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-Lauren

Meet Andrea Teggart, a soon-to-be PR grad who would like to tell you what she can bring to your organization…

“Good writing is clear thinking made visible.”

This was the first thing my news writing teacher said to our class my sophomore year and his words have resonated with me ever since. I’ve grown to love the phrase and develop the thought beyond just writing. Good anything comes from a clear and focused mind. Good _____ is clear thinking made visible. Thinking with a clear mind is essential to making good decisions whether personally or professionally. As a PR student and soon-to-be graduate, I know now more than ever how important clear thinking is to strong and “good” communication.

My name is Andrea Teggart, or as most people call me, Andi. I’m currently a senior studying PR journalism at the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University. I’ve had a blast in college, but am excited and ready for the “real world” and have begun my job search for a public relations position. Fashion is a passion, hobby and part of my daily lifestyle, so working in an environment like this would be a dream come true for me. Ideally, I’d like to work for a retail company, fashion house or magazine doing brand management and promotion, but I want to get my feet wet in the agency world first.  Combining my love for influencing behavior and ideas through PR and fashion & culture would be a perfect fit. Through an agency internship with SBC Advertising, I learned to fully embrace the quick-paced, always-on-your-toes aspect of PR. Executive roles in student organizations at OU has reinforced to me the importance of responsibility, teamwork, accountability and creativity.

Being responsible for promoting and publicizing the largest programming board at Ohio University, University Program Council, has been a challenge and an opportunity. It’s been real-world experience and correlates completely with what I’ve learned through various summer and winter break internships. Being on the PR team of Student Senate is a new venture for me this year and has taught me the importance of dedication and full understanding the company (or group) you are representing and promoting. I think the proudest and most defining moment of my “College PR Career” has been being involved with Thread Magazine. I helped start this student-produced fashion publication at OU being the PR Chief. This was a major opportunity and challenge as well, because there were no set plans (or rules!) before me with this organization. I was the one writing the PR campaign for Thread, and it was my responsibility to raise awareness among OU students and “beyond” about the magazine before the first issue was even released! Being involved as a PR executive for each of these student organizations sometimes makes me feel like I am working at a PR agency and each organization is a client! I am an overly-involved college student and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I am passionate about each of the three organizations I am a part of and want to continue all public relations efforts for the organization until graduation!

Unlike most high schoolers, I knew exactly what I wanted to study my freshman year of high school.  I had decided at the beginning of senior year that PR was the fit for me after being involved in a student activities board publicity team. I really had no education on what “publicity” was and what PR encompassed, but I knew it had my name on it. I’ve actually stuck with the same major all four years of college (unlike many college students, according to MyMajors.com) and I still feel the same about the field of public relations as I did almost four years ago when I decided to study PR journalism at OU. Like my professor explained (with my added twist), good decisions come from clear thinking made visible. Fully learning and embracing the field of PR is through classes, on-campus experience and various internships has reiterated to me that I made the right choice. I wouldn’t have had the same clear and concise thoughts about the field of public relations without these opportunities.

I don’t want to be defined by an 8 1/2 X 11′ sheet of paper resume, although my resume fully encompasses what I’ve accomplished through internships and extra-curriculars. I feel like I can bring so much more to the table than what is listed in bullet-point format. A positive attitude is something I bring to  every environment because I choose to think optimistically and enjoy being around others, even if I don’t know them. Another aspect of me that isn’t defined on a resume is dedication and motivation. I’ve learned through a virtual internship that I as an individual need to be 100% dedicated to the project I am working on, even when your supervisor isn’t watching over your shoulder. I value teamwork and understand when it’s time to be a leader, but equally when it’s time to be a listener. Lastly, I like to chase opportunities. I’ve learned I need to DO SOMETHING if I want something to happen. Another one of my favorite quotes is “a willingness to fail is a prerequisite for success” and I want to go full-force after what I want in a career. I want my job search to be exciting and adventurous for me and I want to keep my mind open, while maintaining a clear mind.

