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.

Three Easy Ways to Leverage Your Leadership Positions

Ashleigh Mavros Leave a comment

Three Easy Ways to LEverage your leadership positionsYou’ve probably heard or experienced firsthand how hard it is to get a job (let alone a career relevant one) in today’s economy. Whether you are newly applying or just want to spruce up your resume, college leadership positions are an excellent way besides internships to showcase experience. However, it is not the title of the position that matters, but its how you emphasize those responsibilities to employers that can either make you stand out or go unnoticed.

Use the positions relative to the field.

While this might be obvious to some, having relevant positions can only be positive since it’s more in-line with the responsibilities of today’s PR practitioners. It is also a great moment to highlight the strengthening of your weaker skills, development of new ones or even the defining moment of identifying the sector that you enjoy working in. While the title can range from Publicity Chairman to Communications Delegate, make sure the duties they entail are relative to the field. Using these leadership roles can show your early dedication to advancing your career by showing interest in your professional development.  

Highlight transferable skills.

While a PR-centered position is great and easier to describe, showcasing other experiences through transferable skills is an excellent option as well.  Start by creating a list of all of your responsibilities and tailor your description of duties to emphasize relevant aspects before the non-relevant ones.  For example, as captain of the soccer team, training and assisting others, delegating responsibilities and managing conflicts are great management skills that employers are seeking. Ultimately, if transferable skills are presented in a manner that can be applicable to your next role, they become an optimal way to help your position appear much more credible and relevant.

Change your vocabulary.

It’s astonishing how just a change of words can make a world of a difference and get you hired. While “discussed and planned an event with peers/colleagues,” sounds good, “participated in an event development and execution group,” sounds much better and more professional. The key is to switch everyday words with action words. Assisted vs. helped; developed vs. planned. Don’t let your poor choice of words throughout your resume be the reason you didn’t move on to the next round.

Tip: Don’t lie. There is a difference between rephrasing and overstating. Nothing is more embarrassing or damaging to your credibility than showing up to your interview and having to explain the misrepresentation of your skills.  

While these changes might not seem brand new or revolutionary, they are easy enough to forget in the resume writing process. Remember, employers want to hire professionals and using your college leadership roles not only shows your capabilities of being a leader but more importantly your willingness to accept new responsibilities. Who wouldn’t want to hire someone like that?

Stephanie VelardeStephanie Velarde is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Mass Communications with a concentration in Public Relations and a minor in Business. She has a knack for crisis management, an interest in global communications and a guilty pleasure for event planning. Connect with her on LinkedIn or follow her on Twitter or Pinterest.

Finding a Home for Career and Personal Growth in Your Local PRSA Chapter

Stephanie Vermillion 1 Comment

It was a cold Tuesday night in January of 2014. We didn’t really know what to expect that night. Would people be nice? Would people want to talk? Will everyone else already know each other? Well, at least there’s free wine.

We met each other that night at the PRSA-NCC Leadership Rally – and within the next year we would become co-chairs of the newly developed New Professionals committee, and one of each other’s closest friends in this beautiful, historical, pant-suit wearing, House of Cards city.Finding a Home for Career and Personal Growth in Your Local PRSA Chapter

As melodramatic as that description might be, PRSA-NCC has provided us both a home in the District of Columbia PR community. It has offered us an avenue to improve and expand our skills and talents and a venue in which to connect with other professionals at all different stages in their careers.

Our professional skills and networks have grown exp
onentially since embarking on this journey of chairing a committee. Planning and executing monthly events, managing a committee of nearly 20 people and constantly being on the lookout for job opportunities for PRSA-NCC’s newest professionals has given us the opportunity to learn skills we might not have ever been exposed to in our day-to-day work.

In the world of PR, a good network can be just as important as a skill set. So while the PRSA-NCC New Professionals committee does host a couple of professional development events each year, most of our events are networking heavy. They enable new professionals of all ages to go through this journey together. We share ideas, challenges, lessons learned – and a lot of laughs.

For example, in 2015 we have planned six happy hours – one with free professional headshots – two professional development events, one networking baseball game and one cross-industry networking event. We could not have done this without the help of the wonderful New Pros committee members and the support of our local chapter, PRSA-NCC.

Don’t have a New Professionals committee in your local chapter? Start one! It’s a great way to get even more out of the already great experience PRSA membership has to offer. If your chapter already has one, join the committee. Get out there, network, challenge your skill set and offer your talents.

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Katelynn Wiggins and Kelsey Pospisil are co-chairs of the National Capital Chapter’s New Professionals Committee. Katelynn is the public relations associate at the American Psychological Association and Kelsey is the client engagement and media relations manager at News Generation.

The Pathway to Career Independence

Stephanie Vermillion Leave a comment

If you’re just starting out in PR a great place to start is on the agency side.  Why?  Because there, you will be challenged, exposed to many facets of managing a PR agency, likely find one or two awesome mentors who will help you grow, and have a clear career ladder.   Having a clear career ladder is really important when you’re starting out and you want to succeed.  “How long does it take/what do I have to do to become an Account Supervisor?  Group Director?  VP?  On the agency side, you will also discover your strengths and your passions.  It might be client management, story development, strategic planning, analyst relations, competitive research, writing or a combination of these.

