Author: PRSA New Pros

Announcement: The PRSA New Pros Blog is Back

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Hello New Pros!

We’re excited to share that the blog is officially back! Over the past few months, we’ve been working behind the scenes to refresh our content and bring you even more valuable resources to help you thrive in the early days of your PR career, whether you’re fresh out of school or making a career switch. 

We’re not done yet! Looking forward, we have an insightful line up of content coming your way including: 

  • ✅Blog: Fresh insights on networking, leadership, and strategies to take your PR career to the next level.
  • ✅ Upcoming Webinars: Stay tuned for a lineup of engaging sessions featuring industry experts who will share practical advice and trends to help you succeed.
  • ✅ Mentorship: Our chairs are building a strong mentor network to help you thrive. Keep an eye out for the mentee application, coming soon.
  • ✅ Insightful and Practical Social Media Posts: Follow us on Instagram for tips, updates, and advice.
  • ✅ Member Spotlights: Have you achieved something great in your professional journey? We’d love to feature you! Complete our Member Spotlight to be featured and inspire others in our community.
  • ✅Quarterly Newsletters: Stay in the loop! Our newsletters will keep you updated on upcoming events, helpful resources, and curated content designed to give you an edge in the ever-changing communications landscape.
  • ✅ Professional Insights Video Series: Advance your career with our video series on Instagram featuring advice from industry leaders and peers. We’ll share bite-sized tips, career insights, and behind-the-scenes wisdom straight from the experts.

If you have any questions, ideas, or topics you’d like us to cover, feel free to reach out to any of our board members; we’re here to support you. If you’d like to volunteer, keep an eye out for our volunteer form in the upcoming months to join our committee next year.

Thank you for being a member of the New Professionals Section!

— Mariola Lach, Section Chair

“Development, Reflection and Union” from a New Pro

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In these uncertain times, we should support each other. This current situation we find ourselves faced with has forced us to change our way of thinking. While for some of us this change was big, it was not so for others. Even so, it may yet affect your future. I personally believe there are three main factors that are essential to consider if it does: development, reflection and union.

In this post, I will analyze each of these separately so that you may call upon them as we all navigate the unique challenges our new normal creates.

  1. Development

Using the time that we previously did not have, or simply could not use efficiently, is currently possible as interactions turn virtual and work becomes remote. Being able to learn new things through online courses, webinars, reading or really any type of education is something very beneficial with the additional time you may suddenly have on your hands.

As a Public Relations professional, your career may concern many high-stress, quickly changing and even competitive elements. We should take advantage of every learning tool we can to develop our skills during these times of quiet to make a difference in our field when things inevitably speed back up.

  1. Reflection

Regardless of how we use our time, there is something we’ve been given in this situation: a pause.

This pause can be long or short depending on the situation. In my opinion, this is the ideal time to reflect. Try to perceive those things that maybe you didn’t see before.

As you reflect, it’s inevitable that one of those thoughts will be about your health. Indeed, health is the most important thing; it’s essential. In regards to this, I believe that we — as communicators — should use our talents to help represent the essential things in life, rather than the superficial. That we should go beyond what people expect from us, and rise above the typical.

More than anything, reflect on the priorities in your own life. Consider what really matters.

  1. Union

Thirdly, there must be union. Teamwork. Collaboration.

Is it easy? No. And yet teamwork is what solves most of our problems. Consider your own relationships, especially during this particular crisis. You’ve probably had to become very flexible, and maybe pitch — or listen to — more unconventional ideas while trying to navigate the unprecedented restraints we all find ourselves under.

In my opinion, your attitude is the best solution. And by the time this whole crisis is over, it’ll continue to be. Because in the end, an inclusive behavior toward others is always the best solution.

To conclude, I believe that we should remember that self-development, a little reflection on life and some good old fashioned teamwork are three essential aspects to consider — today, and in the future.

Do you agree? Comment below or connect on LinkedIn to share your thoughts.

Facundo Luque is a Young PR Professional from PRSA Argentina on the Communications Sub-Committee in the PRSA Diversity & Inclusion National Committee. He is currently working in an Argentinean public relations agency.

LinkedIn: Facundo Luque

A Personal Brand: The Key to How New Professionals Rise to Leadership

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Having a personal brand is more than just creating a statement, it’s about your professional attitude.