I would love to live in NYC or Chicago, but also would be excited to travel to a new location for a job. I’m open to any new opportunities and I’m getting so excited to transition from being a PR student to a PR professional. You can find me on Twitter at @luckyandi, read my musings on my blog at www.polishmycrown.wordpress.com and view my Linkedin profile at http://www.linkedin.com/in/andreateggart. I know I have a few months before graduating, but I’d love to connect and network with more PR professionals to learn about your experiences soon! Shoot me an e-mail at andreateggart@gmail.com

You can pull a Steven Slater (Jet Blue flight attendant) and pretty much bare all in the moment; you can wait until you’re behind closed doors and vent to your closest friends and family; or, you can take some time to reflect before crafting the perfect blog post…for all the world to see.

The latter happens to be my favorite — in theory. The problem, however, is in the execution of the post.

We bloggers have little voices inside our heads telling us to be careful about every word we publish…there will be consequences. If we get too personal, we could sever relationships; if we give too much insight into our work, we could breach confidentiality agreements; if we give advice on dealing with career and/or boss challenges, it may appear we’re venting about our own situations; if we delve too far into our political/religious views, we could alienate certain audiences.

But isn’t blogging supposed to be about complete transparency? Unfiltered conversation? How can we produce genuine content when we’re worried about the consequences?

Are we all self-inflicting victims of censorship?

I recently came across a blog called The Spotted Fish that made me look at censorship in a whole new way. This blogger compared her current boss to a Dementor. If you know anything about Harry Potter, you know that these soul-sucking creatures are anything but pleasant… “Younger than me, and with little experience, she is the definition of a micromanager…She does not seem capable of kindness, empathy or warmth.”

I read a few posts back and learned that this blogger has a strong desire to quit her job (can you blame her??).

So who is this brave (and highly entertaining) blogger? A 30-something named someone from somewhere. That’s right, folks. She’s an anonymous blogger.

My PR colleagues and I have discussed how fun it would be to contribute posts to an anonymous blog. Still, our writing could never be completely uncensored. We’d have to leave out (or change) names of agencies, clients, reporters, coworkers, etc. We’d have to be careful not to promote our own writing, for fear of the posts being linked back to us.

I would imagine this blogger faces the same challenges.

So what do you think? Can uncensored blogs ever really exist? How uncensored are anonymous blogs? And although there is definitely a liberating aspect to them, are they worth the risk of “getting caught”?

Photo Credit.

I’m pleased to introduce you to PR Job Seeker of the Week, Lisa DeCanio, who is hoping to secure an entry level PR position in Chicago or Boston. She has a unique (and well-written) story to tell so definitely read this all the way through!

About five months ago, the most I knew about PR was that it stood for Public Relations.  From there, my best guess was that PR professionals were experts at relating to the public – duh.  Oh, and that all of them (us) were clones of Samantha Jones from “Sex and the City.”

While I’d still like to think that I can be as fabulous as Samantha some day, I’ve now been educated on the subject of PR.  All because a great agency in Detroit, Michigan took a chance on me (pardon the bad ABBA lyrics).

But first, a bit of history.

At the University of Michigan, I was a dual major in Anthropology and American Culture with a minor in Environmental Studies.  Sure, those may seem like radically different subjects.  Combined, though, these curricula taught me how to ask and answer questions about relationships.  How do people in other cultures relate to each other?  How do we relate to people in other cultures?  How do we relate to people within our own culture?  And finally, how do people all over relate to the planet that we live on?

The way I answered these questions? Essays, of course.  Like most other liberal arts students, I spent countless hours in the library typing away.  Sounds miserable, but I loved every minute of it.

I loved it so much, in fact, that I looked for opportunities to write outside of the library’s walls.  I started with my sorority, writing for our national magazine, and actually getting our chapter’s stories featured, which is something that rarely happened in the past.  Next, I took my writing skills to Greek Life at large, eventually becoming editor-in-chief of the University of Michigan’s Greek Life newspaper and bringing the paper back to its former glory when it was nearly dead.  All along, I used my academic background to answer the question: how can I relate to the people I am writing about and for?

