Caroline Schiff, MM '15
Just 10 months long, the Ross MM Program goes by in a flash. The best way to take advantage of all of the resources and events that the program offers is to arrive in Ann Arbor with some sense of your desired career outcome, advice that Caroline Schiff really took to heart.
While earning an undergraduate degree in communication studies at the University of Michigan, Caroline interned at Clear Channel Communications but found that without business knowledge, she was given limited responsibilities. Over the summer, when she heard about the MM Program, things fell into place. “I have a communications background and a creative side, and I’d love to leverage that with the business background. I thought, ‘This is perfect.’”
Not long into the MM Program, Caroline clicked with the advertising industry. To prepare for her career search, she explored internship opportunities and landed at local agency re:group to gain a digital marketing background, and to learn more about various agencies she asked Ross MBAs about their experiences. By August, she had identified her top employer choice: Digitas.
“The name kept popping up. I spoke to an MBA student who worked there previously and told me how much he loved it. Then I reached out to other Michigan alums, and I just kept hearing great things about it.” Next, Caroline contacted one of their recruiters and snagged a tour of the office, a trip that cemented her goal to work there. “It was so incredible, so creative, so collaborative. I got to meet a bunch of really, really cool, professional people. I could see myself working there, and I would literally do whatever it takes to make it happen.”
With her sights on her dream job, Caroline dove deep into Ross Career Services’ offerings. Having limited experience networking, resume writing, and interviewing, she knew she had to sharpen those skills in addition to what she was learning in the classroom. “Looking back on my resume senior year, I was like, ‘What was I thinking?’ Looking at the transition from senior year to now, I honestly learned more in these 10 months than I did in four years. It’s just crazy.”
Armed with her new skills, Caroline attended a Digitas recruitment event targeting U-M students, and with eight weeks left in the MM Program she was thrilled to accept an offer from the agency. As an integrated producer, she has a foot in both project management and technology. “I’m internally organizing both the creative side and the tech side, making sure we meet our deadlines to deliver a successful campaign to the client.”
Caroline encourages future MMs to follow her path of absorbing as much as possible of what Ross has to offer. “Making use out of all that Ross provides you, attending all of the different events, reaching out to other students… Taking advantage of those resources was crucial.”