Andrew Martin, a senior Communications major, put his skills on display at the Barton School of Business Career Fair in February and landed a job with IMA Financial Group.

“I spoke to a representative for the company at the career fair and presented my portfolio from my Visual Technologies class. Two week later, I received an offer to work as a contract vendor with IMA Financial Group under my own company name – Martin Design, LLC,” he said.

Through his business, Martin designs various items for IMA, including graphics and websites, which has helped him build work examples for future jobs as well as strengthened and put to use the skills he’s learned through his courses at Wichita State.

“My director at IMA has given me a lot of advice based on his design background and how he came to be a communications manager. It has been very helpful in directing how I diversify my portfolio,” he stated.

Since IMA wanted Martin to become a contract worker for the company, he was asked to form his own Limited Liability Company, or LLC. This process required filing online through the State Secretary’s office and creating a whole new company for himself, which Martin says was an unfamiliar but insightful experience.

“It was actually quite easy to form my own LLC and I learned a lot about law and company regulations throughout the process. After I formed it, I was essentially a virtual employee for IMA, which is different and kind of cool.”

To other communications majors, Martin recommends not only focusing on one single field so that you have a broad range of skills to offer future employers.

“Companies will be more keen on hiring you if you have a variety of skills because it reduces their need to hire more people. Become familiar with web, print, social media, in-person, and other forms of communication,” he advises.

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Wichita State's applied learning program gives students hands-on, paid experience with industry partners, helping them build careers before graduation.

For more information, contact the Shocker Career Accelerator at (316) 978-3688, SCA@wichita.edu, or visit wichita.edu/Career. You can also stop by in person at the Marcus Welcome Center, Suite 139, on the Wichita State campus