WORLD'S LEADING INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Q & A with Vickie Fite – Managing Director at Manning, Selvage & Lee

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How does one turn an internship into a career? Specifically, how did you go from intern to employee?

I was part of INROADS, a program that specifically provides career planning opportunities for minority youth. As a freshman, I made a commitment to work each summer full-time through college and then be eligible for placement with my sponsoring company. It doesn’t always work out for every student, but in my case, it was a good fit and I was offered a full-time job upon graduation.

As for others, my best advice is to work hard at getting yourself exposure. It’s the little things like being sure to say hello to senior managers every morning but also the strategic things like making sure you contribute ideas/input at meetings, showcase your good work and proactively ask questions.

What do you think are the keys to your career success?

Not moving around. It’s very common in our industry for people to jump around a few times between agencies before settling down but I haven’t. My colleagues move around because they want new challenges and more money – and I admit jumping from place to place can get you this. However, the downside is you risk becoming a generalist, without deep expertise in any one category or client, and eventually that can become boring and less marketable.

The “fast track” slows down quickly if you can’t dig deep and be strategic to the client. I worked on Friskies PetCare business for 9 years and while it may seem boring to some, I loved it. The work was fun but more importantly I grew quickly as professional because I became entrenched in one category and that expertise helped me move ahead faster than others. Clients don’t want to continually retrain a team and value and trust those who invest in their business. Instead of constantly working on project work and tactical executions, early in my career, I was given golden opportunities to work on strategic long-term plans because I proved I understood the issues and understood their organization. By not moving around, I got ahead farther, faster.

What are the most important attributes one should develop to be in your industry? 

Persuasive Writing Skills – Everything we write, whether it be an email or full report, should be crafted thoughtfully and designed to persuade our audience. The objective might be for the client to see the connection to a strategy or recognize the value of the publicity. Important to think ahead about the goal and make sure you don’t cut corners/or fall flat. That’s just wasted words. Don’t underestimate any opportunity to communicate.

Proactively Add Value – The most impressive (and critical) quality to have is to consistently add value. When researching something, be sure to add a POV or recommendation. When identifying issues/challenges, don’t forget to offer a solution. Don’t ever, ever attend a team meeting without offering some form of input or volunteering for some kind of follow-up assignment. If you just pass along the details without adding value to the process, you miss opportunities to demonstrate strategic thinking. You might be just a spongue about absorbing info but if you don’t proactively share ideas, you’ll be overshadowed and overlooked.

Have you received mentorship? What are some of the greatest pieces of advice/knowledge you’ve gained that have helped you advance?

Yes. I’ve had great mentors. I’d say the points above were inspired by my mentors since they too have not jumped around. Another big reason I am so loyal to MS&L is that my mentors have been excellent role models – they’ve been extremely successful because they stayed put.

How did you gain experience in your industry that got you where you are today? 

My experience is all from on-the-job training. My degree is in marketing with a minor in accounting so everything I know about PR came from MS&L. As a result, it was tough at first but I was anxious to learn and improve. I kept a file of example press releases, pitch letters, etc. so I could always have reference documents.

Have you had a mentor? If so, what are the greatest pieces of career advice they’ve given you?

I once was so insulted by someone for commenting on how my voice pitch got high – “so typical of a female” whenever I was upset. After fuming about it for weeks, I made a concerted effort to watch my pitch and maintain a consistent tone even when angry, frustrated, stressed-out, etc. Over the years, I’ve gotten really good at it and I take pride now when people comment how they respect my ability to stay ultra-calm and composed under pressure.

Do you have any big tips for preparing for a job interview? What are some common mistakes to avoid?

The biggest mistake I see over and over again is people interview for the job they aspire for in a few years rather than the opportunity at hand. Employers pick the person that will be “a good fit” and that means someone who understands the landscape, appreciates the current demands and enjoys the challenges. For example, when interviewing for entry level, I want the applicant to tell me how much they enjoy media pitching and crafting their stories for journalists. I want them to demonstrate to me they understand the job responsibilities and are truly ready to jump in.

What do you recommend is a great way to get your foot in the door of a major company where your resume and application for an internship or job could easily get lost in the shuffle, being one among hundreds or thousands?

Apply for an internship and/or request an informational interview. In your cover letter, reference recent company activity to show you are paying attention to their business. For example, if a company recently acquired another company or won a new account, comment on how exciting it is, mention something about the strategy involved and ask for an opportunity to discuss it further.

It seems there's a cycle in which experience is necessary to land a job and you need a job to gain experience. How do you land that first big job without much experience?

Start at the bottom. Apply for an internship and/or request an informational interview. Also, do yourself a service, and make sure your resume is really working for you. Look for opportunities to stress how past jobs are relevant to the new job you are applying for. For example, if you were a hostess/waitress at a restaurant – highlight how you have experience working with consumers, juggling multiple tasks at once, trouble-shooting, etc.

In your opinion, what are some bold moves that a young person may take to land a position within a company?

Leverage connections. Friends, alumni, co-workers, etc.