The Generation Divide

A recent article by Marshall Goldsmith in BusinessWeek discussed this generation, and their lack of drive when it comes to the workforce. According to Marshall, "they don't want to pay their dues, play by the rules, or give their best to any project unless they are sure that it will get them a promotion, a raise, or some kind of recognition. And if they aren't totally happy, or if you look at them wrong, they'll bolt for the next job!"

At first I was a little put off... I mean, come on! Give us a little credit! But then I read on and realized I can understand how he might have come to that conclusion--we've all met people like the ones he describes in his article. However, I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with his conclusion.

I think people are as much a product of their home environments as they are the culture they are emerged in. Those who were given everything as children expect to get everything as adults. Those who work for what they get certainly appreciate it more.

So, here's what I have to say to future employers: Please don't group us all together. Some of us have worked for 4 long years to earn a college degree, and can't wait to put it to good use--but that doesn't mean we don't expect to work our way to the top just like any other employee.

Emailing: Why It's Important to Stay Professional

In the fast-paced world of public relations, often times it is more effective to communicate with clients through email.

It is easy to get caught up in the lingo and jargon that are frequently used on the Internet, however it is important to remember that all professional rules still apply.

Brian Zafron makes this same point in his post, The Art of Emailing. According to Zafron, approximately 183 billion emails are sent every day, so it is safe to assume that a large amount of those emails are business-related.

Many successful businessmen have emphasized the importance of professionalism in email communication. Think about it... You don't want to hand in a resume with typos all over it. Why would you let it slide in an email?

Email is frequently the chosen correspondence tool. Often it is the only opportunity you have to make a good impression on a client. Keep that in mind the next time shoot an email off before proof-reading first.

Giving Effective Presentations: A How-To Guide

As college students, we've had good teachers and not-so-good ones. Some where knowledgable, but lacked the ability to present class lectures clearly and effectively. This is where power points can come in handy.

At one time or another--regardless of your major--every college student will have to give a presentation, and knowing what makes a good one can really help you take it to the next level. Here are a few things I have learned along the way:

1) Keep them simple. You don't want too many words on a slide.
2) The audience can read faster than you can speak, so try not to speak directly from your slides. By the time you're done talking, they've already finished and you've lost their attention.
3) Don't use pictures from a generic clip art folder. Everyone's seen them before and they are boring.
4) Try to limit the effects you use. Too much will just cloud your presentation. Only use it to emphesize a key point.
5) Don't look at your powerpoint. Doing so causes you to keep your back to the audience--and they are the ones you're supposed to be communicating to.
6) Reherse, reherse, REHERSE! I can't emphesize this enough. It seems like the most obvious thing, but trust me--you can never be too prepared.

For more helpful tips, check out Scott Stratten's article about the Dos and Don'ts for Power Point Presentations. He had a lot of great things to say.

Corporate Social Responsibility: What Are They Really Doing?

I recently put together a presentation designed to be given on behalf of a large corporation. The presentation focuses on their recent corporate social responsibility efforts. I was given a list of 100 corporations to chose from, and I picked the one my dad works for (I also worked there too for a short time).

In doing research for this, I realized that there are A LOT of things companies to that their own employees probably don't know about. For example, did you know that employees of Allstate Insurance Company can receive new parent benefits, which include discounts on child care, free car seats, and up to $5,000 in adoption reimbursement? Yeah, my dad didn't either.

Like Allstate, most companies have a "corporate citizenship" section on their web site where they discuss the impact of their business on their customers, employees and the communities they serve.

Many of these corporations don't publicize their corporate social responsibility efforts as much as they should. (They probably don't have the right PR person.) But, this project helped me realize that I want to work for a company like Allstate, that cares about the welfare of its customers, employees, the community and the environment. It might be worthwhile to find out what options are available to you within your company.

Social Media in the Job Market...

David Reich had a very interesting post last month about value of social media skills in today's job market... It got me thinking about how the PR industry has changed over the last decade. While I do agree that these skills play a role in the public relations profession, I am somewhat relieved that it is not likely to be the deciding factor.

I enjoy blogging as much as the next person, and I can certainly appreciate the benefits of a good podcast or YouTube video. But no matter how much the industry grows and changes, I feel that core communication skills, such as writing and speaking, will always supersede the latest trends.

Whether you're writing a letter to a potential sponsor, sending an email to your boss, or giving a presentation to a client, it is important to remember the basics. Use correct grammar, spelling and punctuation. And, always remain professional.

I am a people person. I always have been. Blogs, podcasts, and other user-generated content has a tendency to seem less personal to me. That is why it has been difficult for me to jump on the social media train. In my opinion, no amount of fancy technology will ever beat a face-to-face interaction.

Getting Your Ink In The Newspaper...

A recent post by Linda Jones really got me thinking about the importance of media relations in the PR industry. As a journalism major, it has been drummed into my head time and time again how to write an effective press release--but that is only the beginning when it comes to getting media coverage for your client, organization or event.

Linda brought up several good points in her post. She emphasized the importance of timeliness when writing articles, keeping news local, and treating journalists with respect.

One other aspect I would like to add to the conversation is the idea of building professional relationships with journalists. Being on a first name basis with local reporters will give PR professionals the upper hand when trying to get their stories printed. Also, before you make contact with reporters it would be helpful to research the publication they work for so that you don't seem like an amateur.

Just a few things to think about...

Ambush Marketing/PR...

For those of you who aren't familiar with the term, Adam Sauer defines it best in his article "Ambush Marketing: Steals The Show" when he states, "ambush marketing--a term often hissed in industry circles--occurs when one brand pays to become an official sponsor of an event and another competing brand attempts to cleverly connect itself with the event, without paying the sponsorship fee and, more frustratingly, without breaking any laws".

