Hannah Osborn – University of Oregon PRSSA

January 25, 2015

6 Things You Missed at 6

Didn’t make it to our last meeting? We heard from Heaven Lampshire, former UO PRSSA Exec Board member and current assistant account executive at Edelman Seatle. Here are six things we learned from her about internships, tech PR and more:

On going into tech PR after working in food and beverage: Food and beverage PR is intuitive because you can relate to it so easily. Going into tech PR, there’s a lot to learn about how the companies work and what they do.

The difference between being an intern and an AAE: As an intern, Heaven says she worked on one-off projects for eight different accounts and wasn’t able to deeply understand the client’s work. As an AAE, she is able to work on projects from start to finish.

Time management is critical. When asked to do something, it’s better to be honest and say you can get to it later than say you can do it now and not get it done.

Want to stand out as an intern? With every assignment you work on, ask yourself “What are two thing I can add to make it better?”

Think strategically and have a reason for everything. You need to be able to counsel your client on decisions and explain why your solution would work.

Take advantage of in-class assignments. Do things that are interesting to you, and you’ll not only enjoy your classes more, but have things you’re proud of to add to your portfolio.

Join us for our next meeting on January 28 to kick off our Workshop Wednesday series!

Hannah 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.

November 6, 2014

6 Things You Missed At 6

Didn’t make it to our meeting last night? We heard from Trevor Steele, Communications Strategist at Funk/Levis & Associates. Here are six things we learned from him about crisis communication and digital strategy:

Always expect the unexpected. Be prepared for crisis by doing your research, understanding your audience and what their concerns might be, being aware of related issues and preparing for more than one outcome of a situation.

Details matter. Even the smallest errors make a difference in your reputation and future success. What may seem like a minor mistake could become a liability for your client.

The biggest difference between crisis communication and normal PR is time. Crisis communication is the same; it just happens faster.

Every crisis is different, but every crisis has happened before. However, in most situations, you don’t really have enough time to think about what’s happened before. When handling a crisis in the moment, get as many details as you can. Ask yourself what the first question is that other people will want to know and find the answer. Time and information are the two critical pieces you need in order to solve a crisis.

Be aware of the media filter. The media filter is what the media decides to show out of the information you provide them. Sometimes you have to get around the media filter in order to get your message out.

Want to work in crisis communication? Be a good writer. Writing is critical when dealing with crisis. Train yourself out of writer’s block by practicing writing on demand about topics you know nothing about.

Join us for our next meeting on November 19 to hear UO alum Jen Eisenmann talk about her role as the social media and event production for the SF Giants.

Hannah 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.

October 8, 2014

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.

Hannah 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.

October 5, 2014

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?

Hannah 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.

September 18, 2014

How to Prepare for a New Term

As exciting as a new school year may seem in the weeks leading up to it, that can quickly fade to resentment without the proper preparation. Use these tips to manage your assignments and commitments while making the most out of your year:

Get organized. Whether you love old-school paper and pen or swear by your iPhone calendar app, make sure to have a plan in place before showing up to the first day of class. A planner with plenty of room to write or a multi-functioning app such as Fantastical is key.

Start early. Keep track of important due dates right from the beginning. Professors generally give out due dates with the class syllabus (which is often available on Blackboard before the first day of class). Take advantage of this by outlining your calendar early. That way you’ll know ahead of time when you can take on extra responsibilities or have time to plan something with friends.

Freshen up your online presence. Between sunny vacations and demanding internships, it can be easy to let your social media accounts go dormant during the summer. Take the week before school to bring them up-to-date. Add that summer job or internship to your LinkedIn profile, send out a few professional tweets, and remove the bikini pic from your Facebook profile. Now you’re all set to begin networking with professors, peers and professionals.

Join a new campus organization. Make this the year you go above and beyond by getting involved on campus. Before you head back to school, do some research on the organizations you can join. Whether that’s applying to be part of Allen Hall Public Relations, attending the first PRSSA meeting, or lending your skills to a campus cause, be sure to try something new. You’ll never know what passion or career path you may discover until you do.

How are you preparing for the new term?

Hannah 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.

May 20, 2014

After Your Internship: The Dos and Don’ts

You landed the internship position, worked hard for months to gain valuable work experience and built up your resume. The hard part is over, right? Actually, there’s a lot you can do even after your internship ends to make the most of the experience. From maintaining your professional network to including your new experience on your resume, here are the post-internship dos and don’ts.

