PRSA New Professionals

February 2016 Twitter Chat Recap

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The February #NPPRSA Twitter chat, earlier this month, was all about big ideas on a small budget.

Special guests during this month’s chat were Adrienne Wallace, Managing Director/COO, at 834 Design & Marketing and Todd Butler, President & CEO, at Causewave Community Partners. Delivering big results on a small budget can be challenging as you work around the parameters, but it can also challenge your creativity and help you break through with new ideas and successes. Click through the Storify below to see highlights from the conversation.

Mark upcoming Twitter chats on your calendar and view past chat recaps here.

A Match Made in Heaven: Finding Your Mentor

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how to FindAmentormakesmydaySo, you want a mentor. You realize that at this stage in your career, you can benefit from building a relationship with someone who can guide you in your journey. If you’re really savvy, you already know that a mentor is not something you “get,” but someone who you come to know, trust and confide in.

Here are some ways to find a mentor.

1. Identify your purpose for finding a mentor. It’s important to know what you want in the mentoring relationship. Whether you’re actively job hunting or trying to identify the next step in your career path, knowing what you want to achieve will help you find a great mentor who can help you navigate the terrain.

2. Broaden your definition of a mentor. Mentors come in all shapes and sizes. Some are lifelong coaches, others are confidants for a short period of time. You may find a mentor with wisdom in all things, or someone who is uniquely positioned to help you through a specific challenge. Remember, when looking for a mentor, consider the person, not their position. Your peers and colleagues may have experiences and perspectives that prove useful.

3. Participate in a structured mentoring program. Established mentor match programs are great, because they jumpstart the process of building a meaningful relationship by introducing you to someone who is ready to be a mentor. The good news is that PRSA and the New Professionals section are in the midst of refreshing our mentoring program. Members will be notified by email when updates to the program are made. In the meantime, head over to Mentor Match and introduce yourself to one of the mentors from the College of Fellows. You can also ask your local PRSA chapter or company if they have a program. And if you’re currently job seeking, ask about mentoring programs within the organization. If being mentored is important to you, this is one way to determine if the company culture is going to be a good fit.

4. Make your own match. Look around you. You may not realize it, but you probably have mentors in your life. These people already know you and may have some insight into your situation, work environment, or personal challenges. Look to your colleagues, professors and people in your network to bounce ideas off. If you need someone who is more removed from your circle, leverage existing relationships to find mentors. Explain why you’re looking for a mentor and ask if they know anyone who might be interested in sitting down for a cup of coffee. 

Stay open-minded about the process–you never know where you’ll find a mentor! How did you find your mentor? In the comments, share your own mentor match story so other New Pros can learn from your experience.

Alyssa-StaffordAlyssa Stafford is a member of PRSA Georgia and a communications specialist at Piedmont Healthcare in Atlanta.  She serves on the New Professionals executive committee as the mentoring chair. Alyssa is a graduate of Agnes Scott College and the University of Georgia. Find her on LinkedIn orTwitter.

Finding a Company Culture That Fits

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think about what motivates you, makes you feel comfortable and helps you thrive. (2)

“You’re a catalyst to your own happiness, you know.”

That’s what NONONO says in its song “Pumpin Blood,” and that phrase has stuck with me.

With so many factors in the world that we have control of, we have the ability and responsibility to make our happiness a priority.

So how do you stay happy in the hectic and exhausting field of public relations? Think of what you need in a company culture that will make you happy and successful. Yes, you. Not what your parents want for you, what your friends want or what society says you want because you’re a millennial. What’s going to make you enjoy going to work most days? (Let’s be real, nobody wants to go to work all the time.) What will be an environment you can be successful in?

Are you a cubicle-loving, in-house PR person who wants to work in the automotive industry or maybe someone who likes the fast-paced, open-concept agency that works with consumer products?

It’s all up to you.

There are so many factors that contribute to company culture, so think about what motivates you, makes you feel comfortable and helps you thrive. Come up with a list and write it out, though it may seem tedious, so you have something to refer to.

Once you have built out a list of what you’re looking for, rank the items from top to bottom according to the importance of each. It’s likely you’ll have to make compromises when it comes to your list of ideals, which is why you need to determine what matters most. Then, you’ll be able to match that list against employers you’re interested in working for.

At Piper & Gold Public Relations where I work in Lansing, Michigan, we openly communicate about our company culture and what we call our #Truths that shape it. From our familial office relationships to our persistent mentality of always improving, our twelve #Truths lay out how, what and why we do what we do, as well as why it’s enjoyable at the same time. We created them during a team brainstorming session based on what already existed and have lived by them ever since.

I understand not all businesses have #Truths but most have a distinct culture that they’re willing to discuss with you – so do your research and ask questions about company culture before starting a new gig, your happiness and success may rely on it. After all, new professionals aren’t all about happy hours and foosball tables – we want much more than that.  

hannahHannah Leibinger is an account strategist at Piper & Gold Public Relations, a boutique agency in Lansing, Michigan, that specializes in government, nonprofit and small business public relations. In the Lansing community, she serves as the chair of communications for Grand River Connection, new professionals co-chair and a director at large for the Central Michigan Chapter of PRSA, social media coordinator for Giving Tuesday Lansing and a member of the Old Town Commercial Association business development committee. Connect with her on Twitter (@hleibinger) and LinkedIn.

The Do’s and Don’ts for Making 2016 YOUR Year

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I believe 2016 is going to be a big year. You know what I mean, how some years take much more space in your memory than others when you look back. It’s an overwhelming inkling, like the way you feel a sticky summer breeze and can just know it’s going to rain. Yes, 2016 is going to be a big year. It’s an election year for starters, but I think it’s something in our collective energy that’s buzzing for change. So as we take our early steps into 2016, here are some tips to be more intentional and make sure our efforts go toward making this new year bigger and better than those that came before it.

