Archive for Internship
Using Social Media to Find a Job
Posted by: | CommentsGuest post by Abby Schoffman, Peppercom intern
Gone are the days when a private online existence was a good thing. If you’re looking for a job in PR, a digital presence is a must. Some like to call it personal branding. As someone who spent much of 2009 looking for an entry-level position, I know how important social media is to the job search. While you’re busy researching a company to prepare for an interview, they’re doing the same to get a feel for you. You need to make sure what they find represents you well.
If you’re not already developing your brand online, here are four ways to start using social media to benefit your job search:
1. Start tweeting. I’ve met and interacted with PR people from all across the country thanks to Twitter – people I would never have had the opportunity to talk with if it weren’t for social media. Twitter is a casual, no-pressure way to network. I’ve found job opportunities, been able to connect with people at companies I’ve applied to and even landed interviews because of Twitter.
If you’re looking for a job in the communication industry, it’s time to get on Twitter. Once you’re there, use your bio to let people know you’re looking for a job and your link to send people to your personal blog (assuming it’s appropriate), LinkedIn profile or online portfolio. (For more tips on using Twitter to find a job, check out this post.)
2. Follow and comment on industry blogs. PR is an industry where it’s important to know the latest news and trends. Blogs are a great way to stay informed and continue learning. Many PR bloggers have built a community of followers on their blogs, and the comment section is a great place to be involved in an insightful conversation.
You may not know where to start when looking for blogs to subscribe to, but if you’ve started following smart PR people on Twitter, check out the links in their bios. Most PR agencies also have some sort of blog, so be sure to look for those, too. Following PRiscope is how I found out about Peppercom and eventually landed my internship here.
3. Start your own blog. Blogging is a great way to showcase your writing skills and show that you know what’s going on in the industry. If you can’t dedicate the time needed to start your own blog, ask to guest post on one of your favorite PR blogs or become a contributing blogger. Having posts to share with potential employers is a great way to supplement your traditional portfolio.
4. Update your LinkedIn profile. That’s assuming you already have one, because you should. More and more recruiters are using LinkedIn as a search tool to find job candidates, so it’s important that your profile is complete. Use keywords, share links to your other sites and take advantage of the application that lets you feed your blog to your profile. Look at it as an opportunity to include anything you didn’t have space for on your traditional resume.
LinkedIn is also a great place for you to do research. It’s easy to find information about companies you’re interested in, their employees, the HR contact your e-mail should be addressed to, etc. You can also see if someone you know is connected to someone you want to know, which is a valuable tool when looking for a job.
(Another note about LinkedIn – I recommend joining @heatherhuhman’s group, #PRintern | #EntryPR. Heather does a good job pulling in PR job postings from all over the web.)
With these tips, you’ll be more in control of how you’re projecting yourself to potential employers. And the more you put into the digital space, the better the odds that those potential employers will find something that backs up the skills and qualifications listed on your resume.
Peppercom on One Internship, One Day
Posted by: | CommentsA big thanks goes out to Heather Huhman today for her post about Peppercom’s internship program on One Internship, One Day. I frequently recommend Heather’s site and Examiner column for advice on entry-level careers so it’s an honor to be well regarded in her eyes.
For those of you who would like to join the team, we’re currently looking for a part-time Spring intern for our San Fransisco office, and one for our New York graphic design department. Send your cover letter and resume to interncommittee [at] peppercom [dot] com if you’re interested.
A Diversified Degree
Posted by: | CommentsGuest post by Stacey Davidson
When any student enters college the most important question on their mind is usually, “What will I major in?” Pre-med, pre-law, business, engineering, public relations, the list could go on forever. At the time it seems that this one decision and one degree will steer not just four years, but your future. However, I think that the most important part of college is not your major, but what you do in addition to it.
For me, this came in the form of two minors, multiple leadership positions, internships and a semester abroad. When an employer or internship coordinator looks at your resume, the first thing they look at is not your major or even the fact that you have a degree. My reporting professor Mike Foley suggested even placing the education section of your resume near the bottom, underneath related experience and leadership. Through my experience applying for internships and now jobs, I have noticed that employers don’t want to just find the norm (you went to college for four years and graduated), they want someone with unique qualities and experiences that will bring a fresh perspective to the company.
On my resume, the two things that I talk about most in interviews are my study abroad experience and my non-profit management minor. Both of these experiences led me to absorb knowledge from many countries, cultures, social groups and demographics. It allowed me to see things from a host of different perspectives, and that is unique.
At the University of Florida, there are more than 700 student organizations. I suggest that everyone gets involved in at least two. One should be related to the field of work you are interested in (such as PRSSA for me) and one should be focused on a personal passion (such as The March of Dimes GatorWalk). This allowed me to gain leadership experience while having fun and learning at the same time. I brought the knowledge from my public relations major to these organizations and they gave me a chance to learn through hands-on experience outside the classroom.
