capital of the world, where I would be able to network with media professionals. I found the Red Bulls-specific internship via Teamwork Online, a website dedicated to placing individuals in the sports industry. I completed an online application, and interviewed twice on the phone.

Would you say your experience influenced your goals for the future? If so, how?

When I decided to accept the internship, I did so mainly to see how a large media market interacted with a relatively small-market franchise. I had spent a season interning in the NBA, and one of my goals was to compare and contrast this experience with my experience in New York. St. Olaf doesn't offer a specific journalism curriculum, so any and all on-the-job experience is beyond valuable. The fact that I was working on-deadline and expected to communicate effectively under stress are skills not only beneficial to possess in the sports communications field, but life in general.