Careers in PR

March 9 2020

On March 24th, The #PRStudChat Community Discusses How to Land Your 1st Job Like a PRo!

Deirdre Breakenridge Event, Mentoring, PR 2.0, PR Job Search, PRStudChat Careers in PR, Jennie Donohue, PR Jobs, PRStudChat, public relations 0

Are you confused about the public relations job search? Would you like to learn more about finding and landing an entry-level position in the PR industry?

In this #PRStudChat session, guest Jennie Donohue (@jenniedonohue), senior lecturer and director of the PR curriculum at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, will be joined by @UMassJournalism students to offer tips and insights to kick start your PR career and prepare for your future now.

Jennie, her students (#DonohuePRCases) and the #PRStudChat community will cover several topics during this chat sponsored by @SpinSucks. Join us Tuesday, March 24, at 12 p.m. ET for a dynamic, hour-long discussion about:

Q1. What does the current PR job market look like?

Q2. What are some tips for searching, both online and off, for entry-level PR positions?

Q3. How can I make my application stand out from the crowd? For example, what skills and experiences are PR pros looking for in an entry-level candidate?

Q4. What materials should I include in my portfolio?

Q5. There’s a lot of talk about the importance of networking. How do I get started when I haven’t worked in PR nor have any professional contacts?

Q6. How can I prepare for the interview?

Q7. What are the next steps after the interview?

Q8. I’ve landed my first PR job. Now what? What can I expect to do my first year?

Q9. What happens if I graduate and don’t get a job right away? What should I do?

Q10. Any final suggestions for finding and landing a PR job?

As always, be sure to follow the #PRStudChat hashtag. You can tweet @PRStudChat, @SpinSucks, @LKPetrolino, @ValerieSimon or @DBreakenridge in advance with any additional questions related to “The Future is Now: Landing Your First Job Like A PRo” on March 24^th at noon ET.

About Our Sponsor, Spin Sucks

It began with a simple question asked by Angela Hernandez, then President of PRSSA at Central Michigan University (CMU). “Is PR Right for me?” A follow up blog post by PR 2.0 expert Deirdre Breakenridge inspired a series of direct messages on Twitter between Breakenridge and fellow PR industry pro, Valerie Simon. This was an important question and one that should be explored beyond one student or one blog post. Why not build a community to help students across the country, and even the globe, learn from the experience and perspective of industry professionals … A community where everyone can learn and grow together. Read more

About Our Sponsor, Spin Sucks

Spin Sucks was started in September 2006 by Gini Dietrich, an agency founder, author, blogger, CEO, and creator of the PESO Model and PESO Model Certificate. Our mission? To change the perception of the communications industry. What began as a simple blog, soon became a movement. Spin Sucks is the number one PR blog in the world and the go-to resource for forward-thinking PR professionals who want to learn how to use the PESO model to implement the strategies and tactics that drive measurable business goals. It’s also a community where people have fun discussions, brainstorm, ask for help, and make new friends.

March 2 2020

Save the Date: Join #PRStudChat on March 24th to discuss “The Future is Now: Landing Your First Job Like a PRo!”

Deirdre Breakenridge Event, Mentoring, PR 2.0, PR Job Search, PRStudChat Careers in PR, Jennie Donohue, PR Job Search, Public Relations Jobs, UMASS Amherst 0

Interested in a career in public relations? Don’t know how to prepare for the job search? Join #PRStudChat and guest Jennie Donohue (@jenniedonohue), senior lecturer and director of the PR curriculum at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, on Thursday, March 24, from noon — 1 p.m. ET for the live Twitter chat, “The Future is Now: Landing Your First Job Like A PRo.”

Jennie Donohue, Senior Lecturer & Director of PR Curriculum, UMASS Amherst

Jennie, UMass Amherst PR students (#DonohuePRCases) and the #PRStudChat community will discuss how to find and land your first PR job. The chat, sponsored by @SpinSucks, will focus on the PR student experience, providing a guide for your job hunt including what the job market looks like now to what you can expect working your first year in industry.