This is one lesson I learned while at PRSA’s New Professionals Summit in New York City in August.

Emily Nichols-Mitchell, CEO of Accelerations Group and a certified executive coach, led an energized and interactive session titled “Create a Powerful Personal Leadership Brand to Gain Instant Credibility.”

Emily gave examples of famous personal brands, such as Beyoncé, Jay-Z and Oprah, explaining how they all have their own story of how they continue to achieve success.

She then asked us to consider what our brand story could be, such as a unique memory we have that inspires us to do what we love, and challenged us to think about how we can continue to edit our brand and use it in our professional careers.

Troy Thompson, who works at PRSA, thought the workshop proved very beneficial for everyone who attended.

“Emily’s branding workshop is ideal for professionals looking to strengthen their online presence,” Troy said. “Her sessions include best practices and examples that provide attendees with a clear road map for packaging themselves to achieve greater career success.”

Key Takeaways:

Improving your personal brand can benefit your job and online presence.
Brian Edmonds, Communications Specialist Associate at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, said, “Before Emily’s workshop, I never really paid close attention to what I wanted my brand to be or how it was being perceived. Afterwards, it was all I could think about. I now find myself considering how anything I do, whether work projects or updating my LinkedIn profile, will enhance or hurt my brand. I believe this attention to detail will be great for my career going forward.”

Ask friends what traits they would use to describe you.
“Your friends help build and personify your brand,” Emily said. She also offered recruiter tips for building an online brand, such as always editing your LinkedIn profile, broadening your network and strategizing your posts on outlets such as LinkedIn.

Everyone needs personal branding, no matter what career stage you are in.
“Employers are not only looking at your resume but how you portray yourself in conversation and online,” Hanna Porterfield, Chair of the PRSA New Professionals Section, said. “In a competitive job market, personal branding can help you stand out and provide the value you bring to a team. All new professionals should consider building a personal brand throughout their career just as they focus on building hard and soft skills within the industry.”

Jordan AppelJordan Appel is a member of PRSA and the PRSA New Professionals Section. He is an Associate at CommunicationsMatch, a New York-based start-up search engine. He is also a graduate of Rowan University. Feel free to connect with him on LinkedIn.

New Professional Spotlight: Shannon Nicholson

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Name: Shannon Nicholson
Job Role: Program Director, West Virginia University Office of Graduate Admissions
Education: B.S. Journalism, ’14, M.S. Data Marketing Communications, ’17 – WVU Reed College of Media
Social Media: @shannonicholson (Twitter) and @shannonpauline (Instagram)

How and when did you first become interested in PR and communications?

My first job in the industry was at a small, B2B advertising agency in Morgantown, WV. I was exposed to all facets of marketing: content development, direct email, digital advertising, media relations, social media, traditional media, and website design (to name a few). What I did not know before I started my Junior Account Manager position was the importance of tying campaigns to business goals, breaking down department silos, and utilizing collected data to be relevant and timely. Enter the Data Marketing Communications, fully-online, graduate program. This program allowed me to bridge my interest in the business-side of marketing and my growing expertise in the field.

How did you find internships/jobs?

As a WVU student and alumni, I have an amazing resource at my disposal- MountaineerTrak powered by the Career Services Center. MountaineerTrak was my first line of defense. During my years as an undergrad, the Reed College of Media hired a Director of Student Careers and Opportunities, Eric Minor. Eric’s weekly “opportunity” email quickly became my go-to resource. Eric is the perfect liaison between current students looking for experience and alumni looking to provide that experience as a way to give back to their alma mater.

What was the biggest challenge you’ve ever faced in your career? How did you overcome it?

The biggest challenge I have faced in my young career has been introducing new procedures, and strategies from the ground up. In my current role, I assumed that after six months and I’ll be like a well-oiled machine and have already implemented new strategies. I soon realized that implementation would take closer to one year. The next year will be spent analyzing, and the following year will be about growth and optimization. It is hard not to get ahead of myself and want to be at year three, today! Really, the biggest challenge is not trying something new, it is pacing myself to check one step off the list at a time. Devoting 110% to each step without getting ahead of myself and potentially losing sight of details that could later derail all that the team has worked towards. Slow and steady wins the race.

What has been the most valuable thing you have learned through classes or experience?

