Feature Friday: Sarah Tiambeng.

•  Brea: Tell me about yourself.

Sarah: I am a Public Relations Account Executive at Zehnder Communications in New Orleans, Louisiana. I’m in my third year at the agency with clients in food and beverage, health care and banking industries. I am a proud graduate of the journalism school at the University of Missouri.

• B: What do you like most about PR?

S: I love the versatility of the industry. Public relations is a career that requires adaptability and agility because the landscape of communications is always changing. My career keeps me motivated to experiment with and evolve the ways I try to accomplish my client’s goals in a way that allows me to combine my technical skills and my creativity.

 

• B: How did you land your current position at Zehnder Communications and what are your responsibilities in that position?

S: I decided I wanted to move back to New Orleans, my hometown, after completing a 6-month internship in Dallas. I always considered going back there so I knew of a few companies I was interested in and admired. I cold emailed a handful of people with my resume letting them know I’d be moving back and would love the chance to meet with them. It was a big gamble because I’d never taken that approach before, but I was pleasantly surprised by the responses!
 
I started with the company as an Account Coordinator and am now a public relations account executive. I serve as the day-to-day contact for my clients and I execute the PR plans and strategies I’ve developed with my supervisor and team members.

• B: How has being a member of PRSA helped you in your career?

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Feature Friday: Taylor Washington.

• Brea: Tell me about yourself

Taylor: My name is Taylor Washington. I am currently a junior at Howard University majoring in Public Relations and minoring in Sports Management. Like you're average #PRGirl, I spend every free second checking and updating social media, following blogs, and staying up to date with current news. (and behind closed doors, I am a reality TV junkie).

Hailing from the state where "Everything is bigger", I pride myself in saying "y'all", being a southern belle, screaming "Go Cowboys" on Sunday and being overly obsessed with TexMex, crawfish, and sweet tea. I love music, live shows, and Beyoncé.

• B: What do you love most about PR/Marketing?

T: I love that it allows me to embrace my creativity to the fullest. You have all these other industries that place people in a box with harsh restrictions and a How-To manual on what to do. With PR, I feel like I really get the chance to think outside the box and try things that have never been done before without any backlash. 

I love that PR is always changing, because with its constant evolution I am required to live a life far from complacent that also requires me to constantly grow with it, stay up to date on trends, and conduct research. I love that PR/Marketing allows me the opportunity to combine my social personality with my passion for writing, communications, and the entertainment industry into a career. And finally, I love that it allows me to be a storyteller for the voiceless and even help someone become whoever he or she wants to be to the public. 

• B: You’ve been very busy as an undergrad by interning at several companies, such as: The Chamber Group, The Huxley, BET, and most recent, The Recording Academy. Which one has presented a challenge to you and how did you overcome it?

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Feature Friday- Alanna and Natalie of Belle and Bold PR.

San Antonio natives, Alanna D'Antonio and Natalie Saldaña, are the ladies behind the boutique firm Belle and Bold Public Relations. These 20-something PR owners, have been featured as Women in PR's Publicist of the Day and since starting their firm in 2013 they have quite the growing clientele.

In this interview, the B+B PR duo talk Women in PR, career goals and even Adele!

• Brea: How did you two meet?

Alanna: We first met when I was a freshman in high school and Natalie was a junior. We were originally partnered up as freshman/junior “buddies” based on a school-wide personality test. We both went to a small private Catholic school that wanted the freshman students to have a junior “buddy” so you have someone you can reach out to for help etc.

Natalie: We kept in touch over Facebook with the annual “Happy Birthday” post. It wasn't until last Spring that I reached out to Alanna when I had started doing freelance PR and saw she was as well. We met up for coffee, caught up on what’s been going on over the past few years and decided to collaborate on a client Alanna had. 

• B: What do you like most about PR?

Alanna: When we first meet with a client and they list all of their dreams for their business and knowing we are going to help them come to fruition. We both grew up in this industry and it’s a rewarding feeling when you can turn your passion into your business.

Natalie: We truly do it for the client and feel that public relations is one of the best outlets a business can utilize. There is nothing better than word of mouth!

