< Previous28 | QUESTION 1 What are some of the mistakes you see applicants make when they’re trying to get an interview? What’s the most important thing to be able to land an interview? Percival: “I’m an attention-to-detail person. If you have mistakes on your cover letter or resumé, such as not having the right job or school on the application, it’s an immediate no for me. This job is fast-paced and I need to know you have attention to detail so mistakes won’t continuously appear in your content.” Cox: “Contacting administrators via social media/DM to inquire about a job is a no-no. The same amount of time one could set aside to look up a social media handle could have been used to visit the university’s staff directory and search for an email or phone number.” Paré: “The fastest way to make it to the no pile for me is when I see typos or grammatical errors on a cover letter or resumé. One of the main responsibilities of our job is writing and I strongly believe your application documents should be flawless.” Challoner: “In this line of work, attention to detail is paramount. The misspelling of names or improper titles, an obvious cut and paste error, spelling mistakes in the opening paragraphs, applying for the wrong job or listing the wrong school — and trust me, those all happen — are a no for me. Another mistake I often see is a generic resumé with limited content relating to the job description and requirements. Automatic ‘no’ for me!” QUESTION 2 What are some of the positives that get people moved to the ‘yes’ pile or call-back pile? Percival: “I want to see you sell WHY you’re the right fit for the job. Don’t just list your skill sets, but give me examples of how you would make my department better. Tell me, “I’m skilled in social media management including a social media campaign I implemented that increased our engagement by xx%.” Give me projects and examples, not just skill sets.” Thompson: “I like when someone shows personality in a cover letter. So many times, a cover letter is dry or a repetition of Communications professionals are typically the ones asking the questions. We ask questions of coaches, student-athletes and administrators, and we even find ourselves quizzing media members about topics they are covering. We’re not always comfortable when the tables are turned and others are asking the questions to us. But what happens when that job you’ve always coveted comes open and the phone rings for an interview? How do you prepare yourself? The nerves start to flow just as they do for our student- athletes and coaches who are getting asked questions every day. Where do you turn to prep yourself for the interview? Do you turn it down? If you do find yourself facing anxiety, a great place to turn is to your colleagues who have recently been in the position of making a hire. The following six individuals represent all different levels of athletics including communication professionals at the school and conference level, senior level administrators and a former communications professional who is a Division II athletic director. • – University of Toronto Manager, Events and Marketing • – Lincoln Memorial University Athletic Director • – University of Alabama Senior Associate Athletic Director, Communications • – Piedmont College Assistant Athletic Director, Communications • – Troy University Associate AD Communications/Creative Services • – Big Sky Conference Assistant Commissioner Communication/External The answers provided are candid and what they are looking for when they are in a hiring situation. Their insight could be what you need to give you the confidence the next time you submit a resumé and find yourself in an interview room. Careers // Job Seekers by Travis Jarome Alabama State University, Director of Athletic Strategic Communication // CoSIDA Job Seekers Committee member Own Your Interview 6 hiring managers reveal impactful strategies to help you ace your next job interview.CoSIDA 360 | MAY 2020 | 29 their resumé. I want to interview someone that shows character, knowledge and passion.” Prendergast: “Obviously, we want to have someone that has some experience in the business and that varies between hiring graduate assistants and full-time staff members. I don’t sit here and only look for someone with Power 5 or Division I experience, because we’ve had a great deal of success with people from the other levels of collegiate athletics and we’re proud of them. I like to see a complete resumé. Don’t make me dig too much to find out who you are and what you’ve done. I’m going to do my homework on you if we really like you, but I don’t want to have to dig too much to get to that point.” Challoner: “Experience in this field and/or related fields. A well laid out and organized resumé with pertinent information to the job and its requirements. Some creativity never hurts, but before applicants go crazy, make sure the resumé is easy to read and navigate. I’m not sure how many resumés I go through, but it is a lot, and if relevant information isn’t visible on the first page, it’s unlikely I get to the