The Pathway to Career IndependenceIf you’re toying with the idea of putting out your own shingle and going solo or starting your own virtual agency, you’re going to either a) need all of those skills, or b) know where to tap into them.  You’re also going to be your own accountant, marketer, strategic planner, chief cook and bottle washer. If you are getting serious…the PRSA IPA section is the place for you.     I’ve been my own boss now for almost 14 years and a PRSA member for even longer.  Here’s what I think IndiePRPros and virtual agencies offer over traditional agencies, and how you can set yourself apart from the pack:

Speed:  We’re generally able to “ramp up” in short periods of time;

Ease:  Seasoned PR veterans, we know how to make it easy for clients to meet PR goals.

Simplicity & Visibility:  Generally avoid expensive processes or layers, focused on results.

Flexibility:  Can better leverage budgets strategically, and weather downturns

Value:  Low overhead often results in below market rates offering a higher ROI.

Excelling at PR is like excelling at anything – if you don’t try new things and make a mistake or two, you’re not challenging yourself and you’re not learning.  When you’re going solo it can get lonely so having a group to tap into for support and some “water cooler time” is really helpful.  One challenge we all share is how to grow effectively with stability – our choices go directly to what brand we are developing for ourselves.

  • What kind of clients do I want to work with?
  • What should my billing rate be? Hourly or Retainer?
  • If I add team members should they be an employee or subcontractor?
  • What are best accounting process & software?
  • What are the best practices in invoicing & contract preparation?
  • Are there any templates I can customize to get me started?
  • What should I be focusing on with my limited time/$ for professional development?

When you are an independent practitioner, you are the master of your universe – some will choose to be “always on,” others will build businesses that offer more work/life balance.  Regardless of your choice, you need to create an infrastructure.  The members of the PRSA IPA can help you tackle these decisions by helping you understand the options you have so you can figure out what’s right for your emerging enterprise and build a successful career.

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Gina Milani is president at Milani Marketing & PR, LLC & founder of Junglebuzzprtools.com. She is also PRSA IPA Chair for 2015.

 

Four Ways Giving Back Helps You Grow as a Leader

Ashleigh Mavros Leave a comment

MY VACATIONLaunching your career isn’t a one-step process. It takes time and strategic planning to really narrow down both your short- and long-term goals. But thinking about these goals isn’t enough. How are you going to get there?

As new professionals, we need to proactively think about how we’re going to land those senior-level executive positions. It’s not going to happen tomorrow but that doesn’t mean we don’t need to take initiative now.

Yes, we’re driven and have aspirations, and we really do want to be leaders. But the important part is for all of us to take steps back and ask ourselves, why? Why do we do public relations, and why do we want to be leaders of the industry? Then, we need to focus our approach on that.

For me, the answer derives in the reason I chose public relations and my biggest motivation in the work that I do: to help people. PR gives me the capability to effect change for the causes and organizations I’m passionate about, so becoming a leader means I’ll have even more knowledge, experience and power to do so.

Looking at my career with that perspective made it easier to narrow down what I could do in addition to my day job to grow professionally while simultaneously making a difference in my community. For me, that’s using my skills to help local nonprofits and community organizations.

The agency I work for, similar to agencies many new professionals work for, works with nonprofits and other community organizations on both a client and pro-bono basis. For me, this includes participating on fundraising and networking committees, directly communicating with donors or members via newsletters and social media, and so much more. By building relationships with these clients and executing campaigns, I’ve noticed firsthand how much these organizations rely on volunteers to achieve their missions, a universal truth for all nonprofits.

As a new professional, you can make a bigger difference than you may suspect for the nonprofits and organizations in your community. In addition to feeling great about doing good work, you’ll:

Expand your network.

As PR professionals, we understand the value of relationships. And while our co-workers become our work families, it’s important to build a network throughout the community beyond the office. Volunteer positions do just that.

It can be intimidating to arrive alone to your first meeting or event, but you need to start somewhere. Before you know it, you’ll no longer feel like you’re stepping out of your comfort zone and want to start volunteering for leadership positions. Also, it’s likely you’ll meet and work with people from different industries and professions, who could then turn into friends and mentors. These relationships can last a lifetime and open the door to new opportunities and shared passions.

Become the expert.

Depending on the organization or people you’re interacting with, you could be the only PR professional in the room. So when a communications-specific question or request is brought up, all eyes turn to you. This doesn’t mean you’re expected to know the answer in a blink of an eye, but you’re expected to be able to figure it out – an important skill as PR professionals are looked to as problem solvers. As an added bonus, you’ll become more comfortable and confident speaking up or learn when to let others do the same in these situations, which can help in all aspects of your career.

Build your resume.

Volunteer-based experiences are often equally as beneficial as on-the-job experiences. Most nonprofits and community organizations run on shoestring budgets, which make successful campaigns extra impressive. The ability to articulate your role in a successful project can speak volumes to your impact and leadership skills. Through volunteering you’ll also get hands-on experience with industries you may not typically be involved with, which can help round you out professionally or let you explore new interests if you’re not super passionate about the PR work you’re doing from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Learn new approaches and skills.

You’ll notice there are similar practices utilized among different organizations, but you’ll also pick up on differences. An organization may use a strategy or tool you’ve never explored. Each new skill you learn can enhance your value and help set you apart from peers, vital steps for career growth. And as you gain new skills and ideas, you’ll be able to contribute a different perspective to the meetings you attend – positioning yourself as a leader.

It’s never too early to get involved – whether you’re a college freshman or seasoned professional – take some time to consider how you can give back and become a better leader.

What types of volunteer roles do you have in the community? What are other career benefits you’ve noticed from giving back?

Hannah Leibinger Headshot (1)Hannah 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 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.