Hopefully you too will be able to diversify your degree and add depth and character to your resume. Happy job hunting!
How To Become A Guru At Grunt Work
Posted by: | CommentsGuest post by Brooke Winebrenner
As a current grunt work guru of Peppercom, I decided this would be the perfect opportunity to comment on last week’s RepMan post from Steve Cody and expand on the grunt work mentioned, from an intern perspective. I began interning at Peppercom over a month ago, and I have had the opportunity to work on an array of client projects, that from day one have presented various challenges and obstacles.
I have seen my fair share of grunt work, but at the same time I have put into perspective that all of my co-workers and supervisors have walked in my footsteps. For this, they have an understanding and are appreciative of the time and work that an intern puts in. My daily tasks vary from day to day, but some of the work you may classify as grunt work include:
• Completing media coverage reports
• Pulling editorial calendars
• Developing media lists
• Social media and news monitoring
• Meeting note taking
• Distributing media mailers
This list is by no means the entire list of my responsibilities or all of the work I have completed, but this may give you an idea of the tasks I have mastered. As Steve mentions, some may complain of the “misery” they have been subjected to as they slaved over their current or previous internship tasks, but I would like to tell those people that they should appreciate the assignments they are given. I am sure they could be put out of their misery and there would be more than enough people willing to take their spot.
I know I am very grateful for all of the work I can get my hands on (whether it’s grunt work or not) and would like for my superiors to feel comfortable enough to consider me that go-to-person. I want to be the best possible grunt, as Steve mentions. Whether my task is big or small, I know that everything I give really does matter and that it contributes to the team’s end result and success.
After speaking with Peppercom’s managing director and co-founder, Ed Moed, this only reassured my latter comment. He mentioned to a group of very attentive interns, that the work we are completing now is providing us with a foundation that every successful public relations professional needs to have an understanding of. The internship offers insight into the faceted skills we must be equipped with to produce and implement strategy and tactics for clients in the future. Ed’s interpretation of an intern was very inspiring and important advice that I will always keep in mind as I continue to work daily.
What is some of the grunt work you have completed and how did this task help you to grow?
Preparing for a performance review
Posted by: | CommentsBy Alicia Wells
It’s mid-point review season for our Peppercom interns, where we check on their progress so far and make sure they’re getting the most out of their internship. We speak with supervisors on their individual account teams to find out the things they’re doing well and how they can continue to improve, and how this stacks up with how the intern thinks he or she is doing.
While all companies have their own review process, here are some general tips for preparing for a performance review that you may find helpful in your PR careers:
- Assess your own strengths and weaknesses and come prepared with examples of your stellar performance, and how you’ve continued to work on any shortcomings. We’ll likely have heard examples from your supervisors of your great work, but in case they missed something it’s a good idea for you to be ready to chime in. On the flip side, we all make mistakes and need to constantly improve our skills, so showing that you have recognized this and are making efforts to continuously improve will go a long way.
- Hopefully you’ve been given an opportunity to pitch to the media. Come with some examples of pitching you’ve done, whether it’s email, phone, or even editorial calendar follow-up. It all counts and shows that you’re willing to learn and jump in on what’s a major part of our business. If you haven’t done any pitching, don’t be afraid to ask your reviewer for advice on which opportunities you can get involved in or who may be willing to let you “pitch” in (sorry, that pun was intended).
- While it may be too late at this point, it’s smart to check in with your individual supervisors on your own in an informal manner, just to get a sense of how you’re doing and any advice they have for improvements. Not only will they appreciate the initiative, they may have some helpful insights for you before you even get to the review stage. If you’re getting your review soon, trying checking in a month from now to get updated feedback from your direct supervisors.
For those of you who have been through the review process, what other advice or tips can you offer? And for those yet to receive one, let us know if you have any questions on how to prepare.
Q&A Friday: Sara Whitman
Posted by: | CommentsSara Whitman started at Peppercom as an intern ten years ago, and today is a Senior Director. She manages a mix of consumer and corporate accounts, and also handles staff management for the New York office and agency recruiting.
Q. You started at Peppercom as an intern- what do you think has contributed to your success?
A. Determination: I’ve always set the bar high for myself and I aim to outperform my own expectations. There’s nothing like a sense of self-accomplishment and taking pride in your work.
Dedication: I love Peppercom. I love the culture, the teams, and the work. I don’t want to let anyone down and I like striving to do the best work I can for our clients and for us as an agency. We have a great reputation as a firm and I want to add to that as much as I can.
