SCAN highlights School of Communications alumni who recently landed jobs in their field. Assistant Professor Gary Ford recently interviewed Kara Gibson (BA, Media Communications and Psychology, certificate in International Studies, 2005), an operations assistant with MTV International in New York.

SCAN: How did you land your job?
Kara Gibson: I was an intern for my current supervisor about three months ago. At the end of my internship, the department was being restructured and she needed an assistant, we got along well, I was familiar with the department…yada yada yada…I have a job!

SCAN: Any funny interview stories to share?
KG: Not personally, but I’ll sample one from a friend of mine. I’ll preface this story by telling you that some people in New York call Hoboken, N. J., “Hobo” from time to time, much like St. Louisans call their city “The Lou.” My friend goes on this interview and learns very quickly that his interviewer is from Hoboken, to which he exclaims, “You’re from HOBO?!” The interviewer apparently wasn’t down with the lingo and dismissed my friend on the spot. So let that be a lesson to you, kids, during an interview, never shout “HOBO” at your interviewer. You will not get the job.

SCAN: Any advice for those looking for a job?
KG: Remember your manners. All the oldies that your grandparents stressed—be punctual, say please and thank you, if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything—I really think it’s as simple as that. Being polite really goes a long way and I think people appreciate that even if you don’t see social etiquette that much these days. Be honest with yourself. Look for a job that you will enjoy doing everyday and people you will enjoy being around. You’ll be happier to go to work and your employer will be happier to have you there.

SCAN: Best on-the-job experience so far?
KG: The best part is to see all of the behind-the-scenes work that goes into making the shows and having a hand in which programs are shown all over the world. For example, I was in a meeting with the MTV news department a few days ago and got to hear firsthand about the projects they were working on, some of which won’t be airing for another month. Second best on-the-job experience: Celebrity sightings and knowing that the guest on TRL that day is just a few floors below me in the same building. One of the ladies I work with ran into Orlando Bloom last month!



SCAN: Company you’d kill to work for?
KG: I think it would be amazing to be a coordinator for the Hawaii International Film Festival or the Festival des Films du Monde in Montreal.

SCAN: Person you most admire in your field?
KG: Willem Schelling, the V.P. of my department. Willem was born in Holland, lives in London and speaks four languages. He’s an excellent boss and very supportive of our team. Currently, he travels between London, where he manages the U.K. operations group, and New York. He’s very calm, cool and collected, which makes him an excellent leader in high-pressure situations.

SCAN: Which Web site is your home away from “Home”?
KG: I would say Google. I go there for everything.

SCAN: Best way to fuel creativity?
KG: I love the vibe in my department. The dress code is casual and everyone has televisions in their work area so that we can watch our “product.” That relaxed environment with music around every corner helps my creativity flourish.

SCAN: How many hours a week do you work?
KG: My base salary is based on a 35-hour week. Anything over that is considered overtime up to 40 hours.

SCAN: Favorite fringe benefit of your job?
KG: Corporate discounts! Employees get free admission to several museums and discounts on theater tickets, at restaurants, health clubs, and salons. We also get free promotional items and discounts on MTV Networks’ apparel and Viacom DVDs. Not too shabby.



SCAN: Is your current salary more or less than you expected to be making at this point?
KG: More. I also didn’t think that I would have health benefits or a 401(k) at the age of 23. I am so thankful for that. I was lucky that the position was staff and not freelance like a lot of the positions at MTV. Freelancing is a temporary position (generally three months) with no benefits, but with the opportunity to be hired at the end of the “trial” period. I definitely thought that I would be cooling my heels in limbo all summer, hoping not to get sick or have an accident.

SCAN: What’s on your iPod?
KG: I have the iShuffle on my amazon.com wish list, but I’ll have to see how my budget looks when my student loan payments start. BUT, if I did have an iShuffle, there would be some Ciara and Black Eyed Peas on it, maybe a little Stevie Wonder or Huey Lewis and the News.

SCAN: Any bumper stickers on your car?
KG: Yep, it says MTA Transit and it’s on the side of the subway car I ride to work everyday.

SCAN: Last movie you saw?
KG: I had a movie marathon and watched “In Good Company” and “Wayne’s World”—two examples of cinematic gold.

SCAN: Thing you miss most about Webster?
KG: I miss being 25 miles away from my family instead of 1000. I also miss class, believe it or not. I thought I would be so happy to be finished with classes and papers, but I miss that kind of variety in my daily activities.

Did you just land a job in your field?
E-mail scan@webster.edu and tell us about it.

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