October Twitter Chat Highlights: Using Integrated Approaches to Drive Social Results

Ashleigh Mavros Leave a comment

oct recapWe would like to thank everyone who participated in the October #NPPRSA Twitter chat to discuss social integration. We would especially like to thank Emily Rasowsky and Lucy Mink of Social Driver for co-hosting a great discussion!

Join us again in November for our next #NPPRSA chat and stay up-to-date with PRSA New Professionals on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+.

Review highlights of the chat below. What did you learn from the October chat? How can you improve your social media strategies? What thoughts do you have?

 

 

You can receive FREE New Professionals Section membership for PRSA by using code AM15!

Lauren Lox HS

 

Lauren Loxterman is the PRSA New Professionals Social Media Co-Chair. You can connect with her on Google+, LinkedIn or Twitter.

How to Manage Your Next Job Interview Process

Ashleigh Mavros Leave a comment

Untitled design (3)Many people assume that job interviews would be “no big deal” to a PR professional. After all, don’t we get paid to interview and be interviewed for stories? Here’s the catch–most interviews aren’t job interviews. Job interviews are intimidating. They are a necessary evil that many people fear, yet we all encounter.

If you’re getting nervous just thinking about job interviews, don’t worry. There’s several tips that can help you manage the interview process and put some that PR training to work!

Before the Interview

The interview process begins long before you put on your best outfit. It begins with the job application. How you present yourself in your resume and cover letter impacts whether or not you’re even offered an interview.

To be successful you must customize your cover letter and resume for every job application.  Job coaches suggest creating a “master” resume that includes everything in your repertoire so when you apply for a job you can select only the information that best reflects your qualifications. From this list you can also choose a few examples to highlight in your cover letter.  

This is where your PR training comes into play. You have spent several years learning how to write persuasively. Take that training and infuse it into your cover letter. Target your writing and convince them that you are the right person for the job.

During the Interview

Believe it or not job interviews aren’t about you, your abilities, or your education. They are about how you can fill a need in their company. More importantly, job interviews are about connecting with people. Hiring is expensive.  That’s why companies are concerned with hiring the right person and not just anyone that can do the job.

Yes, you need to be prepared with your resume, portfolio, and lots of great questions that show your interest, but none of that matters if you can’t connect with the people who are interviewing you. Be genuine and leave a lasting impression with everyone you meet—from the secretary to the CEO. You never know who may influence the hiring decision.

Don’t be surprised if companies have researched you on the internet. They recognize that cover letters and resumes are “sterile” representations of your personality. They want to know what you be like on Monday morning after your car broke down and you walked to work in the rain. No, seriously, they want to know who you really are and if you are a good fit for their culture and their current team.

After the Interview

After your interview follow up with a thank you note and include any additional information from your interview. While emails are appropriate, you may find that a handwritten note will leave more of an impression. Electronic communication is easier, but don’t let that stop you from picking up the phone or writing a note.

Be mindful and patient as you wait for their decision. Remember, it’s all about people, so use any follow up conversation to build on the relationships that you began in your interview. At the end of the day, whether you get the job or not, it all comes down to people. They are life’s common denominator no matter what situation you are in or profession you may pursue

As PR professionals we are trained to relate with people. Take that training into your next job interview. You may be surprised to see what happens!

RuthannCampbell (1)Ruthann Campbell graduated from Pensacola Christian College with a bachelor’s degree in advertising and public relations. She is currently the Communications Specialist for a non-profit organization located in Rochester, NY. You can connect with her directly to network or share ideas on LinkedIn or Twitter.

Three reasons to revisit grad school three years after undergrad

Ashleigh Mavros Leave a comment

We’ve all had that nightmare— you know, the one where you’re arriving to class late for your first exam, frantically trying to grab a seat while also recouping the information you crammed into your overtaxed brain during a late-night study session.

Should I go back to grad school?Grappling for information on the periphery of your skill set when reputations are on the line is a familiar feeling for many new pros. For a while, on-the-job training coupled with experience from your undergrad coursework is enough to get through, but at one time or another you start to wonder whether an advanced degree is the best fit.

