PRomo

Public Relations Student Society of America l Rowan University l Glassboro, NJ l November 2017

President’s Piece
By Colleen Scott, AJF- PRSSA President Editor’s Note...
Happy November! The theme of this month’s Hello Everyone,
issue is professional networking. As students, it
can be easy to become fully immersed in Midterms should be wrapping up,
classwork, and we can lose sight of the fact that as we are almost halfway done with
we are all a part of the same Rowan University community. It is the semester. Time has really flown
important to remember making connections with professionals by! This month, we are focusing
within and outside of the Rowan community is extremely our PRomo issue on building a
beneficial for our careers. professional network. Building a
Becoming involved in Rowan’s PRSSA chapter is one step in professional network is really
important and you must do this if
the right direction toward building a professional network.
you want to get an internship or a
Luckily for Rowan students, joining PRSSA is easy to do. We meet
full time job after graduation. Some
as a chapter every Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. in the Chamberlain
key things you must do to build
Student Center. Each week, the meetings will alternate between your professional network is first,
PRSSA and PRaction. know your strengths and know
Our PRSSA chapter invites professionals who work in the your weaknesses. By coming to a
field of Public Relations to speak at our meetings, and we also realization on what your strengths
conduct professional development workshops. Please join us at and weaknesses are, you will be
our next general PRSSA meeting on able to work hard to turn your
We hope to see you at our meetings on Wednesdays at 5 p.m. weakness into a strength. Also, you
in the Student Center. For specific times, dates and locations of must have your LinkedIn page
meetings refer to PRSSA’s ProfLink page. I look forward to updated. This is super important
seeing you! k because employers will most likely
check your page before making a
decision on whether they will hire
you or not. All of the writers this
month will go into more details on
what you can do to help strengthen
your professional network. It is
never to early or too late to start.
Good luck to everyone during the
final stretch of the semester!

