Al Vaughters, Jacquie Walker, George Richert

It was a rare moment for those of us who work in television news and radio here in Buffalo. Students in the internship program of Medaille College’s Communications Department invited more than a dozen broadcast professionals to lunch yesterday. People who are normally competitors sat side by side on the dais. The students presented each of us with an award in appreciation of our work. I was happy to be in the company of colleagues George Richert and Al Vaughters, two of the hardest-working and most dedicated journalists here in Buffalo.

The leaders of the Communications Department asked each honoree to give a few words of wisdom or advice to the students. Many of them are about to graduate and are preparing resumes, letters, and samples of their work to show prospective employers. With newspapers closing, news departments downsizing, and companies all over the country shedding workers by the thousands, can you think of a worse time to graduate from college and plunge into the workforce?

We all stayed positive. The truth is, there are far more people working than not working. Some companies are hiring. The challenge is to find them and match their needs. That may mean that you start out in a job that is not your dream. But, each of us has stories about the jobs we didn’t love, that helped lead us on the career path we are following now. You pay your dues, you take your lumps, you sacrifice, you learn, you improve, and you move on as a better, more valuable employee.

Best wishes to those who are launching a job search. And, many thanks to the students and instructors at Medaille.