Senior year rolled around, and it was time to figure out what I was going to do in the “real world.”  Overwhelmed, I was at least confident that I liked figuring out how to relate to people, and I liked writing.  So I talked to school advisers, professors, alums, friends, family, my hairdresser, my dogs, my friends’ dogs, and got a lot of the same responses: Lisa, you should explore PR (OK, the dogs didn’t actually speak.  But if they could, that’s what they would have said).

All of which brought me to Mullen shortly after graduation.  I told them all of the above, and they hired me as their PR intern for the summer of 2010, regardless of the fact that I didn’t know how to create a media list or set up my Google Alerts.

The lovely people at Mullen recognized that I was a quick learner, and within a few weeks, I was deep into the world of automotive, technology and environmental PR. Our client, General Motors, was split into several accounts, each radically different from the next, and I became an expert in determining the best strategies to use for each client.

Sure, at times it was a bit stressful (when isn’t PR stressful?), but I truly enjoyed the constant thrill of learning something new, from key influencers to follow on Twitter to the clients’ formatting preferences.  You know when you take your dog to a new park, and he runs around like crazy, ecstatic at all of the new sounds, sights, and smells?  Well, that’s how I felt every day at work.  Minus the weird bottom-sniffing thing dogs do.

Moreover, my internship experience this summer allowed me to put my four years of undergrad to good use, as I continued to determine the best ways to not only relate to people, but to forge relationships that last.

What I’m looking for now?  That same, dog-in-the-park feeling of the new, the uncharted.  I love PR because there’s always an opportunity to grow.  I’m searching for an entry-level PR position in Chicago (where I’m from) or Boston (where I’m dying to go).  Please feel free to connect with me via email, Twitter, or LinkedIn, and check out my opinions of Gen Y on The Next Great Generation blog.  Even if you don’t know of a job for me, I like creating relationships (remember?), so just drop a line and say hello!

I monitor the news for specific topics. I find the article I need. I email the reporter with a concise, tailored and hopefully compelling pitch and cross my fingers. At this point, one of three things happen.

• I nail it. The reporter emails me back with some variation of, “Thanks Lauren — I’d like to speak with ‘so and so’ about ‘so and so.’” Seriously. It’s usually that short and sweet. But it’s enough to make me do a little happy dance at my desk EVERY TIME. Sometimes it takes following up with a call before I can get the reporter’s initial attention, but hey — I’ll take it!
• Nothing. Nada. Zilch. There’s a specific reason why I wrote this pitch for that reporter, so I don’t give up. I follow-up with a phone call. Still nothing. I resist the temptation to continue calling, insisting that they need my news. For whatever reason, they’re just not interested. I take note of the result and move on. At least for now.
• I get the It’s not you — it’s me response. Ok, no reporter has actually said this to me word for word. But in my opinion, I’d love to write about that but we just don’t have the space right now or Great pitch but I’ve got too many assignments and not enough manpower is pretty close!!

The third scenario is frustrating. Let’s face it — most clients don’t care if the reporter really really likes the story; and not now maybe later isn’t all that comforting either. News is only news for so long.

So as PR pros, what can we do when we find ourselves in this situation? What should we do?

Get the full 411. Before throwing in the towel, I like to get some additional feedback from the reporter. If he/she takes the time to respond once, I can usually get a follow-up question answered as well. I’ll ask what would need to change for the pitch to become a top priority. Maybe there is a missing element that I can work on filling.

Do the work for them. Did they express interest in an event you’re hosting but miss it because of another commitment? Send them pictures/video footage/quotes ASAP and offer phone interviews with key sources at their earliest convenience. Sometimes if you do the leg work, they can apply the finishing touches and make the story happen.

Move on to other fish in the sea. There are plenty of reporters. Plenty of media outlets. If the first didn’t work out, try someone new. But don’t be random about your selection. Choose wisely.