Marisa Rugel
Publications Editor

November 2017- Building a Professional Network

Building A Professional Network
By Grace Clevenger, Junior PR major, Journalism minor
In college, it is important
to build a professional
network, especially for
public relations majors. It is
also important to build a
professional network before
graduation. And building
your professional network is
a lot easier than many
people think it is.
An easy way to build a
professional network is to
attend networking events on
campus, such as discussion
panels, guest speakers and
presenters, job fairs, clubs,
PRSSA events and many
other on-campus events. By
attending these events and
talking to featured
presenters and attendees,
students can build their
network. By meeting and
engaging with people at
events, whether they are
other students or
professionals in the business
world, students can make
connections to build their
professional network.
It is important to build a
professional network prior to
graduation. By building a
network, students can create
contacts that can benefit
them when looking for
internships or jobs after
graduation, whether it be at
the same company they work
“It is never too soon to build connections to
benefit your future.”
November 2017- Building a Professional Network
Join a pre-professional
organization dedicated
to jump starting your
for or through someone they
know. When building a
PR career
professional network, it is
important that students
remember to not be
close-minded when thinking PRSSA
GIVES YOU
about the types of professions
and employers to keep in their
network. Even if a job does not
sound appealing or something
interesting, it is still important
Opportunities to
for students to keep a record
of that professional contact
because they may be helpful
when it comes to seeking a job
ENHANCE
in a different field. Your Education
Professional contacts that
students make also have other EXPAND
Your Network
professional contacts and can
refer students to their other
contacts when it comes time to
And
finding a job.
As a student seeking to
build a professional network, it
is important to remember to LAUNCH
go to every opportunity this
campus offers, whether it
YOUR PR CAREER
seems beneficial at the time or
not. Students never know when
a contact they made will come
in handy or be able to help
them in the future through
their other contacts, so it is
important to make as many
connections as they can. Start
early, because it is never too
soon to build connections to
benefit your future. k
2
 Tips For A Successful LinkedIn Page
About PRomo By Danielle Ruiz, Senior PR major
The Anthony J. Fulginiti A successful LinkedIn
Chapter of the Public Page is crucial for success
Relations Student Society of after graduation. The
America publishes PRomo as a average college student
creates a LinkedIn Page
monthly newsletter.
before their Junior year. This
is done for a variety of
Editors:
reasons; a LinkedIn Page
Marisa Rugel, Professor Lynn, provides you the opportunity
Dr. FitzGerald to get a jumpstart on your
professional career. A
Contributing Writers: handful of college students
Colleen Scott, Danielle Ruiz, graduate without creating a
Blair Frierson, Grace Clevenger, LinkedIn Page and this really
Ashley Carter, Steven Cupo, affects their chances to be
recruited by certain jobs.
Morgan Hurley, Melissa Being in the Public Relations
Livingstone, Marisa Rugel realm, networking is also a
big factor in landing your
Advisors: next job. A LinkedIn Page
Dr. Novak, Dr. FitzGerald, provides the opportunity to
Professor Schoeinstein, and expand the people you
network with, and to gain the
Gloria Barone
upper hand. This will allow
you to appear on future job
Interested in
employer’s radar when they
are searching for new hires.
Writing for PRomo? successful LinkedIn Page is
A huge part of a
to make sure your profile
Turning Weaknesses Into Strengths
Build your portfolio by writing
articles for PRomo. Articles
By Ashley Carter, Junior PR & Advertising Major
published in PRomo showcase
your writing skills to potential Everyone has them and
employers. many fear them. They are
called weaknesses. Please
If you are interested or have realize, weaknesses are
nothing to lose sleep over.
ideas for PRomo, please
Awareness is the first step in
contact Marisa Rugel at overcoming such a
rugelm9@students.rowan.edu challenging obstacle. If
students are aware of their
deficiencies, they will have the
See Strengths & Weaknesses, page 4
November 2017- Building a Professional Network
name is clean and that you
provide a photo of yourself.
No one will look twice at a
profile that doesn’t have a
profile picture! A simple
professional headshot will
suffice. A clean profile name
will ensure that you are
higher up on potential
employer’s searches. A first
name and last name is all
that’s necessary. Leave out
your phone number and
email, save that for further
down on your page.
Connecting with
like-minded individuals is a
great start, but you need to
connect with others to stand
out. Connecting with local
organizations is the perfect
way to begin expanding your
network! The next type of
group that you should
connect with include Public
Relation firms that interest
you. This shows your interest,
which is the first step to
getting into the field. k
chance to get ahead of the
curve and make
improvements for themselves.
Adopt a goal oriented
lifestyle. Writing down what
needs to be improved upon will
release intentions into the
physical world. This grants the
student the ability to
3
See See Strengths & Weaknesses, from page 3
recognize the issue and take
the proper steps to advance. In
the field of public relations,
knowing how to write, and
knowing how to write well is
crucial. Whether it is a press
release, pitch letter or fact
sheet, writing in Associated
Press style can be intimidating.
The old saying “practice
makes perfect” will always
ring true. Students must
understand, turning a
weakness into a strength takes
time, yet it is not impossible.
Start writing assignments
early! Being proactive about
writing will give students
enough time to let the material
digest. Review the assignment
in a day or two. In a fresh frame
of mind, students are sure to
spot errors they had not
noticed before. Another way to
catch grammar mistakes is to
print the work and read it
aloud to friends and family.
Brand Social Media Presence
By Steven Cupo, Senior PR Major, Advertising Minor
Social media allows brands
to communicate with
consumers in a new way and
they need to take advantage. A
brand must be active on social
media to improve brand
exposure, share new content,
and increase interactions with
consumers. A brand’s social
media presence reflects its
relationship with customers
and if it truly cares about what
the consumer has to say.
According to Hubspot,
Social Media Examiner’s sixth
annual report on social media
See Social Media Presence, page 5
November 2017- Building a Professional Network
Connect with PRSSA
If a student is one who tends
to fold under pressure, he or
she should learn how to adapt
to unexpected situations. Twitter
Public relations will throw @RowanPRSSA
curveballs that no one ever @RowanPRaction
sees coming. What counts in
these moments is how the
public relations specialist is Facebook
able to cope. Never shy away Facebook.com/RowanPRSSA
from asking questions. Facebook.com/RowanPRaction
Professors are there to help
and lend advice from their Instagram
experiences. Public Relations PRSSA- AJFPRSSA
Student Society of America PRaction- rowanpraction
(PRSSA) is an active club that
encourages public relations
majors to join. Get involved! Website
The best way to beat a www.rowanprssa.com
weakness is to train the brain www.rowanpraction.com
to become accustomed to the
intended routine. Network with Email
others and learn from them. ajfprssa@gmail.com
Being diligent about work
ethic and meeting goals will
give students the confidence
they need. k
stated, 74 percent of marketers
who spend 40+ hours using
social media per week earn
new business through their
Guess Who?
efforts. A good social media
presence allows brands to gain
exposure in the public
because of all the different
platforms. All the social media “I currently have a PR
internship at Subaru”
networks act as different
channels for a brand’s
message. Using different
channels is important because
it makes the brand more
recognizable and easier to
access information.
Answer: Nicole Baglivo
4

