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5 Reasons Why PR Is The Career For You
By: Laura Finlayson, Becker Voices

Public Relations
May 2012 College students across the country are about to embark on the annual tradition of pounding energy drinks and coffee and working around the clock to finish their papers and study for exams. At the same time, seniors are worrying about landing their first job, while underclassmen compete for summer internships to boost their resumes. It is with these job-seeking students in mind that I offer the following five signs that you are meant to work in PR: 1. You remain cool under pressure. From a crisis involving a client to the hotel mailroom losing the press materials for a trade show, PR people deal with the unexpected nearly every day. Sometimes you have to be creative: I was once at an event and looked in the event bag to find no tape to hang the signs directing attendees to the sign-

PR Career For You from p.1

PR people spend more time writing or editing than they do attending swanky parties with socialites and celebrities. To achieve success in PR, you need the ability to identify a good story and concisely articulate it in writing and verbally. 4. You are a media junkie. You know the most shared YouTube videos and all about George Zimmerman. You understand what happened with the Kony 2012 campaign, and which presidential candidate rode with his dog in a crate on the top of his car and which one ate dog meat. And you are never far from Twitter. A colleague once said, PR people are like Jeopardy players, we know a little about everything. While I prefer to think of us as the people who take it all on Cash Cab, the truth is that you need to be part walking encyclopedia of bizarre knowledge, part pop culture junkie, and part news addict. 4
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So, if you pride yourself on being the first of your friends to know all the latest, you may be built for a career in PR. 5. You are a stalker. Among the traits I look for in an entry level candidate are their inquisitive nature and their ability to find information. Nothing will stop the stalker from finding and reaching that one key journalist who is a perfect fit her his or her pitch; the stalker knows exactly where and how to find relevant information and never comes to me to say they dont know something they could have easily found on Google. It sounds simple but sometimes it is not. First, you need to know when you need more information. And second, you need to know how to find it. Again, it sounds straightforward, but a small change in your Google search terms is the difference between hundreds of pages of irrelevant information

May 17, 2012 Social Media Boot Camp New York, NY May 15, 2012 PR Measurement Boot Camp New York, NY May 8-9, 2012 Advanced Social Media Strategies for PR & Corporate Communications San Jose, CA May 19-20, 2012 PR Best Practices Summit Washinton, D.C.

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PR Career For You continued on p.4

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and the one killer statistic you need to make your press release work (and, yes, good PR people do think statistics can be killer). So, if you are a stalker who knows how to remain calm, has great writing skills, an addiction to your smart phone and all of the media apps it holds, and you are not afraid of hard work and occasional late nights in the office, PR is the career for you.

May 8, 2012 Young Pros Networking Social Vida Cantina/EpiCentre May 10, 2012 Community Coffe Chat Sunflour Baking Company May 23, 2012 May Luncheon with Dallas Lawrence Bryons South End

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in table, event room, etc. After looking high and low for a place to buy some tape and coming up empty, I bought a few packs of gumthe event staff all started chewing and stuck the signs to the wall with gum. If you are the kind of person who can roll with the punches and find solutions, PR is for you. If you are more inclined to yell Fire and run down the hall, you may want a less hectic workplace. 2. You are a smart phone addict. You can tweet, text, and talk on the phone at the same time and yes, you actually do talk on your phone and know when a live conversation is necessary and when an email or text is OK. 3. You are the resident proofreader. I hate to be the one to tell you this, but Samantha on Sex and the City lied to you. Most

Tips For The First Day On The Job

Note To Our Readers
Congratulations to all of the May 2012 public relations graduates! We wish you all the best as you start your journey into PR, and we know you will be great! At some point during college, things like rsums, professional appearance and internships become priorities. In the real world, preparation is a key factor. Its important to know what can help and hurt you during those first few days as a new employee. Here are a few suggestions to prepare for your first day once youve landed a new job. Plan to arrive looking sharp. If youre not sure what to wear your first day, try to remember what people were wearing the day you were interviewed. If you dont recall what they wore, use the conservative approach dress pants and a button-up shirt or blouse. Do a little research. Dont want to walk into the office thinking you are only an intern or entry-level hire who doesnt need to know company details. An arrogant attitude will get you nowhere in the job market. Find out background information on what the company does, if they are publicly traded and if theyre doing something new in the coming year. Historical research is always good to know, but its the happening now information you should know beforehand. Get a good nights sleep. You dont want to stroll in your first day with bags under
By: Megan Gross, PRSSA.org

