Where Do We Go from Here? Advice to UH Digital Media Undergraduates #CollierCallouts

September 22, 2015

Where Do We Go from Here?Eight things I wish someone had shared with me when I was in your shoes.

Tuesday, September 22, 15

Why Listen to this Old Guy✤ Principal with Origin, Inc.

for over a decade

✤ Owned strategy & content firm for 10 years prior to Origin

✤ Hired over 100 creative and technology professionals so far

✤ Purchased printing and programming for 25 years +

✤ UH graduate


Before You’re Out of SchoolExperience + Internships + Learning from Someone Else’s Mistakes


1. Outside the Class Room✤ Get an internship that’s

aligned with your interests

✤ Get another internship that’s outside your comfort zone

✤ Volunteer

✤ Tell EVERYONE you know what you’d like to do

✤ Attend every professional event you can


2. Do Yourself a Huge Favor

✤ Take a personal finance course before you graduate

✤ Take at least one general business class


Technology Is Cooler than Ever(And technologists who know what they’re doing are more in demand.)


3. Stay Curious & Keep LearningAny technology you master is already obsolete.

Fortunately, most advances are just that...advances to pre-existing platforms.


The Economy Is Cooler Too(So, what’s a recent graduate or senior to do?)


Finding Your First JobLittle things make a big difference, particularly in a down economy



4. Don’t Take No For an Answer

✤ Patience

✤ Persistence

✤ Professionalism

✤ Pride

✤ Performance


5. Be Prepared for Swanson

✤ Do your homework

✤ Bring work samples

✤ Follow up - even if it was a terrible interview

✤ Don’t rely solely on electronic submission & correspondence

✤ Don’t confuse personal style with professional expectations


6. Right Job = Right Reasons

✤ Reputation over financial gain

✤ New skill sets

✤ Clear path for advancement

✤ Mentorship and support

✤ Portfolio

✤ Positions you for jobs 2, 3 & 4


After Landing the Perfect JobMake it a point to know what you don’t know. Then, find an ally to help you learn it.


7. Soft Skills Can Sink You

✤ Social media

✤ Interpersonal communication

✤ Clean and orderly work area

✤ Corporate culture

✤ Sometimes it really is “them”


8. Be Open to Adventure✤ “You will not pass many other

travelers on your way along the extra mile.”

✤ Many of the best opportunities are not immediately obvious

✤ Our most important lessons rarely come from easy wins


Presentations & Public Speaking

Where Do We Go from Here? Advice to UH Digital Media Undergraduates #CollierCallouts