Finding a Job in PR

1. Finding a Job in PR

2. Researching Organizations • Conduct research: • When you are initially looking for jobs • When you are applying to jobs • When you are invited to interview • Information you need: • General company info (products, services, history, mission, finances, structure, locations) • Employment info (opportunity for advancement, benefits, diversity) • Industry info (competitors, state of the industry, major industry publications)

3. Researching Organizations • Great resource for finding good companies to work for • Look at the company’s website, Facebook page • Check out LinkedIn • Look @ the company’s Twitter feed • Read outside reviews of the company • Business Week (for public and private companies) • Hoovers (for public companies) • Forbes (for private and public companies) • Inc. 500 (for private companies) • Quint’s guide to non-profits • Research where you will be living

4. Resumes • Generate and use keywords • Don’t sell yourself short • Have an easy to read format • Customize your resume for the position • Take out things that are irrelevant • Resume advice • Sample resumes

5. Writing Cover Letters • Use keywords! 1st Paragraph: • Explain why you are sending a resume • Explain how you learned about the position or organization • Hook the reader

6. Writing Cover Letters Body: • Match your experience to the stated requirements • Call attention to sparkling elements of your background • Reflect your attitude, personality and background

7. Writing Cover Letters Closing: • Provide information specifically requested by employer (availability, reference, writing sample) • Always have contact info in the last paragraph • Thank them for their time and consideration • Some examples

8. Setting Yourself Apart • Decide on your keywords • Start a Wordpress blog or Tumblr site • Be active on Twitter • Follow industry leaders • Participate in the conversation • Tweet regularly

9. Setting Yourself Apart • Get busy on LinkedIn • Create and maintain your profile • Make connections • Use your keywords • Company search • Advanced people search • Job postings

10. Setting Yourself Apart • Create an online portfolio • Weebly • Wordpress • VisualCV • Ex: • Desiree Mahr

11. Types of Interviews • Case interview: you will be asked to analyze a situation and provide a solution during the interview (sometimes takes the form of a writing test) • Behavioral interviews: ask how you behave in a certain situation • Phone interviews: can be short or long, prepare for these as soon as you send out cover letters

12. Phone Interviews • A way for employers to see if you are as good as you sound on paper • Relax • Don’t have a silly voice mail message • Be prepared. • Send them to voicemail! • Have your resume and some note cards about the company in front of you. • Have questions prepared. • Don’t eat or chew gum.

13. Behavioral Interviews • Ask how you would behave in certain scenarios • Anticipate questions and have answers • Good resource for interview questions

14. STAR Technique

15. Difficult Questions • What do you expect to be doing in five years? • Have you ever had difficulty with a supervisor or instructor? How did you resolve the conflict? • What personal weakness has caused you the greatest difficulty in school or on the job? • What plans do you have for continued study? An advanced degree? • What suggestions do you have for our organization? • What is the biggest mistake you've made? • Why should I hire you?

16. Difficult Questions • Describe a situation where you had to request help or assistance on a project or assignment. • Describe a situation where others you were working with on a project disagreed with your ideas. What did you do? • Describe a situation in which you found that your results were not up to your professor's or supervisor's expectations. What happened? What action did you take? • What steps do you follow to study a problem before making a decision?

17. Difficult Questions • Tell me about yourself. • Give me a specific occasion in which you conformed to a policy with which you did not agree. • We can sometimes identify a small problem and fix it before it becomes a major problem. Give an example(s) of how you have done this. • Oddball questions (ex. If you were a tree, what kind would you be?) • Tell me about the salary you're seeking.

18. Questions to Ask During Your Interview • Can you describe a typical day for someone in this position? • How will my leadership responsibilities and performance be measured? And by whom? How often? • Can you describe the company’s management style? • Can you discuss your take on the company’s corporate culture? • What are the company’s values?

19. Questions to Ask During Your Interview • Does the organization support ongoing training and education for employees to stay current in their fields? • What do you think is the greatest opportunity facing the organization in the near future? The biggest threat? • Why did you come to work here? What keeps you here? • How is this department perceived within the organization? • Is there a formal process for advancement within the organization? • What are the traits and skills of people who are the most successful within the organization?

20. Interview Don’ts • Don’t have a weak handshake or a kung-fu grip (practice with friends) • Don’t talk too much (you look nervous or like you are overcompensating) • Don’t talk negatively about past employers or colleagues • Don’t show up late (Duh) or too early (looks like you have too much time on your hands) – arrive 10 minutes early • Don’t be rude to the receptionist • Don’t ask about salary or perks until they bring it up

21. Interview Dos • Give yourself time to think before you answer a question • Behave as if people are watching you the minute you get in the parking lot • Avoid ummms, likes and you knows • Practice interviewing • Make eye contact, but not too much (can be creepy) • Allow the interviewer to set the tone of the conversation (if they are informal, don’t be too formal) • Be enthusiastic

22. Some Advice • Be into what your organization does • Be true to yourself in identifying what you would love to do • Don’t settle for just a job • Always write thank you notes after interviews • Always bring extra resumes to your interview • Always bring your portfolio • Interview them too!

23. Some More Advice • Network – the best jobs are never advertised • Send out cover letters to organizations you want to work for, even if they don’t have a position advertised. That way they will have you on file for later. • Ask if the organization has an internship program if they don’t have a position, or ask to shadow someone. • Generate keywords for yourself – drive key points home. • Dress to impress.

24. Bargaining Chips • Ask for more vacation • Ask for bonuses • Ask for reviews every six months • Ask for flex-time • Ask to telecommute • Ask about perks (gym memberships, box seats, etc.) • Ask about benefits (401k, IRAs, health, dental, stocks, profit sharing)

25. Job Search Sites • PRSA Alabama • PRSA Atlanta • PRCA Birmingham • PRCA Alabama • PRSA • PR Week Jobs • Talent Zoo • PR Crossing • Odwyer PR • Media Bistro • Simply Hired • Indeed • Council of Public Relations Firms • Idealist.org (non-profit jobs) • U of A Career Center

26. Some Twitter Suggestions • @nyprjobs • @dcprjobs • @PRSAjobcenter • @Prjobs • @prwork • @advertisingjobs • @nyadjobs • @topcreatives • @AdJobsinUSA • @Prwork • @GetPubRelatJobs

27. Some Twitter Suggestions • TwitJobSearch • JobDeck • Tweetajob • Tweetmyjobs • Twitter advanced search • Twellow