Wanted: Interns

During an advertising conference at FIT in late November, Kathy Aaronson, CEO at the Sale Athlete, Inc spoke to students about finding a job. She found that when looking for an internship or job one of the least likely ways to get a job is through contacting the company or internet help site.

But in my own search for a summer internship I have found much success in Craig's List. Pick your location, your vocation and then search for internships. New opportunities are posted daily.

We talk in our advertising/public relations classes that the most successful messages are delivered when you are communicating to an active audience. Craig's list delivers no better audience. The companies posting are the ones looking to fill positions immediately.

Even more, the descriptions of what these companies expect of an intern are helpful when writing a cover letter or personal statement. After reading countless posts, words used most often to describe ideal interns include proactive, self motivated, attention to detail and organized.

You can even check to see what type of computer skills companies are expecting of interns in your field. Most of the posts I have seen require, simply, Microsoft Office. Others require knowledge of social networking sites or Photoshop. And wait... some even require QUARK!

Craig's List is a good way to see what's out there, what's expected and allow of even more opportunities to find an internship!

Positive Reinforcement: Quick Tips on Making Yourself More Valuable

By: Britt Horner

I know we are all sick of hearing, “It’s impossible to get a job because the economy is so terrible.” So, instead of looking at the situation negatively, use the following helpful tips I collected from working professionals.

These simple suggestions will make you a more appealing candidate for a job or at the very least, get you into “professional mode.”

1. Intern where you want to work: If you can get your foot in the door early and prove yourself an excellent worker, you have a better chance at securing a full-time position. If the company you are interested in only offers an unpaid internship, do it.
   

2. ALWAYS send a follow up email after an interview: Go the extra mile and show your potential employee you are truly dedicated to taking on this position. A polite gesture can make all the difference.
   

3. Always have a pen: Something this simple shows that you are always prepared. Don’t be rustling around in your bag at an interview looking for something to write with.
   

4. Learn ANYTHING technical that you can: In our society where technology has just about taken over, knowing more tech stuff can make you indispensable to an employer. Know the basics (like Microsoft office,) but if you can, learn about computer hardware.
   

5. If you can, take a graphic design class: Knowing programs other than Quark are to the best of your advantage. Indesign, Photoshop, and Dreamweaver are programs often used in the PR/Advertising field.
   

6. Write well (Duh.): Have a strong resume and strong writing samples. Spelling and grammatical errors are unacceptable. This idea is beaten into our brains every day, but SERIOUSLY, make your work flawless.
   

7. Get a mentor: Find someone in the profession or a teacher that is willing to donate time to you. Email them your work before you give it in. Have them look over your resume. Call them with questions. A mentor can be a guiding light when you need one the most.
   

8. Be Organized (Another Duh): Have extra copies of your resume easily accessible. Make sure your portfolio is professional looking and has your latest work first. Don’t give in crinkled papers with stains on them!
   

9. Save complimentary emails: Make a file with complimentary emails from professors, former bosses, or other people related to your field. Besides being a confidence booster, some professionals suggest printing out copies and sticking them in the back of your portfolio. It shows an employer your outstanding work ethic.
   

10. Be willing to wear different hats: Portray your enthusiasm to learn. If the employer asks if you know something and you don’t, tell them you will learn it.

# 1 Chapter in the USA

For many this semester serves as a catalyst for change. Graduating seniors are searching for their niche within the ominous job market, while underclassmen are taking the reins of PRSSA and proactively creating goals for next year.

During the spring semester students look to network with professionals, gain valuable experience and find internships or future places of employment. Ultimately as students we strive to balance our theoretical knowledge with hands on field experience.

Rowan University’s AJF Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) Chapter continues to facilitate innovative fun ways students can get invaluable insight from professionals and put to use what they’ve learned in the classroom.

If you’re new to PRSSA or want to take a more active role in the society you picked to right semester to do so.

Here’s a little snapshot of what’s in store.

