Q. I’m heading back to college to start my senior year. Any advice on what electives I should take? -EM A. Please do as I say, not as I did. Avoid the temptation of easy courses or those closely related to your major. If you are majoring in PR or journalism, consider taking classes in…… Continue reading Back to School: Take Tougher Electives
Political Volunteerism Helps Build Resume
Long before I started my career in public relations, I worked in many political campaigns–both volunteer and paid positions. These jobs enhanced my resume, and got the attention of Democrat and Republican hiring managers who also had played roles in political campaigns. However, don’t do what one unsuccessful applicant did. She wore a political button to her…… Continue reading Political Volunteerism Helps Build Resume
A Day in the Life of. . .
JAVIER MACIAS Assistant Account Executive GolinHarris, Chicago The world of public relations is usually underestimated and rarely witnessed in its truest form. There is never a shortage of work to be planned, executed and analyzed; asking professionals in this field to excel in the field of multitasking. Witnessed instead are the masterpieces…… Continue reading A Day in the Life of. . .
Agency Hierarchy: Three Stages of Success
Several readers of this blog have asked for an explanation of the agency pecking order. I thought that explanation might best come from a young person who is succeeding in the agency world through hard work and keen observation. Tyler Marciniak, 25, is a Senior Account Executive in Edelman’s New York Corporate and Public Affairs…… Continue reading Agency Hierarchy: Three Stages of Success
Getting an MBA is a Good Idea for Some
Q. I love this blog! Thank you for creating it. I’m a senior Comm major going on my third (unpaid) internship. After graduation, I would like to start at a PR agency, but I would like to eventually end up in Brand Marketing and/or Management. I’ve read that an MBA is often required for these…… Continue reading Getting an MBA is a Good Idea for Some
European Cross-Border PR Opportunities
Q. I came across your blog and was very pleased by the straight-forward way that you talk about PR. I am a PR Senior Account Executive working for over a year in Portugal, and currently looking for a job in London. I have been working with some very interesting and challenging accounts, but I am…… Continue reading European Cross-Border PR Opportunities
An Olympic Experience: An Intern’s View From Beijing
Alysha Daytner, a May 2008 Purdue University graduate with a degree in Public Relations and Advertising, provides the following insights from her experience as an intern at the 2008 Summer Olympics. I’ve already asked Alysha to write another guest post at the end of her once-in-a-lifetime internship. Alysha is pictured below (center) with other interns in the balcony of…… Continue reading An Olympic Experience: An Intern’s View From Beijing
Job Prospects in UK Public Relations
Readers of this blog have asked for more information about job prospects, and several have specifically inquired about opportunities in the United Kingdom. So, I sought the following guest post from Richard Bailey, Senior Lecturer in Public Relations at Leeds Metropolitan University, UK. Richard provides a bullish forecast for PR jobs in the UK, and he offers some sound career…… Continue reading Job Prospects in UK Public Relations
Military PR Careers: Insights from Iraq
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