Flourishing Your Local New Pros Chapter

Jess Noonan Leave a comment

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Being responsible for building your local New Pros committee or Chapter is not an easy task. In addition to your job responsibilities and launching your career in the PR world, you’ve intentionally chosen to pile more on to your plate. The good news is that you’re not the only one solely accountable for your group’s success – well, you shouldn’t be, anyways. Most likely you have a team of like-minded individuals working towards a shared goal of flourishing your New Pros chapter. And if you find yourself as the lone leader, then … recruit, recruit, recruit!

Here are some lessons learned from PRSA Charlotte New Professionals and a few ideas on how to flourish your New Pros Chapter:

Get on the same page

How are you going to connect with fellow New Pros if you don’t know their interests? At the end of each year, implement a survey that will help you plan and organize for the upcoming year. Ask questions about what topics and programming interests them, what expectations they have of the group and what changes they want to see to help everyone get on the same page.

Schedule mind-blowing programming

ENOUGH with the socials! We all miss college, but the days of hosting all your events at a bar are over. Somewhere along the way, our group found ourselves socializing more than learning. It’s great to host a networking social every now and then, but don’t be afraid to get a little crazy with your programming.  You’ll find success in diversifying your events and mixing in educational programs that are targeted to your group’s needs. If you have dedicated members, they’ll want to learn and grow just as much as they want to network. If you haven’t tried this approach, give it a shot.

Encourage attendance at PRSA programs

It can be terrifying for a new member, especially those fresh out of college, to attend programs and events hosted by their local PRSA chapter. Yes, those highly experienced, well known, senior PR pros are intimidating to all of us who aspire to be just like them one day. But, those are the individuals you should want to be affiliated with. Encourage members to attend Chapter events and work the room. Network with everyone and make sure they know that the New Pros are worth watching. Plus, you can get ideas and speakers for your next group event.

These are some of the ways we have connected with our new pros in Charlotte. What programs have you found to be successful?

Jessica_Ernstberger_HeadshotJessica  Ernstberger currently works as an administrative coordinator for Carolina Public Relations, a Chernoff Newman company, where she aids senior level practitioners for each active client.  She serves on the PRSA Charlotte New Professional’s board, she’s on the communications committee for the chapter and served on the communications team for the 2014 Southeast District Conference in April.

May Twitter Chat Highlights: Media Relations

Lauren Gray Leave a comment

We’d like to thank everyone who participated in the May #NPPRSA Twitter chat as we discussed methods to improve media relations and explored ways to build authentic relationships with the media.

PRSA Twitter ChatSpecifically, we’d like to thank Gini Dietrich, CEO of Arment Dietrich and author of Spin Sucks — a leading industry publication for public relations and marketing professionals.

Join us again on May 15 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. How can you best nurture a relationship with the media? How can you pitch effectively?

 


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Lauren Rosenbaum is the PRSA New Professionals Social Media Co-Chair and Co-Founder of Soversity, a public relations and digital marketing company. You can connect with her on Google+, LinkedIn or Twitter.

 

 

 

Treating Your Boss Like Your Client

Jess Noonan Leave a comment

You know something that’s strange? Oh, come on—take a guess.  Here are a few clues…

I’m not talking about any world records, pickles accompanied by mustard (yuck) or the way Shakira’s hips don’t lie (anyone else addicted to the Voice this season?).

Pat Blog

Source: www.notwillsmith.com

All out of guesses?  I’ll tell you.  It’s strange how closely the relationships we have with our clients and our supervisors mimic each other.  Shocker when you actually think about it, right? If your relationship with your boss is not like the one you have with your client, start making steps to morph it.

Your boss is your client.  She/he holds a certain power over your career, much like a client has a certain power in your agency’s ability to sign your paychecks. If you’re performing at the highest level, always achieving your professional goals and you communicate it to your boss, she/he will advocate for you.  In the same fashion as your boss, if you’re surpassing the goals you set with your client, you’ll continue to see positive results such as business growth and new business referrals.