TAKES

  1. Drink more coffee.

Kidding! Though new health standards say you can have up to five cups a day now. Which is great news for those of us who need a little java courage to tackle early morning segments. So, to good health!

1.5 Don’t check your email/social media pages until an hour after you wake up.

Email, Facebook statuses, news headlines all can have a major affect on your mood, which can alter the way you frame your day. Let yourself have a media-free hour and put the reigns back in your hands. Whether you chose to blast a pump-up morning mix or eat breakfast with your original thoughts. Use the time to touch base with your kick-ass self and start each day with your best foot forward.

  1. Write things down.

This is not just to make your 3rd grade cursive teacher feel validated. Studies show that handwriting notes facilitates memory, cognitive function and also helps with your creative process. (Click here or here for proof.) Maybe it has something to do with how writing in ink relinquishes your ability to backspace, making it a more permanent declaration. Whatever the reason, if handwriting my to-do list could ensure I don’t accidentally skip a thing, I’ll hand-sign myself up for that.

  1. Don’t be afraid of a phone call.

Speaking of going old-school… Humor me. Tap your phone and click on your recent calls; how many outgoing calls did you make besides those to your mother? It’s widely agreed that things like sentiment, sarcasm and even the contents of conversations get shortchanged through text, and yet 90% of the time when presented with both options, we chose the less efficient. Don’t be afraid to dial. An hour-long texting conversation can be communicated more personably over a ten-minute phone call. I mean this for both our personal and professional lives. PR is all about relations. It’s hard to have relations with a digital ghost.

  1. Put effort into “doing you.”   

The worst thing you can do – at any point in your life, not only at the start of the year – is allow yourself to feel comfortable coasting on autopilot. I understand life tends to throw a lot at us and sometimes all you have time for are “survival tactics:” sleep, work, eat, work, Netflix. And that’s fine. We’re at a unique stage in our lives where the effort we put in now can and will shape the course of our careers. But I think we need to stay mindful in making sure we don’t forget to build a life as well. We all have interests besides work that make us tick, and if you can’t remember what those are, go discover them! Be it painting, running, photography, cooking, traveling, guitar etc. Dedicate time for it and don’t lose touch of that part of you. It’ll likely be what sparks your next big idea into a full flame.

The new year can either be seen as another month, no better nor worse than that before it (besides the lack of holiday sweets delivered at your door), or as a wonderful opportunity; to evaluate what we’ve done well, what we maybe didn’t do so well at and set goals (not resolutions) to gradually build on for the months to come. I challenge you to look at 2016 as a blank canvas of opportunity. Choose one thing you’d like to accomplish, professionally or personally, and add a brushstroke each day. It’s going to be a “big year” after all, so don’t be afraid to choose bold colors.

gtzQK8HpMegan O’Neal graduated from UCLA in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies, emphasizing in mass communications. She is currently the PR & Social Media Manager at Marketing Design Group and volunteers with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, freelancing for the public relations department. Connect with her on Twitter @megannenicole.

How to “Adult” 101: A Story as told by a Young PRofessional

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adulting-101

As millennials step into the working world, we are met with a reality of what we expected and what exists. College was sometimes difficult and obtaining a job seemed impossible. Professors and mentors told you to intern, network, and apply for as many jobs as possible. Upon graduation, we all learn the truth. It really is all about who you know. Most of us will likely end up in a job at a place we interned or where a mentor or friend referenced us to get an interview. On top of that, the field we thought we wanted could turn out to be a dream or a nightmare.

Ultimately, we all have to remember the beauty of being a fresh, millennial 20-something. We have time to figure out our lives and what the future will look like. In 30 years, we will probably look back on life and the path we took will make sense, but right now it is confusing, frustrating, and downright exhausting; however, the silver lining does shine through our seemingly foggy future. We are young, energetic, excited, and honestly, really efficient. Below, my fellow 20-somethings can have a quick look at some young professional advice not told to you by other employees/mentors:

1. No one ever reads the full email you send, no matter how short

Make sure to say important information in the first sentence because your recipient will most likely not read to the bottom. You will probably ask the same question or request the same thing three or four times before it happens. Sometimes, I make my subject line the question and include nothing in the body if I need an answer ASAP and can’t call.

2. Never be afraid to ask

If you need to leave an hour or so early, your boss probably won’t mind. If you have under-utilized skills, your boss probably wants to know. When you have questions, ask. The worst you can be told is ‘no.’

3. Network anytime and anywhere

You never know who you are going to meet or where you’ll be. Always think ahead to how each person you meet could be THE next person you need to know.

4. Save your money while you’re single

Right now, you are able to save money and trust me your future will appreciate it. You don’t need to eat out every night and almost every bar has drink specials throughout the week. Plan accordingly and don’t spend money when you don’t need. For instance, pack you lunch. Imagine the savings!

5. Read all the documents you are given at your job and ask a friend if you don’t understand them

At my first job, I was given a huge packet on my health insurance. I have/had no idea what it all meant so I went to my grandparents to explain pieces, like my flexible spending plan.

6. Always be thinking of your next step

In PR, you can move through jobs at a much more rapid pace than your parents. It is okay! Stay fresh on the industry and move as you see fits your skills.

 

7. Take small vacations with friends

Since I said you need to save money, make time with friends really count by taking small vacations. Visit your friend in grad school or travel to a nearby winery or park. You don’t have to spend a lot to have a good experience.

 

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Kiley Herndon is an energetic PR professional working and living in St. Louis. She is an avid reality TV watcher, 20th century book connoisseur, and lover of all things travel. Learning brings her unending joy and is always looking for opportunities to expand her knowledge and grow as a person and professional. Connect with her on Linkedin!