Flexibility: This is on my part and on Peppercom’s part. It’s a give and take. I put everything I can into my work. In turn (and actually well before I even knew what I was doing in this industry), Peppercom offers amazing flexibility. I have a wonderful family and am able to raise my kids the way I want because of the flexibility I have at Peppercom. It’s the best of both worlds. In this same category of flexibility though is something I think is very important. I really do look at what we do as teamwork – both within the agency, with our clients and with the media (or should I say external audiences given the fragmented and dwindling media) – and I think I’m a decent team player. I’m not in this for the glory – if I am, I’m in the wrong business! I’m most satisfied when I know the work was done well, the team scored killer results and the client is thrilled. There’s a lot of expectation and entitlement I see and hear about among industry employees. That’s an attitude people need to check at the door.
Q. What do you look for in entry-level candidates?
A. An avid learner: This business requires the ability to grasp many different subject matters very quickly. You have to live, eat and breathe the clients’ business and a love of learning is essential. It also provides a great base for strategic thinking and planning.
A news junkie: Going hand in hand with that is being a news junkie. Wanting to know about what’s going on in the world of business, politics, culture, society, entertainment, etc. is critical. We have to align the news of our clients with the news of the world and a person in this business has to be able to connect the dots. A natural love for the news should be a given.
A strong writer: The number one complaint I hear from management and from clients is that writing is not as strong as it could be. The industry tends to attract really smart, outgoing people who, for some reason or another, have a tough time with clear, concise and compelling writing. Some of that can be learned, but without a strong core, it’s very difficult.
Has a roll-up-your-sleeves attitude: I like people who will do what it takes to get the job done – big or small. Those who are resourceful and can figure out how to make things happen are indispensable. Negativity and defeatism don’t breed success.
Q. What are you most proud of professionally?
A. There are so many things I’m proud of that have involved so many people. I’m proud that I’m still here after 10 years! I’m really proud of some of the long-standing client relationships I have. I’m incredibly proud of being able to say I’m part of a firm that has had so many external successes with clients – but even more proud that I was part of helping to build the team to make that happen. I’m proud that a significant chunk of our staff are people who also started at Peppercom as interns or JAEs. That’s a huge accomplishment that we should all be proud of.
Q. What one piece of advice do you have for those just starting their careers in PR?
A. Think about your professional network from day one. The people you meet and help out now can become people who will do the same for you later. You never know where people will wind up and what doors they might open for you in the future.
Senior Year, Episode One
Posted by: | CommentsThe following is the first in a series of guest posts from Stacey Davidson, who interned with Peppercom in the summer of 2009. Stacey has just started her senior year at the University of Florida, and will share with us her experiences in job searching and finishing up her college career.
I came back to school only a few days after leaving New York and was faced with the reality that my college years are quickly coming to a close. I have two semesters left as a student at the University of Florida. Yup, that’s it. Only two more required classes, a few hours of elective credit, one football season and a lot of job searching to go. I’m teetering between two worlds right now. At Peppercom, I was fully engulfed in the “real world” of a public relations agency. I know what it’s like to work on tight deadlines and report to clients. But at UF, I’m still a student, still working towards getting my undergraduate degree.
My goal this year is to merge these two worlds. I want to become the best student and job candidate that I can be before I leave Gainesville in May and venture out on my own. Hopefully, through my posts, I can help you also set yourself up for success in finding an internship and become a great PR student along the way.
The first thing I learned this year that will help me to become a better job candidate is the need for strategy behind every public relations tactic. Previously, I had taken classes in PR research and strategy and have also implemented PR campaigns for various campus organizations, but never did this thought hit home as much as in my PR graphic design class this week.
For this class, I am responsible for creating a visual PR campaign for a local business near UF. This campaign will include a full Web site, a banner ad, a flier and brochure as well as a few other tactics of my choice. I am excited to learn more about Photoshop, InDesign and Web site design programs, but I am just beginning to realize what a tough job this will be. My client, The Bagel Bakery, has never had a Web site before, so I am starting from scratch.
Whenever I thought of Web sites in the past, I always just assumed that the layout and art were based on the personal preference of the designer or PR agency team. I am coming to realize, however, that personal preference will get you nowhere in PR design. Every part of a Web site or flier is carefully thought out and strategic. The colors, text, shape and layout design are all scrutinized and chosen based on the preferences of the target audience. For instance, lavender is a color mainly used when targeting senior-citizen women, while orange is the color most disliked by people older than 60. It’s so interesting to me that even the smallest change can have a huge impact on the success or failure of a Web site and PR campaign.
As I begin my job search this semester, I will keep this strategy in mind. Even the little things, such as the font on my resume, or the wording of my cover letter, could be the difference between landing an interview and being tossed into the growing pile of potential candidates.