Treating your boss (and colleagues) like a client shows that you respect them— if you show the same level of detail and care towards your boss as your client, she/he is bound to have a strengthened level of trust and respect for you as well. From my first internship to my current career, I follow a few simple rules when working with teams and/or clients: ask smart questions, always know your key messages before you begin presenting an analysis, and have back up ammunition such as supporting details, resources or next steps for those who questions.  Not only will the above rules show your boss you mean business, it will make you look ready for the next step in your career.

As young professionals, we have to embrace treating our teams like clients.  The continuous effort to treat your teams like clients will force you to perform at the highest level at all times (you won’t even need a Starbucks run).  Over time, you’ll begin to realize that your “default” internal mode will turn into your “client” external mode, and you’ll begin to see a natural upwards progression in your performance.

Source: Monster.com

Source: Monster.com

As I’m been jabbering away about treating your boss and teams like your client, I bet you’re wondering, ‘how am I supposed to act when your boss acts like the client from you-know-where?’ Simple. Treat them like a client.

Every moment is a learning moment.  If you have an extremely difficult manager—embrace it and still treat her/him like the client! You’ll be more prepared in the future to deal with harsh criticisms and the infamous indirect feedback. Practice makes perfect, start by having an open conversation with your boss by stating your expectations and goals you want to meet, and more importantly, learn how you can make their lives easier. Is she/he difficult because they’re terrible at responding to emails?  Try giving your boss a call. Is it because she/he will tell you everything she/he doesn’t want, but not what they actually want? Think two steps ahead.  Always be cognizant of what she/he already provided feedback on, and anticipate the next piece of feedback.  Go ahead and make the adjustments and provide reasoning to why you made the adjustments.

Now tell me about your experiences! Have you ever considered your boss as a client? How do you handle a difficult boss vs. a difficult client?

Pat MessengerPat Messenger is a Client Staff Assistant at Burson-Marsteller in Chicago. Pat is a member of PRSA Chicago and the Young Professional Network. Tweet at him @PatMessenger, or email him Patrick.Messenger@BM.com.

 

 

The Top 8 Reasons Why New Professionals Need Their APR

Lauren Gray Leave a comment

APR-il is accreditation month for PR professionals. (APR-il – see what we did there?) This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the certification!

50AnnivLogoAPRAlthough the APR has existed since the Lyndon B. Johnson administration in the 1960’s, many professionals don’t know what it is, how to obtain it or the value it can add to their career. You’re eligible to apply after you’ve worked in the field for five years (suggested), but here are our top eight reasons why you should think about getting your APR as soon as you cross that stage at graduation.

1.     People know right off the bat that you’re legit. The profession is getting crowded – and not always by the best and brightest. For every credible, knowledgeable and ethical PR pro, there’s a “flack” out there giving us all a bad name. Investing in the credential shows that you know your stuff and that you aren’t a spin artist.

2.     You won’t be an “everyman” PR professional. According to the US Department of Labor, the PR Specialist position is expected to grow 12% by 2022. That means more competition in job interviews. Those three little letters behind your name can help move your resume up to the top of the “yes” pile.

3.     It signifies you’re a lifelong learner. In a field that is constantly changing, even drastically in the last five years, employers appreciate employees who are always learning.

4.     It’ll prep you for any job interview. The APR process is two-fold. The first is a readiness review in front of a panel of three accredited professionals, and the second is a computerized examination. At the readiness review, described by our local APR chair as the “most intense job interview of your life,” you’ll showcase your portfolio and a specific campaign you worked on. You thoroughly present the campaign’s objective, strategy, tactics, measurement and evaluation process and results. If you can get through that, you’ll breeze through any job interview.

5.     Bragging rights. Going through the process internally validates what you know about PR and boosts your confidence, while externally it sets you apart from your colleagues and shows your commitment and wide knowledge of the field.

6.     Once you earn your APR, it’s yours to maintain. Once you earn your accreditation, you won’t have to redo the readiness review or retake the test. You can maintain your APR status by participating in professional development activities like serving with your local or national PRSA Chapter, speaking at conferences or mentoring young professionals. Activities are due to the Universal Accreditation Board every three years.