• B: What inspired you to start your firm, Belle and Bold PR?

Alanna: It happened on accident from our clients we were freelancing on referring us to more and more clients. It was a ripple effect and we decided to take a leap of faith and capitalized on the momentum we had going. We call ourselves “accidental” entrepreneurs because we both had

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2014 Power Plug PR Conference Recap.

Last weekend, I attended the Power Plug PR Conference hosted by The Garner Circle. It was a two day conference where speakers gave insight to aspiring publicists on making it in the world of PR.

As attendees trickled into the Georgia State University auditorium, eager to hand out freshly printed business cards, the conference kicked off with an introduction from Nicole Garner of The Garner Circle. Like all fun things, time quickly went by as we heard from featured panelist including: Tanika Gray Valbrun of CNN, Anje Collins of Women in PR/The Luxe PR Group, Davida Selby of Edelman, Angela Watts of 10 Squared PR, Janee Bolden of Bossip and more. 

There was a lot of great information shared, from do’s and don’ts of what to send to the media as a publicist to tips on digital storytelling. The panelists definitely covered a wide range of topics and I was happy to be in attendance.

Aside from hearing seasoned PR professionals speak, what I loved about the conference was the positive atmosphere from those attending. I also appreciated each and every one of the panelists who gave honest and encouraging messages to us. It was great to be in an environment where everyone wanted each other to be great, especially given the competitiveness within PR.

Like most conferences, we were encouraged to use a hashtag to tweet about the event. Check out a few of my favorite moments from the conference, via Twitter, below.

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Feature Friday: Kristina Amaral.

• Brea: Tell me about yourself.

Kristina: Hi there! I’m Kristina—a graduate of Rutgers University and I work full-time as a PR professional in the big apple! I pursued degrees in English and Journalism & Media Studies, along with a minor in Digital Communication, Information & Media. I dream big and hope that with enough hard work, strategic thinking and constant thirst for learning, I will be a leading marketing and PR icon!

• B: Congratulations on being named PRWeek’s 2013 Student of the Year winner! What advice can you give PR students who hope to enter in upcoming years?

K: Thank you so much!! I strongly encourage applicants to be strategic & innovative. The best marketing campaigns are innovative and usually ignite the spark of an upcoming trend. Push yourself to think outside the box when creating the concept and keep the client’s business goals at the forefront.

However, innovation is just the idea, the execution must be as strong—each tactic should be linked with strategy and purpose. From there, create an idea that is scalable—it can be a global/national initiative but could also be scaled to a smaller local/regional level. No matter what each component must be strategic so do lots of research!

• B: You’ve worked with some big name companies! How did you land your current position at Taylor and what are your responsibilities as Account Coordinator?

K: I initially interned at Taylor during the summer of 2012, in which I worked on Procter & Gamble’s Thank You, Mom campaign during the London 2012 Olympics. I learned a vast amount and had the opportunity to network with talented professionals. After the PRWeek awards and graduation, I kept in touch with my mentors there and the HR manager—luckily, an opportunity became available and I was top of mind! It was a blessing.

As an Account Coordinator, I coordinate and distribute press materials, pitch media personnel and secure positive placements for our clients, develop robust media lists, research, analysis, fact sheets, and manage communication with partners for client activations and events.

• B: What do you consider the most challenging aspect of PR?

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Things To Remember During The Job Hunt.

 


Prior to, and during, the daunting adventure of searching for a full-time career, there are many pieces of advice given to us by family members, friends, mentors and peers. Sometimes, we get the hopeless thoughts of never finding a position stuck in our heads, placed there by the people who tell us, "The market is tough— it took me months after graduation to find a job. You’ll encounter the same." Other times, we find ourselves overwhelmed, because we are told, "Apply for every single job you find.”

As a recent graduate who successfully secured a couple of job offers prior to graduation, I want to share three pieces of advice that I personally want to give you that may contrast from what you’ve been hearing, along with my reasoning behind them.


