1. Start or update your LinkedIn account with your most current projects, skills, etc., that you gained throughout the fall semester
2. Check out job/internship postings on HireaHawk/National PRSSA website
3. Read and Write — Write a blog post for PRSSA, update your own blog/website, read a book, or do all three! Reading helps make better writers, and writing is important in PR!
4. Catch up on current PR industry trends/hot topics
5. Update your resume/write a cover letter
6. Clean up your social media accounts
7.  Take someone in your network out to coffee or reach out to someone new and take them out to coffee — They can give you new tips and tricks, and may help you out in the future!

The National PRSSA Blog created their own list of Six Ways to Get Ahead of the Game During Winter Break, and there is a lot of overlap. But there are different tips too, so check it out the link above. Take advantage of the class-free, homework-free time to work on your professional self!

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year from Iowa PRSSA!

Note from Editor Amy Tiffany —I promise to keep the blog more up-to-date second semester. It was a HECTIC end of the fall semester. We have a lot going on the second half of the year, so there will be something for everyone!

Our PRSSA chapter made a recent trip to Chicago for company tour. We visited agencies such as Golin Harris, Fleishmann-Hilard, and Ketchum. We also visited non-profits like the Children’s Museum and Shedd Aquarium. Throughout each tour, the professionals who spoke gave advice to help us in regards to applying for internships, interviews, and much more.

Group of University of Iowa PRSSA students visiting at Golin Harris in Chicago, Ill., during the fall company tour

What I learned on company tour will help me greatly on my hopeful quest to landing an internship this coming summer. While the companies differed in name, a lot of their advice did not.

General resume tips:

• Companies love to see results. As an example, if you worked on a marketing plan at your internship, show them the effect your plan had. Use numbers when applicable.
• Highlight transferable skills. Apply extra-curricular activities to aspects of the job you are pursuing. For example: if you volunteer for the orientation program at your college, explain how that shows you can lead a team.
• Get experience in your field. Volunteer and join relevant organizations to stack your resume with real-world experience that will benefit you in your job search.
• PROOFREAD. Many of the companies we spoke with emphasized that any resume with grammatical errors will instantly be tossed, so proofread, proofread, proofread your work and resume!

General interviews tips:

• Present yourself in person. Don’t read off your resume, they can read it themselves. Show them who you are, why and how you would be an asset to the company.
• Make the interview a conversation. The interviewer and interviewee are in the same boat. If it becomes awkward for one, it’s most likely awkward for the other person, and that isn’t a sign of a good fit.
• Research the company. Do not go into an interview without knowing information about the company. They love to see you put a personal effort in to be aware of what they actually do and have questions prepared.

Above all, be yourself. Companies look for people who fit their company culture. If you cannot get along with your co-workers, why would you want to work there? Take time to invest yourself in the places you apply to.

As well as blogging for PRSSA, Kristina Gonzalez also has her own Tumblr blog account. Check it out here!

Read this great post from the National PRSSA blog — six great tips to being a PR Superstar! Great to keep in mind as you are job/internship searching.

Knowing the characteristics and persona of a PR expert is one of the first steps in developing yourself as a future public relations practitioner in the “real world.”

Do you have what it takes to succeed in the world of public relations and communications?  Well, after reading what seems like a million articles on this topic, here are 5 traits every PR professional should have!

1. Be tech-savvy. Social Media. Social Media. Social Media. Use it. Learn it. Master it. A person interested in PR can use social media to their advantage not only to market himself or herself, but also to show it off as a strength to potential employers. Check out this video to see how important social media is today!  
2. Be a strong communicator. Be able to communicate clearly in writing and verbally. Not only that, but be a good listener. With any job in PR/Communications fields, you have to always be listening to clients, your boss, co-workers, and many more. Listening (as well as research and reading) can also help you catch onto new industry trends.
3. With that being said, one must be “the anticipator”. This means — be flexible and creative. Things can change quickly, and you will have to think fast and use your creativity at all times, especially since nothing ever goes as planned. Always bring new ideas to the table. And always remember that nothing is set in stone. If I want to be cliché… “You gotta go with the flow.”
4. Be self-disciplined.  Someone who is self-disciplined knows how to be timely, always meets deadlines, is goal oriented, and doesn’t sit around waiting for someone to tell them what to do. They are go-getters. In the PR world, this is necessary.
5. Be someone that values relationships.  Networking is one of the most important aspects to finding a job or internship in public relations. This includes being a “people person.” Although the Internet and social media are great tools, face-to-face is always best. “Shmooze” — it’s always helpful to have someone you can contact for connections, which may help you land that internship or job.

“Seriously, it’s all about sales.”

After Brittney Wichtendahl graduated from the University of Iowa with a journalism degree in May 2011, she was determined to leave the state of Iowa. She accepted a full-time assistant sales manager position, and moved to Chicago.

