Social Media Sweep: Clean Up Your Profile

Generation Y is all about online sharing, but when it comes to getting hired, how much sharing is too much? 

A recent study by Harris Interactive and CareerBuilder found that 43 percent of hiring managers who research candidates via social media say they've found information that caused them not to hire someone. This number is up 9 percentage points from last year.

Pictures from your wild spring break. Delete. Drunken tweet made at the bar. Delete. Post complaining about your new boss on your friend's wall. Delete. Suggestive Instagram selfie. Delete. Basically, if you have to think about - delete it. 

The amount of employers who research candidates via social media is also up this year. Thirty-nine percent of hiring managers say they use social media to vet applicants, compared with 37 percent last year.

There has never been a better indication that now is the time to clean up your social media profiles. 

Employers who took the candidate out of the running for a job after looking at his social media profiles did so for the following reasons:

• Candidate posted provocative/inappropriate photos (50%)
• Candidate shared information about drinking or using drugs (48%)
• Candidate bad mouthed a previous employer (33%)
• Candidate had poor communication skills (30%)

Do you think twice before you post? We want to know!

A Night of Networking with PPRA

Last night, Temple PRSSA and PRowl members enjoyed an evening of networking at The Philadelphia Public Relations Association’s annual event, Careers 101. The event, which was targeted toward students and young professionals, turned out a great crowd at Drexel University. 

Approximately 20 Temple PR students were in attendance. They networked with professionals from a variety of fields in PR, listened to a panel of experienced speakers, won great raffle prizes and received critiques on their resumes and cover letters. 

The event was great, especially for younger members. Sophomore PRSSA member Tyler Cameron reflects on the event by saying:

 “The panelists gave us real life examples of what kind of person is successful in the current PR world. Listening to the PR professionals instruct us on interviews, work ethic, resume building  and general facts on how to make it in the public relations world really inspired me to do my best to be as successful as each of them. The interactive networking session really excited me about my future in the public relations industry, and confirmed I’m in the right major.”

You can check out tweets from last night’s event by searching the hashtag, #PPRACareers101 on Twitter. Also, be sure to follow @PPRA for updates on their future events! 

This post was written by Temple PRSSA President Mackenzie Krott.

Can You Survive On A Social Media Salary?

There is a new trend on Google, and it's the keyword search for the salary of a social media manager. Your parents probably already don't understand your career choice and just want to know that you will be able to afford to eat and to put a roof over your head. You on the otherhand just want to make sure that you can cut the chords and move out of the house and afford that closet sized apartment in the city you've been dreaming of.

Below is a ‘Social Media Manager Jobs Salary Guide’ that has been compiled and published by Onward Search. It lists social media job categories in addition to average salaries across the United States.

In addition to looking at position and location factors, you will also need to factor in whether you will be working for a small business or non-profit organization or whether you are willing to go corporate in order to earn more money. As highlighted by the graph, jobs in the social media scene are few and far, especially well paying ones. As aspiring professionals, it is important to diversify your experiences early on therefore making yourselves more marketable in the industry. Marketability means more money and more money means less phone calls home to mom and dad.

The question remains, can you survive on a social media salary?

Interning, the Beginning.

The first day of an internship can be both exciting and quite nerve provoking. If read my last blog post, "Closing Night, Interning at a Theater", then you are aware that I recently ended an internship and have begun the transition into my next internship. Before I have begun each my internships, I have followed a mental checklist. In order to prepare for the first day of your next internship, here are a few suggestions:

1. Become familiar with the company. Understand the chain of command in which you will be working and specifically who you will be reporting to. Also, explore and become familiar with your company or organizations website. The look and feel of a company's website says a lot about who they are and the atmosphere of the company. Finally, set up a Google Alert using the company's name as the keyword. Anytime new stories, breaking news, or articles come out about the company, Google will automatically send them to you in an email.

2. Rehearse your commute. Arriving late on your first day sets a negative tone and gives a bad first impression. Whether you are walking, biking, driving or utilizing public transportation, be sure to look up directions that are easy to follow and understand and times of trains and buses if you are utilizing public transportation. If you are taking public transportation, practice walking from your stop to your office and time yourself. Also, consider wearing the shoes you intend on wearing your first day during your practice run of your commute. While those cute new pumps might go nicely with your first day outfit, realizing you have to walk fifteen blocks both ways might make them less appealing.

