Open to students and young professionals in the Philadelphia region, this session is your chance to meet and hear from top PR minds from all areas of the profession, including agency, corporate, sports and travel and tourism. On Tuesday, March 20th panelists will share insights into their careers and the realities of working in public relations, as well as tips on how to stand out in this difficult job market.
Confirmed Panelists:
Moderator: Lori Doyle, Senior Vice President of Communications, Drexel University
Megan Smith, President, Brownstone PR
Lauren Tosti, Marketing Manager: Communications/Interactive, Sesame Place
Rob Zeiger, Senior Vice President of Communications, Philadelphia Eagles
Mary Beth Casey, Corporate Communications, Comcast
*New this year* After the panel discussion, you will have the chance to network with public relations professionals during our topic-specific high-top table networking session. Explore each table and meet pros who work in agency, non-profit and corporate communications. Stop by the 'college to career' table and meet with young pros who can give you firsthand insight on how to translate your college experience into a successful public relations career. Be sure to bring your resume and cover letter and stop by the resume/cover letter review table. Finally, stop by the PPRA and PRSA membership tables to learn how you can get involved.
All pre-registered participants will be entered into our raffle for the chance to win a "shadowing day" with a PR pro, plus other great prizes (must be present to win)!
Careers 101 attendees are eligible for an exclusive membership offer! Join PPRA now at the associate rate of $50 and get six additional months of membership for FREE! (Membership will be up for renewal in August 2013.)
Please use the hashtag #PRCareers101 to join the conversation on Twitter before, during and after the event!
Click here to register online.
Location:
Drexel Univ. Bossone Research Center
3140 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Time:
7:00 - 7:30 p.m. - Registration & Networking
7:30 - 8:15 p.m. - Panel Discussion
8:15 - 8:30 p.m. - Raffle Drawing
8:30 - 9:00 p.m. - Topic-Specific High-Top Table Networking Session
Registration Fees: Only $10 per Person!
Showing posts with label Students. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Students. Show all posts
Friday, February 10, 2012
Monday, April 25, 2011
How I Took Advantage Of Networking
As I was reading one of my favorite PR blogs, PRowl Public Relations, written by the talented staff of Temple University's first and only student-run PR firm, I came across this awesome post written by student Evan Galusha. Evan recently attended PPRA and PRSA's joint event Careers 101 and made an extremely valuable connection...one that led to an internship!
Enjoy Evan's story below. This blog post originally appeared on PRowl Public Relations' blog on April 24.
Coming into this semester, I knew I needed to find an internship for the summer. Having never had an internship, or anything resembling a “white collar” job, I found myself very apprehensive and was unsure of how to separate myself from other applicants. How could I, an inexperienced student with limited exposure to the profession of public relations, distinguish myself as a viable candidate who possessed the characteristics and personality that potential employers were seeking? After sending my resume to nearly half a dozen employers and not hearing back from one, I decided simply sending a list of what I had done did not accurately reflect the potential which existed within me. I needed to not just put my name out there, I needed to put a face to my name and make an impression based on an actual meeting.
One afternoon a friend of mine sent me an email containing the details of an upcoming PPRA networking event and suggested I attend. This is exactly what I was looking for: a chance to sit down and meet public relations professionals in the Philadelphia area. So I paid the small registration fee and when the date arrived I put on a suit for the first time in my life. At the event, I learned how to properly position myself to obtain an internship or a job, and how to make myself stand out among the masses. Upon the conclusion of the event, using the advice I had just learned, I approached several employers who had expressed a need for an intern at their place of work. Again, using the advice I had learned from the PPRA event, I followed up with those who I had met and established a relationship by beginning an email correspondence. The next thing I knew, I had an interview scheduled. I prepared myself adequately for the interview by using the suggestions of the professionals I had spoken with at the networking event and was able to provide my interviewer with practical suggestions that fit the organization’s message. Two days later, I was informed that I had received the position.
Thanks to networking, and my friend’s suggestion to attend this particular event, I now have a summer internship. Had I not gone, anxiety would have probably continued to grow as my chances to find a summer internship diminished. The lessons from the professionals at the PPRA event, along with the chance to meet prospective employers face-to-face, allowed me to display my personality beyond a simple resume and cover letter and led to my eventual hire.
Thanks to Evan for agreeing to let us re-post his story!
Enjoy Evan's story below. This blog post originally appeared on PRowl Public Relations' blog on April 24.
