Career Advice

5 Ways to Build a Network and Apply For Jobs in a New City

Stephanie Vermillion Leave a comment

When my boyfriend got a new job in Connecticut and we decided to journey to CT together, I had never been to CT until the night I moved in. I moved all the way from Atlanta, GA, to Stamford, CT, and knew no one in the area.

5 Ways to Build a Network and Apply For Jobs in a New CityI had a little less than a month’s notice until we were moving, but I started to apply to jobs right away. Here are my best tips for networking and applying for jobs in a brand new city:

1. Research companies in the area you’re moving and apply for entry-level jobs with up to five years of experience.

In Stamford, GE, Philips, Conair, Reuters, NBC and many more companies have large presences. Although I didn’t get a job at one of those places, I applied to all of them and even interviewed with one. It helped me get a feel for the area.

The job I did end up getting listed 1-3 years of experience and I’ve recently found that I’m eligible for jobs that say up to 5 years of experience and companies are often flexible with that part of the job posting.

2. Research and inquire about local groups that fall within your passions and interests.

For me, I was really excited to find a local young democrats group and meet new people. I inquired about their meetings and went to one of their meetings shortly after I arrived.

There are so many different local groups for running, intramurals, religion, animal rescue and much more you can find and join. It helps to network and make friends with people you share interests with when you move to a new city.

3. While you’re in the process of moving, take time to apply to jobs and interview for them.

Although I wasn’t in the area, I offered to Skype in for interviews or interview in-person once I arrived. Sometimes it can take many weeks to find a job and it helps to get ahead of the application process before you move since moving itself takes up a lot of time.

I also found the interviewers really appreciated my openness and flexibility with doing Skype interviews or waiting until I arrived.

4. Find and join your local PRSA Chapter.

I knew that I was probably going to get a job in New York City and immediately joined the PRSA New York Chapter as well. I got involved with the new professionals committee within the Chapter and met a lot of new people through networking events in the city.

Use the PRSA website to find and join your local PRSA Chapter and inquire about any upcoming new professionals activities.

5. Make friends with co-workers and others who work close to your office.

Some of the best friends I’ve made worked in offices pretty close to mine and I do hang out with co-workers outside of work sometimes. I know opinion varies on making friends with co-workers, but that decision is up to you and co-workers can be great friends especially if you’re new to the area.

If you’re at the local coffee shop and see the same person or people every day, say hi and find out what they do and where they work!

So while moving to a new city can seem a little intimidating, it’s also full of opportunity and provides an extraordinary amount of growth for you personally and professionally.

Have any other tips to share? Please post them below!

Lauren GrayLauren Gray is currently a Project Director with local creative agency The Visual Brand in Stamford, CT. She also serves as a PRSSA Liaison co-chair on the PRSA New Professionals Section executive committee. Connect with her on Twitter and LinkedIn. 

#ThrowbackThursday with Paula Shugart

Stephanie Vermillion Leave a comment

Editor’s note: This is part of our monthly #ThrowbackThursday series, which features a prominent, successful PR pro taking a look back and sharing tips from his/her days as a new pro.

Miss Universe President Paula Shugart has made her way from San Diego, to Athens, Ohio, to Los Angeles and eventually found her way to New York City. How does one build a successful career and a solid group of connections while hopping coast to coast?Paula Shugart Headshot

We dug into some of the best advice from Paula for new professionals looking to make a splash and build their network:

Question 1: What was the best piece of advice you received from a mentor as a young professional?

The one thing that has always always stuck in my head was from a woman producer that hired me in 1986 for her show. She was great to work with, so I wanted her advice. She told me, “you can’t do anything for me, but always pay it forward. There’s going to be an opportunity in your life when you’re going to be able to help others. When that opportunity comes up, you’ve got to pay it forward.” That piece of advice has really stuck with me and it’s why I started the internship program with Miss Universe.

Question 2: When moving across country or to a new city, how did you build relationships in an unknown environment?