3. Prepare your outfit ahead of time. Make sure you understand your dress code and follow it. If you are unsure, feel free to email your supervisor before your first day. In general though, it is always best to dress more conservatively on your first couple of days until you can get a feel for what is deemed appropriate in your specific work environment. Once you have selected an appropriate outfit, make sure it is free of any wrinkles and stains. Also, note if your outfit is dry clean only and leave an appropriate amount of time to take it to the dry cleaners if deemed necessary. Finally, less is more when it comes to accessories. Whatever you have on, take one thing off. Let your personality shine through and not your bling.

4. Be prepared to do paperwork. Contact your human resource department or supervisor and inquire as to what kind of documentation you will be required to submit. In general, you usually will need your social security card, two forms of identification, your checking account and routing number if you will be compensated and any additional paperwork you are required to fill-out for your university or college if applicable.

5. Finally, come prepared with questions and reach out. Draft up questions prior to your first day which can help you fill-in the gaps to answers you could not conclude from perusing the company website or supplemental materials. Contact your supervisor prior to your first day and ask if there was a previous intern. If so, see if you can get into contact with them and use them as a resource. Finally, draft an introduction email and either send it out prior to your start date or on your first day introducing yourself and offering your assistance to anyone in your department or to anyone in the company who may need it. Although the gesture may be small, it will set you apart and may even open up opportunities for you later.

So when starting your next internship, consider following these easy steps and set yourself up for a successful internship experience from start to finish.

Have you ever prepared for an internship in advance? If so, what preparations did you make?

Tips to Tackle your Job Hunt

From experience, I know that looking for a job after graduation can seem like a full-time job in itself. Balancing classes, work, interning and everything else the tips I have outlined below really come in handy:

• Be realistic. You know yourself and your skill set, keep them in mind when applying for jobs so that you can identify something you can actually offer the company.
• Know what you want. While it isn't uncommon that your first job will be one that you don't want, narrow down your choices by looking for companies you like with positions you are actually qualified for, and apply.
• Find a mentor. Especially if you are a recent graduate, a professor, advisor or someone close to you that can help you look over your writing samples, resume, cover letter, etc. can give you piece of mind and motivation to keep moving forward.
• Approach companies. While most people choose not to do this, looking on a company's website or making a few phone calls to a company you REALLY want to work for, could help set you a apart enough to get an informational interview and remembered if a spot opens up.
  

What tips have helped you in the job search? To read more tips click here.

How Does Your Writing Stack Up?

As an account executive of PRowl Public Relations, Temple University’s only student-run public relations firm, the most common question I get is, “how do I improve my writing?” Now, I don’t claim to be an expert writer, but I have been writing in a journalistic and public relations styles for over five years so I’ve encountered a lot of good and bad writing. Here are a few of the best tips I can offer to beginners looking to improve their writing:

• Think about your audience. This is arguable the most important piece of advice I can give you. Who are you writing to? What are their attitudes, values, beliefs, lifestyles and cultural backgrounds? Your audience will affect the tone of voice and the words you use in your copy.
• Aim for the goal. Just like in soccer. Are you a journalist telling a story or are you a public relations professional communicating a message? Are you relating your writing back to the business goals of your company? Your goal is crucial to the finished product, don’t neglect it!
• Follow the inverted pyramid. Remember what the inverted pyramid is? Think back to your first PR or journalism class. Inverted pyramid style is putting the most important, newsworthy information first to draw your reader into your writing.
• Learn AP Style. This is essential for both public relations and journalistic writing. You need to know the proper way to write. If you don’t, your editors and audience won’t take you seriously.
• Good writing is re-writing. Your first draft should never be your last. Always review and rewrite your copy several times. Your finished product should be perfect in your eyes before you let it leave your hands.

Do you have any other essential tips for budding writers? Let us know in thecomment section.

Student-Alumni Networking Event: The Elevator Pitch Essentials

Recently I got the opportunity to attend a Student-Alumni Networking Event hosted by the Career Center. A variety of Temple alumni (even some PRowl alums!) came to give the students a chance to practice networking, especially concentrating on the elevator pitch. Below are a few points I took from the workshop:

• Keep it Short: They don't call it the 30-second pitch for nothing. Be sure to keep your pitch short when networking, as people naturally have short attention spans. At a networking event you will probably be speaking to a large volume of people, having a short, quality pitch will enable you to give your basic stats to more people.
• Keep it Simple: You only have a short time to pitch yourself to other professionals. While you want them to get a feel of who you are, both personally and professionally, keep in mind that you're just meeting them. Using confusing jargon or bouncing back and forth from one idea to another will likely confuse the other person. This one was hard for me, because I wanted to get out everything about myself I could, eventually I learned that I don't have to get everything out in one breath, an elevator pitch doesn't always mean talking for 30 seconds straight with no breaks. Introduce yourself, give the other person the chance to introduce themselves, and go from there.
• What Makes You Different? What can you do that sets you apart from everyone else? An elevator pitch essentially involves selling yourself as a professional. So why should the person you're networking with keep in touch with you? In my elevator pitch, I used the fact that I intend to go to medical school after I graduate in order to draw in attention. That sets me apart and will give the other person something to remember me by.
• Sign Off with a Good Handshake: Thank them for their time, exchange business cards, encourage keeping in touch, and end with a good, firm handshake. Something that everyone I connected with at Careers 101 seemed to value was a firm handshake. It seems minute and trivial, but a good handshake exudes confidence and security, traits that employers definitely value.
  

Do you have an elevator pitch? What do you think are essentials? Let us know!

Surviving the Industry During the Holidays

As PR professionals, the holiday season doesn’t necessarily mean a day off. We can normally be found with smart phones in hand, mile long to-do lists, and a full inbox. While our jobs and clients are important, it is equally important to slow things down and enjoy family, friends, and holiday fun. Here are some quick ways to remain professionally productive while enjoying the holiday season:

• Plan ahead: Knowing what you have to do in advance enables you to get things done promptly. Using monthly calendars that have important dates and events listed not only helps you pan out how much needs to be done but also how much time you have to do it in.

• Color Coding: Some may say that color-coding is only for the OCD organizer, but it is an extremely effective method of organization! Give every category a color, so that when it’s listed on a calendar or to-do list you instantly know the task at hand. Color-coding little things like day planners and to-do lists will also help you find daily tasks faster. The more organized you are, the more time you can spend with family and friends.

• Turn Off the Smart Phone: This may be the hardest tip by far, but it is also the most crucial! Set a time each night that you will turn off your phone and stop replying to emails. Removing work distractions during time spent with family and friends insures a better time had by all.

• Friends Only Social Networking: As PR professionals, many recreational social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook are used for work as much as they are used for play. Try keeping all social media interactions on a strictly recreational level. It’s much easier to have a good time when you aren’t tweeting about clients and deadlines!

These tips are sure ways to enjoy the holidays without returning to the office with a pile of work. It’s all about maintaining the balance between home life, and office life. Do you have any additional tips on balancing? Let us know!

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Amber Burns.

Your Job Search Strategy

As my graduation date rapidly approaches, I can only think of ways that I can make my resume stand out, and really make an impression on employers I interview with. While an individual may be very qualified, they might miss out on a great opportunity because they didn't know how to set themselves apart from the other applicants. Below I have outlined some tips to keep in mind before interviewing for your dream job.

• Do your homework. If you are really interested in a company, how would you know without research? Learn about their clients, look through recent news articles they have been featured in, even research their employees on LinkedIn to see what projects and daily tasks are involved with the position.
  
• Measure your success. If you did something great, let them know! It could be anything from increasing a website's traffic by a certain percentage, or one of your blog post's getting the most views for the day. If you have tangible evidence of success it really makes a difference as opposed to just stating things that you did on a resume.
  
• Utilize your network. Even if they are family friends, let everyone know what kind of job you are looking for. You never know which one of your connections will come through.
  
• Show off your work! Make sure that you have a portfolio of your best work on hand, or consider making a personal website with these documents that employers can easily view.
  
• Be active in your interviews. Don't look at them as an interrogation, you are trying to create a professional relationship with this person, so be prepared to ask questions to them as well that can help you learn more about the position.
  
• Practice. Try to anticipate the tough questions that they will ask you. Some examples could include having to explain a tough situation that you were able to work through, what is your biggest weakness, etc.
  

What is your secret weapon when it comes to the job search?

Are You PR Material?

So you’re thinking about a career in public relations, but how do you know if it’s right for you? Although you may not be positive that this career will suit you, you may possess the essential qualities of being a PR pro without even realizing it.

A study conducted in 2004 on agency, corporate and non-profit powerhouses reported several areas that can distinguish a successful career in the demanding PR world:

1. Diversity: Clients understand the need for their public relations staff to have the ability to communicate with a diverse audience. For the ideal PR pro communicating with diverse groups of people all day would not be intimidating, but enjoyable!

2. Communication skills: American public relations consultant and author, Fraser P. Seitel, admits that every PR professional should have a pro communication attitude. If you never fear of talking to the public and take full advantage of those opportunities, you just may be PR material.

