Ep. 71 - Social Media Coordinator - Tori Bookwalter, Florida Panthers (NHL)

Welcome back to the Joust About Careers podcast! This episode features a conversation with Tori Bookwalter, a 2017 Van Buren graduate who is the social media coordinator for the National Hockey League’s Florida Panthers. Tori shares how a typical day looks for a social media coordinator, explains why she chose social media over journalism, discusses whether someone entering the social media field needs a college degree, and much more. Whether you are interested in a social media career or are still exploring your options, I hope that what Tori shares today will help all of you make better career decisions and have fulfilling career journeys. Enjoy the show! 1:40 - What Tori does as a social media coordinator. 3:11 - What Tori most loves about her career. 5:09 - The social media platforms Tori handles. 7:08 - Where Tori typically does her work. 8:53 - What it’s like to cover a team competing for an NHL championship. 12:02 - Tori’s career plans when she was graduating from high school. 13:05 - Journalism didn’t provide the creative opportunities Tori wanted. 16:05 - Experiences and opportunities that led Tori to her position with the Panthers. 17:05 - Spending time as the Orange Bowl mascot, Obie, resulted in connections that mattered down the road. 18:05 - Networking “internally” is just as important as networking “externally.” 19:55 - College shouldn’t be the #1 priority for a career in social media. The focus should be on gaining experience. 22:42 - Social media is everywhere, which means there are opportunities everywhere. 24:08 - Yes, people who live in Florida can miss snow. 25:45 - Try things to create opportunities. Questions? Connect with Brian on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/brian-bratt/) or e-mail ([email protected]). Connect with Tori on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/toribookwalter/) or by e-mail ([email protected]).