Mass Communications Specialist (MC)

Mass Communications Specialist (MC)Mass Communications Specialist (MC)Mass Communication Specialist (MC) are Public Affairs and Visual Information experts. They present the Navy story to audiences in the Navy and to the rest of the world through a variety of media. MCs write and produce print and broadcast journalism news and feature stories for military and civilian newspapers, magazines, television and radio broadcast stations. They record still and video photography of military operations, exercises, and other Navy events. They serve overseas, on ships, and at stateside commands as photographers, public affairs specialists, newspaper and magazine staff, and TV and radio station staff and talent. MCs also create graphic designs in support of the public affairs mission, create and manage official websites, and perform high-speed, high-volume graphic reproduction. The duties performed by MCs include Prepare and write news and feature articles for publicationPhotograph events for publ ication and historic documentationOperate and maintain a variety of state-of-the-art still and video camerasOperate computer-based graphics software and desktop publishing systemsCreate original visual information displays and graphicsMulti-media design and productionDesign and manage public and secure websitesLayout and design military newspapers and magazinesManage radio and television stationsOperate video and electronic imaging equipment Operate digital electronic reproduction equipmentEdit video news, features, and documentationShoot still photographs and video for accident or incident investigationsConduct interviewsMarket storiesPerform as a Public Affairs Officer Working Environment Mass Communication Specialist may work outdoors or inside, onboard aircraft carrier flight decks, in the field with combat construction units, or in air-conditioned broadcast stations. Work varies from using precision computer graphics equipment in an office, to strenuous work throughout a sh ip or station. Most MCs work on projects alone or with small teams, normally with little supervision. Their work is primarily mental and creative. A-School (Job School) Information25 weeks at Ft. Meade, MarylandASVAB Score Requirement VE AR 110Security Clearance Requirement SecretSub-Specialties Available for This Rating Navy Enlisted Classification Codes for MC Other Requirements 60-month enlistment obligationMust be a U.S. CitizenNormal color vision is required Current Manning Levels for This Rating CREO Listing Note Advancement (promotion) opportunity and career progression are directly linked to a ratings manning level (i.e., personnel in undermanned ratings have greater promotion opportunity than those in overmanned ratings). Sea/Shore Rotation for This Rating First Sea Tour 42 monthsFirst Shore Tour 48 monthsSecond Sea Tour 36 monthsSecond Shore Tour 48 monthsThird Sea Tour 36 monthsThird Shore Tour 48 monthsFourth Sea Tour 36 monthsForth Shore Tour 48 months No te Sea tours and shore tours for sailors that have completed four sea tours will be 36 months at sea followed by 36 months ashore until retirement. Much of the above information courtesy of the Navy Personnel Command