I moved around so much as a kid since my father was in the Navy that I think it was in my DNA of having to get used to a new place and meet new people. When I went back to LA after attending school at Ohio University, I really just had to suck it up and be fearless. I was panicked moving back since I was so focused on getting a job, but I reached out to my few connections I had from Ohio University. When it came down to it though, I was going door-to-door at the studio lots and just trying to get in and meet people – even though I was scared to death!

I made it a point to put myself out there to meet people and that’s how I got my first job. I took a receptionist position working with Kevin Bright just to get my foot in the door – little did I know he would go on to produce “Friends”! This was a starting point, and from there I started making more connections through friends of friends and building my network within the entertainment industry.

Question 3: What are some of the best methods of keeping in touch with connections?

There’s a lot of people I lost contact with over the years, but I’ve tried to keep in touch via social media, especially friends who are my age on Facebook! I can think of one friend who I started out in the industry with 30 years ago and hadn’t seen since then, but we re-connected on Facebook and it was just like the 30 years had never gone by!

Since I work closely with the intern program at Miss Universe, I love hearing from our past interns. It could be as simple as an email saying hello and sharing what’s going on in their life. I can think of one of our first interns who reached out to me about moving to LA and looking for work.  She was about living the same experience I did in the early eighties, and I was able to make some connections for her in the city. It all goes back to the woman 30 years ago telling me to pay it forward.

Question 4: What advice would you give to today’s young professionals?

Really be fearless. Take the risk or take the challenge – what’s the worst that’s going to happen? Step outside your comfort zone and really push yourself; I could not have been more uncomfortable stepping into this position with Miss Universe. You’re never going to regret the things you attempted or the things you did, but you will regret an opportunity you didn’t take.

More about Paula:

With more  than 30 years of experience in the television industry, Paula M. Shugart has been a driving force in entertainment television production for domestic and international audiences. As president of the Miss Universe Organization (MUO), and producer of the MISS UNIVERSE®, MISS USA®, and MISS TEEN USA® pageants, Paula oversees all business transactions and is responsible for the production of the live, worldwide telecasts each year. She is also a mentor and role model to the company’s three title holders as they travel the globe as spokeswomen for several charitable alliances on behalf of MUO.

Balancing a Full-Time Career and Freelance Work

PRSA New Pros Leave a comment

For marketing and communications professionals, the opportunity to freelance on the side of full-time careers is growing.

In 2014, a study showed that more than one in three workers in America were freelancing, a statistic that confirms the ever-growing demand of freelancers in our constantly changing workforce.

Although the demand for freelancers is expanding, many people still can’t trust the instability of the freelance world as their primary income source.

That’s why professionals, especially new professionals, are working full-time careers, while juggling part-time freelance work on the side. Learning to manage both is tough, but people are making it happen, and you can to.

Organize

If you’re going to juggle a full-time career on top of a part-time one, organization isn’t just encouraged – it’s critical.

Find what works best for you and helps you stay on top of all your deliverables. For some people, it’s using an agenda. For others it may be their cell phone or computer calendar, or to-do lists and sticky notes.

Whatever helps you remember and stay on top of everything is going to be crucial to the balancing act needed for being a full-time professional and freelancer.

Prioritize

Your full-time career should never suffer when pursuing freelance opportunities; after all, this is where the bulk of your income probably comes from.

Learn to prioritize your day or week. When you’re in your full-time job, you should only be focusing on your full-time job. By prioritizing your work and day at your career, you’ll be able to stay on top of what’s expected from you and not fall behind.

Once you fall behind in your full-time job, you may find yourself staying late and working overtime, which will in turn trickle down to how you are going to meet the deliverables of your side freelance projects.

Prioritize your entire day from start to finish. What needs to be done as soon as possible, and what can wait?

Work-Life Balance

When balancing a career and freelance work, it’s easy to lose site of having any outside life at all.

You may feel that outside of work you’re actually working more, and you have no room for fun. But you need to overcome this habit.

Don’t cancel your workout because you need to work late. Learn to prioritize and organize your tasks and projects so you can work around your workout or night out.

When you keep the fun stuff in your life, you’ll see better work, increased productivity, and you’ll be much happier, which is really the most important thing.