Coming into this semester, I knew I needed to find an internship for the summer. Having never had an internship, or anything resembling a “white collar” job, I found myself very apprehensive and was unsure of how to separate myself from other applicants. How could I, an inexperienced student with limited exposure to the profession of public relations, distinguish myself as a viable candidate who possessed the characteristics and personality that potential employers were seeking? After sending my resume to nearly half a dozen employers and not hearing back from one, I decided simply sending a list of what I had done did not accurately reflect the potential which existed within me. I needed to not just put my name out there, I needed to put a face to my name and make an impression based on an actual meeting.
One afternoon a friend of mine sent me an email containing the details of an upcoming PPRA networking event and suggested I attend. This is exactly what I was looking for: a chance to sit down and meet public relations professionals in the Philadelphia area. So I paid the small registration fee and when the date arrived I put on a suit for the first time in my life. At the event, I learned how to properly position myself to obtain an internship or a job, and how to make myself stand out among the masses. Upon the conclusion of the event, using the advice I had just learned, I approached several employers who had expressed a need for an intern at their place of work. Again, using the advice I had learned from the PPRA event, I followed up with those who I had met and established a relationship by beginning an email correspondence. The next thing I knew, I had an interview scheduled. I prepared myself adequately for the interview by using the suggestions of the professionals I had spoken with at the networking event and was able to provide my interviewer with practical suggestions that fit the organization’s message. Two days later, I was informed that I had received the position.
Thanks to networking, and my friend’s suggestion to attend this particular event, I now have a summer internship. Had I not gone, anxiety would have probably continued to grow as my chances to find a summer internship diminished. The lessons from the professionals at the PPRA event, along with the chance to meet prospective employers face-to-face, allowed me to display my personality beyond a simple resume and cover letter and led to my eventual hire.
Thanks to Evan for agreeing to let us re-post his story!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Graduating in May? Some advice from Ike Richman, Vice President of PR at Comcast-Spectacor
With the end of spring semester quickly approaching and only about three weeks to go until graduation, I and many other seniors are anxiously awaiting and anticipating our entrances into the “real world.” Given the opportunity to interview Ike Richman, who spoke at “Public Relations Careers 101” and currently serves as Vice President of Public Relations at Comcast-Spectacor, I decided to seek out his advice to students who will soon be setting foot in the industry. Here is what I learned from Mr. Richman.
Public relations is all about relationships. Everything comes back to the relationships you’ve established. It’s important to build strong relationships with the media you will be working with the most and to know who to approach with what story. This will also help build your personal network, which is critical in the field. Take advantage of projects, speaking opportunities, informational interviews, social media, friends, professors, learning opportunities and events – any venture where you can make new connections and expand your network. Work hard to cultivate and develop these relationships and you will reap the rewards down the line.
While forming positive lasting relationships, make sure you take the time to understand and know each person in your network. Mr. Richman keeps a book where he jots down the names of people in his network and details about them. This is even more important for your relationships with the media. Make sure you know what kinds of stories each of your contacts cover and that your pitches are well thought out and targeted. In addition to knowing who to pitch, make sure you know the product you are pitching! Mr. Richman advises getting excited about what you are pitching because once you’re excited about it, it’s more likely others will become excited about it too.
It’s our job, as PR practitioners to get people excited and on board. Mr. Richman explains how public relations can be the convincing factor that helps a consumer make the right decision when making a purchase. He feels this is also the most rewarding part of the job – when his efforts can convince someone to do something, such as attend an event. He adds it is the ultimate compliment when someone says, “I saw this on the news. Or I heard about this on the radio. Or I read this in the paper.”
To better understand all the effort that goes into successfully getting people on board and excited about what you are advocating, Mr. Richman recommends getting an internship. He stresses to make sure you’re actually writing pitches, contacting media and doing the follow-up work. This is also another opportunity to build your network and garner relationships.
This blog post was written by Temple University senior, Trish Wyatt. Trish Wyatt is a graduating senior Strategic Communication - PR concentration major and Sociology minor at Temple University. She serves as Account Executive for PRowl Public Relations, Temple University's first and only student-run PR and is a member of PRSSA and NSCS. For fun, Trish enjoys being active outdoors, volunteering and following Philly sports. Connect with her @trishwyatt.
