Author: Jess Noonan

Treating Your Boss Like Your Client

Jess Noonan Leave a comment

You know something that’s strange? Oh, come on—take a guess.  Here are a few clues…

I’m not talking about any world records, pickles accompanied by mustard (yuck) or the way Shakira’s hips don’t lie (anyone else addicted to the Voice this season?).

Pat Blog

Source: www.notwillsmith.com

All out of guesses?  I’ll tell you.  It’s strange how closely the relationships we have with our clients and our supervisors mimic each other.  Shocker when you actually think about it, right? If your relationship with your boss is not like the one you have with your client, start making steps to morph it.

Your boss is your client.  She/he holds a certain power over your career, much like a client has a certain power in your agency’s ability to sign your paychecks. If you’re performing at the highest level, always achieving your professional goals and you communicate it to your boss, she/he will advocate for you.  In the same fashion as your boss, if you’re surpassing the goals you set with your client, you’ll continue to see positive results such as business growth and new business referrals.

Treating your boss (and colleagues) like a client shows that you respect them— if you show the same level of detail and care towards your boss as your client, she/he is bound to have a strengthened level of trust and respect for you as well. From my first internship to my current career, I follow a few simple rules when working with teams and/or clients: ask smart questions, always know your key messages before you begin presenting an analysis, and have back up ammunition such as supporting details, resources or next steps for those who questions.  Not only will the above rules show your boss you mean business, it will make you look ready for the next step in your career.

As young professionals, we have to embrace treating our teams like clients.  The continuous effort to treat your teams like clients will force you to perform at the highest level at all times (you won’t even need a Starbucks run).  Over time, you’ll begin to realize that your “default” internal mode will turn into your “client” external mode, and you’ll begin to see a natural upwards progression in your performance.

Source: Monster.com

Source: Monster.com

As I’m been jabbering away about treating your boss and teams like your client, I bet you’re wondering, ‘how am I supposed to act when your boss acts like the client from you-know-where?’ Simple. Treat them like a client.

Every moment is a learning moment.  If you have an extremely difficult manager—embrace it and still treat her/him like the client! You’ll be more prepared in the future to deal with harsh criticisms and the infamous indirect feedback. Practice makes perfect, start by having an open conversation with your boss by stating your expectations and goals you want to meet, and more importantly, learn how you can make their lives easier. Is she/he difficult because they’re terrible at responding to emails?  Try giving your boss a call. Is it because she/he will tell you everything she/he doesn’t want, but not what they actually want? Think two steps ahead.  Always be cognizant of what she/he already provided feedback on, and anticipate the next piece of feedback.  Go ahead and make the adjustments and provide reasoning to why you made the adjustments.

Now tell me about your experiences! Have you ever considered your boss as a client? How do you handle a difficult boss vs. a difficult client?

Pat MessengerPat Messenger is a Client Staff Assistant at Burson-Marsteller in Chicago. Pat is a member of PRSA Chicago and the Young Professional Network. Tweet at him @PatMessenger, or email him Patrick.Messenger@BM.com.

 

 

Keeping Your Bank Account Afloat While Job Searching

Jess Noonan 1 Comment

3354726208_0cce729fc8_zAs a new PR professional, the job search can be tough. You have your degree and a few internships under your belt, finding a job should be a breeze, right? Sometimes that isn’t the case. After a little while of looking for a job you’ll notice that entry-level positions are hard to come by and most full-time positions are looking for more experience then you have.

Paid Internships

Some internship programs extend to college graduates up to 1 year after graduation. Look for a full-time internship that pays. This is a great way to gain experience, network with professionals, find a mentor, hone your skills and earn some cash while your waiting to kick-start your career. The experiences you can learn at this level will benefit you in the long run and help you expand your skills. There also is a chance that the company could hire you after your internship is complete.

Worst case scenario, you’ve added additional experience to your resume and no one is going to tell you that you did too many internships at your next interview.

Part-Time Positions

It can be frustrating to see that a company is only hiring part-time or internship positions when you are looking over their careers page. This should not be discouraging. Instead think of it as a great opportunity to get your foot in the door. Chances are that if you come in part-time and do a good job, when the HR manager starts looking to hire for a full-time position candidates within the company are the first choice. Already working at an organization makes you a great hire because you understand the company, the culture and the work, which can save time when it comes to training.

