Your Resume Speaks to Me, It Literally Did

Social media is changing how consumers and companies interact, that much is clear, but it is also changing how employers (and job seekers) are connecting on a previously unimagined variety of levels. Mobile technology is evolving, growing, consuming, and inundating every known subject area of PR and now it is influencing career paths.

The problem is a common one and many graduates who are now toiling away behind their computer screen or tablets are faced with a new spin on the traditional job search. 

“How do I make a traditional document feel unique?” 

"Do I need my own website?"    

"Who should I follow on Twitter?"

"How much information is too much?"    

 "Am I over-thinking this?"

Stephen D. Vujevich, a transplanted Pittsburgh native, self-proclaimed social media addict, and now a recent Communications-Public Relations graduate from Immaculata University is taking matters into his own hands, and utilizing the resume creativity that has been featured in one of Mashable’s latest stories.

He designed and launched his own personal webpage, tied in a Facebook fan page, added professional Twitter name adjustment, a LinkedIn, a Livestream show, and the list goes on.  It seemed that none of these approaches, despite his experience, were gaining enough attention from prospective employers.

Riddled with resume advice from workshops, advisors, professionals, and professors, something caught Vujevich’s eye in the form of Victor Petit’s “Content-Rich Resume” video. “I knew that when I first saw this concept passed around online that I needed to develop my own. It’s perfectly brandable; it’s bold and unique,” Vujevich proclaimed. Petit’s and Vujevich’s foray into more untraditional approaches to personal branding are not alone and in outstanding company.

Vujevich is now implementing QR code tech and fusing it with YouTube and his traditional black and white resume, is starting to turn some heads in the local industry, and has Five Tips for Creativity for fellow jobseekers:

1. Force Yourself to Think – Ask yourself, family, and friends what distinguishes you as a person and possibly transform it into a focus group scenario. 
2. Pick Keywords – Utilize words that describe your experience and your personality and paint a vibrant and unique image of yourself.   
3. Creative, not Crazy – DO NOT think that by planning some outlandish stunt or alternative way to garner attention that it is “backlash-proof.” Use your commonsense. 
4. Be Not Afraid – Ask for help, look to network, inquire from professionals, and dare to be different in your job hunt. We’re not going to bite. We understand. 
5. Embrace Tomorrow’s Technology – Just because you have an iPhone does not grant you omnipotent knowledge. Take time to research what is next in mobile tech and how it can benefit you.  

Stephen Vujevich is a new PR pro with a sweet spot for SM.  Earlier this month he received his bachelor’s degree in Communication and PR from Immaculata University, he has been quoted in two national AP articles related to social media, and is now acting as a volunteer SM consultant for the Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School project. Peruse www.stephendvujevich.com to find out what Stephen is working on next.

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.

Resume Tips – How to Highlight Your Skills

This past month, I had the difficult task of helping my department’s Internship Committee sort through a pile of resumes for our summer program.  I saw a great deal of talent, but I was also extremely surprised to see a significant portion of applicants overlook common sense details.  It went beyond typos; think: a resume in size 26 font, making what should have laid out on one page a three-page submission. These kinds of mistakes should never make their way past the first draft of your experience – yes, you should go through multiple drafts – but what about tips for most effecitvely highlighting your skills for employers?

Put Your Best Foot Forward
If you’re still in college or have recently graduated, you may think that it’s best to put your college experience at the top of your resume because it is the most recent material.  While companies think it’s great that you did work study in the library for four years, they would rather see any professional internships that show your understanding of the industry listed first.  Consider dividing your resume into three simple categories, such as Professional, Communication, and Education.  This way, you can still highlight the skills that you picked up as a resident assistant or president of a sorority while pushing real-world PR experience to the forefront.
 
Pick and Choose
Resumes should showcase skills that directly relate to the position you want to land.  It can be daunting to know what to include…so some people throw in everything, from summer stints as an ice cream server to working part-time in a wallpaper store.  Unless you can find very concrete ways that these jobs deserve note – like you helped to increase revenue by fifty percent by creating a grassroots campaign – leave them off.  If nothing else, this is a great incentive to find creative ways to stand out in part-time jobs to build up marketable skills.

Tweet, Like, and Link Your Way In
As if PPRA hasn’t made it painfully clear already, social media is an integral part of communications strategy. It is acceptable – and, in my opinion, necessary – to emphasize your active participation on social media channels.  My own resume now includes social media as a skill, as well as lists my Twitter handle and LinkedIn address so that employers can see how I utilize them on a daily basis.  

These are only a few of many things to consider when drafting a resume.  You will surely write and re-write your resume a few times in your life, and a good foundation out of college will make that all the easier.  I highly encourage all students and young alumni to utilize their university’s career services department, as well as supervisors from their internships, to continually strengthen your resume for whatever opportunities may arise.

This blog post was written by Christine Guerrini. Christine Guerrini is a member of the public relations team at Tierney agency in Center City Philadelphia. A Villanova grad, Christine specializes in media relations, social media and research. She has worked with clients in non-profit, law, technology, hospitality, and B2B fields. Outside of work, Christine is an avid fan of the Arts, whether exploring museums or sitting down with a novel. Connect with Christine on Twitter (@CMGuerrini) or at http://www.linkedin.com/in/christineguerrini .