“It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.” –John Wooden
How to Say “No”
Posted by: | CommentsGuest post by Carolyn Fraser, Peppercom Intern
This past Wednesday marked the one month anniversary of my internship at Peppercom. I’ve already aligned myself with the culture, vision and work ethic of the company and have finally gotten into my “work groove.” My experience here has been very positive and challenging (I love challenges) so far and as my work experience expands, so does my workload. A full workload means that my teams depend on me to accomplish a task, which in turn benefits the team and the client. As basic as our job may seem, we interns play a crucial role that contributes to the success of the team- the “cog in the wheel” analogy.
However, there is a fine line between having a full workload and being overwhelmed. If you have a full workload of “end-of-day” assignments and an account member asks you to take on another assignment, should you accept or decline? If you accept, then you will cross over the line to Overwhelmed Land, but if you say no, you fear it will come off as though you can’t handle the task. Whatever you do, just make sure you don’t say “no.” I’m not saying that you can’t put a spin on it, just don’t say the actual word “no.”
Instead, if you find yourself in limbo between accepting or simply declining an assignment, here are a few simple suggestions to steer you away from saying “no”:
- Multi-task: As an intern, you must be comfortable with multi-tasking and managing your time effectively. Working on a few different accounts requires you to constantly switch gears and stay on top of a number of responsibilities. If you’re able to put off one assignment and switch to new assignments as needed, it may be wise to do so.
- Prioritize: Realistically, some assignments are more important or urgent than others. Assess your assignments in regards to their due date, length of time spent on project, importance of project, etc. and tackle them accordingly.
- Assess Workload/Know Limit: If you have a few different projects due EOD, it wouldn’t be wise to accept another project that is due EOD. However, you can ask if the project can wait until the next day so that you can still work on it. This shows your willingness to help out and take on the responsibility.
Once you’ve done all of the aforementioned and still can’t find the time to help, you may have to say “not now,” but never say “no.” Be sure to let your account member know that you have too many assignments due and don’t want to commit to something you cannot successfully complete. You can also offer your assistance when you’re finished. As an intern you will have to make decisions that can affect you in either a positive or negative way. If you are ever in a situation (which will happen) where you will have to say yes or no, always remember: there is no such thing as “no.”
True Story
Posted by: | CommentsBy Alicia Wells
Here’s a quick lesson on how not to get hired. My colleague was conducting a phone interview with a candidate and found out, midway through the conversation, the candidate was in fact on the floor of our building. Coincidence? Unfortunately, no.
This individual, who goes to a nearby college, thought it’d be a good idea to replace the phone screen with an in-person interview, in an “I’m right outside your window” scenario. But you think that’s bad? When we sat him down, he taught another good lesson: getting an A+ for brutal honesty is never a good idea. When asked if he wanted to pursue a career in public relations, he said, “Nope, don’t care, I just want to get paid.”
I’d say it was a waste of time, but what a great story we got out of it.
The Art of Follow-Up
Posted by: | CommentsBy Alicia Wells
Alison Green over at Ask A Manager has been talking a lot about the rudeness of hiring managers who don’t get back to candidates after an interview. It got me to thinking about how important follow-up is in the job search, both for the interviewers and interviewees. I think we (the Peppercom intern committee) do a good job of letting candidates know our decisions once they’ve been made, but can understand how frustrating it could be to have to wait for a response. There are a lot of elements that go into the decision making process so it can sometimes take a while to get back to everyone we’ve interviewed. I always feel bad knowing that the candidates are anxiously awaiting a response and wish that there was something I could do to speed up the process.
On the other hand, I think even more tricky is how candidates follow-up with the interviewer. We all know how important sending thank you notes is (bonus points for handwritten cards), but the worst mistake you can make is to send a thank you with typos in it. Ick.
Every hiring manager will have their preferences on how and when they like to be contacted regarding a decision. I think it’s fair to check in if it’s been a few days or a week longer than the interviewer said it would be. For example, if they tell you that it will be two weeks before they decide, I think it’s acceptable to send an email a few days into the following week after their given date. Or, if they tell you it will be a couple of months, try checking in a month into that time period to give them an update on what you’ve been up to (in a professional, unassuming way). Don’t be too aggressive or follow-up more than once or twice, that will just annoy the interviewer.
Some other tips to keep in mind:
- Unless otherwise specified, email is typically a better way to follow-up than phone (less intrusive).
- Stand out from the crowd. After her interview, one of our current interns sent me a Direct Message on Twitter with a link to an article she had pitched and placed in her local newspaper. It definitely got my attention.
- I can’t say it enough, make sure ALL of your written communication with an interviewer is flawless. This is true in every industry, but particularly in PR, where we’re expected to constantly communicate via email with clients, superiors, the media, etc.
Any other good tips for following-up after an interview?
