LTC Paul Swiergosz Public Affairs Officer, Camp Victory, Iraq What does a public affairs officer in the Armed Forces do and is it a good career move? Two questions I’ve been asked a lot over the years by military and civilians alike. So here’s the deal: The Armed Services, all “grow” their PAOs in…… Continue reading Military PR Careers: Insights from Iraq
Building a Job-Winning Portfolio
Only four out of 10 entry-level candidates I interviewed over the past year offered to show me their portfolios. The fact a 19-year-old intern candidate recently brought in a rather impressive portfolio (btw, it helped him win the internship) led me to discuss the importance of portfolios with a couple of academic colleagues. One of them, Karen Russell from the Grady College of…… Continue reading Building a Job-Winning Portfolio
Q & A: Hands-On Experience Vital
Q. I am extremely interested in an agency job, but I have no experience. I am a collegiate senior and will graduate in May. My major is Public Relations with an Advertising Minor, and it seems as though Ketchum is my dream job. How should I go about building my experiences to get to the…… Continue reading Q & A: Hands-On Experience Vital
Political PR Jobs
During a visit to Washington, D.C. last week, I met a number of public relations professionals who are engaged in a variety of exciting jobs related to the political process. They love what they’re doing–ranging from agency public affairs jobs to lobbyists and Capitol Hill staffers. Like the late Tim Russert and Tony Snow whose careers were launched…… Continue reading Political PR Jobs
Making the transition to agency
Q. Do you have any advice for those who have several years of work experience and are looking to transition to a PR agency? I have almost six years of work experience in marketing, branding, and visual communications at a professional services firm; I’m a graduate communications student; and I’m an affiliate of a PRSA…… Continue reading Making the transition to agency
Generation PR: The new breed is you
Career advice from former interns and agency executives were shared recently with 160 interns from 22 PR firms. The often digital-focused discussions provide interesting insights for Millennials. . .and those managing them. Melinda Zurich, Member Services Coordinator for the Council of Public Relations Firms, coordinated Internfest and provides us with the following summary. You are referred to as Gen…… Continue reading Generation PR: The new breed is you
Can’t Go Wrong If You Can Write
A recent applicant referred to a writing assignment routinely given to prospective agency employees as a “stress test.” She apologized in advance for her lack of writing know-how by saying she had hoped to become a broadcast journalist so college writing courses were of secondary importance to on-air technique classes. Not so. Writing is critically important to…… Continue reading Can’t Go Wrong If You Can Write
Q & A: To jump or not to jump?
Several PR professionals in their first jobs have asked the same question: How long should I stay in my first job before switching to another firm? The simple answer is to stay as long as it’s working for you–but give it at least 18 months. It generally takes a year to get to know and to feel…… Continue reading Q & A: To jump or not to jump?
Minorities in PR: 6 Tips for Success
When it comes to the importance of increasing minorities in PR, Kim Hunter and I literally are on the same page. He and I wrote side-by-side articles in PR Tactics last Summer. The headline of my article asked: Where are the diverse PR practitioners? Kim’s article discussed a changing work force: Why business–and the PR profession — needs more…… Continue reading Minorities in PR: 6 Tips for Success
Entertainment PR Jobs
Melissa Biller passed along the following link that might be helpful for anyone seeking entertainment PR jobs: www.entertainmentcareers.net