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

January 31, 2016February 8, 2016PRSA New Pros Leave a comment

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Megan 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.

Playing the PR Field: Keeping Your Career Options Open

January 11, 2016January 10, 2016Ashleigh Mavros 1 Comment

Many of us approach looking for new opportunities as a necessity of job searching. We find a job, start off enthusiastically, become disappointed when it’s not everything we thought it would be, continue doing the job until we can’t anymore, and then desperately search for a new job. We repeat this vicious, frustrating cycle either because we only look for a new opportunity when we’re desperate for one, we don’t take the time to think about what we need or want in a career, or we don’t feel that turning down a job is an option.

This is absolutely the wrong way to approach finding a fulfilling career. Instead of pursuing opportunities only when we think we desperately need them, new pros should keep an open mind and eyes peeled for any new opportunities, no matter how satisfying their current position may be.

Actively looking around for what else is out there can help new pros decide what they want and don’t want in a career. Maybe there’s a great opportunity for a position with a well-known company that sounds like a dream available. If you ignore it just because you’re pretty happy with the job you have, you could be left wondering for the rest of your career if it was the one that got away. If you seek out an informational interview, you could find that it’s an opportunity you can’t pass up, that it’s not right for you—but is a great company—or that it’s just not a good fit at all. Early on in your career, learning more about a company or type of position is a great way to figure out what exactly you’re interested in and what you might like to explore more in-depth.

Keeping your options open also keeps you in control of your career. If you’re keeping an eye out for what else you could be doing, you can be the one to decide how long you’ll stay at a particular job—as long as your ‘looking’ is not negatively affecting performance in your current position. If you can juggle the job search while keeping up daily responsibilities, you can then decide if you want to keep learning and growing where you are or if you want to take a chance on another opportunity to grow your career. Being in the driver’s seat of your career is always a good place to be!

New opportunities often mean meeting new people, too. As you’re looking around at what else is available, you’re bound to make new connections with people you may not have met otherwise. Use informational meetings and events through professional organizations as a way to not only learn about new opportunities but to also build your network and strengthen your relationships. Actively reaching out to your network, new and old, will keep you the the front of their minds for any opportunities that might come end up in their emails.

While you’re at the top of new connections’ minds, you should also be keeping your skills fresh. Look at what skills open positions are looking for and make sure that you’re keeping up with the latest trends and skills. Making sure that you’ve brushed up on the skills employers are looking for can go a long way in helping you land the perfect position.

What else can you do to stay open to opportunities and land your dream job?

Write a call-to-action into your LinkedIn summary.

It can be as simple as a quick line saying that you welcome emails regarding new opportunities. Keep it short and sweet and let people know the best way to contact you.

Make a list of your dream employers & contact them.

Find connections at these companies and ask for an informational interview to learn more about the company, its culture and any relevant opportunities. Even if there’s not an opening at that time, meeting with and keeping in touch with a contact or two inside will keep you at the top of their list when positions do open.

Set up informational interviews & meetings when possible.

If there are companies you know you’d like to work for, people you admire or colleagues whose advice you value, reach out to them. Set up informational interviews with the first two to learn more about what they do and what opportunities might be available. For those whose advice you trust, an informal meeting over coffee, drinks or brunch is a great chance to catch up and talk in a relaxed setting.

Let people know when & what you’re looking for.

Even if you’re not actively looking for a new job, letting people know that you are open to new opportunities gives you new sets of eyes and ears to be on the lookout. Share your resume with those you trust and ask that they share information of new openings with you. If you are looking for a new job, let as many people as you can know, while not jeopardizing your current position. Spread the word privately to close connections, rather than publicly where your current employer may see.

Keep checking job postings.

Sometimes it can be fun to see what else is out there and what better way than checking job posting sites. If you want to make it even easier, sign up for weekly or monthly emails from PRSA Jobcenter, Indeed or any other job boards with specific keywords relating to what you’re looking for and where.

Ro Robyn Rudish-Laning (1) byn Rudish-Laning is a member of PRSA SC and communications coordinator for the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness. Robyn is also a member of the New Professionals executive committee. She is a graduate of Duquesne University and is currently located in Columbia, SC. Find her on LinkedIn or Twitter or read her PR-focused blog.

Five Tips for Balancing Work with Professional & Personal Organizations

October 8, 2015Ashleigh Mavros Leave a comment

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.

The Power of Perception in Your Career

September 3, 2015September 28, 2015Ashleigh Mavros 1 Comment

How many clichés have we heard about perception? “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” “It’s the thought that counts.” Or a slightly deeper and personal favorite, “The difference between a flower and a weed, is a judgment.”

Our perception of the world around us influences our reality in more ways than we can imagine. And I think recognizing this, that the way we look at a situation can either improve or worsen our experience, gives us a great deal of power that few tap into.

Take rejection for example.

Rejection is often seen as a bad thing. And people aren’t wrong; it hurts to not get the raise you were hoping for, the dinner date you’d been looking forward to, the media placement you put SO MUCH time and energy into. Having to turn off the happy-ending movie of expectations playing on repeat in your head really, really sucks. No one likes being told “no.”

But there is a power in understanding the significance of the situation. If we can shift our vision of failure from a dead-end street, to instead an alley with many alternatives, we gain the ability to mold our future into something not only desirable, but preferable. Rejection doesn’t have to immobilize you into a mere spectator.

No, things may not be going according to plan… So what are you going to do about it?