About #PRStudChat

In 2009, it began with a simple question asked by Angela Hernandez, then President of PRSSA at Central Michigan University (CMU). “Is PR Right for me?” A follow-up blog post by Communication Strategist Deirdre Breakenridge inspired a series of direct messages on Twitter between Breakenridge and fellow PR industry pro, Valerie Simon. This was an important question and one that should be explored beyond one student or one blog post. Why not build a community to help students across the country, and even the globe, learn from the experience and perspective of industry professionals … A community where everyone can learn and grow together.

About Our Sponsor, Spin Sucks

Spin Sucks was started in September 2006 by Gini Dietrich, an agency founder, author, blogger, CEO, and creator of the PESO Model and PESO Model Certificate. Our mission? To change the perception of the communications industry. What began as a simple blog, soon became a movement. Spin Sucks is the number one PR blog in the world and the go-to resource for forward-thinking PR professionals who want to learn how to use the PESO model to implement the strategies and tactics that drive measurable business goals. It’s also a community where people have fun discussions, brainstorm, ask for help, and make new friends.

July 9 2018

Use Your Class to Get a Job in Social Media

Deirdre Breakenridge Guest Post, Mentoring, PR 2.0, PR Job Search, Social media Careers in PR, PR Learning, public relations, Sedale McCall, Social media 0

A Guest Post by Sedale McCall, Digital Analyst, GPG

When I attended graduate school in 2016, I was also working at a Porter Novelli in Washington, D.C. Beyond the exhaustion of working and going to school, it was fantastic to be able to see what I was learning in a real-world environment. However, after graduating, I noticed that many students around me did not have that luxury and it made the transition into the workforce more difficult.

But it doesn’t have to be that way! There are a few things you can do while in school to put yourself in a great position to become a rockstar digital professional as soon as you start your job. These tips will also help you stand out in interview and applications. Check out these five things you can do to make your courses more life-like:

Pick a client. Pick an organization you are interested in, even if your teacher does not tell you to. Envision all your work supporting that client. If possible, make every assignment you do that semester work in service of that client. If you have to write a research report, how could that research help your client’s business? If you have to read a case study, what ideas could your client take from it? It could be a real client you hope to work for in the future, or just a company you admire. The more practice you can get understanding how a client thinks, the better.
Treat every assignment like it’s live. Similar to #1, do not just work to complete the assignment, check all the boxes on the rubric and get a good grade. Make your assignment solve a client’s problem. When you submit your assignments, you should feel like it could go out into the real world and have an impact on the followers of your organization. The benefits to your assignments should go way beyond the grade you get at the end.
Ask for real feedback, not just a grade. Speaking of grades, push your teacher to give you more feedback than a few sentences and a number/letter. Especially, if you have a relationship with them, ask them how you could improve the assignment and what a real client might say about it. School can be a great testing ground for ideas, but sometimes you need to nudge your professors to help you get there.
Ask for more of what you want. Most of your courses will attempt to give you a broad overview of a topic so you are prepared for a variety of scenarios. The problem with that is that often you will not get the depth necessary to be good at any specific thing. One way to build that is to ask for other resources. If you are taking a social media class that talks about paid advertising, ask your teacher where you should go to learn more about advertising. If you’re in a research class that briefly brings up social media analytics, find out how you can get more practice with analytics. Most teams in PR agencies are organized by specialty. It’s easier to get jobs when the company knows what your skill set is.
Use your teacher’s network. If you’re at an institution that relies on adjunct professors (which is most of them) you are already talking to someone in the industry you want to be in. Talk to your professor about meeting with either him or her, or someone he or she knows. The more you can talk to experts in the field, the more information you will get about what you need to do to become a professional. Use your professor as that first step.

Here’s a bonus tip. If you use #1 and pick a client, reach out to someone who works there and ask them if they would read your work. LinkedIn is a fantastic networking tool and most professionals in the field would be very happy to help you learn more about their company. This will give you more of the real-world advice you need to get ahead before you start applying to jobs.

These tips are designed for anyone who wants to stand out in applications and interviews for social media jobs. Many students will graduate with a degree in communications, a high GPA and some internship experience. But few will have the insight and examples that employers can use to understand the student’s skill set and fit for the company. When you treat your work like live client work, it will help your employer see how you will handle their work at the organization.