A recent guest speaker in my PR Planning and Problem Solving class named Steve Remington spoke to us about ambush marketing. He explained that nowadays, professionals spend just as much time trying to prevent ambush marketing/PR as they do promoting their paid sponsors.

Steve has assisted with the planning of the Eugene Celebration for the last couple years, and part of his job is to make sure that paid sponsors don't take advantage of their privlidges and that unpaid brands don't intrude on sponsor's benefits.

Although these tactics can be very effective, they undermine the integrity of events and damage their ability to attract future sponsors. In my opinion, tactics like these are what gives PR professionals a bad name.

"Mommy, How Come You Missed My Dance Recital?"

Reading Marc Brownstein's post about creating an environment for working moms really made me think about some of the important decisions I will face when I become a parent. My mother was a stay-at-home mom and it was a very positive experience for me to have someone there when I was growing up.

Times are changing, however, and many women also have the desire to break into the workplace. For those women, it is important to find an employer that understands and respects the needs of working mothers.

I was interested to discover that the PR industry has more women working in key roles than any other industry. I think this is partially due to the flexibility in hours and the ability to work from home that comes with many careers in this field.

Groups such as the National Organization for Women and the National Network for Child Care appeal to businesses to adopt more family-friendly policies. It is my hope that the industry continues to move in the direction of more parent-friendly job structures for both moms and dads alike.

Blogging About Blogs...

In today’s fast paced world, it is becoming more and more difficult to reach target publics through traditional forms of mass media. Companies are beginning to realize that getting their message out to the largest number of people does not always mean they are appealing to the interests of their product’s ideal consumers.

Social media focuses on building a community with an audience that has the greatest connection with the product. It gives companies an opportunity to consider their target publics and maintain relationships with them in order to build trust and loyalty among consumers.

Among the most widely-used social media tactics are blogs. PR Porfessionals recommend blogs because they are cost-effective and offer an oportunity for companies to join consumer discussions, recieve feedback about their products, and respond to complaints in a timely fashion.

In a must read post, Kevin Anderson discusses the importance of creating social media and explains why it is not just a mere wast of time. What do you think? Is social media just a passing fad, or the newest innovation in corporate relations?

Internships: A Must for Every College Student

Summer is approaching quickly, and many college students are finding themselves in need of employment. This is the time to apply. Not sure if an internship is the right fit for you? Here are a few reasons you should consider one...

Internships give students the opportunity to test-drive the field of their choice before graduation. Think about it--what if you spend 4+ years studying advertising, only to discover you don't like working in the advertising industry?

Internships also allow students to explore various job oportunities within their area of study. The Public Relations field alone has many different positions, including: media planning, event coordinating, and publicity just to name a few.

Not only will students be able to learn about their professions, but they will also gain valuable skills and experience to add to their resumes. In today's job market, it is important for applicants to know how to market themselves in order to stand out above the competiton.

For more tips and tricks, check out CollegeRecruiter's 8 Tips To Find an Internship. Also, be sure to visit your college's career center to find out what opportunities are available in your desired industry.

Interviewing Tips and Tricks

The final countdown is on. Three... finish my last term of college. Two... start applying and interviewing for jobs. One... begin a fun and exciting new career in the field of public relations.

So far I have had tremendous success interviewing for jobs, and this is due in large part to helpful tips and hints I have recieved from others along the way. Here are a few you might be interested in:

1. Prepare, prepare, PREPARE! Don't just walk in there blindly. Anticipate questions they might ask. Be ready to tell them why YOU are the right person for the job.

2. Research the company. Know how their business works, what their mission statement is and who their clients are. Not only will this impress your interviewer, it will help you decide if the company is the best fit for you.

3. Know your strengths and weaknesses. Listing them to yourself ahead of time will help you articulate them to your interviewer later on.

4. Be ready with questions of your own. Remember, they are being interviewed as well.

For more help with interviewing skills, check out the University of Oregon Career Center. Hope you find these tips and tricks helpful when you take that leap into the job pool!

Every Sip Gets You Closer...

I am one of many Americans who can't stand watching commercials... Fortunately for me, innovations like TiVo, Comcast OnDemand, and Dish DVR allow users to fast-forward right through advertisements that interupt their favorite programs.

Unfortunately for advertisers, commercials are becoming a less effective tool to reach target publics. For this reason they are being forced to come up with new and innovative ideas like targeted advertising, which is aimed at a particular area or demographic.

Superbowl is one of the few occassions where people actually look forward to watching commercials in between fistfulls of nachos and swigs of beer. Some are funny, some are sleazy, some are actually worth watching... This year was no exception. My favorite? Justin Timberlake's ad for Pepsi: Check it out here!

Introducing Me...

Hi, my name is Kristin Fullerton. I am a Journalism student at the University of Oregon studying Public Relations. I started this blog as an assignment for my Adv. PR Writing class, but I am looking forward to connecting with other PR students and professionals.

The purpose of this blog is to provide a forum to discuss exciting new topics, concepts, and ideas in the field of public relations.

My interests include event coordinating and sports marketing, but I've recently begun to explore and enjoy various forms of social media.

I have not yet had much of an opportunity to gain experience in the public relations field, but I am looking forward to graduating in June and using my Bachelors degree to propel me into the exciting world of communications and public relations.

If you would like to learn more about me, please feel free to check me out on myspace and/or facebook... I look forward to learning about, engaging with, and responding to active participants. Happy blogging!