1. Don’t spread yourself thin.

• I can’t tell you how often I heard advice along the lines of "Apply for everything," being given to students entering the job search phase of their career path. I cannot emphasize this enough to you: don’t do it. You’re only doing yourself a disadvantage of applying to every job that’s related to your industry. It’s important to select positions that are tailored to the skills and experience that you have. You’re also setting yourself up for a big letdown if you’re applying for a position that you’re not 100% sure you’re a good fit for.

2. It’s not hopeless.

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Feature Friday: Hope Frick.

        

• Brea: Tell me about yourself

Hope: I’m Hope Frick. I graduated a semester early, in December, with a degree in Public Relations from Waynesburg University. I live in Elizabethtown, Pa. with my family and my dog (who steals the spotlight on my Instagram). I’m a huge movie fanatic (so sad awards season is over), I’m a sushi lover and I check People.com before I check my Facebook and Twitter every morning. Also, my mom likes to call me Elle Woods because I’m obsessed with small dogs and my wardrobe mainly consists of varying shades of pink.

• B: What do you like most about PR/Marketing?
  

H: In high school, my parents said they’d send me to college to do what I do best…talking. That being said, PR/Marketing lets me feel “me”. I love writing and social networking, so PR/Marketing lets me combine all my interests. It’s a really creative field so I feel inspired everyday and can really think outside of the box. Plus, I’m awful at math and there’s very little math involved.

• B: I noticed you are currently interning with Tower Marketing, how did you land that position?
  

H: I’ve been interning with Tower Marketing since December. I was graduating early from college and I was a bit (probably too much) obsessive about finding a job after graduation. I was really eager to get into the field. I stumbled upon the job listing on LinkedIn and applied on a whim. I just really clicked with the team who interviewed me and was ultimately offered the job (I found out in the middle of class and screamed during a lecture, I was so excited!) I made sure to include my best writing samples and social media snippets in my portfolio and also made sure my resume was the best reflection of my educational and professional experiences. Hard work really pays off; it’s such a rewarding feeling!
Sadly, I’ll be leaving Tower next week, but I’m happy to share that I accepted a full time position as the Social Media Coordinator for Fresh Creative Inc., a digital marketing agency in Lebanon, Pa. I’m so excited to start this next chapter of my career and I’m completely convinced my work at Tower helped me land this new position.

• B: What does a typical day look like for you?
  

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Feature Friday: Alisha Nicole.

• Brea: Tell me about yourself

Alisha: I’m Alisha, 25 year old lifestyle blogger and small business owner currently living in North Carolina. When I’m not working you can find me getting my reality TV fix, stalking social media or playing with my pups.

• B: What do you like most about PR?

A: What I love most about PR is being able to see the growth of brands and knowing that I had some part in making that happen! As a small business owner I know how great it feels to see your product show up on one of your favorite sites. I also love that PR because it requires me to use my other passions as well like writing and using social media.

• B: As a fellow PR grad, what advice do you have for those who are graduating this spring?

A: I would definitely tell you to keep networking your butt off and building relationships even after you graduate. Also don’t get down if you haven’t landed your dream position yet, try things like doing some freelance work and/or blogging to stay in the PR loop.

• B: If you could go back to undergrad, what would you do differently?

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5 Essential Items Every Fashionista Needs for Summer 2014.

Personal style is essential for everyone, especially for girls. Having a sense of style will convey the seriousness of the work you put out, as well as increasing self-confidence, and establishing a personal style/brand. 

Fashion is a part of my daily life— from reading blogs and watching the latest trends to setting some of my own. I’ve even taken on a new challenge by being a personal stylist to friends.I love that fashion gives me confidence and allows me to incorporate various items into my own sense of style. 

With Summer 2014 approaching (but not fast enough), here are a few essential items that any fashionista needs in her closet all in one outfit.

1. Maxi Dress- You always, ALWAYS need a fun maxi-dress. Easy to slip and to dress up, if necessary, maxi-dresses show femininity and give summer days LIFE. I always feel my best when I have on some type of dress. It is dressy, but still casual to go about on a date or hanging out with family.

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Feature Friday: Elise Sabak.