If you’re not sure how to start, feel free to use me as a test case! I’m available via LinkedIn or Twitter (@SedaleM) or you can reach out via my blog at www.todayonsocial.com. Happy to help however I can.

Best of luck and see you at the water cooler!

March 20 2017

You May Have a Title But Your Role Has Expanded

Deirdre Breakenridge Guest Post, Integrated Communications, Mentoring, PR 2.0 Careers in PR, Corina Manea, PR Job Responsibilities, Professional Development, public relations 1

A Guest Post By Corina Manea, Chief Community Officer for Spin Sucks, & Founder of NutsPR

We live in very exciting times.

Like it or not, social media gave us a fantastic gift: The gift of professional development at our fingertips.

It used to be you had to take accredited, in-person courses if you wanted to do something new in your job as a PR pro.

Now you are at a Google search distance from the future you.

PR professional development has never been this accessible. No, I’m not saying it’s easy, but it’s way more accessible than it used to be.

Want to learn about social media? Through a simple Google search, you’ll find hundreds of articles on the topic. If you want to narrow your search, you can start by asking your online connections for recommendations.

Whether you’re just starting out in social media or want to learn more about the latest, shiny platform, there are online courses out there for everyone.

The same applies if you want to improve your pitching journalists or learning how to prove your PR work is tied to business results.

If you want to learn more about a specific topic, someone thought of it and built a course or written articles about it.

All of these changes affected the way you do your job, the way you think about it.

It expanded your role as a PR pro.

Your Role Has Expanded

Regardless of your title, your role has changed. It has grown.

You may have a title, but behind this your everyday work is so much more than your title.

You manage your brand’s community on social media, interacting with people, talking and listening to them.

You create communication strategies that go hand in hand with your company’s business goals.

You build relationships with journalist and influencers. You are the art director behind your brand’s social media channels.

You are the project manager of every new launch that involves social media, media relations, internal communications, etc.

If you look at everything you do in a day, in a week, or in a month, you realize how much your role as a PR pro has evolved.

From traditional media relations to social media, influencer marketing, content marketing, building community, measuring results, and so much more.

There has never been a better time to start a career in public relations, and the best is yet to come.

Become Fearless

We are human beings and as history has proven we don’t like change.

It’s time to leave your fears and comfort zone behind and embrace the challenges and changes ahead.

In a five-year time, our roles as PR pros will be very different than today.

Artificial intelligence is slowly (or maybe not that slow) conquering the world.

As a result, we will see lots of changes on the job market. Automated tasks will be delegated to AI, some of them already are.

You may think the PR industry and your job will never change, but they will and it will happen very fast.

It’s up to you if you choose to embrace the changes ahead or stay behind and eventually lose your job.

Why not invest in yourself, expand your knowledge, learn new ways to measure your work and show results to your CEO and stakeholders?

Why not become a partner at the executive table rather than an executant?

How can you do that?

Show how you bring value and improve company’s bottom line. Show your work is measurable and how it ties in with company’s business goals.

Make a commitment today to invest in your professional development, to build the future you every single day.

It’s not easy, there will be times when you will feel overwhelmed with work, or too tired to think about anything else. When you feel that, take a step back, breathe and remember this is for you.

Take the steps to build the better, future you.

As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”

Corina Manea is the Chief Community Officer for Spin Sucks and founder of NutsPR. Connect with her on Twitter.

February 15 2017

Join #PRStudChat on February 22nd for a Career Day Twitter Chat

Deirdre Breakenridge Mentoring, PR 2.0, PRStudChat, Twitter Career Day, Careers in PR, Jess Ostroff, Joe Colon, Laura Petrolino, PR Career Advice, public relations 1

College graduation is in May and students are preparing their resumes, reaching out to professionals and pursuing their PR career interests. #PRStudChat wants to help with a virtual Career Day chat session with professionals and educators offering guidance and sharing their experiences in PR.

