Matt Harris - 2004
Bringing his best performance every day
Graduation is not necessarily the end of meaningful college-related experiences. In Matt Harris’ case, a post-graduation summer job in 2004 at UNI’s Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center helped pave the way to his position as development coordinator for the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines.
Harris’ three-month contract selling ads for the GBPAC playbill combined his interest in the arts with his degree in public relations and marketing, and ultimately gave direction to his job search.
“For people in my major, the challenge is to merge your career qualifications with something that gives you personal satisfaction,” Harris said. “Selling advertising for the GBPAC gave me a taste of working in an industry I’d always supported. So, when the Civic Center opportunity presented itself, I was open to the idea.”
Harris now busies himself with patron relationships and membership development. He coordinates, among other things, a premium-seating program for high-level donors. He fosters relationships by hosting events, staffing the patron lounge and in effect “adding another face to the organization.”
He has a fresh perspective on what new graduates can expect in today’s job market. “It’s pretty daunting at first,” Harris said. “It’s not easy to capture yourself on one sheet of paper. You have to show that you’re a worthy investment for an employer. I was able to show that I had an interest in the Civic Center’s mission and had a flavor for what they are trying to do, which is promote the arts in such a way that patrons see the value of it.”
Employers are keenly aware that a new graduate can’t know everything about the job when he or she applies. What they really want to see in an interview, Harris said, is a willingness to learn. “They appreciate an attitude that says ‘this is what I know, and this is what I’d like to become, with your help’.”
Grant writing is a skill that is new to Harris but it is a key element of his new job. “I made it clear in my interview that it would be an area of growth,” Harris said. “That’s an example of them taking a risk with me.”
Moreover, the adjustment from college life to participation in the real world involves an intensified pressure to perform. “I’ve become accountable for my existence,” he said, adding that his GBPAC experience was particularly effective in preparing him for consistent performance.
“The pressures of college seem great, and a lot of times they are, but you can adjust the amount of effort according to the importance of a class or a paper,” Harris said. “In a professional environment you don’t have the luxury of having an ‘A,’ ‘B’ or ‘C’ week.”
Getting a grip on one’s priorities is what college is all about, and Harris took advantage of the range of opportunities that comprise life as an undergraduate. A short list of his extracurricular activities included membership in Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, Student Alumni Ambassadors and Varsity Men’s Glee Club. He said it was that broad scope of personalized experience that enabled him to focus in on the right professional choice.
“The great thing about UNI is that you can do so many different things in one day,” Harris said. “I was just as busy outside class as I was inside. It wasn’t really calculated at the time, but taken as a whole, it all rolls into a calling card for your career.”
For Harris, life after graduation is the right mix of the new and the familiar. He said he was open to following opportunity wherever it presented itself, but preferred staying near his Iowa roots and close to family. He thinks most grads are looking for an experience that’s one part opportunity and one part adventure.
“Iowa does a good job of positioning itself with quality of life and family values that you might not get in a big city,” Harris said. “That’s not necessarily what all new grads are looking for, and you can’t fault them for that. We have to let them know we’ll welcome them with open arms when they decide to come back.”
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