In “Chatting with Alumni,” I will sit down (at my computer desk) and email alumni of the College of Media and Communication and catch up about life after graduation and their memories of Texas Tech.
This week, I got in touch with Halie Hartman, a marketing communications consultant for a Houston-based marketing and design firm, HexaGroup. Hartman is a 2009 graduate with a B.A. in journalism, a B.A. in psychology and a minor in mass communication.
How did you find your way to Tech/ Why Tech?
Courtesy of Halie Hartman
“I transferred to Texas Tech in the fall of 2005 after spending my freshman year at Texas A&M. I wanted to study journalism and A&M had just canceled their program and offered little alternatives as far as majors were concerned (and after receiving the nickname “the negative two percenter” from the girls in my sorority, I realized that maybe being an Aggie just wasn’t for me.)
During that time, I realized how important it was to me to find a journalism program that was supported by a college actually dedicated to media and communications. A dedicated college would mean being surrounded by students in related majors, learning from more experienced faculty, and having access to better facilities and student media opportunities.
With this realization and a slight football obsession, I had two requirements – to find a university with a dedicated mass communications college and a Big 12 football team. Texas Tech had just established the College of Mass Communications and I was attracted to the fact that it was trying to grow this area of education rather than diminish it.
I researched the journalism program, and for the first time since becoming a college student was excited about the classes I would have to take. I was absolutely sold. My transfer orientation was the first time that I ever stepped foot in Lubbock, but I was so impressed with what Tech was offering that I knew it would be a good fit before I ever set foot on campus.”
Why did you pick your major/majors? Any interest in the subject while growing up?
“I always knew I wanted to be some sort of writer – I just didn’t know exactly in what way. I was a bookworm as a child, fascinated by magazines as a teenager, and couldn’t get enough of the never-ending amount of information available on the Internet.
I enrolled in a journalism class as a junior in high school and within two weeks joined the yearbook staff. It was my time as a staff member and then section editor that helped me identify what type of writing I wanted to pursue – journalism. Something that merged the written with the visual, and distributed information in multiple ways that appealed to the reader.
I loved not only writing the story, but choosing the images and crafting how it was going to be visually presented in the layout. I also loved the creative, fast-paced, social atmosphere that the yearbook and newspaper staff worked in. I remember a teacher once telling me, ‘If you enjoy this environment, you’ll probably enjoy working in a newsroom – have you ever thought about journalism?'”
Favorite class/professor?
“My favorite journalism classes were Reporting and Advanced Reporting with Pete Brewton. I cannot say how much I enjoyed his teaching style, expertise, and sense of humor. He really made a very positive impact on me and gave me quite a bit of confidence as a student. I’ll never forget that a few weeks before graduation he told me, ‘You’re going to be just fine, you’ll find a job no problem.’ I was very relieved by his vote of confidence. I bet he had no idea how much I needed to hear that!”
Fondest memory of Tech?
“While I have many great memories from Texas Tech, I would have to say that my fondest would be the 2008 Texas Tech vs. University of Texas game. Hundreds of students, including myself, camped out to save their spot in line, College GameDay was broadcasting from Lubbock for the first time, and the energy on campus was amazing. Seeing that winning touchdown and rushing the field with the student body is definitely a memory I’ll never forget. But, it was the school spirit that week that truly had a lasting impact on me and made me infinitely proud to be a Red Raider.”
Tips for students in school?
“It’s important to pay attention in class and make good grades, but it’s also important to begin acquiring skills that you can use in the profession you want to pursue.
Think about how you can be building your portfolio and resume right now.
Start looking at job ads that you think you would be interested in applying for after graduation and see what the requirements are. Knowing certain software, being familiar with markup and programming languages, and having some published clips and examples of your work can only help set you apart in the job market.
Also, intern – get some real life experience to see what areas you really thrive in.
Learn a little bit about everything – media and communications jobs these days are very convergent so the more knowledge and skills you have, the better.”
Tips for students in getting a job/internship?
“When on the job market, make sure that your virtual presence is representative of the type of position you are striving for.
For those looking to work in the media and communications fields, this means presenting yourself as a well-written, tech-savvy, creative person who knows how to use media to their advantage.
There are various resources that you can use to market yourself – LinkedIn, about.me, Optimal Resume, etc… You can create professional social media accounts that demonstrate your proficiency or interest in certain areas. If someone is interested in your resume, there’s a chance they are going to Google your name. I think it helps a lot when the first few results they see are reflective of your resume and skillset.”
Opportunities in your field?
“As a journalism student, I always thought I would go into print, yet found myself more attracted to anything Web related in my classes. When I graduated, I noticed that a lot of the jobs I was interested in and qualified for had something to do with websites, marketing, communications, etc… It opened up another world of career possibilities that I wasn’t aware existed while in school.
I think the skills students acquire in media and communication majors are widely applicable to various types of positions. I currently work in digital marketing and see plenty of opportunities for tech-savvy creatives with solid communication skills in the areas of Web content management, inbound marketing, social media, blogging, SEO, content strategy, scriptwriting, etc… Many positions will combine these areas, so versatility is key.”
What have you learned so far since having graduated?
“I have learned that while the education I received at Tech gave me an amazing foundation that fully prepared me for what I wanted to do – it did not stop once I crossed the stage at graduation. College gives you the foundational knowledge and skills needed to begin a career, but it’s up to you to continue your education after the fact. This is especially important in constantly evolving fields such as media and communication. Be open to learning about new software, writing styles, industry trends, etc… And always challenge yourself.”
Anything else you’d like to share?
“When I graduated, I remember hearing things like, ‘There aren’t any jobs out there for writers,’ and, ‘Journalism is dead.’ I’m a strong believer in the falseness of these statements. The ability to write clear, concise, and compelling copy is not one that everyone has. The ability to do this in a creative, compelling way is even more rare. Your first job might not be that which you dreamed of, but it’s a stepping stone, so just be open to anything that gets your foot in the door. Make your own career path – put your education to work.”
How to reach Halie Hartman
Anyone wanting to contact Hartman, email her at h.hartman@me.com or Linkedin at http://www.linkedin.com/in/haliehartman
About Julien Demers