On Wednesday, February 22nd, at 8:30 p.m. ET, the #PRStudChat community will gather to discuss the different opportunities in PR from owning your own business to agency PR and in-house communications for an organization. Joining us as our special guests and co-hosts will be Jess Ostroff, CEO and Director of Calm at Don’t Panic Management, Laura Petrolino, Chief Client Officer at Arment Dietrich and Joe Colon, Social Media Manager at Atlantic Health System.

Several of the topics and questions answered by our special guests and our community members on the 22n will include:

1. What are the best ways to prepare for a career in communications?

2. What are the “new” skills necessary for every PR person today?

3. What’s the best way to uncover your dream job?

4. What characteristics do professionals look for in an interview candidate?

5. Is the art or the science of PR more important?

6. What can a young professional do to stand out?

7. What are some of the best career resources for students and pros today?

8. What’s the best way to build your professional brand?

9. What advice would you give to a pro who wants to pursue a career that’s different than their education?

10. What is most gratifying about a career in communications?

And much more!

Here’s a little more information on our special guests and co-hosts on the 22nd:

Jess Ostroff, CEO & Director of Calm, Don’t Panic Management. Jess is the proud founder and Director of Calm at Don’t Panic Management, a new approach to virtual assistant success, and Managing Editor at Convince & Convert, one of the world’s leading digital marketing advisory firms. She is also the co-host of the new Managing Editor Show podcast, which takes a fun-filled approach to the daily trials and tribulations common to digital writers and their editors. When she’s not coordinating content, teams, or deadlines, you can find Jess practicing speeches, trying new recipes, singing karaoke (badly), researching productivity hacks, or dancing her face off at a music festival.

Laura Petrolino, Chief Client Officer, Arment Dietrich. Laura has spearheaded communications and development programs for U.S. Senators, leading consumer brands and national non-profit organizations ranging from tech to healthcare to the fine arts. Her ability to help brands and organizations successfully tell their story, develop vibrant and engaged brand ambassadors and communities, create effective and far-reaching communications strategies and resolve complex business challenges has earned her a reputation as a leading authority in the branding, digital marketing, and communications arenas.

Joe Colon, Social Media Strategy, Atlantic Health System. Joe joined Atlantic Health System in 2016 to help elevate the organization’s social media strategy across all platforms. Prior to joining Atlantic Health, Joe spent 7 years at News 12 New Jersey where he launched and led their digital and social efforts as an Interactive Producer. Joe has also spent the last 14 years volunteering in various Fire/Rescue public safety roles. He currently serves as a Fire Commissioner for a large suburban fire district in New Jersey. Joe attended Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey where he graduated with a degree in Marketing in 2007. He lives along the famed Jersey Shore where he enjoys craft beer, hiking and surfing.

We hope you’ll join us for a dynamic Career Day session on February 22nd. As always, we welcome your questions before or during the chat session. You can tweet @PRStudChat, @ValerieSimon, @dbreakenridge, @LKPetrolino, @JessOstroff and @JosephColon with your questions. Be sure to also visit our LinkedIn Group to share your ideas.

“See” you on the 22nd!

A Little More About PRStudChat … It began with a simple question asked by Angela Hernandez, then President of PRSSA at Central Michigan University (CMU). “Is PR Right for me?” A follow-up blog post by PR 2.0 expert Deirdre Breakenridge inspired a series of direct messages on Twitter between Breakenridge and fellow PR industry pro, Valerie Simon. This was an important question and one that should be explored beyond one student or one blog post. Why not build a community to help students across the country, and even the globe, learn from the experience and perspective of industry professionals … A community where everyone can learn and grow together. Read more

November 3 2016

#PRStudChat 11/15 Discussion: From Student to PR Pro & Transitioning Into the Workplace

Deirdre Breakenridge Event, Mentoring, PR 2.0, PRStudChat, Public Relations Careers in PR, PR Pro, PR skills, PRStudChat, public relations, Siera Smith, Stacy Hanas 0

If you are a student looking to make a successful transition to the workplace, this month’s #PRStudChat is for you.

Learn how to best prepare yourself to become the PR pro you hope to be!