I always knew that I wanted to pursue an advanced degree and felt that I was falling behind my peers as year after year, more of them made the decision to go back to school. However, after meeting my classmates and professors and diving into my coursework, I’m convinced that three years out of college is a great time to reevaluate grad school. Here’s why:

You’re either about to, or have thought about, making a move

Quarter-life crisis, anyone? No matter who you are or where you landed after undergrad, it’s natural to look at your career three years out and wonder where it’s going and whether or not you want to go with it. For instance, three years gave me a chance to realize that, while I love the business of communication, my passion was streamlining processes to maximize creativity and efficiency. For that reason, I chose to pursue an advanced degree in business rather than communication. Even if you aren’t sure what you want to do, a master’s degree can give you vision during this transitory time, helping you demonstrate proficiency in a particular skill set or open the door for an entire career revolution.

You’re much more budgeted

There’s no doubt that grad school can cost a pretty penny. When I was making my enrollment decision, balancing my budgets and making smart assessments about financial aid helped me view the cost as an investment and not a burden. That type of analysis would not have come quite so easy to me fresh out of college, when gearing up for student loan payments, finding an apartment near my new job and operating as a fully functioning, salaried adult took up most of my time.

You’re still keen on the idea of college

Remember the intrigue and excitement of starting a new class? Or, perhaps, the feeling of elation when you walked across the stage at graduation? That nostalgia is a powerful driver. In fact, I’m convinced that three years removed from undergrad falls right within that sweet spot; you’re experienced enough to make strategic decisions about your career, but nostalgic enough to be open to the notion of recapturing those collegiate feelings. Don’t brush it off as sheer wistfulness— that motivation can be the factor that drives you through your advanced degree and into a career you love.  

It’s never too late to go back for an advanced degree. However, three years out of college is a great time to sit back, evaluate your plan (or, let’s be honest, start drafting your plan) and really think long and hard about whether grad school is part of the approach.

Have you given thoughts to your grad school decision? Tell us more in the comments!

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Lauren - profile picLauren Cascio is an executive for account services at Bohlsen Group, an integrated communications agency in Indianapolis, Ind. She graduated from Purdue University in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in communications. A PR pro with a passion for process-driven creativity and operations management, Lauren is currently pursuing her MBA at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn and Twitter (@LaurenCascio).

 

How to Get Your First Promotion

Stephanie Vermillion Leave a comment

You’ve made it through your first full-time position, congratulations! Getting the first position is the hardest part, but you’ve managed to break into the industry. You’ve got the experience and some new skills, but how do you take it to the next level?

Getting a promotionBelow are five ways to get to the next level in your career.

Act like you are already in the next position.

Once you’ve mastered the requirements of your current position, start learning about what’s required at the next level.

Let’s say you are the assistant account executive for your team. You are charged with maintaining media lists, keeping the department clip report updated and assisting the team as needed. What does an account executive do? They might take your efforts further and build relationships with contacts on the media lists, they might create custom media lists, they use the clips in the report to share results with clients, etc. Start emulating those actions.

Take inventory of your job responsibilities and see how you can take them a step further.

Become a resource for your department

Is your boss having trouble getting a client invoice approved through accounting? Having trouble getting timely numbers and results from your research department?

It pays to network, even inside of your organization. Get to know the different parts of your organization and make yourself a resource for getting important but tedious tasks done quickly.

Continue your education

Become involved in your local PRSA chapter. Attend monthly luncheon or happy hours. Join a committee or participate in a Twitter chat or webinar. There are so many ways to get involved with PRSA and it shows that you are invested in becoming a better PR professional.

A positive attitude goes a long way

We’ve all had days when you are just not feeling up to it, whatever it maybe. Or things may be stressful in your personal life. But remember, work is not the place to take out your frustrations.

Maintaining a positive attitude may seem insignificant, but your coworkers and most importantly your boss will notice if you have a negative attitude. Shooting down others’ ideas, not participating in team activities, showing disgust for tasks that you believe are beneath you will not get you promoted, but they can get you fired.

Learn to take constructive criticism

No one likes to be criticized. However, constructive criticism is crucial to advancing your career. Learn how to effectively take criticism and apply it to future situations and assignments. Incorporating feedback shows that you are a good listener and are mature enough to learn for criticism.