In the case that your part-time position does not lead to full-time, it’s still something to build up your resume. Plus you can look for and interview for a full-time job during the hours you are not at work.

Freelance Work

One of the best ways to bring in some extra money, gain experience and add some references to your resume is freelancing. If you know a small business or a non-profit near you that want to be active on social media but can’t do it because of time or inexperience, you can capitalize on that opportunity by freelancing. Many small companies out don’t have the time or resources to hire full-time employees. However, these companies might be willing to hire a contract employee or freelancer for a set amount of time. This is the work that helps you build up your professional portfolio and will give you with a taste of what it’s like to be your own boss.

You don’t have to sit around with your fingers crossed waiting for a company to hire you. There are many opportunities out there that as a young professional you can – and should – take advantage of. Take some time to gain experience, network within your industry and save some cash. The rest will fall into place soon enough. Happy job searching!

daynaDayna Lucio is a Digital Specialist at Alchemy Group in Michigan. Her experience lies with social media, content creation, blogging and media relations. You can connect with Dayna on Twitter or LinkedIn.

Top 10 Comms Conferences to Attend in 2014

Jess Noonan Leave a comment

With nine months left in 2014, what great conferences and networking opportunities can you attend?

membership_feb2014_245x245In the communications industry, events are happening all the time. So how do you know which one is best for you? Whether your job is in social media, public relations, marketing or a combination of the fields, these 10 events can add value to your current strategies.

Bonus: If you can’t attend a conference, follow along with the included hashtags!

  • MozCon
    Focus: The digital landscape– SEO, social media, community building, content marketing, brand development, analytics, etc.
    Location: Seattle, WA
    Date: July 14-16
    Hashtag to watch: #MozCon 

  • Content Marketing World
    Focus: Social strategists who focus on content marketing and execution.
    Location: Cleveland, OH
    Date: Sept. 8-11
    Hashtag to watch: #CMWorld 

  • Inbound
    Focus: Connecting customer buying behavior to your business in an evolving digital world.
    Location: Boston, MA
    Date: Sept. 15-18
    Hashtag to watch: #Inbound14 

  • PRSA International Conference
    Focus: Addressing trends, new technologies and strategies for public relations practitioners of all sectors.
    Location: Washington D.C.
    Date: Oct. 12-14
    Hashtag to watch: #PRSAICon 

  • Social Brand Forum
    Focus: “Designed to help marketers at organizations small and large build better brands online through social media content, conversations, and community.”
    Location: Coralville, Iowa
    Date: Sept. 25-26
    Hashtag to watch: #SocialBrand14 

  • Social Shakeup
    Focus: Experienced social media marketers who are ready to ‘shake up traditional organizations and communication channels to create a brand new form of business: the Social Enterprise’.
    Location: Atlanta, GA
    Date: Sept. 16-17
    Hashtag to watch: #SocialShakeup 

  • SMX Social Media Marketing
    Focus: Making the most of social marketing strategies– going beyond implementation to proving results.
    Location: Las Vegas, NV
    Date: Nov. 19-20
    Hashtag to watch: #SMXsocial 

  • Social Media Strategies Summit
    *There are six Social Media Strategies Summits in different locations throughout the rest of 2014. Check the website for a location closer to you.
    Focus: “Building, managing, and analyzing successful social media strategies and campaigns.”
    Location: New York
    Date: June 12-13
    Hashtag to watch: #SMSsummit 

  • B2B Marketing Forum
    Focus: B2B marketing strategies to optimize your business– “inspiring, relevant and new content” every year.
    Location: Boston, MA
    Date: Oct. 8-10
    Hashtag to watch: #mpb2b
  • Social Fresh Conference
    Focus: One-track social media conference discussing success stories and useful tactics.
    Location: Orlando, FL
    Date: July 17-18
    Hashtag to watch: #socialfresh

headshot2Lauren Rosenbaum is the PRSA New Professionals Social Media Co-Chair and Co-Founder of Soversity, a public relations and digital marketing company. You can connect with her on Google+, LinkedIn or Twitter.

Book Review: e pluribus unum: The Making of Burson-Marsteller

Jess Noonan Leave a comment

51Zaudq1WhLThis post is part of The Edge monthly series of book reviews on books relevant to new PR professionals.

While I may be partially biased as a Burson-Marsteller employee, e pluribus unum provides an accurate and inspiring perspective of the public relations industry, client service, agency life and entrepreneurship to all current and aspiring PR professionals.

