April 2015 – University of Oregon PRSSA

April 30, 2015

How To Stay Focused During Spring Term

Many students check out when the sun makes an appearance, especially at the University of Oregon, where students are far too familiar with the rain and clouds. Instead of using the sun as an excuse to avoid homework and responsibilities, take control of spring term and use it to your advantage. Here are a few ideas on how to stay focused, while also enjoying the weather.

Take advantage of the sun, but do your homework when it’s raining.

In order to truly enjoy the nice weather that spring brings, you will need to be prepared to do so. Getting your responsibilities out of the way on cloudy days allows for play on days with blue skies.

Divulge in tradition and do a little spring cleaning.

Out with the old, in with the new. There’s not much that feels better than throwing out old junk and clutter. It freshens your room, allows for more free space, and becomes a nice place to focus when needed.

Create a springy and upbeat playlist.

May I suggest a little ODESZA? Gather some fun songs that make you put on your happy pants and allow you to dance it out. Listen to the playlist when you’re feeling discouraged and remind yourself summer is only weeks away.

Download this little lifesaver: The Self Control App.

This computer app allows you to put all of your most distracting websites on a ‘blacklist’ and it won’t allow the websites to load for however long you set your focus timer. Take that, Facebook!

Study, but don’t forget to take breaks.

After multiple hours of studying and staring at a screen, you often hit a wall and no longer retain as much information. Instead of sulking inside and dreading to continue, go outside, take a walk, a breather, and maybe do some jumping jacks to get the blood flowing again.

Treat yourself.

Whether it’s spring term or fall, it’s always a good idea to treat yourself after a good day of work. Eat some cake, get a pedicure, see a movie, or go on a fun weekend trip.

Create goals.

Lastly, it’s always good to have goals to strive for. It focuses on an end date and forces you to accomplish what needs to be done before then. Fitness goals, academic goals, or general self-improvement goals are always good options.

Brooke Adams is a junior transfer student, majoring in Public Relations and minoring in Business Administration. Brooke is a native Oregonian, avid coffee drinker, and music lover. Follow her on Twitter @BrookeIAdams.

April 21, 2015

Why You Should Consider Double Majoring

Have you ever contemplated double majoring? How about double majoring in the journalism school? Majoring in journalism and public relations was one of the best decisions I made during my college career. I started off my academic journey in Allen Hall as a “super j” major. But last June, I decided to add public relations to my degree audit. At the time, I was not sure why I wanted to do this, but now I am glad that I did. Here are my reasons why I believe you should consider adding a second major in the journalism school.

1. You will make DOUBLE the connections

One of the best parts about double majoring is the amount of connections you will make. From the day I decided to add a second major, I connected with more professionals than I ever imagined possible. I also made strong relationships with my public relations and journalism professors, who helped with me with numerous opportunities.

2. You will know AP Style like the back of your hand

Associated Press style. Whether you are in the public relations sequence or in the super j program, you must know AP style. It’s easy to say that if you are going through both of these programs simultaneously, you will learn to love your AP stylebook because you’ll know almost every rule.

3. Multimedia? You have it down pat

Have you ever thought about adding a multimedia piece to a campaign you’re working on? No problem. After going through the super j pathway courses and the PR sequence, your multimedia skills are on point and can make a solid project, dynamic.

4. Your writing skills will go through the roof

If you decide to add another major, you can expect to do a great deal of writing. If you’re looking to become an even stronger and skilled writer, double majoring is for you. After taking multiple writing-based courses, I am beyond confident in my writing. This skill had aided me in all different areas in public relations and journalism.

5. Multitasking and time management are a breeze

Multitasking and time management can sometimes feel like two daunting skills. But after going through these academic programs, that becomes a much simpler task. Juggling my assignments, office hours’ appointments and internships are apart of my everyday routine. Multitasking and time management seem effortless after you become familiar with your ongoing schedule.

Olivia Gonzalez is a senior, majoring in public relations and journalism. She hopes to work in the sports marketing and public relations field, specializing in reputation and brand management. She hopes to move back to the Los Angeles area after graduation and she is excited to begin her professional career.

April 15, 2015

5 Ways to Start Networking

Networking is a tool that can help you open many doors by educating people on who you are and what you are interested in. Sometimes networking can be awkward, but there are ways to combat this. Here are some key ways to help you start networking today.

Create a LinkedIn account

This may seem obvious, but when you create your LinkedIn account spend some time tailoring it to showcase who you are. You are not only updating it’s content, but you are also making connections with professors, acquaintances and professionals. By using LinkedIn, you are showing professionals that you care about your brand and how you are representing yourself to the masses.

Follow professionals on social media

One of the easiest ways to connect with professionals is by following and engaging with them on social media. Find professionals whose interests align with yours and make an effort to engage with them and their content. It is an easy way to build relationships with people who may not be in your immediate vicinity.

Promote your personal website and or blog

If you have a personal blog or website, be sure to promote it across your social media platforms and on your resume. If you are producing quality content, you can attract professionals who are interested in the same topics. It is a quick way to build credibility with professionals by showing them that you are dedicated to producing engaging content on schedule.