5 Ways to Give Your Digital Marketing Career a Boost

5 Ways to Give Your Digital Marketing Career a Boost 5 Ways to Give Your Digital Marketing Career a Boost Digital absatzwirtschaft is a relatively new industry, which means there is little in the way of uniform, established methods for improving your digital marketing career.In general, thats the case for any career in any field. Our careers depend on our individual personalities and capabilities. They develop at different paces according to a wide range offactors, some within our control and some not.That said, there are a few golden rules you should keep in mind when pursuing a digital marketing career, no matter who you are1. Improve Your SkillsContinuouslyIf you wantcustomers or employers to choose you over your competitors, you need to prove you know what youre doing. This is why you need to keep improving your skills over time.One great way to do that is to invest in earning the right certifications. Apart from boosting your knowledge, these certifications will also help you position yourself as an authority in the field. Here are a few popular courses you should check outHubSpots Inbound Marketing CertificationHubSpots Content Marketing CertificationHubSpots Contextual Marketing CertificationHootsuites Social Marketing CertificationGoogle AnalyticsIndividual QualificationGoogle AdWords FundamentalsContent Marketing Institutes Online Certification2. Become a T-Shaped MarketerDigital marketing is a massive field. Search engine optimization (SEO), pay-per-click (PPC), copywriting, content development, and social media marketing are just some of its major branches. Becoming an expert in each of these fields is impossible, but you can become a T-shaped marketersomeone who has a general knowledge of multiple marketing disciplines butspecializes in one or two fields.Lets say you enjoy creative writing and conducting studies. In that case, the role of a content marketer is perfect for you. Youshould have some basic knowledge of link building, social media mark eting, and influencer research, but your mainspecialization would beproducing valuable, engaging, and informative content that stands out.3. Stay on Top of Industry TrendsDigital marketing evolvesquickly, and if you dont keep pace, you will lag behind your competitors.To stay on top of the latest news and developments, you should follow authoritative digital marketing sites, such asSearch Engine LandSearch Engine JournalContent Marketing InstituteDigital Marketing InstituteDistilledHubSpot4. Track Your MetricsLets say youre running a PPC campaign for one of your clients. If your digital marketing team doesnt include a data analyst, you need to keep track of your metrics yourself. This is important for acouple of reasons.First, your clients want you to assess the effectiveness of your strategy and calculate the ROI for their campaigns. Second, by setting clear PPC benchmarks, you will be able to identify and address weaknesses in your strategy.In short, to achieve the desired goals, you need to understand your metrics. If youre not sure which ones to track and how, take a look at the courses provided by Google Analytics or HubSpot.5. Build a Solid Personal BrandOnce you enter the digital marketing field, you need to find a way to rise above the competition. One of the most effective ways to do so is to brand yourself.The first step in branding yourself is polishing your LinkedIn profile. As the main professional social network, LinkedIn allows you to get yourself noticed. It can even serve as your online resume, given that thousands of companies use the site to find candidates.To reap the benefits of your LinkedIn profile, you shouldChoose a professional-looking profile photoWrite an attention-grabbing summaryList the skills relevant to your digital marketing career, and make sure you get plenty of endorsements to boost your credibilityDont limit yourself to connecting with people you know build relationships with new connections who workin niches related to yo ur ownEngage your followers by sharing relevant content, as well as liking andcommenting on their activities.Having a killer LinkedIn profile is a necessity, but its not enough on its own to build a personal brand that stands out. Simply put, all LinkedIn accounts look alike, so you cant truly express your uniqueness on the platform. That is why, in addition to a great LinkedIn profile, you need an engaging personal website.Your siteis all about you. It lets you present yourself however you want, emphasizing your positive client experiences and proving your credibility withhigh-quality content. Most importantly, it will skyrocket your visibility in the search engine results pages. Precisely because of that, its always a good ideato use your personal name as your domain name. This way, your site willlikely be the first thingpeople find when they Google your name.- While all of the above will help you stand out as a digital marketer, keep in mind that becoming a leader in the field re quires along-term investment. To succeed, you need passion and commitment. Constantly improve your knowledge, keep track of trends, monitor your majorkey performance indicators, andbuild a solid personal brand. If you do those things, youll get ahead.David Webb is a business consultant, marketing analyst, and a writer. He is an editor-in-chief at BizzmarkBlog. You can reach him on Twitter or Facebook.

What to Do If Youre Feeling Alone in Your Career - The Muse

What to Do If Youre Feeling Alone in Your Career - The MuseWhat to Do If Youre Feeling Alone in Your Career You probably think youre the only one who influences your career path. Realistically, it was you who powered through those three rounds of interviews, you who signed on that big client, you who put in long hours to get that promotion- right? But the thing is, youre not the only person in those situations I just described above. On the other side, the hiring manager had to hire you despite you being maybe a bit underqualified. The client had to take the risk of signing on with a new company. The manager had to put his or her faith in you that you were ready for more responsibility. In addition to all your hard work, someone else also took a chance on you- even if he or she didnt explicitly contribute to your achievements. This is the major theme in a recent post by Bijan Sabet titled, Who took a chance on you? In it, he lists out and gives thanks to the people throughout his lif e who gave him a shot despite the odds. One reader was so inspired by the idea he made his own list titled, The Credit Goes to Resume. And in his, he acknowledges the co-workers, investors, customers, and friends who lead to his career successes. These people gave him ideas, room to grow, and the confidence to go after his goals- non-tangible things, yes, but totenstill just as important. His closing statement says it all Reading my resume laid out this way really makes me believe in luck and privilege. Merit is part of the story, but never the whole story. Huge gratitude to the people on this list and to the dozens of other people that have helped give me opportunities.So, the next time youre feeling like youre alone on your career path, forced to slog through it all by yourself, consider writing out your own The Credit Goes to resume and showing gratitude to the people who helped you along the way. Its not only good for you, but its a great reminder that youre never alone in your journey- and that youre surrounded by some pretty awesome and supportive people.Photo of two friends writing courtesy of Alys Tomlinson/Getty Images.