But Wichtendahl quickly realized sales were not her forte. After three months in Chicago, she made a change and accepted a position at Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines, where she had interned in the summer 2010.

Despite her experience in the world of sales, Wichtendahl stressed the importance of sales to the James F. Fox chapter of PRSSA on the October 26 chapter meeting. In sales, she worked to persuade and convince clients. These skills transfer to public relations and event planning, which involve knowing your client wants and needs.

In her current position as Rental Coordinator, Wichtendahl must sell her experience as an event planner and the venue to potential renters by promoting her expertise and the space as the perfect venue for the event. She plans and coordinates weddings, private events, bridal and baby showers, and helps with public events.

From her work in event planning, Wichtendahl has learned several event truths she shared with the chapter.

Event Truths

• Your feet will hurt.
• Make friends with everyone.
• Put out small fires so you don’t have any big ones.
• It’s not about you.
• No event is perfect, but make your client think it is.

Although Wichtendahl said event planning isn’t as glamorous as some people may think, she loves her job.

Wichtendahl also stressed the importance that nothing is a failure if you learn something from it. She struggled with her decision to leave her job in Chicago, but she is happy with her decision.

Since making the decision to return to Des Moines, Wichtendahl has learned an important “life truth”—To be truly successful and happy in life, you must become independent of the opinions of others.

“Perception is Reality: Inspring Effective Communications” PRSSA Nationals was held Friday, Oct. 14 through Tuesday, Oct. 18 in magical Orlando, Fla., which myself and PRSSA President Brittany Caplin had the opportunity to attend. It wasn’t until I was waiting to board the plane that my anxiety about getting on a plane for the first time in six years starting rising, and I started sweating profusely. But Brittany and I landed smoothly in Orlando International Airport Thursday night, and the adventures began.

Friday:
A keynote speaker on emotional intelligence and public relations opened up
National Conference. The day followed with chapter development sessions
and chapter presidents’ leadership workshops. This was our fun day… we were able to visit Universal Studios and Harry Potter World. What an unbelievable place! We had
butter beers at the Three Broomsticks and shopped at Honey Dukes. I brought
back chocolate frogs, even though they don’t jump out of the box on their own.
That night followed with a masquerade ball hosted by Walt Disney World.

Saturday:
Another keynote speaker and chapter roll call. Every school that attended was called on to do a cheer, sing a song, or make some sort of noise to let our colleagues know who we were. The song ”Party Rock Anthem” by LMFAO was popular, six schools made up their own lyrics to the song. The day followed with breakout sessions and a resume critique session.

My favorite was the “Breaking into the Business of Sports” session. Other sessions included: The Case for Diversity in PR, Crisis Communication: Confronting Reality with
Strategy, Fashion: Know How to Work It, Social Media: Think Before You Tweet,
and many more.

Sunday:
I attended Regional Conference Workshop where all Conference Coordinators for
those schools chosen to host a Regional Conference were encouraged to attend.
I was able to meet  the coordinators of the nine other schools selected,
and I gave my 30-second pitch about our conference. I also met Haley Higgs, PRSSA National Committee member in charge of regional conferences. She gave me outstanding tips and said she was so excited that the James F. Fox chapter was  hosting a regional conference.

Monday:
A few more breakout sessions and awards banquet! We sat with students from University of Alabama, University of Dayton, University of Oklahoma, and University of Western Kentucky – incredibly great people who I am so lucky to have met. UNI swept the awards. We did not know their chapter was so dedicated and involved!

Tuesday:
On Tuesday morning we headed back to Iowa, ready to share our new found knowledge with our chapter and create an awesome regional conference!

• Provide networking opportunities
• Learn new practical PR skills
• Prepare for your professional career (EX: Work on resumes and cover letters)
• Listen to professional speakers who practice in the field today
• Hear about available internships
• Learn how to be a successful PR practitioner today
• Hear first hand about the newest and latest trends in PR
• Offer social media tips and tricks

“PRSSA is a great way to network and meet other students with the same goals,” President Brittany Caplin said.

“The best part of PRSSA is the opportunity to network and the availability of information about how to get a great internship,” Vice President Emily Ferguson said.

Secretary Kathryn Mickelson said she enjoys PRSSA because of the ability it has given her to network and gain real-world experience.

And finally, Public Relations Director Janessa Hageman said, “PRSSA is a great jump-start on finding your passion within all that is PR.”

Our question to YOU is:

• What do you like about PRSSA?
• What have you learned from PRSSA?

We’d love your feedback!

When Bill Renk graduated from college, he wanted to be an actor. But in an unexpected twist of events, he made a career in public relations instead.

Renk, the Marketing Director of Jumer’s Casino in the Quad Cities, spoke to the James F. Fox chapter of PRSSA on September 28 about the unexpected career turns his life took leading him to his current position, and how to move up the ranks in a company.

His message was clear: Get noticed.