Make your own news. Sometimes we just have to tell our own stories. So conduct the interviews; write the content; and integrate some pictures and/or video — yourself! Then spread it across all your social media.

Develop a relationship for next time. Don’t burn a bridge just because the reporter can’t work with you this time around. Always thank reporters for taking the time to give you feedback and let them know you’re available to provide insight on areas X, Y and Z if they’re in the market for that later. Remember what they cover and shoot them periodic emails with tips and tidbits that are right up their alley.

What do YOU do to make a story happen when these speed bumps arise?

Big thanks to @Journchat for sharing my question during last week’s discussion — and  thanks also to the participants who provided insight and helped shape this post!

Photo Credit.

A friend of mine in PR said this the other day. I thought about it and I see this is what I live by. I do not need to tell someone something just to get the smiles and satisfaction; I want to give them the real deal! You want drive? I’ve got it!

I am a recent graduate of Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina, with a degree in Communication and a concentration in Public Relations. I have found something that I love and that I am good at. I am good at making nothing into something! For example, I started with me. Here is more about my history.

I guess you could say I was never a bored student and I was always busy. In fact, I have always been involved in something. In high school, I was a journalist for our award-winning paper (later became an editor), color guard captain, flutist and an honors student. I also worked a part time job at a local fast food joint. I am from a small town in NC called Statesville. My dad is from Ecuador and my mom is from Charlotte, NC. People would definitely say I have the best of both worlds! After high school I went to a small college in VA for journalism and have been writing ever since. When I attended WCU, I was Editor in Chief at our local paper. After this job, I decided I wanted to do a little more then writing or editing; I wanted to go into PR and the rest is history.

I became a part of PRSSA and Catamount Communications, a student-run PR Firm. Later I was PRSSA PR director and Cat Comms Assistant Director. During this time, PR became my life. I worked hard and was rewarded with great results for our clients.  I met great people and felt like I was in the perfect place in my life. Soon after all my hard work, I interned with Eric Mower and Associates. Currently I am working as a cashier at Food Lion and interning with another firm.

I love PR. I have a passion for this industry. I have been writing for six years and working in PR for three. One of the things that bring me happiness in life is knowing that my clients are getting results. I think of my clients as a part of my family and I never want to disappoint them or fail to give them what they want. I think of them before I think of myself.  I want to be involved in all types of PR one day. I have experience in community relations, event planning (all aspects), brand management, media relations and journalism. I am currently more interested in community relations and media relations.

Just to sum everything up, these are the three words you will think of when you think of me: motivated, driven and passionate!

Social Connections:

LinkedIn: Amanda Peralta

Twitter: aeperalta1

Facebook: Amanda Peralta

Email: amanda_peralta@yahoo.com

I have multiple 20-something friends who have admitted they are actively seeking new jobs. So sure — it’s easy to believe the Gen-Y stigma is accurate. It’s easy to accuse: in an economy as difficult as this, how dare young professionals take their jobs for granted?

I think the stigma is crap. And not just because I am one of many Gen-Yers who are more than happy with their jobs and absolutely NOT interested in any other positions. No, there’s more to it than that.

I’ve watched 30-, 40- and even 50-something friends, colleagues and family members accept new positions with the utmost excitement and then confess unhappiness in a matter of weeks.

So either EVERYONE is fickle and ungrateful — or something else is happening behind closed doors.

We could blame the job candidates for including too much spin in resumes. If only they had been 100 percent honest, they wouldn’t get stuck in positions that were never right for them in the first place.

But maybe, just maybe, applicants aren’t the only “spin doctors.”

Who has been promised “the world,” only to be overworked and underpaid? Who has been told they would be in charge of managing clients X, Y, Z, but then were micromanaged instead? Who has been told their thoughts would be valued but then had their voices stifled in meetings?

I’m not actually accusing employers of being spin doctors. But they, just like job candidates, are only human. If they see something (or someone) they really want, I don’t doubt for a second that a few fibs or exaggerations may emerge.