Dedication

Being a freelancer on top of working full-time takes dedication to your industry and career, and to yourself and your clients/employers.

If you don’t have the motivation to get stuff done, stay on top of your deliverables, and do work outside of your 9-5 job (sometimes on weekends), then balancing both these career paths may not be for you.

There will be times you just want a day off, times you just want to lock yourself in your room and unplug from the world, but dedication and perseverance is what will get you through those overworked slumps.

Create Boundaries

To avoid wanting to lock yourself away from the world, set boundaries for yourself. When freelancers first start out, and start to land their initial clients and jobs, it’s exciting, and it may be hard to learn when to say no.

But saying no to someone doesn’t mean you are burning a bridge, and most people will appreciate your honesty. Know your limits, and know what you’re capable of.

If you already feel like you have too much to do, and you pull all nighters to get work done, you’ve probably taken on too much.

Balancing freelance work and a full-time career isn’t for everyone. It does take a certain type of person who can manage both of these career paths at once.

To learn if this is for you, test the waters by taking on one freelance client at a time, and slowly build up to more if you can manage.

Do you have any tips for balancing a full-time job and freelance work? Share below!

Lauren MarinighLauren Marinigh is a graduate of Sheridan College, with a diploma in Advertising, and certificate in Corporate Communications. She currently works as a Social Media and Content Creation Coordinator, for a large non-profit in Toronto, and as a freelance social media consultant and writer. Find her on Twitter, or visit her industry blog.

Six Ways to Set Yourself Up for Long-Term PR Success

Stephanie Vermillion Leave a comment

Six Ways to Set Yourself Up for Long-Term PR SuccessAs a recent college graduate, I’ve learned what it takes to become a public relations professional.

Not only has my undergraduate career helped me learn the fundamental principles of the industry, but so have the opportunities I’ve taken along the way.

And, through this journey, I found the following attributes are beneficial for anyone looking to be successful in the PR industry.

1. Brand You

Start branding yourself early. Make sure not only your resume, cover letter and business cards are cohesive, but be aware of how you’re portraying yourself on social media.

Employers will go to all lengths to figure out exactly who you really are and what you put out there for people to see.

2. Professional Portfolio

Don’t just rely on your resume to tell employers about your accomplishments. Get creative. Think outside the box and find other ways to display your work.

Nothing’s wrong with the traditional printed documents in a leather binder, but is this really what employers want to see?

Kick it up a notch and wow them. Personally, I use Wix.com as a platform for illustrating my work, but there are so many different platforms you can choose from, so find the one that fits you best.

3. Networking

This is a huge part of any career you are pursuing. Knowing someone on the inside of a company or agency is almost as important as having a perfect resume.

Networking is not a hard skill to learn, but you must be willing to go out and meet people. You never know who you might meet or who someone you already have contact with might know.

And, while you’re networking, don’t be afraid to sell yourself.

We’ve all heard about the “elevator pitch”, but do you have one prepared? If not, figure yours out and give it to everyone you meet, even if they don’t have a job to offer. Relationships can to lead to jobs.

4. Find Your Strengths and Weaknesses

Admitting your strengths and weaknesses is hard to do, especially if it’s in a work setting. I always thought I knew my strengths and weaknesses, but after referencing ‘Strengths Finder 2.0’, I had a more in-depth viewpoint of myself.

If you’re trying to succeed in the PR industry, or just trying to better yourself, I’d definitely recommend this book.

5. Job Hunting

Finding a job can be stressful, but only if you make it that way. Don’t expect to get your dream job right out of college, it may take a year or more until you finally find exactly what you want to do.

Take this time to figure out what it is exactly you are looking for. If you can’t find a job right away, there’s nothing wrong with taking an internship, even if you already have one under your belt.

Many companies expect their employees to start out as interns before they’re hired as part of the team.

6. Stay Relevant

This doesn’t just mean staying up to date with your social media sites. It’s expanding your horizons by listening to podcasts, participating in Twitter chats, attending luncheons, etc.

Public relations is an evolving industry and the people on the inside are constantly learning. So with these tips in mind, you can better yourself both personally, and as a PR professional.

