UM AD Job Opening (Communication)
The best (only.) job types applicable to this board: A job at the University of Michigan Athletic Department.
The Athletic Communications Coordinator serves as the communications specialist for the football program and works directly with the U-M administrators, coaches, and student-athletes. [...] This individual has a range of responsibilities that includes writing, editing, designing, archiving, event management, facilitating interview requests and suggests story ideas to various media outlets about the football program.
There are qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, public relations or related field.
- Minimum of 5-8 years related experience in communications and sports information/media relations.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Able to handle difficult and challenging issues/situations immediately.
There are other prefered qualifications as well. Good luck to those interested.
January 21st, 2011 at 8:10 PM ^
I am completely qualified for this job, even went to Michigan, but I left during my senior year because my wife was having severe medical problems. I started working, eventually got a job I loved (out of state) and never went back to finish my degree -- and postings like this will probably always make me regret it.
Ahhh, well.
EDIT: Does anyone who has hired for the university know if this is an absolute MUST? In other words, would it be worth applying or does not having a degree eliminate my application regardless of what else is on it?
January 21st, 2011 at 8:18 PM ^
In the corporate world if they list a degree as a requirement (as opposed to a preference) then it's pretty much non-negotiable. On top of that, they verify. We just had a guy lose his job after working with us for a few months over this issue.
January 21st, 2011 at 8:22 PM ^
you might as well apply. doesnt hurt anything. and explain in your cover letter why you didnt finish your degree. and maybe they will give you the opportunity to finish it as you work.
January 21st, 2011 at 9:13 PM ^
Really work on your cover letter because your experiences can be even greater than the title of your degree. Explain what you've been doing since you left, how your experiences relate and have prepared you to hold this Communications Coordinator position.
If this is truly your dream, express that passion and what you have done to work toward attaining it. Connect specific events/projects/responsibilities and how they translate to some of the qualifications.
Good luck!
January 21st, 2011 at 9:16 PM ^
Say things like "I would walk to Ann Arbor from San Diego" and "I would work there for free" I heard that kind of passion does wonders at loosening up the job offers.
January 21st, 2011 at 9:34 PM ^
I would walk there from Phoenix. It's not quite as far as San Diego, but still ...
January 21st, 2011 at 11:54 PM ^
obviously you need to offer to fly to SD and walk from there. also you should offer to do it just for an interview. personally i wouldn't draw any attention to the lack of degree on the cover letter; i'd just put something like "7 semesters of UM-A2 communications classes" or whatever on your resume where others would put their degree--you can explain in the interview if you get that far.
January 22nd, 2011 at 12:30 AM ^
I would tend to lean the other direction -- explaining the lack of a degree -- but maybe it would be better to just leave that part vague and then explain later if they're actually interested enough to bring me in for an interview. I'm not sure.
January 21st, 2011 at 8:25 PM ^
If you don't apply you definitely won't get hired. I say go for it.
January 21st, 2011 at 8:36 PM ^
Very true. I think I'll give it a shot.
January 21st, 2011 at 8:27 PM ^
January 21st, 2011 at 8:55 PM ^
Do it, and if you get it, keep us lowly MGoUsers in mind and pass on some insider info every once in a while... :-)
January 22nd, 2011 at 1:22 AM ^
HR at the U is run by a bunch of complete morons.
the first level of screening is done by someone with zero experience in or knowledge of the hiring department, and they will DQ apps according to the guidelines. they have a tendency to follow these things to the letter, and frequently make major blunders. in other words, a $9.49/hr pencil pusher with a GED will pull your app during the screening process for not having a degree, even if your name was "jesus h. christ" and relevant work experience "preaching the word of god." they are paid to do, not think.
that being said, it's not impossible to circumvent this, but you MUST get your res to the right person so that they may request your app from HR. not sure if this means emailing brandon himself (or some other party), but if the manager in the hiring department doesnt know about you to specifically request your app from HR, odds are high you will be screened out and your app never makes it to schembechler hall.