There’s an offbeat idea that floats around the outskirts of mainstream acceptance, that with every decision we make, those pivotal fork-in-the-road moments, there is a parallel timeline that continues without us. The “what if” timeline. It’s a repeated theme we find in movies all of the time. You fail to catch your train before an important meeting at work… You may lose the account and in turn your job, forcing you dig deep to find your true passion and make a new life for yourself. OR… You might find a way to keep your job, move closer into the city and end up meeting the love of your life next door. If either timeline is an equally viable option at the start, the possibilities in how drastically different your timeline could unfold is enticing… What if there were no wrong decisions? (If you haven’t already, watch Sliding Doors staring Gwyneth Paltrow circa 1998.)

Now, while I don’t recommend dwelling on the literal idea dual timelines, I have to wonder; why can’t we see rejection in this philosophical light?

Getting told no, when you step back and think about it objectively, is simultaneously getting told yes (or at least maybe) to a handful of doors that would’ve otherwise been closed had you never been rejected in the first place. It is the pivotal step in scientific theory! Hypothesis, test, fail, repeat until a solution is found. Rejection isn’t a period at the end of a sentence; it’s a semicolon that can guide you on to something better.

It’s all about the way you look at it.

Couldn’t rope an investor to help get your start up off the ground? That doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Think about this possible alternative: You’ll likely find an interim job and build your skillset in the meantime, continue to improve your start-up and perhaps meet your new business partner during the downtime. Then, without investors, you’d be free to run things your way, an option that would have never been available had the initial plan followed through.

This idea isn’t limited to the business world, either. Think about how, if you dropped your initial snap-perceptions of people, places or situations, how things would look different (perhaps even more friendly) to you.

Self-awareness of our perceptions can be an incredible superpower when used properly. When you recognize this, you won’t immediately act on those preconceived ideas of how you see the word “no.” You’ll pause. You’ll soak in both sides, and feel before reacting.

Understanding that there are always (at least) two sides to every story means accepting that our perception of reality is likely dramatically different from someone else who experienced the exact same thing. It’s a scary thought, but it’s also a little bit liberating when you think of how you can change your reality, simply by changing the way you interpret the things presented to you.

In life, you can’t move significantly forward without taking a few risks. And we all know that walking on those rocky, risky, unpaved roads typically comes paired with a few unexpected missteps along the way. If you can take these speed bumps in stride, looking for the next alternative route without getting stuck at a dead-end in the road, you’ll be able to handle whatever rejections may come your way. Because being unstoppable isn’t about receiving all green lights, but hitting red lights, stop and “Do Not Enter” signs and persevering onward anyway.

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

Five Costly Mistakes For New Pros to Avoid

August 14, 2015Ashleigh Mavros Leave a comment

Have you ever wished that you’d done something differently? For most of us, there is at least one mistake we wish we hadn’t made. Hindsight is 20/20 and no matter how prepared you are for your career, mistakes will inevitably happen. To make your transition from student to new professional as smooth as possible, keep any eye out for these common (and potentially costly) mistakes.

Misspelling a Journalist’s Name.

When pitching, this is one of the easiest mistakes to make. While it’s not necessarily fatal – if the journalist is interested in the content, they may pick it up anyway – it’s certainly embarrassing and could devalue your credibility.

Being a new pro, you’ll always want to put your best foot forward and show that you bring professionalism and valuable skills to the team. Don’t jeopardize that by not taking 15 more seconds to double check someone’s name. While you’re at it, run spell check to make sure there aren’t any other errors that may have slipped under the radar.

Not Prioritizing Deadlines.

You may have days when you have your to-do list planned out, but another (more time sensitive) project pops up just as your day is getting started. These little projects are one thing I personally like about being a PR pro because each day truly is different, but having a dynamic schedule also presents risks.

Don’t let the small project become a huge project because you put it off for a week and it’s due tomorrow morning. It’s so easy to get caught up in the urgency of sporadic assignments, but you need to be disciplined in carving out time for larger, long-term projects. If you find that you are struggling to keep up, communicate that to your supervisor or colleagues who can help.

Referencing the Wrong Media Outlet.

Just like misspelling a journalist’s name, this is an easy one to make when pitching. If you are working for an agency, you may talk to people from numerous media outlets each day. You’ll want to avoid telling the guy from The NonProfit Times that what you have to offer would be of interest to readers of The Chronicle of Philanthropy. As much as we love to be quick and responsive, it’s worth it to slow down a little for the sake of accuracy.

Not Keeping Your Supervisor Updated.

Keeping your supervisor and team members updated with how your projects are going is so invaluable. Teamwork makes the dream work, but not without clear communication. As mentioned previously, this comes in handy if you are struggling, but it’s also critical to establishing expectations. Allowing others to draw their own conclusions about when you will have a project finished will come back to haunt you more times than not.

Sending Out the Wrong Version.

Out of all these mistakes, this one may have the potential to be the most costly. Anyone who has internally edited content before it’s made public knows that the process can be long and tedious. A minor change may not seem significant, yet the change may have been in reference to financial or other information that needs to be completely accurate. Before you send something out, always check to be sure that you have the final version.

Being a new professional is about learning, but you’ll be one step ahead of the game when avoiding these little mishaps. Attention to detail is invaluable and it’s something that gets stronger over time. The more you practice, the more effective you’ll be at predicting potential mistakes and spotting them should they arise. In time, you’ll find a style that works for you. Keep calm, stay focused and enjoy your new career as a PR pro!

Jeff Adkins is a public relations associate for Henry Ford Hospital and Health Network in Detroit, Michigan. An active member of the Detroit chapter of PRSA, Jeff enjoys connecting with fellow PR pros and seeking out new professional experiences. He’s a 2014 Wayne State University alum, where he obtained a Bachelor’s in Public Relations and was a member of the university’s PRSSA chapter. In his free time, Jeff enjoys being active outdoors and volunteers as a public relations officer with Portal Paranormal Society. Feel free to connect with him on Twitter at @jeffadkins14 and LinkedIn.

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