Enhancing Your Professional Development, Conference Etiquette & Career Portfolio

1. Enhancing Your Professional Development, Conference Etiquette & Career Portfolio Liam O’Mahony, MBA, APR www.twitter.com/LiamTOMahony www.liamomahony.wordpress.com

2. Conference Etiquette & Efficiencies • Review program / agenda thoroughly well in advance; make your primary session selections the night before. • Split up to maximize educational value among your group. Do not attend the same sessions where possible; you can socialize in between and at end of day. • If a session’s content is not compelling or helpful to your knowledge or speaker’s presentation is poor, leave quietly and explore other sessions. • Take any handouts or materials available in each session, whether you arrive late or leave early. • Keep a folder of all takeaways for your own future reference or sharing with peers who weren’t able to attend.

3. Information Gathering & Meetings • When meeting with PR practitioners from agencies or organizations you are interested in, ask for a quick 15-minute information interview over the phone or 20-30 minutes in person. • Inquire about shadowing contacts or their colleagues in positions that interest you. In an hour, you can learn a lot. • At conferences, ask more senior attendees about trends and past conference experiences or tips. • Don’t ask about job opportunities; instead highlight recent projects or accomplishments or what makes you unique while still exercising humility.

4. Business Card Formatting • When searching for job or in-between positions, consider yourself a freelancer or entrepreneur. • Create a title for yourself such as – Public Relations Practitioner, Freelance Writer, Communications Specialist. • Make concise professional business cards with succinct contact information. • Consider adding “PRSSA Member” or “Cronkite School Alumnus” • Until you land first job, consider adding PRSA / ASU Cronkite logos to show affiliation & accomplishments. • Include LinkedIn profile link and any career-related publishing site or blog that you maintain regularly. • Only include Twitter handle if you use it completely for career and industry-focused posts!

5. Resume Refinements & Categories • Check out various formats of mentors, instructors and experienced PRSA professionals to get a feel for the most effective way to organize your education, work experience and credentials. • Include separate “bucket categories” for special events, published writing, associations, awards and software experience. • Include any volunteer work or philanthropic activities. • Include any educational courses or certifications outside of your college degree. • As you progress in career, remove any non-PR jobs (i.e. Starbucks barista, restaurant server, retail rep.)

6. Writing/Creative/PR Portfolio Preparation • Keep any published writing samples in a folder and make copies for your developing portfolio. • Seek out freelance writing opportunities with community newspapers and local magazines. • Make PDFs, JPEGs, etc. for any articles, PR writing samples or creative projects. • Select your best 5-7 work samples for initial portfolio. • Invest in a nice professional portfolio (Michael’s or Office Depot - $10-$30 average). • Back up all of your career files (resume, references, cover letter, portfolio) on a flash drive and keep with you. • Consider a Wordpress or other publishing platform to host your professional profile and portfolio.

7. General Career & Networking Tips • Keep a binder/folder with plastic sleeves for business cards • Always follow through or thank any contacts or mentors that helped you or provided insights or counsel • Sign up for free enewsletters (PRSA, IABC, magazines, etc) • Check web site for speakers/events that appeal to you • Always have paper and pen for events, luncheons, speaking engagements • Read national and local business magazines • Share contacts, ideas & publications with peers, coworkers  Reciprocation is good KARMA! • Be a versatile, organized project manager & generalist • Be flexible, humble and embrace new roles and tasks

8. Job Prospecting - Avenues to Consider • University Sports Info or Marketing Department • Shadow a mentor or colleague in a large corporation, agency or sports team (ask to see press areas). Inquire about shadowing colleagues in other divisions, facilities, partner organizations to learn other skills. • Volunteer for PR at special events, races, fundraisers for non-profits, healthcare, etc. • When visiting hometown or other cities, seek information meetings with local PRSA, IABC members. • Check local association job bank. • Read the Phoenix Business Journal every Friday (get it at the library if you can’t order a subscription; or read general news online)

9. On the Job -> Professional Development • Seek budget for professional memberships, industry publication subscriptions, conference attendance opportunities. • Mentoring can be a 360-degree process – you may have software knowledge and industry trend information that your supervisors lack. • Consider evening classes (i.e. design, web, finance) or consider grad school. • Consider APR (PRSA) and ABC (IABC) professional certifications after several years of experience.

10. Expand MarComm Discipline Knowledge • Project Management with other departments • Web site content, design, functionality • Advertising processes, vendor management • Marketing planning, strategies and software • Customer service procedures, training, supervising Versatile = Valuable -> Proven Asset