My point is that it is unfair to pinpoint Gen-Y as “the problem.” It’s hard to see what is really going on unless you are in the situation yourself. And quite frankly, it’s not anyone’s place to judge.

Professionals — Gen-Y and older — have you ever tossed a white lie or two in your resume or interview to land the job? If so, was it worth it or did you end up in a position that wasn’t good for you? And employers, have you ever strayed from the truth — well-intentioned or not — to get that employee you HAD to have? Did he/she stay?

I love this quote — although I still don’t really know where it comes from. But it resonates with me every day. Random thought.

My name is Johnathon Justice and I recently graduated from the University of Alabama (UA) with a bachelors in public relations and minor in computer science. Like most UA PR majors, I started off in the marketing school and transferred over after I couldn’t complete the math requirements. I think someone “upstairs” had a plan for me because I have taken the opportunity and run with it.

A lot of my experience comes from the sports industry. I interned with the Tuscaloosa Sports Foundation as their web editor, writing features and news releases and publishing them to the foundation’s web site. I’ve also interned for the Tampa Bay Rowdies, a professional soccer team where I was in charge of all social media. I was responsible for brainstorming new ideas to use to engage fans through our social media efforts. I also wrote feature stories as well as conducted player video interviews at practice and after matches.

My biggest accomplishment has been working on The Big Read: Alabama Reads The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Whew!! that was a mouthful. This was a statewide PR campaign that focused on increasing literacy rates throughout Alabama. The short description of the campaign was that the entire state read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer throughout the month of April. I helped design all promotional materials for the campaign such as posters, stickers, t-shirts, buttons etc. . I was the consultant for Montgomery, Ala. where I was responsible for pitching media in the area by writing news releases, features, blogs, and providing area libraries with PR tools to get media attention on their own. The campaign was very successful; we received around $175,000 in ad value across the state. My region alone garnered $10,000. Much of the campaign can be viewed at Alabamareads.org

I’m interested in working on the agency side of public relations. I like the idea of working on multiple accounts, keeping work new and exciting each day. Even though I’m a young professional, I have already begun to create a style for myself. That style tends to be an “over the top” publicity stunt and big news. Let me clarify that creating the world’s largest pizza is a great stunt for a local pizzeria; Balloon Boy however, was a very poor example of a publicity stunt. I understand that in today’s saturated market of media, I tend to lean more on the “go big or go home” principles. These principles DO fall in line with the PRSA Code of Ethics

I currently live in Tampa, Fla. and I am unemployed. My internships have all wrapped up and I work 9-5 each day looking for a job. I’m enjoying myself here in Florida and live by my motto every day.

I do things the right way and don’t cut corners. I like to think of myself as a well rounded young professional. I write well and design even better and also have some experience in film production. In this economy, the more you are a Jack-of-all-trades, the more marketable you will be to an employer. I’m Jack.

ROLL TIDE

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It’s my first week with a new intern.

I’ve discussed characteristics of a successful intern in the past, but I think week 1 is crucial — and worthy of its own post. Frankly, most managers decide within the first few days how much they can trust their interns with assignments.

So, here are five ways to “bring it” right off the bat:

• Attitude: Have positive energy. Smile. Show excitement toward any and all assignments you are given. If you are asked, “Have you done this before?” and you haven’t, say: “No, but I will figure it out.” Getting an A+ for attitude makes a huge difference.
• Emphasize your goals: This shows maturity and responsibility. It also helps ensure you will get the experience you want.
• Get to know the clients: Ultimately, you can’t write a compelling pitch, brainstorm strategies or talk to a reporter when you don’t understand the clients you represent. Check out their websites and read through the client folders on shared computer drives. Do whatever it takes to “get” the companies and organizations you serve.
• Show off your stuff: What do you do best? Find (make) an opportunity to do it. This can be as simple as writing up a document of social media strategies for a client.
• Ask questions: It’s expected that you will have tons of questions in the beginning. Every agency/corporation operates differently, so you’ll have to learn the new quirks and practices. Ask how (and how often) your managers interact with clients and the media. Ask how they attract new clients. Soak up all the info you can. This stems back to your attitude — show that you care and are excited about the internship.

