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The Dreaded Job Resignation
Posted by: | CommentsThe goal for most when finding a job is to land a position at your dream company. So you go through the interview process, you like them, they like you and a few months in, you realize you’re not actually the best fit.
No one will fault you for leaving a job after six or so months, in fact, recognizing that you are not happy/fitting within the company shows a sign of maturity (though be mindful of how many times you do that, you can be tagged as a “job jumper”).
Sometimes you just know you need to leave your job and whatever the reasons are, it is important to tactfully resign.
Check out this article from CIO.com on 5 LinkedIn Tips for How to Resign From Your Job Gracefully for some good advice if you need to leave.
To new books . . .
Posted by: | CommentsWe just want to virtually *toast* our colleague Sam Ford, Director of Digital Strategy here at Peppercomm. He is a co-author of Spreadable Media, a new book that basically argues that “if it doesn’t spread, it’s dead”. The official book launch party is tonight in NYC and all of us here at PRiscope and Peppercomm are very excited for Sam and his newest accomplishment. Congrats, Sam!
Laughing it up
Posted by: | CommentsIf you know anything about Peppercomm, you know we take our work very seriously, but ourselves? Not so much. We definitely know how to laugh at ourselves and our own industry.
In that style, we saw this clip from Comedy Central’s ‘Kroll Show’ and could not stop laughing. Hope you enjoy it as much as we did. Think of this as a “first day back after a long weekend” gift. Watch your gift here.
Happy New Year
Posted by: | CommentsWe at PRiscope want to just wish everyone a happy new year! Thank you for reading and stay tuned for some great posts throughout 2013
Rockin’ around the PR tree
Posted by: | CommentsThe end of the year is always a time full of cheer, cookies and tips for how to do x, y or z the best way. Well, we’ve found five great tips for you on how to rock your PR skills this season.
Full disclosure: one of our bosses wrote this article, so we’re biased, but don’t let that stop you form checking out Steve Cody’s “5 Tips for Rocking Your PR Around the Holidays” in Inc.
Best places to work in NYC
Posted by: | CommentsVery rarely do we like to brag, but today we’re just too excited. Earlier this year, Peppercomm was named one of Crain’s New York Business’s best places to work in in NYC 2012. This past Friday, November 30, the official rankings were released out of those 50 companies that were chosen, with ours named as #1. Yes, #1 (we still can’t believe it)!
All of us at Peppercomm know how wonderful it is to work here, but we are so honored to have been given this recognition.
Read the full article here and learn what other excellent companies made it onto this list.
Readers, what makes a company a great place to work? What kind of atmosphere would you ideally like to be working in?
(Almost) Quarter-Life Lessons
Posted by: | CommentsForbes has a great piece online today that I urge everyone to take a look at- especially those recent graduates preparing for the first day of a new job and students gearing up for their first steps into the working world.
The truth of the matter is that work will always be a learning process. If you enter with an attitude other than that, then you’re in for a surprise. The trick is to find an environment that encourages you to grow and provides you with the opportunities you need to become successful- without hanging you by the rope it gives you.
Oh, and it doesn’t hurt to pay attention to some of the advice laid out in the article. Here are a few of my favorite tips:
- “You won’t be fired because your boss is angry.” In the majority of cases, this is absolutely true. We hold two formal review sessions for interns here at Peppercomm and teams are encouraged to give feedback on assignments as often as possible. Ask questions. What can I do to improve? Don’t hang your head- there are checks and balances for a reason and it’s absolutely not personal.
- “Not making a choice is a choice.” Internships are ideal because they allow you to take a peek into an industry, company, or culture. Obviously, students and graduates are eager for full-time positions, but more often than not, the best way to reach that goal is simply to get your foot in the door.
- “It’s going to take time to get good at your job.” I’ve only been in PR for about 3.5 years and I’m nowhere near perfect, but I’m much better off than I was at my first PR internship (that was a doozy). Don’t be discouraged. Find a mentor(s) with the skills you’d like to develop and absorb as much as you can- everyone has to start somewhere. Just remember that no task is too big or too small.
So my fellow 20-somethings, what are some other lessons you’ve learned along the way?
Fight back rejection
Posted by: | CommentsHearing the word “no,” is always tough. How about hearing “no” more than 30 times from a company you’ve applied to? 
One could argue that being too persistent and applying too many times can definitely keep a qualified candidate from getting hired–and believe me, I definitely think that is true in many instances.
Check out this piece in the New York Daily News about a woman who was rejected so many times that she was fed up and told that company where they could stick their rejections. Her email response has gone viral and has been getting lots of coverage. Do you agree with her move? There are pros and cons, of course, and we’d love to hear your opinions. Think anyone else will try doing something similar to elicit a similar response?
Five Tips in Five Minutes- For Your Next Interview
Posted by: | CommentsApplying for an entry-level job can be a full-time job in itself. Between the resume tweaks, the endless cover letters and hours of company research, it can be daunting.
In our newest PRiscope series, we’re going to help you navigate some of the trickiest parts of the job-search process, as well as what to do when you land that dream internship or entry-level position. Better yet? We’ll do it in bite-size posts.
Here are five tips in five minutes for your next interview:
- Dress appropriately- Technically, this should be a no brainer. Still, you’d be surprised how many candidates fail to err on the side of formality, especially during the summer months. Someone once told me, “Dress for the job you want to have in five years.” It’s never too early to get a head start.
- Don’t forget a firm handshake- My father was in sales and he passed this tiny tidbit along to me at an early age. A firm handshake exemplifies confidence- and why shouldn’t you be? You’re their ideal candidate, remember?
- Cite key examples- The interview is the perfect time to elaborate on all the points you mention in your resume and cover letter. Did the Twitter account you managed increase in followers? Great! Oh, and did you mention that the interview you arranged for your client led to a Wall Street Journal article? AND 1,000 unique visitors to the website? Perfect!
- Know the industry- PR Week. PR News. There are publications you’ll come to know as a PR professional. Mention an article you read in a recent issue and see if the interviewer has a strong opinion on it- which leads us to the next tip.
- ASK QUESTIONS- Nothing hammers the nail in the coffin worse than stone silence at the end of an interview. Remember, you’re interviewing the company in a sense as well. Make sure that it’s the fit for you. In case you’re stumped, take a look at this Inc. article that offers some excellent examples.