Public relations is all about relationships. Everything comes back to the relationships you’ve established. It’s important to build strong relationships with the media you will be working with the most and to know who to approach with what story. This will also help build your personal network, which is critical in the field. Take advantage of projects, speaking opportunities, informational interviews, social media, friends, professors, learning opportunities and events – any venture where you can make new connections and expand your network. Work hard to cultivate and develop these relationships and you will reap the rewards down the line.
While forming positive lasting relationships, make sure you take the time to understand and know each person in your network. Mr. Richman keeps a book where he jots down the names of people in his network and details about them. This is even more important for your relationships with the media. Make sure you know what kinds of stories each of your contacts cover and that your pitches are well thought out and targeted. In addition to knowing who to pitch, make sure you know the product you are pitching! Mr. Richman advises getting excited about what you are pitching because once you’re excited about it, it’s more likely others will become excited about it too.
It’s our job, as PR practitioners to get people excited and on board. Mr. Richman explains how public relations can be the convincing factor that helps a consumer make the right decision when making a purchase. He feels this is also the most rewarding part of the job – when his efforts can convince someone to do something, such as attend an event. He adds it is the ultimate compliment when someone says, “I saw this on the news. Or I heard about this on the radio. Or I read this in the paper.”
To better understand all the effort that goes into successfully getting people on board and excited about what you are advocating, Mr. Richman recommends getting an internship. He stresses to make sure you’re actually writing pitches, contacting media and doing the follow-up work. This is also another opportunity to build your network and garner relationships.
This blog post was written by Temple University senior, Trish Wyatt. Trish Wyatt is a graduating senior Strategic Communication - PR concentration major and Sociology minor at Temple University. She serves as Account Executive for PRowl Public Relations, Temple University's first and only student-run PR and is a member of PRSSA and NSCS. For fun, Trish enjoys being active outdoors, volunteering and following Philly sports. Connect with her @trishwyatt.
Friday, April 15, 2011
The Rewarding Life at Philabundance
After almost three years of college and public relations courses, I still am not positive on what I want to do with the rest of my life. It was only recently that I became interested in non-profit organizations, like Philabundance.
Philabunance is a non-profit organization in Philadelphia whose mission is ending hunger and helping the less fortunate in the Delaware Valley. I was given the opportunity to interview Marlo DelSordo, the Director of Communications and Marketing at Philabundance. Since this is an area I am interested in, I was eager to hear what Ms. DelSordo had to say about her work at Philabundance.
For me, the idea of a non-profit organization is intriguing because you are working for a cause that impacts real lives. Ms. DelSordo agreed, saying that she was drawn to Philabundance because of its mission of ending hunger and the positive impact they make across the Delaware Valley. The work is more meaningful and fulfilling when you know that your role has allowed families to have food on their table.
As with any job, there will always be challenges. For Ms. DelSordo, there are fewer resources in the non-profit sector, so messages must be constructed creatively and with a smaller budget. Just from these two questions, it appears that non-profit work, like Philabundance is both extremely rewarding and challenging.
As a young professional, I have seen that school and an internship can be a tricky balancing act. I was curious as to what a professional’s opinion on this idea was. Ms. DelSordo said this was something she still struggles with. She is technically on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but during family time she does not answer any emails. She is committed to her job and the Philabundance cause, but realizes that her family life is a priority too. Her passion for her job is what drives her dedication to the position and organization.
When a PR student has the opportunity to talk with a current PR professional, he or she is always curious about how to find a job in today’s competitive market. Ms. DelSordo had helpful tips for job searching while still in college. She recommended identifying organizations you’d like to work for and completing informational interviews with them. It is great practice and can foster new relationships. Additionally, she said to get involved in organizations like PRSA and PPRA. Her advice has proven true, considering I was given the opportunity to interview her through PPRA and PRSA's event, Careers 101. My interview with Ms. DelSordo has reaffirmed the idea of working in a non-profit environment and has helped me better understand the skills necessary for success.
This blog post was written by Temple University student, Alex Crispino. Alex is a junior Strategic Communications major at Temple University, with minors in Spanish and Psychology. She is a member of PRowl Public Relations, Temple's student-run PR firm, PRSSA and is a Resistant Assistant at Temple. In her free time, Alex likes to blog and is an avid baseball and football fan. Connect with Alex on Twitter.
Philabunance is a non-profit organization in Philadelphia whose mission is ending hunger and helping the less fortunate in the Delaware Valley. I was given the opportunity to interview Marlo DelSordo, the Director of Communications and Marketing at Philabundance. Since this is an area I am interested in, I was eager to hear what Ms. DelSordo had to say about her work at Philabundance.