Do send a thank you note
As your internship comes to a close, make sure to send each person you worked with a handwritten thank you note. Recognizing the people you worked with is the first step in maintaining a relationship after the internship is over. Be sure to tell each person exactly what you appreciated about him or her. From the person who helped you complete a certain project to the person who made you feel included ¾ who doesn’t love getting a thank you note?

Do keep in touch
The people you work with at an internship are valuable contacts to have. They can become references and even mentors, letting you know of job opportunities and putting in a good word for you. Stay in touch with fellow interns, coworkers and managers by connecting with them on social media, especially on LinkedIn. Check in with your old coworkers every few months to see how things have been going since you left. Keep informed on what the company has been up to and congratulate former colleagues when they launch a new program or win an award. Your former manager is rooting for you to succeed so let him or her know what you’ve accomplished since you left. If you come across an article you think a former coworker or manager would be interested in, don’t be afraid to pass it along!

Do ask for a letter of recommendation
You never know what personnel changes might happen after you finish your internship. The last thing you would want is to need a letter of recommendation and not be able to get in touch. Asking now will save both of you time and stress. Plus, it’s always better to have them write about your contributions while your time there is still fresh in their minds. By asking for a letter of recommendation, even if you don’t need it right away, you’re setting the stage to call for a reference later.

Don’t burn any bridges
Not all internship experiences are positive ones. If you are disappointed with your experience for whatever reason ¾ maybe your supervisor took you for granted or your duties lacked educational value ¾ refrain from sharing your feelings on social media or in another job interview. Give your honest feedback in an exit interview or send an email to your internship manager, but keep it constructive. You never know when you might need a reference, so be sure not to leave on a negative note.

On the other hand, maybe you had a fabulous internship experience and think your supervisor is your new best friend. It may seem like once the internship is over, you can be free to let your walls down, but be careful to keep any relationships you’ve formed professional. Don’t go to a bar with coworkers and get drunk. Don’t friend your former employer on Facebook if you’re going to be posting scandalous party pictures. Don’t publicly engage in an inappropriate conversation on social media.

Don’t lie about your experience
When you’re including your internship in your resume, it can be tempting to exaggerate your roles here and there. Although you want to put your experience in a positive light, even if you spent most of your time fetching coffee or filing papers, make sure you’re still being honest about what you did. Focus on results you achieved, rather than your day-to-day tasks in order to better convey your value.

What have you done to make the most of an internship even after it’s over? Let us know by leaving a comment.

Hannah Osborn, external relations committee member, is a junior pursuing a double major in public relations and magazine journalism. Follow her on Twitter at @hannahmarieoz.

February 26, 2014

How to Write a Standout Cover Letter

Although writing a cover letter can often be frustrating, it is the first and most important thing a potential employer sees. The right cover letter can get you one step closer to an interview. Here are a few tips to make the writing process easier and your cover letters more successful:

Keep your cover letter well organized and easy to read. Use the first paragraph to explain why you are contacting the organization. Be sure to include any mutual acquaintances and mention your interest in the company or a specific position. In two to three concise body paragraphs, elaborate on your relevant skills, experience, knowledge and expertise. Conclude the cover letter by reiterating your interest in the company and mentioning a call to action, such as “I look forward to hearing from you.”

Tailor your descriptions of skills and experiences to fit the position. Use the job posting as a guide to identify two or three key skills that the employer is looking for. Then, brainstorm the ways in which your skills or experiences illustrate those reoccurring themes. By using key terms from the job posting, you can show that you not only understand what the job entails, but that you’re the right fit for the position.

Remember, they want to know what you can do for them. The more clearly you illustrate how you can benefit the organization, the more likely they call you for an interview. Consider concluding each of your body paragraphs with a sentence summarizing how the skill or experience you mention is relevant and how it will impact the employer.

For more advice on writing a standout cover letter, read this post on the seven-step resume makeover and this article on the mind trick that will help you write a more creative and passion-filled cover letter.

What has been your most successful trick to writing a unique cover letter? Let us know by leaving a comment.

Photo credit: Kazuho Okui via Flickr

Hannah Osborn, external relations committee member, is a junior pursuing a double major in public relations and magazine journalism. Follow her on Twitter at @hannahmarieoz.