                                    

• Brea: Tell me about yourself

Elise: I’m a soon to be graduate from Wayne State University in Detroit with a degree in English. I’m a fashion and beauty obsessee but I definitely was not always that way. I grew up a science geek (and somewhere in my heart I still am one) and one day picked up an issue of Teen Vogue and it changed my life. The fashion industry inspires me every day, and it spans beyond clothing. I love the designers, the seasonal strategy and the concepts of merchandizing.

Oh! And I’m a caffeine addict. My preferred modes are slurpees and iced lattes, extra shot.

• B: Congrats on your upcoming graduation! What advice would you give to students just beginning their undergrad journey in PR?

E: Thank you! I am so excited (also a bit scared!). Most people would say networking, which is so true—it’s never too early to start. But, I think that students just starting in any field, but particularly in PR, need to sit down for a couple hours and think about their decision and ask themselves a few reflective questions.

1) Is PR something that you want to challenge yourself with every day?

2) Why PR? Because it’s glamorous (because take it from me, it is not glamorous every day)?

3) Are you going into this field for the right reasons?

Making a pros and cons list and taking time to reflect on your decisions will help you grow, and hopefully motivate you to take the next steps in school, such as joining PRSSA.

• B: What area of PR are you interested in and why?

E: I’m most interested in fashion/beauty PR. There’s something so intriguing about an industry that is as quickly paced and competitive as fashion. It definitely helps that I have a complete obsession with the goings-on of the fashion and beauty industries. It’s a faction of PR that is both beautiful and calculated, tactical and glamorous at times. Most importantly, it’s the area that exhilarates me and pushes me to wake up each morning ready to work.

• B: What is your dream job?

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How Millennials Are Impacting the Public Relations Industry.

It seems as if Millennials have been on the tip of industry leaders’ tongues for quite some time. While many CEOs and employers are hesitant to applaud their work or silently prefer highly seasoned professionals, Millennials have an immense impact on the way corporations operate and the way businesses reach their potential and existing customers.

This diverse group, also commonly known as Generation Y, or Echo Boomers, is highly influenced by technology and is the largest group since the Baby Boomers, equating to a vast public reach. The public relations world cannot deny the unique way Millennials have been able to stay true to the traditional aspects of the industry while practicing and injecting new changes of the digital world and social media era. These young pros have equipped themselves with an understanding of fresh trends and how to gain attention in a competitive market. Exactly what can they offer this industry, you ask?

Below you will find three ways of how Millennials are changing the Public Relations  industry for the better.

1. Finding more efficient uses in dealing with clients - Millennials are extremely collaborative with others, as evidenced by the integration of workplace networks instead of individual silos sectioned from one another. While they are working together, they are finding alternate uses for technology, building a broader platform for clients, and gaining considerable attention. Because of the constant industry shifts, they realize the importance of improvising as they fuse multiple ideas.


2. Changing the concept of engagement - Because of social media and the 24/7 coverage of important news and information, clients now expect real-time updates and rapid responses as well as constant media monitoring as it pertains to their specific brand. Millennials support the notion that clients should be spoken with by constantly providing feedback and encouraging others to chime in with their own thoughts and opinions. This makes for a good habit for businesses to consider.


3. Added Resilience - By this point, Millennials have heard the word ‘no’ probably a million times. While the misconception is that Millennials are spoiled, lazy, naive, and unwilling to work as hard as their counterparts to climb the corporate ladder, this simply isn’t true. That determination is what persuades editors to feature a client with a quick, thoughtfully-crafted pitch, increases press release impressions, and increases brand revenue.

As you can see, Millennials bring many positive aspects to the world of PR and it would be heinous to ignore their contributions as a whole. While this new group is being ushered in, it is important to make the necessary adjustments to fully acknowledge and understand the shift in environment. Millennials are certainly here to stay.



About the contributor: A graduate from North Carolina A&T State University, Briea Curington has emerged as a talented public relations professional ready to take the world on by storm. She has been given the opportunity to nurture her interest in PR/Marketing, and ultimately hopes to continue learning and growing in the industry. In addition to her work as a publicist, she is a fashion writer with her own blog as well as guest contributor for other sites, such as Glamazonsblog.com and TheJasmineBrand.com.