What NOT to do in a PR Crisis

Dont panic, all organizations are vulnerable to crises and the fallout can be severe, so it makes sense that Crisis Management is a big part of traditional PR. Here are some common mistakes made when dealing with a crisis, and why they should be avoided. Assuming the truth will set you free: Perception can be just as damaging as reality. Even if your client was in the right, dont rely on those facts to set the record straight. Chances are the damage will already be done and youll need to proactively rebuild your image Strictly sticking to the plan: Most companies have a crisis communication plan put
By: Elizabeth Terrell, staff writer By: Alejandra Alvarez, PR Channel.com

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WriterElizabeth Terrell Editor: Madison Hinshaw Associate Editor: Lizzie Burgoyne Cheif Editor: Meredith Hayley Publisher: Kyle Boardman

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What would you tell people that are currently studying public relations? Dont overlook anything. Everything that I learned while studying PR I have used and helped me get my internship. May 2012 3

Caroline Moore

Young Public Relations Professionals newsletter is a monthly publication that encourages recent public relations graduates to reach their fullest potential through up-to-date information, tactics and stories relating to the field of public relations.

your eyes. Wake up well-rested, energetic and ready to face your first day on the job. Employers will be glad to know you put in the effort to make your first day a great experience. Be aware of time. Double check what time you should arrive to work and what time you are allowed to leave. You should have a clarified understanding of your work schedule and always be on time. Leave home at an appropriate time in order to handle traffic or uncertain weather conditions. Plan enough time in the morning to get ready, be out the door and on time for work. Eat a breakfast of champions. Dont load up on a huge stack of pancakes and sausage, or worse, eat nothing at all, then expect to feel great during your first work day. Eat something light but substantial, like a bowl of cereal, some fruit or eggs and eat slowly. Dont rush because that only makes you more anxious. Just relax, eat your breakfast and then head off to work. While the first day of a new job often holds several surprises, research, preparation and initiative can help you better prepare and handle those unexpected surprises at a new job.
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Young PR Pro Monthly Spotlight

in place, but rigidly sticking to the plan in the face of changing circumstances can hurt your recovery. If you havent gotten results, why would you continue to stick with that strategy in your current crisis? Maybe, its time to grant a face-to-face interview or explore other sources. Ignoring the public emotion behind the issue: Take the example of a product recall for safety or health issues. Of course you initiate the recall and maybe even discontinue the product, but stopping at that is a mistake. Sure the issue at hand is resolved, but that does nothing to repair the consumer trust your client previously held be doing marketing and event coordination for them. Im keeping my fingers crossed that Ill get a job offer after the summer, because I would love to live in Dallas. What is your ultimate dream job? Ironically, it doesnt have anything to do with public relations. I eventually want to own an Elderly Daycare so I can interact and help the elderly! Do you have any advice for other graduates in the public relations field? Do not get frustrated or give up when looking for an internship or a job. I looked for months and sent my resume to multiple places. There is a place for everyone and if you want that job or internship bad enough, youll eventually get it!

Thinking of the media as the enemy: It may be natural to form a negative attitude when reeling from a recent crisis, but your PR team better not let it show. Giving media the cold shoulder or being disrespectful to a reporter will only backfire. Attempting to let your reputation speak for itself: No matter what the reputation of a firm, any crisis that arises deserves immediate attention and action. The public is fickle and have short memories. Not to sound all gloom & doom, but no one is immune here a big enough crisis can take down anyone.

Caroline Moore is a recent graduate of Appalachian State University. While majoring in public relations and minoring in psychology, Caroline maintained a 3.3 GPA, and has been an active member of PRSSA. Caroline sat down with us and shared her insight and advice for public relations. Why did you decide to study public relations? Ive always loved public speaking and wanted to go into a profession that would allow me to talk and give speeches in front of people. Since youre graduating this month, what are your plans after graduation? Well, I have an internship in Dallas, TX, with Ramquest, which is a software company for title and settlement agents. Ill

Caroline on the Blue Ridge Parkway