For me, the idea of a non-profit organization is intriguing because you are working for a cause that impacts real lives. Ms. DelSordo agreed, saying that she was drawn to Philabundance because of its mission of ending hunger and the positive impact they make across the Delaware Valley. The work is more meaningful and fulfilling when you know that your role has allowed families to have food on their table.
As with any job, there will always be challenges. For Ms. DelSordo, there are fewer resources in the non-profit sector, so messages must be constructed creatively and with a smaller budget. Just from these two questions, it appears that non-profit work, like Philabundance is both extremely rewarding and challenging.
As a young professional, I have seen that school and an internship can be a tricky balancing act. I was curious as to what a professional’s opinion on this idea was. Ms. DelSordo said this was something she still struggles with. She is technically on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but during family time she does not answer any emails. She is committed to her job and the Philabundance cause, but realizes that her family life is a priority too. Her passion for her job is what drives her dedication to the position and organization.
When a PR student has the opportunity to talk with a current PR professional, he or she is always curious about how to find a job in today’s competitive market. Ms. DelSordo had helpful tips for job searching while still in college. She recommended identifying organizations you’d like to work for and completing informational interviews with them. It is great practice and can foster new relationships. Additionally, she said to get involved in organizations like PRSA and PPRA. Her advice has proven true, considering I was given the opportunity to interview her through PPRA and PRSA's event, Careers 101. My interview with Ms. DelSordo has reaffirmed the idea of working in a non-profit environment and has helped me better understand the skills necessary for success.
This blog post was written by Temple University student, Alex Crispino. Alex is a junior Strategic Communications major at Temple University, with minors in Spanish and Psychology. She is a member of PRowl Public Relations, Temple's student-run PR firm, PRSSA and is a Resistant Assistant at Temple. In her free time, Alex likes to blog and is an avid baseball and football fan. Connect with Alex on Twitter.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
PR Careers 101: Expert Panel Provides Insight for Students and Young Professionals
With graduation on the horizon for many, learning how to navigate today’s tricky job market is key. At the PPRA and PRSA Public Relations Careers 101 event on Monday, April 4 at PECO’s Energy Hall, our panelists answered a variety of questions pertinent to the young public relations professional. Lots of useful information was shared in the hour allotted, and here are the key points:
Erin Allsman of Brownstein Group
Thank you again to our panel for sharing this invaluable information!
This blog post was writen by Stephanie Parker. Stephanie is a senior at Drexel University studying Corporate & Public Relations, and will graduate this June. She specializes in social media, online marketing, and copy writing and editing. Stephanie has experience working in the entertainment industry as a past intern for a Pittsburgh-based musician, and currently with a video game design firm in Old City. Outside of work and school, Stephanie is a music buff who enjoys singing and going to local shows. Connect with Stephanie on Twitter or by visiting her website.
Erin Allsman of Brownstein Group
- Writing is a key component of PR, and your portfolio should showcase your ability
- Internships are generally counted as experience, and you should take initiative, even if there’s no paycheck or job opportunity available
- Show your conversation skills during an interview, and be able to think abstractly about the industry. Don’t just “be” your portfolio
- Professors are wonderful resources when looking to expand your network
- Don’t treat your first job like a social opportunity! Take on your organization’s culture, be a leader, and strive for daily success
- Showing leadership in areas outside of your company and industry broadens your experience and network
- Agencies can offer greater diversity (compared to corporate positions) and allow you to find your niche, while corporate in-house professionals have the ability to focus on one mission
- Networking is extremely important! Spend time putting yourself out there, and take advantage of mentors and informational interviews
- Social media like Facebook and Twitter provides a quick way to get attention from the media and distribute your message. Social media is becoming the driving force behind the press release
- Make an everlasting impression on a potential employer or contact, and stay in touch after your initial meeting
- When asked about salary requirements on an application, try to avoid putting any number down, if possible. During the interview, discuss your desired range to avoid selling yourself short
Thank you again to our panel for sharing this invaluable information!
This blog post was writen by Stephanie Parker. Stephanie is a senior at Drexel University studying Corporate & Public Relations, and will graduate this June. She specializes in social media, online marketing, and copy writing and editing. Stephanie has experience working in the entertainment industry as a past intern for a Pittsburgh-based musician, and currently with a video game design firm in Old City. Outside of work and school, Stephanie is a music buff who enjoys singing and going to local shows. Connect with Stephanie on Twitter or by visiting her website.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)