Connect with Briea on Twitter at @BriCurington


(photo credit: BostInno)

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5 Must Have Apps for the PR Professional.

When I first realized Public Relations was the career for me, like most Millennials I thought, “Is there an app for that?” Turns out there are a lot of them.

Our career is comprised of so many different components that it would make sense to effectively use a smart phone for PR— you’d need an arsenal of apps though, not just one. The problem is which ones? That’s why I’m here. I researched and downloaded over 40 suggested applications and these are the 5 must have apps for the PR professional:





What are your favorite apps? Leave a comment below!

About the contributor: Lisa-Marie DeWinkeleer, also known as thePRrockstar, recently tripped and fell in love with PR. She has been accepted into the Public Relations program at California State University,Northridge and is excited to take the PR world by storm. When she’s not communicating with the public you can find her at the local comic book shop or at a rock show.

Connect with Lisa on Twitter at @thePRrockstar

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Feature Friday: Maggie Ziemann.

                       

• Brea: Tell me about yourself

Maggie: I am a junior at Illinois State University majoring in Public Relations. I was born and raised in Chicago. I am a coffee addict and not afraid to admit it. You can always find me on my iPhone checking social media sites and staying up-to-date on the latest news!

• B: What do you like most about PR?

M: I like how there are so many directions in public relations. I love that it requires you to write, network, use social media, be creative and work with others. I love to write and I love social media, so being able to combine those two into a profession is what really attracted me.

• B: You recently rebranded your blog from PR Girl Maggie to imPRess PR, what was that process like? Did you learn anything new about branding?

M: I decided to create a brand that wasn’t so much about myself, but more about everyone I’m reaching out to. The process wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be because I had the help of Kayla Hollatz, founder of exPRessions PR! She really helped me with the visual aspect of my blog and after conversing with her, it helped point me in the direction of where I wanted to go.

The idea of rebranding had been a thought of mine since November of 2013 but I just didn’t have the time to commit to it yet. Using Weebly also made the process painless. Weebly gives you so many options to switch your look and idea without wiping out all your content, which was a plus! I also couldn’t have done it without the support of my Twitter followers spreading the word of my rebrand and following imPRess PR’s Twitter account!

• B: As Director of Relations at your university’s chapter of PRSSA, what are some benefits of joining the organization?

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Feature Friday: Aurian Shervington.

                

• Brea: Tell me about yourself

Aurian: Ha, the dreaded interview question! Just kidding.Well, my name is Aurian (pronounced Ah-ree-on) but everyone calls me Auri. I’m in my last semester of graduate school at the University of South Florida majoring in Sport and Entertainment Management. It’s a dual degree program (MBA and MS) and I’m proud to be in the inaugural class! I actually graduated from USF with a BA in Political Science, random I know.

I work as the Event Marketing Resident at the Tampa Bay Times Forum and I love PR and Marketing. I also like food. Actually I love food. And music. And laughing. And food.

• B: If you could go back to undergrad what would you do differently?

A: My initial thought was “Change my major!” but in all honesty, I wouldn’t change anything. I learned so much about myself in undergrad; I feel so blessed and grateful to have had the experience. I learned to take care of myself, be comfortable with who I am and to do what truly makes me happy. I know it sounds corny and a bit cliché but I seriously, and unknowingly, found myself.

I also found out that my lifelong mission to be an attorney was no longer my dream. I initially wanted to venture into Sports Law but quickly realized that I needed to work with people and create ideas. After taking on a few internships in sports marketing and entertainment PR, I figured out what worked for me.

• B: What area of PR are you most interested in and why?

A: I’m definitely interested in entertainment PR. My first experience in entertainment PR was at my internship for a boutique entertainment and sports group in Tampa. I was the Publicity Coordinator for a rookie NFL player and learned so much about patience and how to draft my first press release. Working in event marketing has been amazing and I’ve been able to watch various players like the publicist, agent, tour manager and media reps in action. I love being in the thick of things and compiling strategies for clients. It’s also a great challenge to pitch shows and artists to fit with the appropriate media outlet. Learning what works and what doesn’t work for each individual artist and show is exciting.

