Career fairs help many college students take the next step in their professional journeys. However, media and entertainment-related companies, such as television and film, are often underrepresented there.

“We know that employers who work in those industries do not need to recruit because there is great interest in those fields and there are far more candidates than available internships or entry-level positions,” says Lynne Sebille-White, senior director of career advancement at the University of Iowa’s Pomerantz Career Center.

So, how can students learn it’s possible to have a successful career in these fields? In an effort to reach students who might never otherwise attend a career fair, the UI Department of Cinematic Arts called on successful alumni to return to campus; then, teaming up with the Pomerantz Career Center, the department hosted a panel discussion and networking event that drew nearly 80 undergraduates, according to Paula Amad, chair of the Department of Cinematic Arts.

“The alumni not only shared advice but generously offered a range of personal experiences about how to get ahead in these fields,” says Amad, who led the team that organized the panel. She adds, “Students had the opportunity to informally network with the alumni at various points in the afternoon.”

The panel, Exploring Careers in Cinema, featured six high-profile UI alumni, including Chelsea Walton, an assistant editor for Pixar Animation Studios; Sarah Price, a producer and director known for her documentary work; and Matt Sabljak, founder and president of SRH, a production agency based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

“It was encouraging to see the diversity of jobs they hold,” says Emily Jane Philby, a senior cinema major from Ankeny, Iowa. “Since I want to direct eventually, it was very inspiring to hear someone like Sarah speak.”

All six panelists received degrees in cinema or film from the UI and talked to the students about the career paths that were available to them because of their major.

“When I'm trying to figure out how to best meet the needs of a client, I'm using knowledge and critical-thinking skills I learned here,” says Sabljak, who received his cinema and comparative literature degree in 2005. “In a creative space like this one, you're rarely given boundaries, and you are encouraged to think outside the box.”

His agency has produced promotional material for dozens of clients, including the Green Bay Packers, and several short films. Sabljak emphasized the importance of people skills and how cooperation is the key to success in the media and film industries.

“[The UI] is where I learned the value of collaboration,” says Sabljak. “The university attracts so many great writers and filmmakers, so using this time to collaborate with your peers is very important to your own development.”

Panelist Meng Xiong, who double majored in cinema and communications, graduated from the UI in 2013 and is currently an MFA student at Columbia University. Xiong began work in marketing shortly after receiving her bachelor's degree but said she soon returned to school after realizing that her heart was in film.

“You have to enjoy what you do in this business to be successful,” she says. “Find your passion and pursue it.”

Camden Kent, a junior from Okoboji, Iowa, studying cinematic arts and English, says that after speaking with the panelists, he realized there are more opportunities available to him in cinema than he originally thought.

“I've planned on going into academia for a long time,” he says. “But now I would consider following a career that's more technical—maybe managing production equipment for a studio or school.”

Philby, the senior cinema major, says some panelists recommended beginning her job hunt in small to medium-sized cities where film markets often are less competitive and have more entry-level job openings.

“The panelists reassured me that I was on the right track,” says Philby, adding, “and that if I stay patient and work hard, I can find success in this field.”