Monmouth University’s Department of Communication hosted its bi-annual career fair on March 12 at the Ocean First Bank Center.
From 1 to 5 p.m., students connected with alumni, attended panels, and explored internship opportunities across the field.
Deanna Shoemaker, Department Chair for Communication, expressed pride in the events success. “We’ve been working on this since late fall,” she said. “This event allows us to honor our field. Communication is a broad discipline, and this shows students just how many opportunities exist.”
The first panel, “Life After Monmouth: Emerging Trends in the Communication Field,” ran from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., moderated by Professors Nick Messina and Amanda Stojanov. Panelists discussed notable industry trends, hiring practices, and the importance of adaptability.
The panel featured five alumni: Alexandria Fitzgerald (Operations Management and Client Services, Netflix), Erik Massimino (Black Swallowtail Studios), Jenna Gaudio (Co-President, Vydia Media Music and Technology), Billy O’Neill (Producer, Sirk Productions), and Katie Meyer (Digital Video Producer and Editor, Bloomberg, CNN, CBS).
Many panelists shared that their careers took unexpected turns, discussing the importance of seizing opportunities and staying flexible. Fitzgerald and Massimino emphasized persistence in job applications, both crediting their current positions to repeatedly submitting resumes.
Fitzgerald advised against relying solely on remote work. “Stay in front of people’s eyes where they can see you,” she said. She also stressed the importance of references, as employers increasingly verify candidates’ experience.
Meyer noted the growing role of artificial intelligence in newsrooms and the need for adaptability. She also said that writing tests are now a standard part of interviews, demonstrating both skill and commitment. Meyer advised students to take caution when accepting opportunities provided. She said, “Especially as a woman, take the job, but fight for the salary.”
O’Neill, speaking from a freelance perspective, underscored the value of self-sufficiency. “The more you’re willing to ‘be your own boss,’ the more you’re putting yourself out there, meeting new people, and learning new skills,” he said. He encouraged expanding skills beyond traditional media production. “Being able to do different things and diversify what is known, beyond just pointing a camera, is going to go such a long way, so diversify the portfolio and push to learn something new.”
Massimino addressed how technology is reshaping jobs, citing “robo-cameras” that replace multiple operators and “micro-control rooms” at NBC that consolidate roles. “The growing trend with technology is that it’s making any position more valuable and bringing a wider variety of skill sets than before,” he said. His advice: “Just get in the door and say, ‘Yeah, sure, I’ll try the camera.’ A lot of positions are now combined, so adaptability to the situation is key.”
Gaudio said that technology is shifting the industry’s focus. “The interesting thing is that the world is becoming less technical because of technology. It’s no longer ‘can you code, can you edit, can you do these technical things,’ but how well can communication about technology happen?” She emphasized the importance of pitching ideas and being personable. “We’re in the age of dreamers and doers, and really dreaming up something that technology can go into and then using the technology to execute it.”
Dae’Sani Clarke, a senior pursuing journalism, asked for advice on breaking into news rather than public relations. Massimino advised taking available opportunities while honing skills independently. Meyer suggested revising resumes to better reflect a journalism focus. “If journalism is the passion, just keep going,” she said.
The second panel, “All the Places You’ll Go! Diverse Careers in Communication,” ran afterwards from 2:45 to 3:45 p.m., moderated by Professors Matt Harmon and Marina Vujnovic. Panelists were asked what skills they wish they had learned but never did, what skills they have evolved, and what are some struggles of entry-level positions.
The five featured alumni were Lindsay DeAngelis (City of Long Branch Government), Kara D’Antoni (Nonprofit Development Manager for Walk M.S.), Kaylin Harper (Hackensack Meridian Health, Marketing Manager), Lexi Morrison (Post Production Manager, Maestro Filmworks, Philadelphia), Noah Chait and Kelly Anderson (Media Development, Branding, Content Creation, and Dumblit Recording Studios.)
Anderson said she wished she better understood technology integration. “Most students love ChatGPT, but they don’t really know how to use it,” she said. She also noted that success often depends more on workplace culture than job titles.
Chait discussed the reality of burnout and the importance of work-life balance. He stressed the value of intentionality, encouraging students to “always be hungry” in working toward their goals.
DeAngelis said that strategy was something she wished she had honed in on. “Take as many opportunities as you can to take internships, because when you have the experience to back your work then you have a leg up. It’s the strategy and knowing how to write a press release that you don’t get until you’re in the real world.”
Harper noted that a traditional career path isn’t necessary to find success. Exposure to different industries, including beauty and healthcare, allowed her to develop expertise in unexpected areas.
Ian Epstein, a student, asked the panel whether or not his minor in Spanish would make any sort of impact in his career. Panelists agreed that multilingual skills are always beneficial, especially in video production, where global audiences are common.
Stojanov, one of the moderators, noted that faculty collaborated to craft panel questions, emphasizing the event’s department-wide effort. She also pointed out how this year’s format differed from previous years, with fewer simultaneous panels and more speakers per session.
Messina, in his first year moderating, reflected on seeing former students return as professionals. “Being able to see some folks that have been students, and now seeing them be called back to highlight their successes, it’s very rewarding,” he said, adding that O’Neill, Chait, D’Antoni, and Anderson were all former students.
He also stressed the importance of networking. “We reiterate this in all our classes, so hearing alumni reinforce the message makes it even more impactful. Despite being a relatively small school, our alumni reach far,” he said.
Following the second panel, a networking event from 3:45 to 4:15 p.m. allowed students to connect with panelists and explore other internship opportunities.
Senior Erin Shuester shared her experience. “I met a lot of great people. I got my foot in the door even more than I thought. I knew communication was broad, but I didn’t realize just how broad until now.”