• B: Congratulations on your upcoming graduation! How has your MBA program helped you prepare for post grad life?

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Are Creative Resumes Professional in PR?

I’ve been job searching for a while now and have yet to land even a simple interview…WOMP! Because of this, I often wonder if I’m not getting hired because of my résumé.

During my last semester in college, I took a PR Design class. One assignment my professor gave us, was a personal brand project that involved creating a résumé, cover letter and business card using Adobe InDesign. He encouraged us to Google unique résumés to get our creative juices flowing and man did mine flow! All the graphics and typography I saw on résumés had me like this:

                                                              

Lol seriously, they all looked so nice. So I ended up designing a creative résumé but a simple version of one. I designed a logo and rearranged the placement of my work history, education, and other information that makes up a résumé.

Needless to say I was proud of myself for creating something that couldn’t be made in a Word document, and for learning more about InDesign. Personally, I feel that creative résumés help your resume stand out in the gigantic stack that’s overflowing in HR’s email inbox/desk.

After seeing all types of non-traditional résumés like extremely awesome creative & visual résumés, to ones more on the simple side, I just have to ask. Are creative résumés accepted or seen as professional in PR?

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Feature Friday: Elvira Guzman.

PR pro and author of Your Blueprint: An Interactive Guide to Remembering Your True Purpose in Life, Elvira Guzman is basically the bees knees.

Guzman started her own PR & Branding company at 23 years old, worked under comedian, radio host, actor and author Steve Harvey for 9 years and was recognized by magazines such as: Sister 2 Sister Magazine, Urban Influence Magazine and Latina Magazine. She has produced a number of radio and television shows and is making her way to the movie scene.

In this interview, she reveals how she got her start in the wonderful world of PR.

• Brea: You have a Political Science/Law & Society degree. What attracted you to Public Relations?

Elvira: I was living in New York working for Steve Harvey and he would ask me every day what I wanted to do with my life now that I had graduated from USC. He knew that I could do anything I wanted because I had literally held almost every position at his company and was successful. I honestly didn’t know because I no longer wanted to become a lawyer and I didn’t care for the Hollywood life anymore.

One day he sent me on a meeting with a successful publicity company owner, and she told me that she was a TV and music producer in addition to representing top celebrities. I didn’t know you could do it all via the publicity umbrella because you get to know everyone. So I quickly decided I wanted to start my own company…a publicity and branding company but in Los Angeles. Close to my family.

• B: Your resume is a PR student’s dream! You’ve worked in so many areas of Entertainment PR ranging from music to television. What was your favorite area to work in and why?

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3 Reasons You Should Consider an Internship in #PR.

If you aren’t aware by now, Internships are super important. They’re probably one of the most essential factors in, well, any career really; but, especially in Public Relations.

Some may think the land of the unpaid intern is scary, but you have to consider a few (obvious) things:

• Narrowing down your options- There are a so many different paths to take in PR! You’ve got Film PR, Healthcare PR, Sports PR, Entertainment PR, Government PR, Fashion PR and the list goes on, ya’ll. Interning allows you to really narrow down what it is you want to do. It also doesn’t hurt to intern in different areas because being well rounded is cool.

• Gaining Experience- Nothing beats getting real life experience in your field. A ton of companies offer internships to undergrad students, so take advantage of that while you can! It shows you take initiative!! And this probably goes without saying, but experience looks great on your resume!

• Networking Opportunities- Interning allows you to meet some pretty awesome folks you otherwise wouldn’t have met. And just because the internship is over, it doesn’t mean you can’t talk to anyone at the company ever again. Keep those contacts, ya’ll!  PR is all about building relationships so what better way to start building relationships than through interning? As the saying goes, “it’s who you know, not what you know”— Remember that.

By the way, don’t let anyone lie to you, not all internships are unpaid. I’ve seen a lot of companies offer students credit for school AND a stipend!

Although the spring semester just started, now is a great time to start looking for summer internships. I encourage those of you still in undergrad to check out Intern Queen, Intern Match, Intern Sushi, and your school’s career center might even be able to help you land an internship!