Do you feel overwhelmed by the prospect of having to look for a job after graduation? Are you looking for connections in your field, but don’t know where to start? Are you trying to find ways to develop your professional portfolio and personal brand while still in school? Are you a professional who is willing to give back to the academic community?

On Tuesday, November 15, 2016, at 8:30 p.m. ET, the monthly #PRStudChat Twitter Chat Community will gather to discuss how students can prepare themselves to enter the workplace — not as fresh graduates, but as emerging professionals. In addition to the topics listed above, we’ll also discuss how PR students can maximize on- and off- campus opportunities to help them transition into the workforce and become competent PR professionals.

Even as students, there are numerous resources at your fingertips to help you prepare for a future as PR professionals; many of these opportunities can help you build a professional portfolio while still in school. However, those opportunities can be difficult to recognize. Often, discovering these requires thinking creatively about how to solve problems or add value to organizations in which students already belong. Although internships are the most common way that students try to gain professional experience, there are both industry- and interest-specific student organizations and groups on campus where public relations and communication are essential functions. For instance:

Are you offering to manage the organization’s or the group’s social media?
Are you helping the organization seek media coverage for their events and local fundraisers?
Are you enhancing the organization’s or the group’s voice by developing newsletters and creating a content strategy for their blog and other digital platforms?

By being proactive and engaged as a student, you will be much more prepared to transition into the workplace.

In addition, a few of the #PRStudChat topics and some of the questions we’ll discuss on November 15th will include:

What are the best steps you can take to stand apart from other recent graduates?
Why should you join industry-specific organizations (PRSSA) and/or interest-specific clubs (Accapella club, dance team, etc.)? Benefits and/or challenges?
What technical skills should young professionals learn before stepping into the workplace?
Students, what are your goals for an internship?
Professionals, what would you like students to take away from an internship?
What database management systems should young professional familiarize themselves with (Mailchimp/Constant Contact, Google Analytics, etc)?
How do you stand out during and after job interviews?
What are important tips to know when searching for a career in PR?
What advice would you give to students / young professionals to excel in PR?

And many more!

Joining us as our special guests and leading the discussion will be the founders of Stockton University’s PRSSA Chapter: Stacy Hanas, Communications Coordinator at Seven Degrees Communications; and Siera Smith, Director of Marketing at WebMax, LLC. Together they will talk about ways you can be proactive in preparing for a professional career.

We hope you’ll join us on November 15th for a dynamic discussion on Student to PR Pro: The Transition into the Workplace. As always, we welcome your questions before or during the chat session. You can tweet @PRStudChat, @ValerieSimon, @stacyhanas, @sierasmith37 or @dbreakenridge with your questions. Be sure to also visit our LinkedIn Group to share your ideas.

About Siera Smith:

Siera Smith, Director of Marketing at WebMax, LLC

Siera Smith is the Director of Marketing for WebMax LLC, a software development company. Siera is responsible for the development and execution of WebMax’s business and marketing plans, lead generation strategy, digital marketing campaigns, national trade shows, and building and maintaining the company’s social media networks. Siera is currently pursuing her MBA from Rutgers University-Camden and is on the MBA Association’s Executive Board. Siera is also on the Marketing Committee for South Jersey Young Professionals Association and provides freelance social media services to small businesses in South Jersey.

Previous to joining WebMax, Siera was the Special Events Coordinator at the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey, received her Bachelors in Communications from Stockton University in 2014, and was the founding president of Stockton’s PRSSA Chapter.

About Stacy Hanas:

Stacy Hanas, Communications Coordinator at Seven Degrees Communications — Stacy Hanas is the Communications Coordinator at Seven Degrees Communications

Stacy Hanas is the Communications Coordinator at Seven Degrees Communications, LLC, a strategic marketing consulting firm for professional services, the meetings and event planning industry, as well as the Human Resources industry. Stacy is responsible for media outreach and digital communication tactics including newsletters, content creation, social media strategy and social media execution. Stacy is a member of the Meeting Professionals International Greater New York Chapter and serves as the Digital Chair. Stacy is Hootsuite Social Media Certified and is the co-founding Vice President of Stockton’s Chapter of PRSSA.