Set-up informational interviews

Informational interviews help you make new connections and show that you are passionate about what the company does. Reach out to a company via email and express that you are interested in learning about the industry and what they do on a daily basis. They may not be hiring at the time, but when conducting informal interviews, you could possibly be building connections with them. When the company is hiring, you may come first to mind.

Utilize events

Take advantage of on-campus events. Many jobs and internships are already filled because of a personal connection to the company. Networking can help you obtain these connections. Events provide people with the atmosphere to have a conversation with a professional. Whether the event is put on by the UO Career Center or PRSSA, they are there to help you make these connections. When at these events, come prepared with your personal business cards and make it a point to get theirs as well. Be sure to follow-up a few days after the event and bring up something you remember talking with them about. Don’t forget to thank them for their time because it’s all about making a great impression!

Lauren 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.

April 10, 2015

5 Skills to Aquire Before You Graduate

It is no secret that college graduates should be skilled in interviewing, time management, organization and budgeting (although I haven’t quite figured out how to budget my coffee obsession). Those close to entering the real world have heard numerous times to hone these skills. Here are five skills to acquire before graduation; whether or you want to hear them or not.

1. Professional Email Writing There is a major difference between emailing your mom and emailing your employer. A professional email should be short, concise and to the point. It should remain free from dreaded run-on sentences, and should include a touch of friendliness. This blog provides a few tips on writing a professional email.

2. Professional Eloquence Take a few moments the next time you’re eavesdropping to note how often people use filler words and phrases such as, “you know,” “like” and “uh.” The more you pay attention to how often others use fillers, the more aware you will become of your own bad habits. Eliminating filler words will make you sound sophisticated, professional and concise. Because like, you know, your future boss will like really um, appreciate that.

3. Building a Professional Wardrobe The business casual garb you are accustomed to wearing at work may or may not be acceptable for the professional workforce. As we approach graduation, take stock of your business casual and business professional outfits. In the real world, employees cannot come to work wearing mini-skirts, cargo pants, strappy heels or plunging necklines. Building a professional wardrobe takes time, so get started today!

4. Self-Care Do you ever feel exhausted from a long day at your internship? Do you continue stressing about work responsibilities once you’re home to your cat and lounging in your cozy pajamas? Don’t worry, these are common problems caused by, “the grind” and yes, a solution does exist. That solution is called “self-care.” Self-care is a concept that most professionals do not completely understand and do not take advantage of it. The trick to proper self-care is to brainstorm and plan activities that are beneficial to your mental and emotional health. Practicing yoga, reading novels, journaling, taking hikes, and relaxing while watching Netflix with a pint of ice cream are examples of this. My advice is to become familiar with this practice before entering the professional world so that you don’t get burnt out.

5. Meal Planning You may be thinking, “Why is meal planning so important?” Planning meals ahead of time will save you money, make your waistline happy, and can serve as a creative outlet. I recommend choosing healthy, flavorful and easy recipes that can be divvied into multiple Tupperware containers for a grab n’ go “lunch al desko.” My recent favorite meal to prepare is Greek pasta with ground turkey. It’s best when you top it off with fresh parsley and feta, and you are good to go!

Anna Williams, external relations committee member, is a senior studying Family & Human Services. She’s obsessed with craft beer, avocados and everything about Seattle, and is pursuing a career in Food + Bev PR. Follow her on Twitter @annaleighwill.

April 9, 2015

UO Alumni Report: Hannah Santucci

Hannah Santucci, a University of Oregon graduate and a previous PRSSA member, has had quite the adventure since receiving her degree in 2012. She was kind enough to take time out of her busy schedule to explain her journey and share some helpful tips with current public relations students.

Santucci started her journey by spontaneously moving to California after graduation in search of a career. In October 2012, she landed a job with a start-up company, Become.com. After a few months at her first job, her career path changed course and she became the junior marketing programs coordinator at the CMO Council. After testing out the waters, she came to the conclusion that this position was not what she envisioned and she continued her search for a career that she could be passionate about.

In October 2014, Santucci found success in her job hunt. She was hired as a member of Old Navy’s Field Communication Team and continues to work for the clothing company today. As a member of its field communications team, she receives, stores and relays messages from business partners and executives. She then edits, repackages and publishes these important messages on the company’s internal portal.

Hannah’s Tips for Graduating Seniors:

1. Not only do employers want to see what you’ve done on your resume, they want to see how well you can talk about those experiences.

2. Be confident, be passionate, be a Duck.

3. Begin to apply for jobs months before graduation.

4. Take all interviews seriously.

5. Have an intriguing resume layout.

6. Clean-up your social media accounts.

Thank you Hannah for sharing your story and your valuable PR tips! Feel free to follow Hannah on Twitter, @hannahsantucci.

Shelby Nelson, External Relations Committee, serves as a project manager for the PRSSA blog. She is a senior pursuing a Public Relations degree. Feel free to follow her on Twitter at @shelbybriann.