Most importantly, advancing and excelling in your career is a process. Learn from mistakes, apply criticism and feedback accordingly and cultivate your skills. You never know when the next opportunity will appear.

Victoria Lightfoot (1)Victoria Lightfoot graduated from Georgia State University in 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism, concentrating in public relations. She is currently the PR coordinator at the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau and volunteers on PRSA Georgia’s College Relations Committee and co-chairs the Travel & Tourism Special Interest Group. Connect with Victoria on LinkedIn and Twitter (@Victoria_Lenese)

Five Tips for Balancing Work with Professional & Personal Organizations

Ashleigh Mavros Leave a comment

Untitled design (2)You’ve been working on your time management skills for years as a PR student and now you’re in the big leagues. Even if you’re a master of efficiency, the truth is days are still limited to 24 hours and sleep needs to fit in there somewhere.

As a new PR pro, you naturally want to get involved in the community and grow, but you certainly still have non-PR interests that require time and energy. Here are 5 tips to help you stay balanced when you have a jam-packed schedule:

Get enough rest.

If you need a cup of coffee (or three) in the morning to wake up and get in the zone, you’re in good company. Unfortunately, there’s not enough coffee in the world to replace the necessity of sleep. If you’ve ever tried focusing on a complex project after a late night, you probably noticed how incredibly difficult it is. Understanding how much sleep you need for optimal performance and ensuring that you get it is beyond important. With enough rest, you’ll feel great, be more efficient and perform to the best of your abilities

Have your ducks in a row.

By “ducks,” I mean obligations and other activities that require time. Just bear with me on this one (hey, another animal reference!). When you’re busy as a bee (I’ll stop now, I promise), careful planning can be the difference between burnout and having fun. Maybe you want to do that yoga class in the morning instead of the evening because it helps you start the day with a clear mind and makes you feel more energized. Plan your activities in a manner that provides the greatest positive impact and allows you to do them to the best of your ability.

Prioritize what needs to be done vs. what can wait.

PR pros typically have very dynamic schedules with moving parts. We all understand the importance of deadlines, but what can be done later this week versus being done today? If you’ve been looking forward to attending a PRSA leadership seminar that’s Thursday at 6 p.m., that’s unmovable. But perhaps you can write your next PRSAY blog post a day earlier or later with respect to the deadline. It’s not an exact science, but taking a good look at what you have coming up will help you understand which items you can shift in your agenda.  

Designate some down time.

Frank Underwood from House of Cards on Netflix said, “I never make such big decisions so long after sunset and so far from dawn.” In case you aren’t familiar with Frank, this is only one of countless great quotes from him. We can often be tempted to work late or make important decisions on the fly in our world of 24/7 news and unprecedented connectivity. Even if your “down time” is only from 9-10 p.m. each night, you’ll thank yourself for that hour. In fact, it might help you unwind and get better sleep (this fits in with number one!).

Have fun and enjoy what you’re doing!

What’s the point of it all if you aren’t enjoying it? Professional and personal organizations can be very rewarding, but be sure you’re involved with them for the right reasons. These organizations should enrich your life, not consume it. We all want to see our friends and fellow PR pros succeed. If you find that you’re overloaded with committees or other time commitments, reach out to those around you for help.

Getting into your groove and finding a system that works well for you takes time and it may be a process of trial and error. Stay positive, keep working on it and don’t get discouraged. Once you figure out what works for your time schedule, you’ll find that it was well-worth the time and energy you put into it!

Jeff Adkins is a public relations associate for Henry Ford Hospital and Health Network in Detroit, Michigan. An active member of PRSA Detroit, Jeff enjoys connecting with fellow PR pros and seeking out new professional experiences. He obtained his Bachelor’s in Public Relations in 2014 from Wayne State University (WSU), where he was a member of the WSU PRSSA executive board and a peer mentor for students entering the PR program. In his free time, Jeff enjoys being active outdoors and volunteers as a PR officer with Portal Paranormal Society. Feel free to connect with him on Twitter and LinkedIn.