3. Proactivity and passion: Take it from me; being proactive and passionate can take you places in this industry. I recently applied for an internship, and I immediately found a contact person to email expressing my interest. She was able to forward my resume to the HR department. After I was called back for an interview, I emailed her once again thanking her for her help, asked for any interview tips to give me a leg up on the competition. She responded enthusiastically by saying, “the communication you’re putting in makes the difference between the average and the great employees, so stay proactive and you’ll go far.”

4. Intangibles, such as personality, likeability, and chemistry: NYC PR Girls say you know you have PR charm if you can confidently and comfortably walk into any event. You would even be comfortable walking in by yourself because you’re confident that you’ll be best friends with everyone before the end of the night.

In The Practice of Public Relations by Fraser P. Seitel, he outlines specific “attitudes” that are imperative to PR professionals:

1. Advocacy: Public relations professionals are required to believe in their clients. They are the voice of their employers, therefore they must advocate on their behalf. Standing up for what their employers represent is a must.

2. Ethics: It is required that public relations professionals be ethical. The PRSA Code of Ethics states that, “bottom line, successful public relations hinges on the ethics of its practitioners.” If doing the right thing is your thing, then the possibility of your success in PR is looking good.

3. Positive outlook: NYC PR Girls warn that rejection happens in the PR industry, but that does not mean you are allowed to take no for an answer. There are times where public relations work can get frustrating, but it is important for the mantra of PR professionals to be “You win some, you lose some.”

Do you "have what it takes" to be a successful PR professional? Let us know!

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Samantha Miller.

How NOT to Get Hired-Resumania Part II

Working off of Niki's recent blog post about resume tips from PRSSA National Conference, I want to clarify items aspiring professionals may not even realize are hurting their odds of getting hired.

• Keep it relevant. While it may make your resume longer, don't include jobs you held in high school or some of your first, basic internships. Tailor your experience to the employer that is receiving your resume. Also, leave out hobbies that don't pertain to your profession. These things can be brought up in an interview.
  
• Be professional. This may seem obvious, but besides your name and contact information, personal details should not be included. Examples of inappropriate information include race, political affiliation, family information and religious beliefs. On a side note, it depends on the industry but a resume is not the place for a head shot, even though it may seem professional.
  
• Salary expectations. Keep this out of your resume unless the employer specifically asks for it, in which you would provide a range. This can be discussed later in the interview process if you are being considered for employment.
  
• Don't embellish. State your duties and responsibilities, but do not exaggerate for the sake of trying to impress a potential employer. Avoid dramatic phrases in these descriptions such as, "Implemented a very impressive social media campaign that gained a great deal of praise from supervisors". For that example, include statistics that show off your accomplishment such as, "Increased Twitter followers by 10%".
  
• Negative experiences. Your resume is supposed to shed a positive light on your accomplishments. Do not include jobs you were fired from, or if you ended an internship early. The interview can be the place to share that information truthfully, if necessary.
  

Do you have any advice about what NOT to include on your resume?

Who Runs the World? GIRLS!

As a young woman and aspiring public relations professional, one thought about the future always crosses my mind: can I have it all? Any other female professional knows exactly what I’m talking about. Is it possible to have a successful career and the family or personal life that you desire? Beyonce’s empowering anthem gives us hope, but here is what the professionals say.

Each year, Fortune creates a “Most Powerful Women” list that is comprised of various different professional women who manage their professional and personal lives with ease. Editor at Large, Patricia Sellers formed a “top 10” list of tips from these women. My personal favorites are highlighted below:

1. Don’t plan your career. The most successful women have remained flexible throughout their careers while also having an open mindset about the path they are on.

2. Forget the ladder, climb the jungle gym. Women should not focus so much on climbing the hierarchy in their respective business. Instead, think of your career as a jungle gym with opportunities all around.

3. Follow your compass, not your clock. Do not allow your personal time line to get in the way of your goals or ambitions.

4. Don’t balance, juggle. Anne Sweeney, who oversees Disney Media Networks, believes that all you can do is give each day your best shot and try again tomorrow. Balance does not exist because at any given time, something will need more of your attention than another task.

5. Own your power. The word “power” needs to stop having a negative connotation. Most women interviewed by Fortune think that power is the ability to create change and impact others.

In the last twenty years, there have been many advances in technology that now allow mothers to work from home and still accomplish just as much work if they were working in an office. With patience and compromise, it is possible to have it all, as long as women never limit themselves.

Have you seen a woman in your life who has struggled with this challenge? What strategies do you think are important when managing a career and personal life? Please share them with us!

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Alex Crispino.