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How Caitlin Crawford Got The Chance Of A Lifetime To Work With The Dallas Cowboys

University of Oklahoma graduate and Dallas native Caitlin Crawford got the internship opportunity of her dreams when she was chosen for the chance to work with the media department of the Dallas Cowboys. She was a longtime fan of this football team and was excited to be a part of it all and put the skills she had learned in the broadcast and electronic media program, which she graduated from in 2013, to good use.

When applying for this position Caitlin realized the importance of submitting some samples of the high quality work she had produced in school, which in this case included some of her best articles. It's necessary in such a highly competitive area with few positions available that one stand out from the crowd, which she clearly did, landing her a phone interview.

As a word of advice to others who hope to follow in Crawford's footsteps, she says it's a good idea if one is interested in pursuing this career path, that he or she focus on becoming increasingly comfortable in front of the camera. It's also very important to have strong and convincing written communication skills, as well as being able to produce excellent video work and possessing technical savvy.

This internship opportunity gave Crawford the chance to put what she had learned in school into practice. She not only became more at ease standing in front of the camera, but she also had ample requests for applying her knowledge and familiarity with numerous editing programs, and even got to operate a newly acquired playback system which she alone was in the know about.

Caitlin knew it was a good idea to be well prepared for her internship, so she went about doing her homework and learning all she could about the team's history, players, staff, and game scores. She was able to enjoy two summers in this internship position when classes were not in session, and they even invited her to help produce other features during her holidays.

Her typical work day as an intern would vary. When interviewing players, she needed to do some careful scheduling since it was the off-season and they may be available at random times. She was involved in the production and coverage of televised programs during the training camp, and had to come up with some quality scripts and ideas for features based on each day's events.

The skills Crawford considers as most important to an organization like the Dallas Cowboys are first of all being punctual and not having a problem with working overtime. Persistence, dedication, and learning from one's mistakes are also valued. A strong work ethic is also looked upon favorably, which is shown in one being a self-starter, doing careful research, and being an "ideas person".

Caitlin Crawford is very grateful for the experience she had working with the Dallas Cowboys and she one day hopes to have a career in sports broadcast journalism. Having this unique opportunity to put on her resume along with active participation in her school's newscasting department, her chances of obtaining a fulfilling position with a sports organization or news station are quite good.