7.     It doesn’t have to be pricy… The application fee is $25, and the examination fee is $385. However, scholarships are available specifically for the APR through many local PRSA Chapters and regional district Chapters. PRSA also offers a rebate. Many employers will also fund your certification fees because it adds value to you, which will help the company in the long run.

8.     …and you don’t have to go through it alone. There is a plethora of help available to ensure you successfully obtain your APR. PRSA has several webinars to help you with the process, and many are FREE with your membership to PRSA! Also, tap into your resources locally – more likely than not, APRs in your PRSA Chapter are willing to mentor you and give insight, tips and help with the process.

As we mentioned before, the profession is constantly changing. One thing remains the same: The APR is the only recognized certification for public relations professionals. Those three little letters behind your name can make a huge impact on your career!

 

Screen Shot 2014-04-24 at 1.12.26 PMBrianna Jackson is the Communications Coordinator at The Concilio, a Dallas-area nonprofit. She leads the nonprofit’s media relations, internal and external communications and social media management. She serves as the co-chair of Dallas NuPros, a section of PRSA Dallas for new professionals within the first five years of their career. Tweet her at @briannasjackson. 

 

Screen Shot 2014-04-24 at 1.12.31 PMBrooke Traister is an account supervisor at Tucker & Associates, a Dallas-based national public relations firm specializing in travel and tourism. With five years of experience working with consumer, B2B and nonprofit clients, Brooke leads several of the agency’s account teams, spearheads social media initiatives and manages Tucker’s intern program. She also serves on the NuPros committee for PRSA Dallas. Tweet her at @brookereport.

Keeping Your Bank Account Afloat While Job Searching

Jess Noonan 1 Comment

3354726208_0cce729fc8_zAs a new PR professional, the job search can be tough. You have your degree and a few internships under your belt, finding a job should be a breeze, right? Sometimes that isn’t the case. After a little while of looking for a job you’ll notice that entry-level positions are hard to come by and most full-time positions are looking for more experience then you have.

Paid Internships

Some internship programs extend to college graduates up to 1 year after graduation. Look for a full-time internship that pays. This is a great way to gain experience, network with professionals, find a mentor, hone your skills and earn some cash while your waiting to kick-start your career. The experiences you can learn at this level will benefit you in the long run and help you expand your skills. There also is a chance that the company could hire you after your internship is complete.

Worst case scenario, you’ve added additional experience to your resume and no one is going to tell you that you did too many internships at your next interview.

Part-Time Positions

It can be frustrating to see that a company is only hiring part-time or internship positions when you are looking over their careers page. This should not be discouraging. Instead think of it as a great opportunity to get your foot in the door. Chances are that if you come in part-time and do a good job, when the HR manager starts looking to hire for a full-time position candidates within the company are the first choice. Already working at an organization makes you a great hire because you understand the company, the culture and the work, which can save time when it comes to training.

In the case that your part-time position does not lead to full-time, it’s still something to build up your resume. Plus you can look for and interview for a full-time job during the hours you are not at work.

Freelance Work

One of the best ways to bring in some extra money, gain experience and add some references to your resume is freelancing. If you know a small business or a non-profit near you that want to be active on social media but can’t do it because of time or inexperience, you can capitalize on that opportunity by freelancing. Many small companies out don’t have the time or resources to hire full-time employees. However, these companies might be willing to hire a contract employee or freelancer for a set amount of time. This is the work that helps you build up your professional portfolio and will give you with a taste of what it’s like to be your own boss.

You don’t have to sit around with your fingers crossed waiting for a company to hire you. There are many opportunities out there that as a young professional you can – and should – take advantage of. Take some time to gain experience, network within your industry and save some cash. The rest will fall into place soon enough. Happy job searching!

daynaDayna Lucio is a Digital Specialist at Alchemy Group in Michigan. Her experience lies with social media, content creation, blogging and media relations. You can connect with Dayna on Twitter or LinkedIn.