Make a Donation to Dance Utilizing social media
Away Cystic Fibrosis
benefits a brand by
increasing brand loyalty. A
Our advisors and exectuive
board are ready for Dance Away!
Located in 301 High Street to
help motivate students to
donate to the cause!
To make a donation to our
campaign, or for more
information contact Melissa
Livingstone, AJF- PRSSA Dance
Away Cystic Fibrosis Chair at
livingstm0@students.rowan.edu
November 2017- Building a Professional Network
See Social Media Presence, from page 4
brand can constantly provide
appealing content to its
followers because it controls
the message and knows what
the audience wants to see.
Social media gives a brand
the opportunity to gain
valuable feedback about a
post and a chance to respond
in the appropriate way. A
brand must also take
advantage of engaging with
consumers one-on-one
Join The Fight Against Cystic Fibrosis
By Melissa Livingstone, Senior PR major, Advertising minor
In 1955, people living with
cystic fibrosis weren’t
expected to live long enough
to attend elementary school.
Little was known about the
progressive, genetic disease.
And treatment options were
virtually non-existent.
Since then, drastic strides
by the Cystic Fibrosis
Foundation have improved
the lives of those affected. It’s
become the leading provider
in the search for a cure and
provided the financial
support for almost every
cystic fibrosis drug available
today.
A person living with
cystic fibrosis now has a life
expectancy close to 40
years. Life with cystic fibrosis
consists of blocked airways,
persistent infections and
inability to absorb vital
nutrients. A thick, sticky
mucus builds in the lungs,
pancreas and other organs,
because it expresses that the
brand cares about the
customers. A good social
media presence opens up a
lot of doors for a brand and
owners must take advantage.
It can lead to more
customers, more sales, better
content and better
consumer/brand
relationships. Brands must
take advantage of providing
consumers with a good
social media presence
because with it the options
are endless. k
treated daily with airway
clearance, inhaled
medicines, and enzyme
supplements. And while the
disease can be managed, the
search for a cure continues.
And the lives of too many still
end too soon.
In 2012, AJF-PRSSA lost
one of our own to cystic
fibrosis. Colette Bleistine,
vice president of special
events, passed away at the
age of 22. Colette spent her
life giving to others. Each
year, we host Dance Away
Cystic Fibrosis to raise funds
for the Cystic Fibrosis
Foundation and honor
Colette by continuing the
fight to find a cure.
To make a donation to our
campaign, or for more
information, contact Melissa,
AJF-PRSSA Dance Away
Cystic Fibrosis Chair, at
livingstm0@s.r.edu. k
5
Member Of The Month
By Blair Frierson, Co-Director of Recruitment
Our November Member of the Month Goes to...
Matthew Buchberg
The AJF-PRSSA Chapter
would like to congratulate
Matthew Buchberg as our
newest member of the
month. Matthew is currently a
first semester
Junior here at
Rowan
University. Matt
transferred into
Rowan this fall
from Salem
Community
College where
he graduated in
the Spring of
2017 with an Associate’s
Degree in Applied Science
(A.A.S.) in Nuclear Energy
Technology. Matthew’s
interests include reading,
science, and debating. As a
member of our chapter of
PRSSA Matthew has spent
time sharing information
about our club to almost
everyone he comes across
Getting The Job
By Marisa Rugel, Publications Editor
When thinking of a full
time job after graduation, or
even an internship, a few
worries come to mind.
Where do I even look to find
the job? How will I ace the
interview? Do I even have a
chance if I have no
November 2017- Building a Professional Network
You Know You’re a
PR Major When...
You’re fascinated by
and how we can benefit company crises.
students interested in
communications as well as
other majors. He joined
PRSSA to learn how to
become a better
writer and
communicator while
gaining some
practical experience
that will allow him to
work within the
Public Relations
departments of