Jillian Berger HeadshotJillian Berger is an Assistant Account Executive at GlynnDevins an Advertising Agency located in Overland Park, Kansas. Jillian is a member of KCPRSA and a former vice president of UCMPRSSA. Jillian has a Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from the University of Central Missouri. Connect with Jillian on LinkedIn and Twitter (@JillianBPR)

 

A Wallflower’s Guide to Networking

Stephanie Vermillion Leave a comment

A Wallflower’s Guide to NetworkingWe’ve all been there. Whether it’s a mixer in college, or a happy hour event with your local PRSA New Pro’s chapter, we’re all dealt opportunities in life to meet new people as it relates to our interest/hobbies or our career.

For some of us, however, those opportunities aren’t always approached with sunshine and rainbows.

Despite the importance these networking events have on our career and goals, some of us are a bit on the shy side, or are introverts.

And quite frankly, when you’re starting out in your career heading to your first networking event, it’s normal to feel a bit awkward or uneasy regardless of personality type.

There are a few tips that I have used in my own professional advancement and as a fellow wallflower to get around those awkward stutters or fumbles when networking with peers. These include:

1. Bring a buddy.

I will tell you that after moving across the country for my first PR job in Las Vegas, I knew absolutely no one. I will forever be thankful for my first friend there, who also happened to be my roommate and now one of my dearest friends, who encouraged me to come with her to meet-ups with fellow PR professionals in the city.

Now, I know we all can’t be as lucky as I was, obviously. But the takeaway here is to find that person whom you call a friend and ask them to join you at a networking event. You’ll feel more at ease and comfortable being yourself.

2. Introduce yourself.

Well, duh. Right? But there’s more to this. There are bound to be others just like you at this networking event who are also a tad shy. You can probably find them in the corner or hanging back from the crowd. Go up and introduce yourself and start a conversation. Fairly soon, you might find yourself with a new friend. And for help, consider these tips from Huffington Post on conversation starters AND closers for networking.

3. Use your instincts.

When meeting new people for the first time, let your instincts kick in. Listen. Ask questions. And remember to smile, and more importantly, breathe. It’s easy to stare at your feet or into space when feeling nervous, so try your best to make eye contact. These simple, but sometimes easily forgotten gestures will get you further than you think in your networking.

4. Practice.

Consider how you want to present yourself, and what you want to say about yourself. Let’s skip the embarrassing story from grade school, and try being straightforward while maintaining your authentic self. This is probably the most important, as there’s nothing worse than meeting that cheese ball who is there with one goal in mind: taking home the most business cards. Instant ick factor.

While practice won’t necessarily make you “perfect” in this case, it will calm your nerves if you have rehearsed with a friend who will give you honest feedback.

5. Use social media to your advantage.

Yes, face-to-face networking is best. Or at least that’s what most will tell you. However, I cannot tell you the number of relationships I’ve developed with media and PR professionals through the power of social media. My go-to? Twitter. There are endless networking opportunities for a wallflower on social media. It takes a bit of the pressure off.

A few suggestions to consider for this. First, attempt to engage in a Twitter chat every so often (PRSA New Pros monthly chats are a good start!). You’ll be exposed to other participants and immediately will have a shared common interest. Second, keep your bio updated on your Twitter profile. This includes your interests outside of the office. I love nothing more when I can tweet a fellow Ohio University Scripps alum (go Bobcats!) because I saw it in their profile and they shared something I found interesting.

As a final note, just relax. And, “to thine own self be true.”

Thank you, Shakespeare for those remarkably brilliant words.

But seriously, be yourself, and come ready to meet some new people.

Are you a fellow introvert and have a tip to add for networking as a wallflower? Please share with me on Twitter @shandihuber. I’d love to hear from you!

 

Shandi HuberShandi Huber is a senior account executive at Wordsworth Communications, apublic relations agency in Cincinnati, Ohio. An enthusiast for all social media platforms, you can often find her pinning her dream closet on Pinterest or posting photos of her new puppy on Instagram. Connect with Shandi onLinkedIn and Twitter (@shandihuber).