New year…New Resolutions

As everyone finishes up the last episode of The Biggest Loser tonight, declares loosing weight their new years resolution and calls the gym tomorrow for this year’s best deal on a membership; I instead will be working on crossing new years resolutions off my young PR professional inspired list.

This past year has truly been one big test for me; I held my first internship at a large agency, became President of my PRSSA Chapter, took on extra classes and worked. I somehow managed to juggle everything with little regrets. However, I am hoping that by making these special new years resolutions, I will keep my end goals in mind, while keeping myself alive.

• To not forget about my Blog. I love to write, however it seems that updating my Blog has been last on my list this past year. I have so many great conversations with people, but not in the digital world.
• To stylize my resume. I have been researching on how to create the right resume.  I know feel ready to take the leap and change the format completely.
• To start networking through social media. I just recently started building relationships through SM and have really enjoyed it! I want to make sure I am connecting with the right individuals and engaging not just following.
• To build on my reading about the industry. There is an infinite amount of information floating around digitally, this year I want to commit to keeping up and discussing it.
• To attend more PR, YPN and PRSA events. The opportunities to network are endless and there are no excuses to not be present.
• To read my AP Style book again, and again, and again. It’s never too late to continue to memorize the rules.
• To set up informational interviews. There are numerous companies and professionals I would love to sit down with, even for 5 minutes. I want to pressure myself next year to set the meets up and take in as much information as possible.
• To work on my eImage. I am big proponent of creating a brand image for yourself, but mine needs a total makeover. Next year I want to focus on figuring out what I need to change to encompass Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, etc., all in one.
• To find a mentor. I have made connections, but need to focus next year on building a relationship with these individuals.
• To be a mentor. The things I wish I knew freshman year, I hope to meet someone just as eager as I was to begin a pre-professional career in public relations!
• To begin balancing my professional and personal life. Although sacrifices have to be made, sometimes enough is just enough.
• To not not do this list.

Everyone, what are your new years resolutions?

Good Morning Social Media

This past Tuesday, I spent my morning talking about measuring and analyzing social media at the PRSA Chicago’s monthly luncheon, and my afternoon discussing branding yourself in the digital world at the DePaul PRSSA bi-weekly meeting.

Since my Blog is focused on an undergraduates view of social media, here are some of the main ideas I learned from Craig Kanalley, adjunct professor at DePaul, on getting noticed through social media from the DePaul PRSSA meeting:

• Although many students use Twitter as a personal voice-box, consider your Twitter a professional tool just as you would your LinkedIn account.
• The design of your page can tell an employer a lot about you. You don’t specifically need a custom banner or background, but choose colors that suit your personality. Also, make sure that your Bio is interesting and filled with personality. Although it’s short, that doesn’t mean it has to be boring!
• Don’t be afraid of Following people you don’t know! The whole point of Twitter is to build, engage and interact with your online community. Find a niche that you are interested in and brand yourself through your interests. Search your interests through Keywords and connect with people that are also talking about the same thing.
• It is a very good idea to compliment your Twitter page with a Blog. You then can expand on your ideas from Twitter and continue building your brand. Make sure that both your Twitter page and Blog represent the same person, brand, and scheme.

Overall, I ended the day realizing that many undergraduates and young PR professionals (including myself) can’t comprehend the impact social media has had on our industry because to be honest we “grew up with it”. Since my first public relations class at DePaul, I have learned about social media, talked about strategies to engage your audience and even made campaigns utilizing only social media. Therefore, it hasn’t necessarily been a change in my life (although I can’t imagine not having a Twitter or Blog), but more of an addition. This general idea of “incorporating” (rather than only utilizing) social media was carried through both the PRSA Chicago monthly luncheon and our DePaul PRSSA meeting.

It is clear that social media has not quite taken the #1 place in society’s life just yet, however it is now the second thing I do when I wake up in the morning and potentially in the future the first.

Welcome back Students and PRSSA.

I cannot believe that this summer as flown by so quickly and that I have already been in school for a few weeks. As I now am three weeks into my Senior year, I have been taking time to figure out what I last want to accomplish with my education and the next steps to pursuing my career in public relations. On that note, I have decided to take my writing for this Blog on a different route this year. I want to focus more on diving into the PR Career Field rather than the industry’s trends.

In light of this change, I write to my first post about the DePaul Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) Chapter. If you are interested in public relations, advertising or marketing this is an on-campus group you should truly consider. Every quarter our Chapter brings in guest speakers to talk about pursuing a career in public relations and the multiple fields the industry holds. Also, we visit agencies, organizations and non-profits to learn more about their organization and to ask questions. Lastly, we attend networking opportunities to meet more individuals in the Chicago PR industry. –Honestly, there is so much more!

Our executive board has worked hard to bring you insightful guest speakers, interesting agency visits and exciting networking opportunities. I have been involved with our Chapter for the past two years, and to see it grow and prosper has been an amazing experience. I cannot wait to welcome all of our new members and to work with them on planning all of the numerous ideas we have brainstormed.

If you are considering PRSSA on your campus, please do. It has truly been an awarding experience and the connections I have been extremely beneficial.

If you want to learn more about DePaul’s PRSSA Chapter, please visit: Http://depaulprssa.com

Arizona and PRSSA Presidents

This past weekend I traveled to VERY sunny Arizona to attend the 2nd Annual PRSSA Leadership Rally. I wasn’t sure quite what to expect, but after leaving I feel better prepared to lead my chapter. Although I wrote a guest post for the PRSSA National Blog on some of the main messages from the rally, I wanted to touch upon on something I did not cover in the post. 

Coinciding with graduation, Phillip Tate, APR, current PRSA Board Liaison to PRSSA, spoke with attendees on the importance of joining PRSA. This is something I wish I had covered more in the final days of this school year with my chapter. There are SO many reasons to join PRSA and Tate definitely covered the most important. Here are some of the benefits he expressed:

1. Advancing the professional a.k.a. networking. If you haven’t started networking, begin. Something I do when I collect business cards is place them in holders and make sure I note where and when I met this certain person, you never know when you might need to contact them. 
2. Continuing your professional development. There is no end to carrying on with education. It is important to “keep up” with the skills in your field as you proceed with your career. Also, there are a number of affinity groups you can join within PRSA that focus on whichever field you work in or are interested in.
3. Some other major benefits include: credibility, ethicality, friendships, learning groups and relationships.

However, the most important benefit of joining PRSA for students Tate explains, “Joining PRSA is the best entry point to get you plugged into the PR profession”. Essentially, the “more” you put into it the “more” you are going to get out of it. If you are interested in PRSA but worried about the price, Tate came up with a fundraiser to help students join. Ask for a PRSA membership as a gradation present! In my opinion, this is a great idea and one that any student is able to utilize.

I can’t express how important it is to be involved in a professional group once you have graduated. Please visit the PRSA website if you are interested in learning more about what a membership entails.