For those of you living the post grad life, internships can also help if you’re still looking for employment. In my opinion, post grad internships may make you network even harder, especially if you’re interning at a company you’d like to work for.

Do you have any good/bad experiences being an intern? Or advice for those interested in PR? Please share below! :)




(photo credit: BrandYourself.com)

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Feature Friday: Samantha Dickson.

                     

• Brea: Tell me about yourself.

Samantha: I am 22 years old and I am originally from a small-town just outside of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I attended Queen’s University for my undergraduate degree where I completed my BAH in Political Science and Sociology. I just recently moved to New York City to pursue my Masters in Public Relations and Corporate Communication at New York University. This was definitely a dream come true. I have a love for traveling, chocolate and social media!

• B: Why PR?

S: I grew up thinking I wanted to be a lawyer. It took a lot of convincing myself not to apply to law school (I even wrote the LSATS). I think what it came down to was the fact that my heart wasn’t in it any longer. After much deliberation, I reflected on my internship experience and I realized how much I loved communications. I chose public relations because it was a career that reflected everything I was passionate about.

• What area of PR are you most interested in and why?

S: Such a tough call! There are so many great industries to explore when it comes to public relations. Currently, I am exploring the hospitality and lifestyle side to the career. I grew up with a chef in the family, and I’ve always had an interest in exploring new restaurants. Since I love to travel, I find the travel/tourism side quite appealing as well. I think I am just open to exploring the possibilities until I find the right fit.

• B: There are a few articles that discourage students from going to grad school for PR, why did you make the decision to go?

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Feature Friday: Aysha Malik.

• Brea: Tell me about yourself.

Aysha: Hello! My name is Aysha Malik and I’m currently a senior at Shenandoah University, pursing a degree in Mass Communications with a Public Relations emphasis and an Entrepreneurship minor. It’s crazy that its already senior year- its been a fun ride but I’m ready to get out there into the real world!

I also serve as President for my chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota, a women’s fraternity focused on music and service. I’m involved with a lot of extracurricular activities at my school- people joke that I’ve never met a club/organization that I didn’t like.

•  B: What do you like most about PR?

A: I love that it gives me the chance to promote people and organizations that truly make a difference. Some people do so much good and have so much to offer the world but do not understand the importance of media or how to really take advantage of their opportunities. I like to be that liason and love to see these people/organizations achieve their goals.

•  B: How have you immersed yourself in the PR field as an undergraduate student?

 A: It was especially tough for me because my university doesn’t offer many classes in PR. It’s a small, private university so while the professors are amazing, they just cannot teach every single class. So, I took it upon myself to immerse myself. I learned a lot from other blogs from aspiring professionals, Twitter chats, and networking on social media. It’s amazing how helpful people can be as resources! After I felt like I had the basics down, I went out into the Winchester, VA community and started doing PR work pro bono for experience. I’m a kinesthetic learner, so doing this was such a good move for me.

I’ve also done about 4 internships already, all regarding social media and PR work for various offices at my school. I don’t even know if these internships existed before I did them, but if you can’t find opportunities, you gotta make them. Am I right?!

• B: What have you learned from your internships that you would not have learned without first hand experience?

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A PR Girl's Wish List: 8 Must-have Items to Survive in the World of Fashion PR.

    

by guest writer: Briea Curington

Public relations is, in not so many words, an unpredictable industry. From last minute pitches and cold calls to editors, to sending emails at 4:00 a.m. you just never know what each day will bring. While that aspect is one of the things I have come to love about the field, it is also the one that makes it extremely difficult to plan ahead of time.

Public relations practitioners are working hard to figure out the best way to capture a certain demographic in a rapidly changing environment. The only industry more off-the-wall than public relations is… fashion. Who can argue that, with trends adjusting and shifting every other week, outside influencers play a huge role in the industry. Even huge brands are investing millions in market research to better understand it! Now, if you throw both PR and fashion in the same room? You better watch out!

While girls have a knack for being prompt and poised and ahead of the game, we still need help from time to time to avoid the fast balls Fashion PR may throw.

Below are the top 8 items every Fashion PR girl must have:

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