January 22nd, 2011 at 8:43 AM ^
I know this isn't the same thing, but my friend was applying to administrative director jobs at Northwestern and found that when she used the general online portal system she rarely got a response. She then started trying to research the main people in charge of the jobs and e-mailing them her resume and cover letter directly--this worked really, really well.
This was probably easier for her than it would be with an AD job as the jobs she was looking at were mainly research administration positions at NIH-funded centers--they have to be publically listed along with contact info for staff.
January 21st, 2011 at 8:09 PM ^
you can do something with a communications degree?
January 21st, 2011 at 8:19 PM ^
This position is tailor made for Brian. I'm sure he could convince them that Engineering is a related field.
January 21st, 2011 at 8:19 PM ^
What does this pay? Do I get free admin to all U sporting events? Is there any free food involved? Can my mom stop in and see my new office? Is there any paperwork required? I don't do well in high stress settings and, people that sweat a lot scare me. My e.b.s. drives co-workers to flee the offices regularly, so my presence in said offices can cause a deep and lingering cloud of toxic gas to permeate ever nook and cranny, my office chairs need replaced regularly, is there a line item in the budget for that? Do I have to work with other college educated people? They tend to make me look bad at my job, I prefer Coke products so all Pepsi drinkers must not burp near me. My erections over HOT female works are sometimes taken the wrong way. I never mean any disrespect. I just realllllllly like girls. I think I could do this job. I Like to work Tuesday thru Thursday from 10:30 ish am to 2:30ish pm. Let me know if I can help. Oh are there any relocation expenses paid for?
January 21st, 2011 at 8:21 PM ^
January 21st, 2011 at 11:44 PM ^
January 21st, 2011 at 8:34 PM ^
Could I try to mesh my experiences in technical writing and customer service, along with my two degrees from UMich and my MBA into this?
January 21st, 2011 at 9:02 PM ^
...
Congrats on all the degrees.
January 21st, 2011 at 8:35 PM ^
What happened to David Ablauf? Is this the same position or would the person be working with him?
January 21st, 2011 at 8:43 PM ^
Actually, this does sound pretty similar to his responsibilities. I think Ablauf's title is something like "media relations coordinator."
Maybe he's leaving or maybe he's just getting overwhelmed and needs help -- I'm sure he's still there because I talked to him yesterday.
January 22nd, 2011 at 1:33 AM ^
He was promoted in October to the Associate Athletic Director for Media and Public Relations so I think he oversees all of the different sports (with respect to Media and Public Relations now). They are basically looking for someone to do what he used to do with football only.
January 21st, 2011 at 8:41 PM ^
Desmond?
January 21st, 2011 at 8:56 PM ^
No room at the inn for 'space bitches, space'?
Damnit.
January 21st, 2011 at 9:18 PM ^
"Communications Coordinator", I have a degree in PR. I interned in Toledo's Sports Information office. I am SO applying. I PROBABLY don't have enough experience, but maybe I could be considered for an assistant role?
THANKS!
January 21st, 2011 at 9:44 PM ^
You've got the degree, the title and SOME experience, so I'd say you've got a decent shot. Good luck!
January 21st, 2011 at 9:47 PM ^
That is my dream job. I mean literally, that is what I went to college wanting to do.
These days, I'm nowhere close to that, but as long as my job title is the same....
January 22nd, 2011 at 2:18 AM ^
Is there any way you can tell me how you got to where you are now? I'm in the process of trying to shadow someone/get an internship in the media relations sector of the athletic dept, but anything that would combine my pr/communication degree and athletics is my dream job. So if you get this job...can i have yours?
January 21st, 2011 at 10:11 PM ^
That's why they put the engies and the school of music on north campus. We're there to make life worth living for the techies.
UM Performance 2006-2010
January 22nd, 2011 at 11:52 AM ^
And we were put up there to give you spouses to marry.
UM Chemical Engineering 2005-2009
January 21st, 2011 at 9:50 PM ^
and suggests story ideas to various media outlets about the football program.Apparently, the freep and mlive never got the memo.
January 21st, 2011 at 11:33 PM ^
You mean, "I would crawl on my hands and knees to Ann Arbor from San Diego over broken glass."