Differing experiences, bring perspective. In my Data Marketing Communications cohort, students had varying backgrounds in data, graphic design, marketing, sales, etc. Listening to each other’s viewpoints helped the entire cohort approach problems with an open mind.

What has been the best piece of advice you have received?

You won’t know unless you try.

Do you have any advice for future PR pros?

There are a lot of different ways to apply your marketing/PR knowledge. Don’t limit yourself to certain industries or titles. Today, there are more opportunities than ever to be creative with your knowledge.

What do you think is the best benefit of PRSA and the New Pros section?

I think the biggest benefit of the New Pros section is the opportunity for engagement and networking. PRSA boasts amazing partners, and communities for growth and learning. I was particularly drawn to the #NPPRSA Twitter chats. Twitter chats have been a great outlet to informally discuss specific topics with others in the industry. I have found that those who participate want to engage and share. Even simply reading through threads has helped open my eyes to areas outside of my expertise.

Is there anything you wish you would have known before starting your career?

You will never stop learning. When you think you know enough, there is always more. It is important to be vigilant about the changes within your field.

Tell us a little-known fact about yourself.

I have a Bengal Cat that is about 20 lbs, who acts more like a small dog than a cat.

This New Professionals spotlight is sponsored by West Virginia University. If you are a member of PRSA New Pros and interested in being featured, or interested in nominating someone to be featured as a part of our #MemberSpotlight, please complete the following form.

 

Catching Up with Past PRSA New Pros Leaders: Where they are today and their advice

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PRSA’s New Professionals section is a membership organization 1,100 people strong. And with a combined social media following of more than 15,000, it’s easy to tell there’s a network of New Pros “alumni” and supporters across the country. We recently caught up with some past-Chairs of the section to see how PRSA involvement has shaped their careers and where they are now.

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Sarah Siewert, 2011 New Pros Chair
Vice President, Ketchum — Chicago, Ill.

Leah Moon, 2012 New Pros Chair
Marketing Program Manager, Esko — Dayton, Ohio

Heather Sliwinski, 2014 New Pros Chair
Senior Account Director, Gravitate PR  — San Francisco, Calif.

Nick Lucido, 2015 New Pros Chair
Vice President, Global Practice Development, Edelman — Chicago, Ill.

Brian Price, 2017 New Pros Chair
Corporate Communications Manager, Starwood Retail Partners — Chicago, Ill.

What is a piece of advice you have for today’s new professionals?

Sarah: Build your network before you need it. By its nature the PR/marketing industry relies on relationships – from your first job offer to a client referral – take time to foster and build it starting in the classroom and volunteer positions.

Leah: Don’t be afraid to speak up. Give your opinion. Stand out.

Heather: So many learnings I’d want to pass on. First, say yes to every opportunity that comes your way, especially if it scares you. The biggest risks I’ve taken in my career have turned out to be the most rewarding. Second, be proactive, take chances and make the most of every experience you get.

Nick: Read more, subscribe to, and pay for good journalism. A deep understanding of business, government, media and non-profit organizations will make you a more informed counselor to your clients.

Brian: PRSA and New Pros offer many benefits to assist in building a career. From wide-angle industry perspective, developing mentors to tips on how to succeed everywhere from strategic thought to holding productive meetings. Those who are most successful seem to integrate that into their development on top of great effort where expected from supervisors, rather than a replacement for going the extra mile with daily production.

Sarah: In addition, maintain heart and hustle. No matter the role, assignment or client new pros who stand out most show up with passion, curiosity and a never-ending sense of urgency.

Any other closing thoughts or wisdom?

Sarah: Every opportunity in my career is rooted in a PRSA connection. It’s the best investment in your career to take time to volunteer and participate – don’t just be a name on a sign-in list.

Leah: Travel as much as you can. Experience new cultures, food, life.

Heather: Ask for what you’re worth and always negotiate (especially if you’re a woman and/or person of color). It’s hard, but you have to force yourself to do it.

Porterfield,Hanna_headshot2017This Q&A was compiled by Hanna Porterfield, 2018 Chair of PRSA’s New Professionals Section. Based in Chicago, but frequently on an airplane, she is an account manager at NYC-headquartered Development Counsellors International. Hanna is a graduate of Michigan State University. Connect with her on Twitter @citygirlhanna.