P.S. My new intern is awesome and I decided that before the end of day 1

I am a recent grad. I have been looking for a job for a few months and have been turned down by a number of them. I worked very hard in college by joining PRSSA, serving as editor in chief of my college newspaper and assistant director of our student run PR firm, working in the office of public relations at my school and completing a double internship with an agency. I still cannot find a job. What advice would you give people like me? People that have worked hard and love what they do.

Well, I’m impressed!

She clearly doesn’t lack motivation or experience — so what’s the problem? Frankly, it could be a number of things. Maybe these skills do not translate well on her resume. Perhaps her cover letter is too much about “her” and not enough about how her particular skills could benefit the company. It’s also possible her competitors just seemed to “fit” better during the interviews. And there’s always the economy to blame…

Regardless of the reason, something needs to change. But what?

Resume

The best way to format a resume is up for serious debate. However, I tend to swear by a model my PR professor once shared with me.

Start with a bullet list of highlights — three or four short statements about what makes you different than every other applicant. Why? You need to catch the interviewer’s attention immediately! Don’t just explain work experience that you’ll touch on later down the page. Really think about what makes you unique (and what makes you perfect for the position for which you’re applying). Example: my highlights include winning a PR scholarship for creating a communication plan and authoring an award-winning blog.

Next, list your recent work history with key skills/responsibilities for each position. Remember that resumes tend to all blur after awhile, so be as specific as possible. Did you create and run social media accounts for clients? Great! But what platforms did you use and how many accounts did you run simultaneously? Did your efforts lead to any specific results? Interviewers like to see numbers. After all, almost every applicant has written a media release, called a reporter and run a Twitter account — so what makes you different?

Now is the time to mention your education. Many advocate listing your education above the work history. However, I’ve found that practical experience means much more to an employer than the degree attained.

End your resume on another memorable note. For instance, mine has two short quotes from relevant references about my work ethic and capabilities. And then I note that contact information is available for the sources. We all know that third-party endorsements are more convincing than anything we say about ourselves.

Again, everyone has their own taste in resumes — which is great — but the key is to find a way that separates you from the bunch.

Cover Letter

Matt Cheuvront wrote a fabulous post awhile back on how to write a bad-ass cover letter. I agree with his advice completely and so I hope you take a look. Basically, just remember that it’s not about you. It’s about how you can serve and will fit in with the prospective company/organization. Be yourself, but don’t be overly involved in yourself. And once again, grab the interviewer’s attention immediately (which means don’t start with: I just graduated from X college with a degree in X and am interested in your X position). Boring!

The Interview

Congrats! You made it. But now it’s time to seal the deal. Here is some advice I shared through a guest post a few months ago:

Why not do something totally off the wall…like come in with a presentation? Not a presentation on yourself. A presentation outlining your strategy for one of the company’s clients. This means two things: 1) You have to do research before you get to the interview. 2) You have to have solid ideas that you can explain well.

Now, I’m not advocating an intensive slideshow. There’s probably not enough time for that and the equipment might not be readily available. A one or two page outline that you can run through IF the employer would like to hear your thoughts (meaning ask first) should suffice.

It’s important to show that you really do want the job and you know what this job would entail. And by taking this initiative, you’re also able to highlight your skill sets.

Follow-Up

A hand-written note has become the norm, so it doesn’t always set you apart from other applicants. But it’s still a nice gesture and shows that you are interested in the position. Write your letter with intention. Did something come up in the interview that you want to reiterate? Did you forget to say something that the interviewer might like to know? Essentially, don’t just say thanks! Remind them why they need you!

So my friends, if the interviewers just aren’t that into you, don’t fret — you’ll find “the one” soon enough…

[Photo Credit]