Like many college graduates, Renk began his career with what he called “survival jobs,” entry-level positions in marketing and public relations. He moved to working with local theaters, and was soon noticed by Iowa’s burgeoning casino industry. He took a job with one, traveling to cities like Des Moines working to boost interest in the new business.

Renk continued his career in casinos by becoming the promotions manager at Jumer’s Casino. He was then promoted to Director of Marketing, and although he still felt unprepared for the professional world of marketing and PR, he went for it.

Renk has been the marketing director at Jumer’s Casino now for 17 years.

As he climbed through the ranks, Renk picked up a few pointers for hopeful PR hires and anyone else looking for a job in the dwindling market.

• Be around. Even if you can’t get the job you want, if you can find another job with the same company, take it. You’ll have a history with the company and later, it might make you stand out against other interviewees.

• Get noticed. Go the extra mile and step up to get noticed. If you ever interview for a better position, it will help higher employees remember you and the extra work you put in.
• Be yourself. As Renk put it, “One of your greatest tools is your personality.” Be friendly and outgoing, be memorable and likeable, and it may earn you that promotion that you’ve been looking for.

• Don’t be desperate. Renk said the old saying is true, “It’s easier to find a job when you’ve got a job.” As a professional who has hired and been hired, Renk said interviewers can often sense the desperation that comes with an unemployed interviewee. And that’s a bad thing. For some reason, Renk said, a company is more likely to hire someone with an “I don’t need this” attitude than someone who seems on the verge of begging.

• Pay your dues. It’s unlikely anyone will get a great job right out of college in today’s economy. Take the menial jobs that don’t necessarily interest you, and work your way up. And do the tasks with a smile on your face—it might just lead somewhere unexpected.

By Madison Bennett, Guest Blogger

The number one way to take advantage of a public relations internship:

Remember to be selfish

Though some people in the office think you’re there to do their busy work, you’re not. You are there to work, and you are there to be helpful.

But above all, you’re there to learn.

The Good Grunt Work

Don’t let people take advantage of you because you’re an intern, but do make sure to impress the people writing your future job recommendations.

BACKGROUND: This summer, I was a media relations intern in the Corporate Communications Department at Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio.

Cleveland Clinic is the #4 best hospital in America, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report. Going into the internship, I was pretty intimidated. But as it turns out, the internship was similar to most public relations internships, just with some medical terminology thrown in. Day-to-day work included writing press releases, sending media alerts, composing Cleveland Clinic tweets, and blog research, and coffee runs.

The most valuable part of the internship was an independent project. Once I had done enough of the “good grunt work,” I thought of an idea to spruce up the Cleveland Clinic’s Twitter account, with the idea where we could hashtag Cleveland Clinic health tips as: #AtoZHealthTips. My fellow intern and I proposed the idea to the social media manager, who ran it by marketing, and they liked the idea. Over the summer, we created 52 tweets — two for each letter of the alphabet. The #AtoZHealthTips project was launched in August, and continues to this day.

An internship is all about what you make it. Even with a little bit of grunt work, you can gain invaluable experiences and resume-builders through projects like #AtoZHealthTips, and gain real-world experiences like writing press releases and researching new ways to incorporate social media. So remember: Be selfish. Work on projects that will benefit YOU.

As fellow students interested in PR, you probably already know that having an online presence is a critical factor in your success. But what you might not know is how much information is out there on you, and how easy it is to find! David D. Perlmutter, Director of the Iowa School of Journalism & Mass Communication, talked to the James F. Fox chapter of PRSSA members on September 14 on using social media and branding yourself in a positive light.

The most crucial fact I learned from his lecture is that employers do Google you! They want to get an understanding of who you are and what you have done before they even meet you, and possibly decide if they even want to meet you. Google yourself and find out what comes up. Make sure to check Google Images as well. If something less than desired pops up, focus on adding positive sites, like a personal blog, to bump the negative ones back a few pages.

If there are pictures of you on the Internet that you don’t think showcase you properly to an employer, delete them right away! If a friend on Facebook or Twitter has posted the picture, don’t hesitate to ask him or her to take it down. A general rule of thumb: don’t post anything that you wouldn’t mind sharing at Thanksgiving dinner with your grandma and the rest of the family.

Set up Google Alerts for your name. It’s simple, fast, and free. It can alert you to what is being said about you on the World Wide Web. 

The quicker you find out about something that puts you in a bad light, the quicker you can figure out how to get rid of it. Set a Google Alert up here.

Another tip Dr. Perlmutter mentioned and I find extremely important is getting a LinkedIn account. Many employers won’t hire you if you don’t have one, so set one up today. LinkedIn is a professional networking site that allows you to connect to other professionals you know, and follow certain companies that you are interested in. You can upload your résumé and talk about your qualities and accomplishments that make you stand out to employers.

Lastly, use Twitter and Facebook, and use them professionally!

Keep your Twitter page public, and use it to post information that others find useful and interesting. It’s okay to post about how bad of a day you are having, but never bad-mouth an employer or employees.