How to Network: Beyond LinkedIn

Networking is essential to a successful career. You should already be working to build relationships with your peers and make connections with professionals. LinkedIn is one of the easiest ways to accomplish this, but it’s not the only effective way. So what are other ways to start networking as a full time student?

I just returned from PRSSA National Conference in Washington, D.C. this past weekend. I have to say that this is the “headquarters of networking.” After being placed in a group of PRSSA students and thrown into a mixer with PRSA professionals, I gained some insight on networking effectively.

Here are my top three ways to network as a student:

Demonstrate your skill-base through multiple platforms

Did you know that LinkedIn is not the only way to exhibit your skills and experiences? Not that LinkedIn isn’t effective, but there are other tactics to network. In-person communication has been proven to be the most effective way for others to remember you. By putting a face to a name, people are able to remember each unique personality. On the other hand, WordPress, Cision and Vocus are other unique online databases you should begin developing.

Force yourself to practice

Put yourself in a situation where you will have to make conversation with unfamiliar people and professionals. I know, I know – who wants to use their free time to talk to strangers, right? But it’s a well-known fact that practice makes perfect. Start going to mixers on campus or attending meetings and dinners organized by groups associated with your interests. Even if you’re not good at networking now, the practice will send you on your way to being an expert. Start building your networking skills now, so when the time comes, you’ll be prepared to wow.

Always have your projects and information on hand

If you don’t have business cards, I’d suggest you design and order some. If you don’t have a portfolio of your work, I’d suggest you put one together. These methods give you hard-copy ways to demonstrate your skill set as opposed to just tweeting your projects or publishing your work online. Prepare for the possibility of networking at any time.

Photo Credit: danielfoster437 via Compfight cc

Sophie_Outside1_thumbnailSophie Lair, Finance Director, manages and prepares the chapter’s budget for the academic school year and collects annual dues from members. Sophie is currently majoring in public relations with a minor in French. Follow her on Twitter at @sophielair.

6 Things You Missed at 6

Didn’t make it to our meeting last night? We talked with a panel of professionals, including Ian Bragg of CMD and PRSA New Pros and Matt Hollander and Taylor Robertson from Vox PR. Here are six things we learned from them:

Pitching is a big deal. Taylor Robertson said that was the thing that shocked him the most when he started his first job out of college. His advice? You just have to pick up the phone and do it. Be direct and target the reporter who fits the story best rather than “blanketing” the pitch by contacting every reporter you can think of.

Knowing how to use social media isn’t enough. You have to be comfortable talking about the analytics behind your efforts on social media in order to show the value of what you’re doing.

Network constantly – it really is all about who you know. Companies hire internally first, followed by the people they know. Job postings are always a last resort and they’d rather not comb through a trillion resumes. Graduating in the spring? Start doing informational interviews now.

Network even while you have a job. One of the fastest ways of advancing is hopping from agency to agency. Most people only stay in an agency for 2-3 years.

Between an unpaid internship and no internship, take the unpaid one. You’ll be able to parlay that into work soon enough and the experience will be worth it. However, you should never stay in an unpaid internship for more than three months.

The working at a small, local agency: At smaller agencies, you can get your hands on a lot of different projects in your first year. By having to wear multiple different hats, you can find out what you ultimately want to do.

Make sure to join us for our next meeting on November 5 where we’ll be talking with Funk/Levis’ digital strategist Trevor Steele about integrating digital new media into campaigns.

DSC_0093Hannah Osborn, Public Relations Director, is a senior pursuing a double major in public relations and magazine journalism. She manages all UO PRSSA social and digital media platforms. Follow her on Twitter at @hannahmarieoz.

Q&A with Ian Bragg

Meet Ian Bragg, University of Oregon SOJC alumni, who will be joining us for our PRSSA Panel and Mixer tonight! Following his graduation with a B.S. in Journalism with a focus in public relations and advertising, Ian spent a few years at Waggener Edstrom. He then joined the Edelman team to work on their Xbox account. Currently, Ian is a Senior Account Executive on the Earned Media team at CMD. As part of the Portland PRSA chapter, Ian works as the Director of New Pros where he brings his five years of large agency experience to new PR pros. 