About #PRStudChat:

It began with a simple question asked by Angela Hernandez, then President of PRSSA at Central Michigan University (CMU). “Is PR Right for me?” A follow-up blog post by PR 2.0 expert Deirdre Breakenridge inspired a series of direct messages on Twitter between Breakenridge and fellow PR industry pro, Valerie Simon. This was an important question and one that should be explored beyond one student or one blog post. Why not build a community to help students across the country, and even the globe, learn from the experience and perspective of industry professionals… A community where everyone can learn and grow together.

June 8 2016

What’s Your Social Media Elevator Pitch? Join #PRStudChat on June 21 To Find Out How to Leverage Your Network

Deirdre Breakenridge Mentoring, PR 2.0, PR 2.0 Technology, PRStudChat, Social media Careers in PR, Margaret DeJesus, Networking, NYU, PRStudChat, Recruiting, Sabrina Ruiz, Srishti Assaye 3

Are you a recent graduate or a young professional looking for the next exciting opportunity to advance your career? Social media can open new doors and might even land you that dream job or connection. Find out how by joining #PRStudChat on Tuesday, June 21 at 8:30 PM ET.

Recent and current public relations graduate students at New York University’s School of Professional Studies, Srishti Assaye, Margaret DeJesus and Sabrina Ruiz, will discuss how to utilize social media to seek out professional opportunities. Their public relations experience spans various industries including entertainment, nonprofit, healthcare, technology, sports, and higher education. They will each share their experiences of how social media played a role in growing their PR careers and will provide tips and advice on how others can do the same.

Questions they will cover include:

Has social media provided professional opportunities and growth in your career? If so, how?
Do recruiters find candidates via social media and what qualities do they look for?
What social networks are best for professional networking and opportunities?
What are the do’s and don’ts of using social media for professional opportunities?
What is the benefit of using social media for professional networking and recruiting over traditional methods?
What is the proper etiquette for networking with people or organizations you would like to connect with on social media?
What tools can help identify potential professional contacts to connect with on social media?
How do you network on social media with recruiters and potential contacts?
What strategies can help new grads and young professionals stand out to recruiters on social media?
What’s your social media elevator pitch?

Here’s more information on our #PRStudchat co-moderators the night of the 21^st:

Srishti Assaye: Currently pursuing her graduate degree in Public Relations and Corporate Communication from New York University, Srishti Assaye has over two years of experience working in multiple sectors such as technology, entertainment, fashion and sports.She currently works as a Communications Intern for United Nations, where she is responsible for assisting teams with creating annual reports and other forms of communication materials. She is also the social media chair for the NYU International Club and volunteers with the social media team for the PRSA Tri-State events and conferences.

Margaret DeJesus: Margaret DeJesus, M.S., is Communications Coordinator at the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation where she promotes PDF’s work to help end Parkinson’s. Previously she was a freelance reporter at the Staten Island Advance. She recently received her master of science in public relations from New York University’s School of Professional Studies and received her bachelor of science in journalism from Boston University.

Sabrina Ruiz: Sabrina Ruiz works in the Media Relations department of HBO, responsible for getting TV lovers excited for HBO and Cinemax’s amazing original content. Sabrina joined HBO as an intern for her department in 2014 and they haven’t been able to get rid of her since. She is a member of the Public Relations Society of America and is in the process of completing a MS degree in Public Relations and Corporate Communications from the New York University School of Professional Studies. She has a BA degree in Asian Studies with a minor in Korean Language and Culture from the University of California, Berkeley and, as a San Diego native, considers herself the city’s number one tourism ambassador.

You have seconds or 140 characters at best to make an impression and stand out when making a new connection or seeking a professional opportunity. We hope you’ll join us on June 21 to share your experiences and lessons learned using social media for professional growth. Be sure to send your questions and tweets to @PRStudChat, @dbreakenridge, @valeriesimon, @srishti_assaye, @GreenLight_711, and @SabrinaBaranda. You can also post your questions in the #PRStudChat LinkedIn Group.

More About #PRStudChat: