I raised some eyebrows at a lecture to graduating seniors at a west coast college in June when I suggested they tear up their resumes. I quickly added that I really didn’t mean getting rid of their resumes, but it was my way of getting their attention to spend more time developing their LinkedIn…… Continue reading Rip Up Your Resume: Focus on Your LinkedIn Profile
Category: Job Search
Q&A: Are Cover Letters Still Relevant?
Q. Most online job boards seem to only want a copy of my resume, but some postings require a cover letter and others make them optional. A cover letter takes a lot of thought and time. Does it really matter? -DL A. Over the years, I’ve often had similar doubts–mainly because I’ve seen so…… Continue reading Q&A: Are Cover Letters Still Relevant?
Interns are a Bargain: Pay Them Fairly
As the summer internship season moves into full swing, I decided to conduct another informal review of internship salaries. Fortunately, significant improvement has been made at many of the surveyed agencies, corporations and nonprofits. But others still hold onto minimum wage levels or slightly above. Therefore, I decided to reprise the same headline plea…… Continue reading Interns are a Bargain: Pay Them Fairly
CHECK PLEASE! How to proof and polish to protect your professional image.
By Jill O’Mahony Stewart, M.S., M.A. As another school year winds down, I worry that my many writing-teacher admonitions will fade like the pinks and yellows of spring flowers. “What will stick?” I ask myself. “What will they remember and continue to practice?” I fret. With a nod to the wonderful restaurant review show hosted…… Continue reading CHECK PLEASE! How to proof and polish to protect your professional image.
How I’ve Navigated Working Amid Uncertainty
By Holly Jenvey Two years ago, my family and I moved from New York City to Los Angeles. Moving across the country at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic was a step into the unknown, but instilled the values of curiosity, connectivity and resilience in my professional and personal life. Curiosity My curiosity is…… Continue reading How I’ve Navigated Working Amid Uncertainty
What PR Professionals Can Learn From Sales
By Katie Brenneman Public relations professionals and those considering the career should embrace any opportunity to interact with sales personnel. Although PR doesn’t focus as much on making a transaction, it does find itself in the middle of closing deals, communicating, and growing relationships. Something sales teams know a lot about. Taking a deeper…… Continue reading What PR Professionals Can Learn From Sales
Wise Words from College Senior: Embrace Continuous Learning & Build Your Network
By Heather Smyth Senioritis. The loss of motivation a senior feels right before graduation when the main focus is on life’s next chapter. It can lead to decreased performance and the mentality that school is not a priority anymore. As a senior in college, your next focus is securing a job. The public relations…… Continue reading Wise Words from College Senior: Embrace Continuous Learning & Build Your Network
Want the Job? Let Them Know By Sending Prompt Follow-up Notes
In my classes, I used to recommend hand-written notes following job interviews. But I gave up on that idea when a student asked me where she could buy a stamp. I realized I was clinging to my “old school” ways. Now, I just insist on any form of follow-up. And sooner the better. While studies…… Continue reading Want the Job? Let Them Know By Sending Prompt Follow-up Notes
#OpenToWork is Open for Debate: Good Idea or Bad?
After speaking with University of Florida PR students recently, I received LinkedIn connection requests from several of them—primarily seniors who are anxiously focused on what they’ll be doing upon graduation. Many of their LinkedIn profile photos were framed with the #OpenToWork hashtag. While nobody debates the critical role LinkedIn plays in a job search,…… Continue reading #OpenToWork is Open for Debate: Good Idea or Bad?
Expand Your LinkedIn Network During Holidays
Last week, I advised students at Brigham Young University-Idaho to tear up their resumes and focus on their LinkedIn profiles. The same advice applies to in-person holiday networking which may take another year or two to return to pre-pandemic levels of opportunity. So, devote the hours you might otherwise have spent at a social…… Continue reading Expand Your LinkedIn Network During Holidays