We asked Ian some questions prior to the PRSSA Panel and Mixer. Get to know Ian before our event tonight:

Q: Did you have any internships while in college? If so, how influential do you think that experience was in helping you nail your first job? 

A: I did not have any internships while I was in college. However, I was involved in a variety of activities, including the student-run magazine, Oregon Voice, Allen Hall Advertising (AHA) and of course, UO PRSSA. Honestly, I was very lucky to get a job out of college without holding any internships. I believe they are extremely valuable to prepare yourself before entering the job market. There are even some internship programs that require candidates have at least two previous internships and/or a Master’s degree. It’s pretty competitive out there, folks.

Q: What was the application process like for you when looking for post-graduation options? 

A: My dad always taught me that “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” This couldn’t have been more accurate during my application process. A family friend introduced me to a VP at Waggener Edstrom, which led me to an informational interview, and well, the rest is history.

Beyond my personal story, I can’t stress enough how important setting up informational interviews is. Simply applying for a job is sometimes not enough. Plus, not all jobs coming down the pipeline are advertised on the company’s website. If you can demonstrate your value during an informational [interview], you’d be surprised how much that helps your chances at landing a job.

Q: What shocked you the most when starting your first job out of college? 

A: The on-boarding process can be quite intense. I was lucky enough to start on the Microsoft account, so I had to learn all the ins and outs of the tech industry – right away. It’s exciting digging deep into the accounts you work on, but it’s mentally draining for the first few months. However, I wouldn’t give up that experience for anything in the world. Starting my first “real job” is one of the best feelings I’ve ever felt.

Q: What has been your favorite project or accomplishment?

A: I had the opportunity to launch Xbox One while I was working at Edelman. This experience was by far the highlight of my career. I worked harder than I ever worked leading up to the event, but it was worth every minute of it. I got to go to New York City to help with the launch, which included going backstage at Bloomberg, Fox Business and other broadcast publications with our top executive. I also ran the VIP/celebrity check-in and watched Macklemore perform for hundreds of Xbox fans attending the event. I was truly living the dream.

Q: How has PRSA benefited you as a professional?

A: As I mentioned above, it’s not what you know, but who you know. PRSA gave me the opportunity to meet and network with the leaders of the PR community in Portland. The PRSA New Pros specifically helped acquaint me with the numerous PR and marketing agencies in Portland. This knowledge helped me locate the most recent stage in my career – working on the Earned Media team at CMD.

Q: What are the top three skills PR students should try to obtain before graduation?

A: Writing/editing is probably the most important skill for a PR professional. Agencies and clients alike expect us to have strong writing skills and perfect grammar.

Social Media knowledge: As millennials, we are expected to have knowledge of emerging social media networks and how to leverage the existing ones. Today PR isn’t just about media relations, it encompasses all forms of communication.

Networking: It’s amazing how small the PR community is across the nation. By getting to know others in the industry, you will give yourself a leg up on the competition when job searching. 

Q: What are some first steps students should take to build their networks?

A: Leverage your professors. They have more connections than you can imagine. Beyond that, join professional networks in the cities you are planning on working in. For example, PRSA New Pros and similar groups are a great way to get to know other young professionals and the various PR and marketing agencies in your community. And don’t be shy. Roll to a few meet-ups solo – chances are there are five other talented people in the room who are in the exact same boat. Finally, keep your LinkedIn updated and connect with the people you meet. LinkedIn is the number one way recruiters find candidates for jobs. You don’t want to miss out on that opportunity. 

Be sure to stop by Allen 141 tonight at 6 to meet Ian Bragg and other professionals as they share their insight with us! 

Lauren_JohnsonHall_thumbnailLauren Todd, Internal Events Director, plans internal events for UO PRSSA in effort to build relationships within the group. In her spare time, Lauren enjoys assisting with weddings and staying up to date on the world of pop culture. Follow her on Twitter at @Lauren_Todd.