Recently described by PR Week as the godfather of modern PR – Harold Burson, author and founder of Burson-Marsteller, candidly speaks to his start in the public relations field and practices that apply to how many of us do our jobs today. The book chronicles Harold Burson’s start as a campus reporter in Tennessee, his coverage of the Nuremberg Trials, his start of Burson Public Relations in New York and joining with Bill Marsteller to create one of the largest public relations companies in the world.

While the book is a memoir focused on Harold Burson’s life and the creation of Burson-Marsteller, the practices and way that he gets into public relations is inspiring for any PR professional. The book gives PR professionals an opportunity to step back and think about the way we approach client service from an agency standpoint and public relations from an industry standpoint.

Bio_PhotoJessica Noonan currently works within Burson-Marsteller’s Corporate practice in the New York office, providing strategic communication support to numerous key clients. She is Blog Co-Chair on the New Professionals committee. Jessica holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Communication and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, specializing in marketing from American University. You can connect with her on Twitter @jess_noons.

Tips for Alcohol Industry PR… and Basically Everyone Else

Jess Noonan Leave a comment

lMust be 21+

Tweeting to a minor is as bad as serving a minor. You don’t want to be that brand that is associated with underage drinking. Unless your account has an age verification prompt, be prepared to dig into the backgrounds of customers who interact with you. Yes, it takes cyber stalking to a new level, but it’ll enhance your engagement with the customer. Knowing a little about about more about the customer allows you to change your tone or tailor your response. Best rule of thumb? If you think they’re under 21, don’t respond.

Lesson to be learned: Know your audience.

It’s science

Understanding the distillation and brewing process will help you tremendously. It will come in handy when writing a press release about a new beer on your shelf or a wine you’re tweeting about with a customer. Not only will it save you time gathering information on the product, but you’ll understand how it’s created. Your vocabulary will be filled with keywords or phrases typically used to explain the products, making your job that much easier. It’ll eventually flow from you quicker than whiskey out of a barrel.

Lesson to be learned: Understand the product.

Do your homework

Think back to when you started applying for jobs. (I know, I know. I try to block it out, too.) You probably spent endless hours researching the agency’s clients, their award winning case studies and even memorizing their mission statement. The liquor industry requires that kind of attention, but in a few different ways. Each state has their own set of rules and regulations when it comes to selling, distributing and shipping wine, beer, liquor, tobacco, etc. Whether you work for a national brand or a small liquor chain, understand these rules. Questions like, “Can you ship to ___?” or “Why don’t you carry ___ beer?” pop up a lot.

Lesson to be learned: Listen. (And ask a ton of questions.)

It’s good to have options

Not into corporate or retail PR? Not a problem. Tons of PR agencies represent major beer, wine and spirit brands. Heck, GolinHarris just landed Diageo. You could even work for a distributor, a supplier, a bar or event planning team all under the umbrella of public relations within the beverage industry. If you’re serious about getting into the industry, spend time networking at beer events, talk to your neighborhood wine guy or even chat up the bartender at the whiskey bar. Remember: Just like in PR, it’s a small world. Everyone knows everyone.

Lesson to be learned: There are many paths for you to enter the industry.

What do you like to drink? Everything. 

From barrel aged beer to jammy cabernet to… well… Malort. Being open to tasting everything will not only build your palate but expand your knowledge across the field. It’s key to be well rounded in the beverage industry. Brewers, distillers and winemakers take their time to execute the perfect product that will eventually be poured into your glass. It’s an art meant to be enjoyed… and occasionally cause a hangover, but that’s beside the point. Swirl, smell, sample, taste, indulge. Enjoy the craft, but don’t forget to…

Lesson to be learned: Enjoy the product you sell.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Sure, brands like Budweiser or Yellow Tail always don’t have the best rep, but they are still enjoyed by many. Before you snub them, understand that craft beer and high end wines only make up a fraction of industry sales. The beer and liquor you find piled high in stacks to the ceiling are the brands that support a majority of your business. It’s easy to want to side with the little guys but don’t forget about the big boys, too.

Lesson to be learned: Believe in what you promote.

 

151f848Hilary Jurinak is a Communications Coordinator at Binny’s Beverage Depot in Illinois. She is programming co-chair on the PRSA new professionals committee and a former member of the PRSSA national committee. She can be reached on Twitter at @HilaryJurinak.