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