Why Every PR Student Should Have a Blog

Writing skills and strong work samples are a must in the post-grad job search. The easiest way for a PR student to earn those skills now? Start blogging.

I started my own blog, Creativity in Doses, in 2009. And boy, has it come a long way since then. Blogging has taught me important lessons in writing, editing, marketing, business tactics and brand management. As a result, I can personally vouch for these four reasons why every PR student should have a blog.

Become an expert
Did you know that once a journalist has written three articles on the same subject, he or she can be considered an expert on the topic? Blogging can do the same for PR students. Start a blog in a niche you’re passionate about, be it fashion, food, sports or something completely different, and you’ll be on your way to establishing yourself as an expert in that area.

Find your voice
Finding your voice — your real one, not the scholarly essay-like one — is one of the most important things you can do as a college student. That’s the voice that you’ll use when writing pitches, new releases, even memos to your boss. Blogging on a regular basis can help expedite that process. Once you’ve found your voice, you’ll be able to begin learning how to tailor that to different clients and projects.

Demonstrate your writing skills
It’s a well-known fact that employers want to hire good writers. Even if you’re not one now, starting a blog and having peers read your work will allow you to practice sentence fluency, word choice and grammar. You’ll not only grow as a writer, but you’ll also end up with plenty of writing samples to pull from.

Develop your personal brand
Blogging gives you a platform to put your own thoughts and ideas out there, which is so much more crucial to your personal brand than simply retweeting what everyone else is saying. Think about what you want to be known for on the web and stay consistent.

Want to learn more about blogging? Come to our Blogging 101 Writing Workshop on Wednesday, October 15.

Blogging 101

DSC_0093Hannah Osborn, Public Relations Director, is a senior pursuing a double major in public relations and magazine journalism. She manages all UO PRSSA social and digital media platforms. Follow her on Twitter at @hannahmarieoz.

Kick Off the Year with PRSSA

Join UO PRSSA at its first meeting of the year! Learn about our upcoming events as well as how to get involved and gain PR experience. 

We’ll also be starting our series: “The Basics of PR.” Hear from a few professionals talk about the difference between in-house and agency life, ethics and leadership, advocacy PR, healthcare, and non-profit. Whether this is your first year on campus or you’re a seasoned senior, there’s something for everyone to take away. 

Lastly, make sure to join us after the meeting at Pegasus Pizza! We hope to see you there!

4 Free Tools to Help You Get Ahead

Whether you need help managing a busy life full of classes, work and extracurriculars or are looking for a little extra something to put on your resume, here are four free tools to add to your repertoire. 

Asana
This app allows you to organize both personal and group tasks, ensuring that nothing will slip under the radar again. Asana is perfect for communicating to-dos within your club or organization. Assign tasks to others, set due dates and get reminded via email when something is coming up, and organize it all by project.

Canva
This online program makes it easy to design graphics for blog posts, presentations, social media, posters and more. Canva offers many well-designed templates to use as a starting point as well as fonts, graphics, and color schemes to help you make an image your own. We all know getting familiar with the Adobe Suites is highly valuable. However, Canva can help you get right to creating graphics without the learning curve or cost associated with Adobe programs.

Connected
LinkedIn’s newest app helps you maintain the relationships in your network. It keeps updates within your network front and center so you can stay on top of what’s happening. All it takes to keep in touch is a few minutes swiping through Connected’s interface, stopping to congratulate work anniversaries, new jobs and promotions. It will even send you reminders about meetings as well as information about the individuals attending.

Code Academy
This interactive program makes learning how to code simple. Although it’s likely you’ve heard of Code Academy, chances are you haven’t taken the time to utilize the program. Being able to code is a skill that can set you apart from the rest of the job market. Take advantage of this resource by setting aside an hour a week to go through the lessons. You’ll be a coding whiz in no time!

Which of these free tools are you most excited to begin using?

DSC_0093Hannah Osborn, Public Relations Director, is a senior pursuing a double major in public relations and magazine journalism. She manages all UO PRSSA social and digital media platforms. Follow her on Twitter at @hannahmarieoz.