second page.” QUESTION 3 What are you looking for during the interview? Percival: “During the interview I want to see if you’re a good fit with our culture. Ultimately, this person is someone you’re going to spend countless hours a week within close contact, so I want to make sure the fit is right. If you’ve gotten to the interview process, I should know you’ve got the skills needed for the job, now I need to know you’re the right person for it.” Thompson: “I am all about confidence, personality and creativity. There is a fine line between confidence and arrogance. Make sure to know the difference between the two.” Prendergast: “Fit is a big thing for me when first getting someone on the phone for an initial interview. We’re going to spend a lot of time together and I want someone that’s going to be a great fit on our team. When working in a smaller office, it just takes one bad fit to bring overall morale down for the whole group and that can sink your office big time. Mary Beth Challoner Toronto | Jasher Cox Lincoln Memorial | Jessica Paré Alabama | Danielle Percival Piedmont | Adam Prendergast Troy | Denise Thompson Big Sky | “I view an interview as if it’s a dance in which you and a partner move together, both responding to the other. Don’t make the mistake of just sitting there waiting for the interviewer to ask you about that one time you were named employee of the year. It’s your responsibility to make sure he/she walks away knowing your key selling points.” Jasher Cox, Lincoln Memorial Athletic Director30 | Careers // Job Seekers so we can see if this is going to be a good match or not. I always think that the worst thing that can happen is to be hired into a job that’s wrong for you — then nobody’s happy!” This is a good strategy and quickly alerts the committee that you’re seeking a job that’s the perfect fit and you’re not desperate.” Paré: “I know it may sound funny, but it’s important that the candidate be comfortable interviewing with those he or she is meeting with. If you need to practice in front of someone, there is nothing wrong with that. At the end of the day, it’s a conversation, and communication is obviously an important part of what we do. As I mentioned above, proofreading/copy editing are at the top of my list too. Creativity, especially in the social media realm, is something that has a real value.” QUESTION 5 What is the key question you are looking to be answered, or have asked of you, by the prospective employee? Percival: “With a large student work staff, I like to ask questions about how to deal with mistakes made by student workers. How do you handle correcting others? Is it loving, gentle and guiding, or is it harsh and rash? That usually says a good bit about their approach.” Thompson: “What can you do to take this position and school/conference office to the next level? Prendergast: “Why Troy? I want someone to tell me why they want to be a part of our team. I love questions from prospective employees at the end of an interview and, to be honest, get frustrated when they don’t have any because questions show me that you’re really interested and that you’ve done your homework. I like questions that are specific to the program that they would be covering.” Cox: “I view an interview as if it’s a dance in which you and a partner move together, both responding to the other. Don’t make the mistake of just sitting there waiting for the interviewer to ask you about that one time you were named employee of the year. It’s your responsibility to make sure he/she walks away knowing your key selling points.” Paré: ”I am always curious to hear what a candidate thinks about the future of our profession and how he or she thinks we can improve on our current model at Alabama. On the flip side, I appreciate when a candidate has questions prepared for me, whether it be personal about my time at Alabama or specifics about our department. Someone will always stand out when they’ve done their homework.” QUESTION 6 Are you looking for short, concise answers, or more lengthy responses? Percival: “I want you to explain your answer to me, but don’t just talk to try and impress me. State your point, give an example if needed, then wrap it up.” Thompson: “I’m looking for you to answer the question So, I’m looking for easy conversation. I’m looking for someone who is comfortable in their own words. I want somebody to be knowledgeable about Troy Athletics BEFORE the interview — DO YOUR HOMEWORK! This is a big one for me. Show that you care enough about the job that you’re willing to take the time to learn a little bit of history and about the staff. I’m looking for someone who is real with what they’re saying. Don’t give me a bunch of buzz words to try and sound smart. Give me real talk about you and your experiences. Know your source material. Know the background of who you are talking to. Know about the school, the town, the coaches, the staff.” Cox: “Getting my attention early in the interview is key. Some interviewers make up their minds about candidates within the first five minutes of discussion, and then spend the rest of the interview looking for things to confirm that decision!” Paré: “If we’re in the final stage of interviewing, we’re confident that individual has all the abilities to carry out the technicalities of the job. What’s more important for us at that point is how that person fits in our office culture, how the conversation flows, if the candidate really shows an interest in the position and feedback from the coaches and other support staff that individual would be working with.” Challoner: “Confidence. Personality. Someone with good oral communication who’s prepared with knowledge of the school, of the program, of the job requirements and who is able to provide some fresh and creative examples of how they might enhance the position should they be the successful candidate.” QUESTION 4 What are some tools that those interviewing need that are beneficial to the business today? Percival: “I believe the biggest key to interviewing today is to be authentic. Don’t try to be something you’re not. That doesn’t help anyone. Be true to who you are, what you know, and where you’re willing to improve. That honesty means more than something I can likely teach you in the long run.” Prendergast: “On our team, we’re looking for those who can be flexible and are willing to learn. Our business is changing daily and people who are willing to adapt are going to be the ones who survive. When I was a student assistant, we were still doing fax blast after football practice and hand-stuffing game notes to put in the mail. I’ve self-taught myself a lot of what we’re doing today because I was willing to learn and stay current in the business, and that’s possibly the most valuable tool right now. As far as tangible tools, we need people who can write and who know how to keep stats correctly, but those who have the ability to operate a camera, can edit videos, can make graphics are all huge pluses in the business these days, especially at the Division I Group of 5 level where we’re still doing a lot of the creative content ourselves. The more versatile you can make yourself, the stronger candidate you will be.” Cox: Your job is to transform this “tug of war” into a relationship in which we’re both on the same side. One could say something as simple as, “I’m happy to have the chance to learn more about your institution and to let you learn more about me, CoSIDA 360 | MAY 2020 | 31 without putting me to sleep. That sounds harsh, but that’s the reality. The best answers are the ones where the applicant knows how to draw you in. Answers that are specific to the job are always best. Your answer can be short and concise or long and to the point, just make sure you actually answer the question.” Prendergast: “Both. I know that’s a cop out answer, but I want the person I’m interviewing to be genuine. It goes back to our social strategy, we don’t post just to post, so when you’re doing an interview don’t just talk to talk. Answer WIN THE INTERVIEW, LAND YOUR DREAM JOB There’s nothing more upsetting than getting “second place” for a job you really wanted. Chances are you Googled “interview checklist,” did everything you were supposed to do, felt like you knocked the interview out of the park, and after you got that rejection letter were stunned. “How can they not love me?!” Likely, for them, it came down to “fit.” Hopefully you already understand the importance of dressing appropriately, arriving on time and prepared, and saying thank you. Those and other basics are easily found all over the internet. If those ideas don’t ring a bell, then that may be a better place to start. Assuming you’ve got the basics already down, below is a summary of five ideas to embrace so next time you can not only get the interview, but win the dream job too. PERFECT RESUME AND COVER LETTER Make sure application materials meet the standards outlined in the job description, and that of the profession. Your documents should be flawless. Don’t make grammatical or spelling mistakes. They’re potentially going through hundreds of resumés and you get one shot to get it right. They don’t expect you to be perfect, but they expect your application to be. PUT IN THE TIME AND EFFORT Tailor your application materials to the job you are applying for. Be thorough. Work on what you want to say in advance. Do your homework so you’re not taken by surprise and start fumbling your words. Confidence in your responses will go a long way. Ask the interviewer questions. Most hiring managers are disappointed if you don’t. Show your knowledge of the program and the staff you’ll be joining. Asking specific questions about the staff, team, administrator or coach you’ll be working for will impress. BE A PRO Avoid contacting administrators via social media or direct message. Find an email address or phone number if you need to contact them. Exaggerating or faking your experience or qualifications is a recipe for disaster. They’ll see right through you if you make it to the interview. Be careful about being overly creative. Don’t use a lot of extra flare or gimmicks. Stay professional. Be prepared to answer questions. You need to know the job, know the business, and be ready with fresh ideas as best you can. Take a deep breath, listen to the question, understand and answer the question you’re asked as concisely as possible. STAND OUT Your most important selling points should stand out on your application without making them have to dig for it. Lead your resumé with whatever makes you look most impressive. Make a good first impression when you walk in the door for your interview. They’ll be making a decision about you in those first few minutes and then be looking to confirm that first impression for the rest of the interview. Bring a couple fresh ideas of how you can take your new employer to the next level. Why do you want to work there? Show how you would be invested in what they are all about. FIT ABOVE EVERYTHING People who are genuinely upbeat and happy, but authentic, stand out. Show your personality and be creative and interesting in your answers. Display a growth mindset that you’re eager to learn, not set in old ways. How do you handle mistakes? How will you treat your coworkers or those you supervise? The interviewers will be trying to get a feel for what it’s going to be like to spend their workdays (lives) with you. the question to the best of your ability and let that be it. More words don’t impress me, but answers that flow easily with a good back and forth between myself and the interviewee impresses me.” Cox: “I’m looking for you to thoroughly answer the question, but not take over the interview in doing so.” Paré: “Honestly, I appreciate both. Depending on the question, you may be able to answer it in a line or two, whereas some questions are best answered with a longer, more thought out answer. I believe it’s important to be genuine in your answers regardless of the length.” Challoner: “I would prefer short concise answers, with a touch of color. An understanding of when to elaborate and provide more in-depth information is also a plus.” No matter the circumstance, no matter the institution, no matter the level; it’s best to be prepared, responsible and honest when sitting down for an interview. 32 | Joe Danahey - Humboldt State First convention: 1997 New Orleans Top memory: Piano Bar in Washington, D.C. in 2018. Donnie Smith - Southeastern First convention: 2014 Orlando Top memory: 2018 in D.C. walking the monuments at night with a few others when they were less crowded and it wasn’t blistering hot out. Judy Willson - LSU First convention: 1991 San Francisco Top Memory: 1998, road tripping with M.L. Hinkle from Denver to Spokane. The Thelma and Louise moniker had already been given to us by Bill Cable in Denver in 1995 when we roadtripped from Portales, N.M., and San Angelo, Texas. The whole ride to Spokane I was worried because what I thought was supposed to be a table topic about mentoring women in the profession, turned into a panel. We were set with speakers — Mary Jo Haverbeck, Barb Kowal, Laura Fawcett and M.L., with me moderating. It was up against a technology, hot topic panel. I figured no one would show. Ended up with standing room only, all women and two guys (Andy Seeley and I’m blanking on the other guy’s name). Because I didn’t want the usual men’s XL polo shirt door prizes, I bought some small stuff from Bath & Body Works and some other more female items. It felt great to get all of us in a room and now know that two years later the beginnings of WoSIDA came about in St. Louis. The second memory from Spokane was finishing up a rookie session as a mentor and having Bill Little pull me aside for a chat. At first I thought, uh oh what have I done now to irritate the legends. Instead it was “I’ve got my eye on you, young lady! Keep it up!” And I was between jobs in Spokane and trying to determine if I was going to stay in the business. Kevin Lanke - Rose-Hulman First convention: 1999 Orlando Top memory: My favorite memory is the crazy baseball trips a small group of us used to take before or sometimes during the convention. We went to Atlanta from Nashville; to Pittsburgh from Cleveland; and to Washington from Philadelphia (twice in two days). I was younger and crazier in my youth! Reliving Conventions Past Marty Rourke - Bishop’s First Convention, 2017 Orlando Top memory: Hanging out with my Canadian colleagues in 2018 and getting to know them on a personal level, whether it be at a restaurant, the casino or exploring the city. Dave Wohlhueter - Retired (Cornell, Bucknell, Ithaca) First convention, 1966 Chicago Top memory: Having Lee Corso tear up the $400 check that I presented to him for his speaking at the convention. Don’t remember the year. Joe DiBari - Fordham First convention: 1989 Washington, D.C. Top memory: In 1989, a few of us rookies had this contest called “Riding with a Legend.” We would stand near the elevators and if we saw a legend approaching we would try to hop on and ride with him/her. I rode with Bill Esposito, Roger Valdiserri, Dave Wohlhueter and Howie Davis, among others. Michael Hawkins - Francis Marion First convention: 2017 Orlando Top memory: Getting to meet Dr. Harry Edwards at the 2018 convention in D.C. Probably the most influential person I have ever met — especially when days later I view his exhibit in the new Smithsonian Museum for African-American History. His message was powerful, urging us to be better in our lives regarding diversity and race relations. I have tried to take that to heart. Dennis Switzer - Benedict College First convention: 2002 Rochester Top memory: Touring the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland in 2003. Fran Elia - SUNY Cortland First convention: 1991 San Francisco Top memory: 1993 in Atlanta. We attended a Braves-Marlins game, and the in the bottom of the ninth. That night in the sports bar in the hotel, we ended up watching the highlight of that play with Turner himself, as the Marlins were also staying at the hotel. Needless to say, Turner did not think it was a good call! Mark Albanese - Pacific Lutheran First convention: 2009 San Antonio Top memory: Watching a World Cup game in a bar full of Dutch fans at the 2010 convention in San Francisco. Without an in-person convention to attend in 2020, here are some top memories from years gone by, provided by members who filled out our survey.CoSIDA 360 | MAY 2020 | 33 John Kean - Missouri S&T First convention: 1988 Kansas City Top memory: I’m going to say 1995 in Denver. We were in a situation where we were basically stuck at the hotel (not much for things you could do in or around the convention site), but I felt the programming was exceptional that year. The information I got out of that convention led me into doing many of the things I’m still doing today, particularly web-based stuff and writing. Nick Guerriero - CoSIDA Continuing Education Committee Chair First convention: 2013 Orlando Top memory: One of my favorite moments was when I attended the SIDEARM Sports Leadership Forum at the D.C. Convention in 2018. The ability to learn and hear from some of the best and brightest in our industry was truly inspiring. Katie Green - NAIA First convention: 2015 Orlando Top memory: Undoubtedly the best thing about convention is being able to get together with the people in your business and continue to learn from each other. But the memory that sticks out the most to me is in 2017 when I had the chance to sit down and chat with Chad Waller and Alan Grosbach about the new manager position that they had open, and ending up accepting it by the time that convention was over. David Alexander - College of Saint Rose First convention: 1989 Washington, D.C. Top memory: I’ll never forget how welcoming everyone was at my first convention, and how the other job seekers were able to quickly bond. I’ll always remember receiving my 25-year award and being able to present two years ago. Mathieu Tanguay - Laval First convention: 2015 Orlando Top memory: I had the chance to attend with my colleague at Laval, Stephane Jobin, who also happens to be one my best friends. Both our wives and kids came along and we took some extra days to visit the area, which was great. I remember that I was simply amazed at the way the event was organized and that I came back energized and full of new ideas to implement at Université Laval. I also had a great time meeting many fellow SIDs and it was clear that this wouldn’t be the last CoSIDA convention I would attend. Roy Allen - Florida SouthWestern State First convention: 2013 Orlando Top memory: I remember being one of the only junior college SIDs there and being so intimidated by everything. However, as the week went along, I came to realize that no matter if you were there as a juco, NAIA, Division III, Division II, or Division I member, we were all there trying to learn the same things. It quickly became the highlight of my yearly calendar. In 2014, we (junior colleges) had our first Divisional Day meeting. It made me feel even more like we belonged. Cindy Potter - Columbia College (Mo.) First convention: 2006 Nashville Top memory: St. Louis in 2012 was so much fun and so many close colleagues came to the convention which made it even better. The board members got to meet Ozzie Smith at Busch Stadium and got treated to some backstage access there. After the convention I got married three weeks later...made for a memorable summer! Danielle Percival - Piedmont First convention: 2015 Orlando Top memory: I was a grant recipient my first time and honestly, it was a great way to jump right in and have a built-in group to be a part of. Grant winners are asked to help out at functions and such, so because of that you’ve got a group of friends to mingle with automatically. I also used that group to find a pair of roommates to cut costs with and we became great friends. Molly O’Mara and Mollie Hanke are out of the business now, but we still stay in touch! Kent Brown - Illinois First convention: 1988 Kansas City Top memory: Spending some quality time with Dick Enberg at convention in St. Louis in 2012 while I was on the Board of Directors. Breakfast with the other board members during my time on the BOD. Blake Timm - GNAC First convention: 2001 San Diego Top memory: The 2004 convention in Calgary may have been the best CoSIDA Convention ever. The press conference panel that Eric McDowell put together was an all-timer. Not only did it provide some great education in a humorous and interactive format, but he managed to get a number of CoSIDA legends involved in the panel. People like Ed Carpenter, Pete Moore, Frank Mercogliano. That continues to be what I believe is the best CoSIDA Convention panel ever. I wish we had video of it. That convention was also when I was first named to the CoSIDA Board of Directors. It felt like I truly belonged in the organization at that point. Denise Thompson - Big Sky Conference First convention: 2009 San Antonio Top memory: My favorite was Washington, D.C. in 2018. It was great to be in a new venue and city. Being less than a four-hour drive from my hometown, my family and friends were able to come down and visit. We spent an extra day exploring the city and sites. It was also special because during the convention I was added to the CoSIDA Board as an at-large representative. That was a very special moment for me.34 | stores and restaurants with Arabic lettering instead of English.” Amidst the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Abounader initially had reservations about being with a group that he had met very little previously. “I was a little skeptical on how close we would become as a team for the short amount of time that we were together and how minimal we had played together prior to the tournament,” he said. “I was pleasantly surprised at how close we all became by the end of the trip despite basically being strangers beforehand. I think having the common goal of making our Lebanese families, and all of Lebanon proud, was the reason we all bought in and got along. I made a lot of friends on the team and coming home was like having to wake up from a good dream.” One part of the experience Abounader was sure to mention was the culture shock when they first arrived. “Most people we encountered could communicate in English; however, there were some that spoke no word of it,” he said. “Luckily, I hung around the some of the older guys on the team who were fluent in Arabic and could help me. Some of the other things I wasn’t used to were the desert landscapes, unique architecture and the difference in attire, such as the thawbs (similar to a white robe) the men would wear or the elegant dresses and hijabs the women wore. After our first game there On February 2, Baldwin Wallace University Athletic Communications Assistant Louie Abounader landed in Kuwait with the Lebanese National Ice Hockey team for the 2020 Arab Cup. Seven days later, he returned to Berea, Ohio, with dirty laundry, jet lag, memories and a bronze medal. During the six-day tournament, all six teams played one match against each other in a round-robin format. Lebanon started the tournament in a good position after a 5-1 win over Bahrain thanks to Abounader’s three-goal and one assist performance, which earned him the player-of-the-game Award for Lebanon. The team carried that momentum into the second game with a 13-0 win over Saudi Arabia. Their first loss came at the hands of host-team Kuwait after a 5-2 result and was followed by a second loss to the United Arab Emirates, 8-3. Their final game ended in a 5-4 win over Egypt in what was a must-win game to secure third place. Overall, Kuwait finished first in the competition with a 5-0 record. Abounader finished the week with four goals and two assists. Although hockey was the focus of the trip, the team was still able to enjoy themselves off the ice. “Even though our schedule revolved around hockey for the most part, such as games, meetings, and practices, we would fill in the time between at the hotel with each other,” said Abounader. “Our five-star hotel had some of the best food I’ve ever had, an outdoor pool, sauna, ping pong table, foosball, and billiards. It was a perfect place to be when we had only a few hours to kill.” However, when they had more than a few hours to kill, Abounader and the team would take part in more tourist-like activities, such as sight-seeing. “We went to the top of the Kuwait Towers to get a view of the Kuwait City skyline and Persian Gulf,” he said. “We also visited a beautiful marina by the beach with an Americanized mall attached to it. It was funny seeing all of the American chain by Cannon Dees Baldwin Wallace University Communications Student Assistant ‘20 Fulfilling A Dream Baldwin Wallace Communications Assistant Louie Abounader Brings Home Bronze from Arab Cup 2020 Abounader had three goals and an assist to earn player-of-the-game honors to start the tournament. Ph ot os p ro vi de d b y L ou ie A bo un ad er . “I remember that call as if it were today because Louie knew he had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but also understood he had a commitment to Baldwin Wallace...as a mentor in this profession you don’t always get a chance like this and it was great to see how appreciative and happy he was to experience it all.” Jeff MillerCoSIDA 360 | MAY 2020 | 35 was a camel ‘parked’, or tied down, outside the rink. Regardless, everyone I met was extremely kind and hospitable throughout my stay, whether it was the hotel staff, the tournament committee, or the general public.” When not traveling the world to play hockey, Abounader is an Athletic Communications Assistant at BW, where he serves as the primary contact for nine of the 23 varsity sports. While early February is a great time to leave cold and snowy Cleveland, Ohio, it’s a busy time for collegiate athletics. Winter sports are entering the second half of their season while preparation for the start of the spring seasons are underway. Taking a week off in that time frame is no easy task, nor is it always realistic to be able to. Luckily, it wasn’t an obstacle for Abounader. “I reached out to Sports & Media Information Director Jeff Miller about the opportunity during winter break,” Abounader said. “He understood how much the opportunity meant to me and how narrow my age and physicality window is getting to participate in competitive hockey now that I no longer play regularly. He reached out to Erin Madden, who held my position for two years before me, and she helped supervise some of my home events I’d be missing. They, along with our other Athletics Communication Assistant Dustin Parker, collaborated to cover for me and my responsibilities for the week. I am extremely grateful for our athletic communications department’s willingness to accommodate for my experience and is something I will remember throughout my career.” “It’s not every day that your assistant gives you a call about such a great opportunity as playing for their national team,” said Miller. “When I got the call, I was excited for him and his chance to continue his hockey career. I remember that call as if it were today because Louie knew he had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but also understood he had a commitment to Baldwin Wallace. It’s not every day that someone is willing to forgo a lifelong dream, but I told him that if he truly wanted to do it, I would make sure his events and workload were covered. For me, as a mentor in this profession, you don’t always get a chance like this and it was great to see how appreciative and happy he was to be able to experience it all.” Despite thoroughly enjoying his experience, Abounader’s future with the Lebanese Ice Hockey team is yet to be determined. “The team has definitely expressed interest in wanting me to return for future competition, but I have not fully committed to anything thus far,” he said. “Most of their training and team- oriented events take place in Montreal, Canada, so being in another country doesn’t make it easier. However, if they reached out to me again, and I could afford it and have no conflicts in my schedule, I would definitely jump at the opportunity.” Among the highlights of the trip were viewing the Kuwait City skyline and Persian Gulf, bonding with teammates and seeing a camel outside the rink after the first game.36 | 2020-21 academic year and use the convention as a networking opportunity for members before pairings were made. With the cancelation of the 2020 in-person convention, the committee will start sign-ups in June and work on pairings throughout the summer to ensure the best possible fit for members. The use of webinars and Zoom meetings will likely be used to assist with the pairings. Pairings will be communicated throughout the summer and a kickoff meeting will be held in September. “To many of us on the committee, it felt like we were rushing into the next school year by trying to get pairings completed by convention. The new timeline will allow for people to celebrate the past year, while meeting people and looking ahead to the new year,” Kurtz said. “Our hope is that the new timeline will increase the success rate of positive pairings as the program continues to grow.” Close to 500 CoSIDA members have participated in the association’s mentorship program in the first five years of its existence. Solid, lasting relationships have resulted. Networks have been strengthened. Advice has been given and received — some leading to career advancement. Frustrations have also been part of the program — connections that were never made or expectations that were not met. The introduction of a mentorship committee in 2019-20 has provided oversight for the program throughout the year and insight into what works, what doesn’t and what can be strengthened each year. The committee is led by chair Brian Morales, director of media relations for Wagner College, and vice chair Theresa Kurtz, associate director of strategic communications for the Mountain West Conference. Some of the immediate additions they made for the program this year included: • Assistance from committee leadership in pairing mentors and mentees. • Assignment of committee liaisons for each pair with the directive to check in periodically to make sure relationships were progressing to the benefit of both mentees and mentors. • A webinar at the beginning of the academic year to assist with expectations for building mentor/mentee relationships. • A webinar for all CoSIDA members in January to discuss mentorship and its benefits for career and personal advancement. After studying the program, soliciting feedback from current participants and weighing options for the coming year, the committee had made a decision to change the timeline for the by Laurie Bollig CoSIDA Director of Membership Engagement Mentorship Mentorship Program To Debut Changes for 2020-21 Mentorship committee flips the script on one of CoSIDA’s top member benefits.CoSIDA 360 | MAY 2020 | 37 What are some of the things I should look for in a mentor or mentee? Shawn Medeiros – Endicott College Sports Information Director Divisions do not matter, experiences do. When looking for a mentor, you should look for someone who is going to be more concerned about your overall career path than your day-to-day. Look for someone who has a varying amount of experiences, so that you can learn about issues or concerns in the industry from multiple angles. Meanwhile, when looking for a mentee, you should try and find someone who is passionate about the profession and someone who has relatively clear goals about what they are looking to accomplish. At the end of the day, along with what was previously mentioned, commitment to being a mentor and/or mentee is the biggest key to success in these mentoring relationships. It has to be a two-way street and that needs to be discussed and followed through with intention. What are the advantages of having a mentor in your career? Pete Moore – Syracuse Director of Athletic Communications Any success I’ve managed to obtain in my career can be traced to the mentors I’ve had along the way. From the moment I first started, it’s been mentors who have guided my every step. Their willingness to advise, recommend, listen and support has made an immeasurable difference in my career. One of the great things about our profession is that it is filled with individuals who are thrilled to help others succeed. I’ve benefited greatly! Krystal Warren – Dayton Associate AD for Athletics Communication/ Student-Athlete Community Engagement/ Leadership & Career Development I would not be where I am today without the people who have helped me along the way. When I first started in this business almost 20 years ago, I leaned on many individuals for direction. Specifically, Mark Womack at Cedarville, Dave Parsons (then at Mount Vernon Nazarene), and Larry Alter at the Mid-States Football Association were very patient with me and always willing to take my calls to talk through statistics, nominating players of the week, and just in general how to be a good host. As accomplished professionals, they helped me with valuable advice, I learned new approaches to our business, and also avoided mistakes, thanks to their experiences. Ultimately, they became friends and people I trust. These relationships have had a huge influence on my career. It’s safe to say for me, the people I formed relationships with, made a huge impact and helped me land my position at Dayton. It’s through relationships formed with local SIDs I’d met at sporting events that led to the opportunity to apply and get this job that I love. My advice to young professionals is find a mentor (or many mentors), but don’t get hung up on titles. The process can be as simple as: Who can I learn from and work with to build meaningful relationships? And then reach out to make those connections. I think I know who I might like as a mentor/ mentee, but I don’t really know that person well (or at all). What’s the best way to approach them about being my mentor/mentee? Lindy Brown – Duke Senior Associate Sports Information Director I would suggest giving that person a call and explain you are looking to get involved in CoSIDA mentorship. Say that you have admired and respected the work the potential mentor has done over the years and would love to have him/her as your mentor going forward. That you feel you could learn a great deal, both personally and professionally, going forward from them. If someone called me asking this, I would feel very honored to be their mentor. Andy Seeley – Florida Atlantic Senior Athletics Director for External Relations Text or email and ask for a phone call or meeting. Ask on the phone or in person. I believe most people would be flattered to be asked to be a mentor. So many of us in this profession are doing it already without even knowing it. I’d be shocked if there was a negative response. Mentorship Committee members weigh in on the benefits of CoSIDA’s mentorship program and how you as a member can make the most of your participation. 2020-21 Mentorship Program Sign-ups Sign-ups for the 2020-21 CoSIDA Mentorship Program will be available June 1. Stay tuned to CoSIDA.com for links to access sign-ups for being a mentor or mentee. Matches will be made throughout June and July and communicated to members in August. The official kickoff to the program will be in September. You must be an active member of CoSIDA to participate.Next >