nuclear science
facilities. Matthew
wishes to spread the word of
how nuclear power can
power cities by being used
as compact reactors that will
change how we limit and
utilize our resources. We wish
Matthew good luck in his
future endeavors and are
PR Quote of the
excited to see how else he
Month
can help our chapter! k
“Advertising is saying
you’re good. PR is getting
someone else to say
connections? Trust me, we
have all been there. I am a
senior and those thoughts you’re good.”
circle through my head many
times throughout the day. For
—Jean-Louis Gassee
students who are
sophomores or juniors, my
advice to you is to start as
See Getting The Job, page 7
6
 See Getting The Job, from page 6
early as possible. My
Internship
biggest recommendation is to
research, research, research.
Opportunities First, you must determine
what area you are looking to
work. Next, create a document
**Companies Currently Hiring** of all the companies that spark
your interest in that area. If you
are looking for an internship,
you can look at the google doc
that is shared with all Public
South Jersey: Relations students run by our
Vice President, Kyle
Schachner. This Google Doc is
Alice Paul Institute a useful source to determine
Bayada Home Healthcare when the company is in need
Alpine Brokerage LLC of an intern, if the company is
CobbleStone Systems currently hiring, and also if the
Smith Publicity position is paid or not. Besides
from looking at the google
doc, you can also check out
LinkedIn and Indeed for more
options.
Second, acing the
Central Jersey: interview. You could have a
killer resume and LinkedIn
age, but if you do not do well
MWWPR in the interview, then you will
Publicis Healthcare not get the job or internship
PSEG you are applying for. Prepare
Prof’s Corner
Adrenaline PR
Taft Communications
By Morgan Hurley, Publications Assistant
The second the clock
strikes 12 on Oct. 31, the
spooky vibe turns in a
North Jersey: completely different direction.
Students all over campus then
look forward to the next big
holiday which is Thanksgiving.
Mastro Communications
Although students are eager
Harrison Rand to finish midterms and return
Evergreen PR Inc. home for a few days off, they
Litzky PR still are making the most out of
Smithsolve LLC the last few weeks of the fall
weather.
**Check out the Google Doc for Later this month, The Office
more opportunities** of Career Advancement will
November 2017- Building a Professional Network
for the interview as much as
possible. I know it sounds
corny, but try talking in the
mirror and make sure you are
energetic when speaking.
Going into the interview, you
must research the company
beforehand so you have a
better understanding of what
the company is about and
there goals. Knowing a lot of
information on the company
will help prepare you for
interview. Expect the
unexpected when going on an
interview and be ready to
answer any question fast and
efficiently.
Lastly, you DO have a
chance to get the job if you
have no connections. Make
sure your resume is up to date
and bring many copies with
you. Even bring a portfolio of
work you have done in the
past to show your
interviewers. If you go into an
interview with a positive and
confident attitude, you will
succeed. k
also present the annual
Federal Government and
Non-Profit Agencies Career
Fair. This event will take place
on Tuesday, Nov. 14, from 10
a.m. to 2 p.m. in the
Student Center Ballroom.
November will come to an
end with the excitement to for
the holiday season. Although
December is cut short for
students because of finals and
winter break, Glassboro
celebrates the holidays with
many community events along
with Rowan. k
7
 Looking Ahead...

Upcoming Meetings for the rest of the semester:

12/13- CSC 127

Interested in writing for our next

issue of PRomo?
Please email Marisa Rugel at
rugelm9@students.rowan.edu for more
information!

Can’t get to High Street? Not able to make a meeting? Visit our website
rowan.prssa.com & click on PRomo for our digital newsletter!

November 2017- Building a Professional Network 8