I’ve been following the millennial discussion for a while. There’s been a lot of good perspectives, especially from Bill Sledzik and Todd Defren. After reading Todd’s post on loyalty, I figured I could offer my perspective since I’ve experienced this throughout college.

I started working at The State News about three weeks after I started college. Since then, I’ve moved up a lot, gained a ton of experience and have a lot to show for it. However, it hasn’t always been easy and I’ve had to make some pretty big decisions. After my second year of working in the advertising department, I applied to be the manager. I didn’t get the job. After my third year, I again applied for the manager position. And again I struck out. Zero for two. Ouch.

Most people (read: millennials) would quit. Honestly, I thought about it. I applied for (and was offered) other jobs. But after a lot of thought and consideration, it came down to loyalty. Call me crazy, but even though I didn’t get the management time (twice), I still stuck around. And it paid off in a lot of big ways.

Here’s why I think loyalty rules:

• No one likes a quitter. Let’s be honest, when someone quits your team, you probably won’t look at that person in the same way, especially if that person quit for the sake of quitting. If you quit, it should be for the right reasons. In my case, while I could say I was looking for new experiences, I would have quit for the sake of quitting. Dedication goes a long way and colleagues will recognize this.
• After building trust, you can build your own job. After each denial, I evaluated what my current responsibilities were and looked for ways to expand upon them. I found new projects to take on, and current, I manage a new and growing part of our business. By building my own job, I can walk into the same place I’ve been for nearly four years and can honestly say my job is different every day.
• The line between dedication and idling. Combining the two previous bullets, there is a fine line between staying loyal and not advancing your career. If you are stuck doing the same job and there is no chance for taking on new projects, it’s time to move on. However, make sure you’ve become an expert at your current job.
• You’ll learn negotiating skills. When I began taking on new roles and responsibilities, part of that was negotiating more money. Honestly, salary negotiation isn’t fun, but the process taught me a lot. I know I’ll be prepared for this in the future.
• Mentoring makes it all worth it. The best part of my job is the people I work with. A close second is helping my colleagues learn and grow, and when you’ve been working at one place for a while, people look up to you for advice.

What do you think about loyalty? Will you be sticking around in a job for more than a year?

Photo by toob on Flickr.

Believe it or not, I am writing a post advocating not using social media. If you bear with me for the entire post, you’ll see that I’m a proponent for students using social media to advance their careers. But, like misguided companies who sign up for Facebook “just ’cause,” students shouldn’t sign up for various social media “just ’cause.”

Without further ado, here are five reasons students should not be using social media:

1. Don’t use social media if you see it solely as an opportunity for shameless self-promotion. Trust me when I say you’re not making any friends if the only thing you post on Twitter or Facebook is links to your blog posts, announcing who you’ve met and other content that generally inflates your ego. Self-promotion needs to be done very carefully and strategically. I recommend focusing on building relationships with those you meet and adhere to the 70/30 rule: share 70 percent content from others and around 30 percent of your own.
2. Don’t use social media if you only want to complain, talk about what you’re eating or hate on everything. “Ugh, I HATE my professor!” “OMG, FML. I have a paper due tomorrow and I haven’t started .” If this is you and if you see a lot of it in your stream, avoid it. Sure, it’s OK to be human and complain, but no one likes a Negative Nancy. Think before you post and you’ll thank yourself later.
3. Don’t use social media to talk about how drunk you are. If you want to post how drunk you are on Facebook… don’t. If you want to post on Twitter how many shots you’ve had… don’t. Honestly, it’s just not worth it. Even if you’re 21, it overall reflects poorly on your character and might offend those in your network.
4. Don’t use social media to replace offline networking. This is my biggest pet peeve. Social media absolutely does not replace the value of in-person networking. Make sure to stay active in associations and go to conferences–that’s where you meet people.
5. Don’t use social media for the sole purpose of getting a job. You can tell who’s using social media to get a job and who’s using social media for its real purpose. I think it’s great to participate in #HAPPO and #PRStudChat, but once those chats are over, try to avoid constantly advertising yourself as a job seeker.

Looking at what I’ve written above, it makes me sound like a social media elitist. And I’m not. I think social media is a great place for you to show your genuine personality and to build relationships with others. These are things that will not help you do that. In fact, you’ll probably be ignored and unfollowed if these are the only things you use social media for. All in all, just be smart and use your best judgment.

So, what do you use social media for? Anyone have any interesting perspectives they would like to share?

Photo by woodleywonderworks on Flickr.

I’d be lying to you if I said I went to Chicago this weekend just for a conference. I’ve been itching to get back since I left last August, and since DePaul PRSSA was hosting Chicago PR: Get in the Loop, I figured it was the perfect time to come back.

Overall, I’m extremely impressed with the conference. DePaul has been emerging as a strong Chapter for the past several years thanks to strong leadership, and their conferences prove to be beneficial and insightful for any pre-professional. The next several posts on this blog will be recapping the event and sharing some of the key takeaways from the conference.

Get in the Loop kicked off with a keynote address from Susan Howe, Weber Shandwick’s Chicago president. Susan discussed five things in the indsutry every PR student should be aware of. Here they are:

1. Myriad specialty practices, many PR careers. Susan talked about how the industry has evolved past the traditional PR career. Now, campaigns have many components with even more specialists that develop digital advocacy, campaigns, nonprofit outreach, health alliances, endorsements, ads and more. PR is a place to develop your passions because the opportunities are numerous in terms of career paths.
2. Career experts bullish on PR. Even though the economy is still recovering, Susan aggregated some career data and discussed how PR is a field that is expected to grow through 2018, which means more jobs. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this comes true, and I am confident it will.
3. PR is inline storytelling. This discussion on the changing media landscape was my favorite part. Instead of PR communicating through journalists who tell a story to the masses, PR is now about how a company directly reaches its stakeholders. Susan said these new media have four principles: participation, communication, collaboration and connection. I believe these four principles must all be working together, or they don’t work at all.
4. It’s a brave new world. In addition to telling their own story, brands are trying to communicate their value and their values. People are still in a recession mindset and saving money is still on top of peoples’ minds. Moreover, people want to see companies who care about being a good global citizen, which is something my employer provides research on to make the case. Additionally, Susan discussed when opportunity knocks, it’s PR that must be ready to take advantage of it.
5. Be your own best advocate. By having a winnable outcome and with the right insights, you can be a powerful advocate for yourself and your client. Susan also added that in terms of advancing your career, PR professionals who can show creativity and strategic thinking are more likely to move ahead.

The presentation left me with a lot to think about in my own career. For those that were there, what did you think of the keynote. If you weren’t there, do you agree with Susan’s thoughts?

Disclosure: I’m a big fan of Heather Huhman’s work to connect people to the entry level job arena. I received a free e-copy of this book and this is the review of that book.

Let’s be honest: there are a million job search tools and guides out there for new grads and those looking to break into the entry level job market. I’ve read a lot, found some of these valuable and recommend even fewer. #ENTRYLEVELtweet is one that I highly recommend for a lot of reasons.

• It’s short. We all have a lot going on and professional development is something that often gets put off. However, I finished this “book” in around a half hour and found the information to be clear, concise and directly applicable to my own career. If you’re looking to get a ton of advice in a short read, this is your book.
• It gives actionable advice. Career advice is something a lot of people can give (me inlcluded), but when I read anything, I look for actionable advice. I want to read stuff that makes me want to jump out of my seat and go get something done. This book is actionable, even though the advice is in 140 characters or less.
• It’s comprehensive. Along with the book being short, it gives you a holistic perspective on the entire job application process. Normally, these books lose me by the second chapter, but because everything in here made sense, I was able to think about my own career. Also, I am in the process of using the book as a checklist for my “career toolbox” and I am finding new ways to prepare for my career.
• It’s personal. Perhaps this is my favorite reason why I enjoyed the book. A lot of books are like cheerleaders pumping you up to join the corporate world and get lost on the way. #EntrylevelTweet focuses on the reader and encourages you to walk along your own path.

As a quick preview, here’s my favorite tweet on rejecting a job offer: “State that you did not come by this decision lightly and mention a couple of specific reasons for saying “no” if pressed.” Even in a book written in 140 character segments, it’s a guide that covers everything, and I mean everything, related to job searching, starting your job and everything in between.

The book can be purchased on Amazon or on Happy About (the publisher) for less than $20, and I guarantee you’ll use it as a reference during your own job search.

If you’ve ever had a negative internship experience, have you ever wondered why it was so negative? Was it entirely your employer’s fault you didn’t get the experience you were looking for?

I wrote a post last year about an ad agency intern who quit her internship because she was having a bad experience. While a lot of us have a lot of advice on this, I want to expound on one particular idea. I believe that you and mostly you can make or break your internship. The salary, hours, atmosphere and coworkers all contribute to your internship experience, but it is you who decides if you have a good or bad experience.

While some things are beyond your capability of changing, there are things you can control at work. It usually starts not just with your skills, but your mindset. Here are three attributes of people who make their internship:

1. They are proactive. An intern who is constantly seeking new projects, feedback and opportunities to jump in on projects is proactive in all sense of the word. Think of what your level of work is currently, take out some of your daily free time and add in more projects with different colleagues.
2. They are punctual. Show up early, leave late, make deadlines and follow through with what you say you will do. Easy enough, right? It’s easy to take on too much, and to gain the respect of your coworkers, know your limit and propose a way to get everything done.
3. They are positive. No one likes a Debbie Downer. Leave your personal life at home and come to work with a positive and eager attitude. Sure, you can overdo it, so make sure you’re listening and be a sponge to your environment. If your coworkers like you and you fit in, you are much more likely to get a lot out of that experience.

If you try to work on the above areas and still feel you are coming up short, think of that particular experience as an important career challenge. In that position, you haven’t been able to grow and learn enough to continue with that company or industry, so look for the next challenge. Each experience will help prime you for what’s next, so be sure to treat every opportunity as a learning experience.

What do you think? How else can you make the most out of a negative experience?

As a college student, I’ll be the first one to admit that – occasionally – I take the education I’m earning for granted . Like my peers, I sometimes have the attitude that some classes I’ve taken probably won’t help me in the long run. Or at least that’s how we justify it. But how can we be sure this won’t help?

If you ask a PR student what they do in college, they will probably say they are involved in extracurricular organizations and intern, while takes classes. But if you ask an engineering student, they will say they are taking a full load of courses in science and math. Of course, public relations requires a lot of outside learning, but being successful in the classroom is often overlooked.

Here are some resolutions (I’m hoping to accomplish these in 2010, at least) for students relating to school and how they can help you down the road. After all, school is important, too.

1. Make one class assignment worthy of your portfolio. It’s easy to brush off class assignments, especially if the professor grades easily, but putting in a class project to your portfolio with demonstrate depth to potential employers.
2. Learn to lead [and to follow] in a group project. When you lead student organizations, you have to remember how to follow, too. This can be a skill developed in class. Especially when you graduate to the bottom of a company, learning how to follow is essential.
3. Take a class outside your comfort zone to develop a new skill. Part of why I study political science is to enhance my research and analysis skills, and I actually enjoy this aspect of public relations.
4. Prioritize your classes, jobs, internships and other activities equally. Especially if you end up in an agency, learning how to equally balance and effectively prioritize will be part of your job every day.
5. Get to know a professor and offer your help on a research project. Your teachers will probably know a lot of professionals, and offering to help is a great way to build your network.
6. Do well enough in a class that qualify to be a teaching assistant. More than anything else, I have found that teaching someone else about public relations enhances my knowledge of what I’m teaching, especially when I’m asked questions.

How else can you use your classroom experience as a professional experience? Anything else to add to the list?

Photo by Robert S. Donovan on Flickr.

Last week, I was on a panel with some fellow students in the College of Communication Arts & Sciences at Michigan State University. The topic started off on paid vs. unpaid internships, but it spun off in several directions, one of those being the difference between big city and local internships.

Personally, I’ve done both. I interned at both a small and mid-size agency during the summers of 2007 and 2008 respectively, and last summer I ended up at a huge global agency in their Chicago co-headquarters. Between these internships, I was able to work on all sorts of clients, ranging from volunteer nonprofits to Fortune 500 companies. I can’t say which internship was the “best,” but each did provide me with very different opportunities for growth.

So, is there an easy answer as to where you should be looking for internships? Are big city internships better than local internships? The way I see it, there isn’t an easy answer to this question. It all boils down to what you are looking for. While there are many professional opportunities in larger cities, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to have a great experience in your internship. It’s easy to be attracted to the bright lights and seemingly endless opportunities of Chicago and New York, but you have to be realistic when you’re looking for a job.

When I was searching for internships around this time last year, I was looking for not only a great professional opportunity, but I wanted to be part of a new town, meet new people and see new sights. I was looking for the complete package and to me, I found that in Chicago. Some people might find it in New York. Some might find it in Lansing, Mich. The point is to really have an understanding of what you’re looking for.

When looking for the big city job, it’s really important to consider the finances. Especially in the public relations field, many internships are unpaid, even though they are in a city. My personal opinion is that from a financial standpoint, it’s not worth it to spend a summer in a big city, pay more than $1,000 per month in living expenses and be broke the entire time to work for free. I’m sure there are many exceptions and there are some opportunities that are probably worth it. However, unless you have the financial means to drop thousands in one summer, I don’t recommend it. No matter what you choose, Mint will help you keep your budget under control.

I’m going to highlight the pros and cons I used in my decision when I was searching for internships in the big city setting:

Pros:

• New opportunity to meet new people and try out a new lifestyle
• Work for a global agency with clients across the world
• Experience a new setting and learn many new things
• Easy to network with industry leaders and pioneers
• Young professional groups are large and diverse; most are welcoming to students

Cons:

• Cost of living is much higher
• End up not making any significant cash after the summer
• Far away from friends and family
• Not able to bring my car — must rely on public transportation for everything (can be a pro, too)

All in all, I found my experience in Chicago to be completely worthwhile. I didn’t come out of the summer with a lot of money, but the experiences I gained, both personally and professionally, were definitely worth it. If you are considering a summer in a big city, make sure to look for those opportunities and to take everything under consideration.

What do you look for in an internship? Have you found differences between internships locally and in the big city? What’s your take?

Though it sounds brash, I think it’s the wrong mindset to “officially” start the job search. Sure, you can sit down and think, apply for things and make a plan. But let me ask you a question: Shouldn’t you always be on the job search?

In some fields, “starting” a job search is the traditional way to approach it. In this traditional mindset, you can attend career fairs and join a relevant organization your senior year of college to have something on your resume. Well, this isn’t the case if you’re seeking a career in communications.

You should always be on the job search. Always. From freshmen year of college (and even before) through the rest of your career, always be on the job search. It doesn’t mean you have to be interviewing for positions and actively submitting your resume to online sites. (How many times have you earned a job or internship that way?) However, I think it’s good to always be thinking ahead. It’s all part of being strategic about your career.

Here are some principles of a constant job search:

• Networking. I probably say it too much, but it’s important to realize that networking should be something you’re always doing. You can always attend networking events, but it only will help you if you meet new people and keep the relationship going. Networking is also a two-way street: Find ways to help the other person and they will help you back. Also, make friends online. Communicate on Twitter, get active in chats such as #PRStudChat and give back to the community.
• Professional Development. Are you waiting on joining an organization? Are you making excuses to not attend industry conferences? Are you finding new ways to build your portfolio and learn new skills? Those are important questions you should be asking throughout your career. You can always get involved with professional organizations and attend their conferences, but it’s a good idea to couple that with doing things on your own. Starting a blog, volunteering and reading are great places to start.
• Curiosity. Never be afraid to ask big picture questions and about why things happen the way they do. It’s especially important for those early in their careers to get used to doing. This helps build a strategic mindset, and that’s how you will get ahead in your career.
• Be uncomfortable. Though it might seem difficult and challenging, you should never be comfortable. If you’re doing the same thing over and over again with no chance of advancing, you’re going to be stuck in the status quo. Look for ways to try new things and meet new people. These new perspectives can help build your value to any organization.

If there’s one thing this recession has proven, it’s that companies are shifting more quickly than some employees can keep up with. That’s why this mindset is not only important for young professionals, but more seasoned professionals, too. I’m graduating in about a year and a half, but you bet I’ve started my “job search” a while ago and will continue to do so after entering the workforce.

What else would you add as characteristics of a constant job search?

Photo by deanmeyersnet on Flickr.

If you missed the MSU vs. CMU football game over the weekend, it really was quite the match. Yes, it’s painful to relive but it’s relevant.

I’ve been following MSU football since I arrived on campus three years ago and the team has greatly improved since Mark Dantonio was hired. In short, MSU should have won. They were off to a great start. The Spartans were even ranked within the top 30 teams in the country before this weekend’s game.

Then, MSU lost to the underdogs.

Why? MSU was in the wrong mindset and CMU was in the right one. CMU knew their capabilities and went for the win — it ultimately paid off.

How is this relevant?

I’ve seen PR students selling themselves short while interviewing for scholarships, internships, leadership positions and campus jobs. What is really holding these students back from reaching their full potential? I was there at one point, but you have to get over the fear of trying. I recommend taking a look at what the requirements are and matching your past experiences. Though the biggester hurdle may be yourself, here’s how you can (and should) apply for anything:

• Internship experience. If you’re lacking internship experience, it might seem difficult to break into the internship game when so many positions require past experiences. Focus on what you’ve done in college and how it has been just as beneficial as an internship, and be prepared to describe specific examples.
• Leadership experience. Whether you’re a freshmen or a senior, there’s no reason why you can be a leader. Step up to the plate in an organization you’re involved with by  being proactive. Eventually, you can take on more responsibility, take on a leadership role, and have something great to talk about in an interview. Also remember that you don’t need a title to be a leader; if you came into another job with a positive attitude and helped to motivate your co-workers, that’s leadership. Think non-traditional leadership for this one.
• Conversation ability. If you’re afraid of going off-topic during an interview, don’t be. Beforehand, make sure you know what’s going on with the company you’re interviewing for. Know the industry by reading trade publications and be prepared to talk about specific pieces of news.
• Academics. If you’re applying for a job not related to your degree, it’s especially important to talk about how your classes tie in to what you’re applying for. If you can apply what your biology class taught you to an agency position, it demonstrates thoughtfulness and intelligence.

So, the next time you’re feeling like the underdog, get out of that mindset. As CMU showed everyone, it doesn’t really matter what other people think. The polls, ranking and media don’t matter when it comes to the actual game. The same is true for all of us. Sure, we have to throw out GPA, past work experience and portfolio samples in an interview, but passion and determination go a long way in an interview.

OK, now I’m really done talking about this game. Onward to Notre Dame this weekend!

If I asked you who to define what a leader is, how would you do it? Would you say it’s the person in the corner office leading your company? Would you say it’s a member of a professional organization you’re involved with? Would you say it’s an intern in your company?

When I think of what I leader is, a lot of qualities come to mind — dedication, knowledge, attitude, aptitude — and these are probably some you would agree with. However, one prerequisite a leader does not need to have is a title. That means no matter what position you have within a company, whether it’s an intern, assistant or coordinator, you can be a leader.

Here are some tips for effective leadership, especially for students, interns and new professionals. Sure, these might sound like general career tips, but being a leader in the workplace is an entirely different mindset. Check them out and see how you can apply these principles in your office.

Attitude is everything

When you walk into work every morning, you can be a leader by motivating and inspiring with your attitude. Don’t let challenges get you down and look at new projects with a positive attitude. Hopefully, your attitude will be contagious and people will look to you for a pick-me-up when they need it. This creates a great work atmosphere.

Earn respect by doing what you say you’ll do

How many times have you offered help to a coworker and not followed through? I’ve done it before, and I know it doesn’t help with your credibility. Be honest with your coworkers and mean what you say — this will help you earn credibility and trust with your coworkers, and these are two traits leaders have a strong command of.

Learn and understand when to say yes — and no

There are only so many hours in the day, and at a certain point you can only take on so many projects. If you’re already swamped and can barely get through your daily to do list, it probably isn’t a good idea to take on a new project. That said, don’t be afriad to push yourself to do more. The point is there is a fine balance of doing a lot at work and not being able to get through your work. If you can demonstrate your ability to know the difference, you will definitely impress your coworkers and managers.

Give compliments a lot

You really can’t go wrong telling someone you think they did a good job or how much you appreciate their work. This is especially true of your managers and supervisors. Don’t be afraid to give a high-five to your boss if they did a good job. Chances are, your bosses probably don’t get praised for their work because they standards are higher, so go the extra couple of yards. Again, it goes back to attitude.

Promote teamwork, especially among those who don’t know each other

I didn’t realize it, but I let the e-board of MSU PRSSA formulate into pairs who always worked with each other. Looking back on the past year, I think a more effective approach would have been to encourage teams with the members who didn’t know each other as well. Also, you can take the initiative to get to know other people in your company. You never know who might be sitting next to you tomorrow.

Find ways to learn and grow with everything

As a young professional, you’re going to make mistakes. In fact, as you progress with your career, you’ll probably still make mistakes. In most cases, it’s not what you do, it’s how you react to the situation.Value professional development and always learn. It’s a great way to give more value to your company and your coworkers.

For more on effective leadership techniques, check out this slideshow from Andy Hanselman. There are some great tips in here for everyone:

So, what do you think? Can young professionals really be leaders?