• Come to interesting meetings with professional speakers.
• Learn exactly what PRSSA executive board members’ responsibilities entail so you can run for a position on the 2009 – 2010 executive board.
• Attend Lights, camera, PR action – trends in the entertainment industry Rowan’s Regional Activity to meet today’s top entertainment PR professionals.
• Coordinate a fundraising event to benefit student travel expenses for the 2009 PRSSA National Conference in San Diego.
• Travel to New Orleans to vote for the PRSSA National Committee, meet students from 297 universities nationwide, take part in leadership building sessions, and visit a new city.
• Execute the 17th annual Organ Donor Day philanthropic event to promote and educate students on campus and receive positive media coverage within Philadelphia/New Jersey regions.
• Gain hands on experience and create quality portfolio pieces by teaming up with PRaction, Rowan University’s student-run public relations firm.
• Attend mentor night to get a feel for what career opportunities are available via the PR industry.
• Participate in an agency tour.
• Most importantly create lasting friendships. Meet a passionate group of students who immerse themselves in diverse activities and want to help you take advantage of as many opportunities as possible throughout your collegiate career. These people become a base network serving to help you navigate your road to a successful career in PR.

PRSSA meetings begin today in room 226 in the library at 5 p.m. For those of you who are new to PRSSA come 15 minutes early and attend our new members meeting. Rowan PRSSA has a little bit of everything to offer. Get involved this semester and help our Chapter achieve its goals and have a ton of fun along the way. I can’t wait to see familiar faces and meet our new enthusiastic members.

I know you are eager to find out the details for this semester. We’ll be sure to expand on each topic at the meeting. If you can’t make it to the meeting because of the weather or you have a class - but you are still interested in getting involved please feel free to comment on the blog. Ask questions – get answers.
Drive safely, see you at 5.

Traveling Across the Pond

By: Lauren Bottazzi

Hello from London! It's truly one of the most exciting cities in the world. At first, it's a lot to take in, stepping off the plane at the enormous Heathrow Airport. Quickly, I followed people I recognized from my flight through customs and down to baggage claim. I prayed I would spot my suitcase making it's way around the luggage belt. I let out a sign of relief to see my gigantic suitcase moving my way. I was off to Terminal 3 to meet my CEA group. If you're not the type of person who likes to ask for help, there is no doubt navigating around Heathrow won't be an easy task. I hopped on the Heathrow Express, suitcase and all, and successfully found my way to Terminal 3. My group cheered when they recognized I had made it because I was the last to arrive. Next stop, Goldsmiths University of London.

The lovely city of London is rich in tradition, history, and diversity. On any given day, there are over 300 languages spoken here. Our guide, William, gave us a quick tour as we sped through the streets of central London. The flag over Buckingham Palace waved proudly and it indicated that Queen Elizabeth II was home today. During the taxi ride, my potential flat mates and I got to know each other. They were equally excited to be here and from all over country: Maine, Texas, Arizona, Ohio, Philadelphia, and South Jersey.

The British are all about "going green." In fact, I noticed that the lights in our flats are scheduled on a timer. Whenever we're out of the building, the lights automatically shut off in order to save electricity. As for the city, maintenance workers spend time sweeping cigarette butts off the street. On some street corners you will find something that's rare in the states. A glorified port-a-potty labeled "toilets" costs 50 pence to use but it's open to the public. Also, the bags in our kitchen are green bags and they're very strict on recycling. London's campaign to try and reduce litter is brilliant and it certainly captures your attention. Huge dumpsters painted in the colors of a cow have a billboard directly about them that say: "MOO FEED THE COWS !" An innovative and hilarious way to keep the streets of London clean. I hope to see animal print dumpsters at Rowan next semester.

Today, I Joined Twitter

I have a confession to make. In my quest to stay on top of technology I somehow failed with Twitter. I heard of Twitter months ago, and just never made the time and effort to figure out what it was all about. Through my blog subscriptions I have read about many uses for Twitter. PR professionals are pitching stories through Twitter, and journalists are covering them. People use Twitter to self-promote or to follow their favorite corporations or celebrities. According to one article, President Obama announced his running mate via Twitter. So, today I finally decided to do my homework about this unique social medium.

I read an article by David Pogue of the New York Times called Twittering Tips for Beginners. I was comforted by his opening, in which he said that he too was late getting started with Twitter.

Please read Pogue's tips for new Twitter-er's in the quoted text below. If you want to know more, follow the link to the full article above, where you can read his complete explanation of each tip (some are not very clear unless you read on).

If you are on Twitter, what are your helpful hints for us newbies? Oh, and if you'd like to follow me, my twitter name is christinamarcus.

Pogue's tips:

"* You don’t have to open your Web browser and go to Twitter.com to send and receive tweets.

* Your followers can respond to your tweets, either publicly or privately.

* It seems clear that you, as a tweet-sender, are not actually expected to respond to every reply.

* The Web is full of “rules” about the proper way to Twitter, and a lot of them are just knowier-than-thou garbage: How many tweets a day to send out. How many people you should follow. What you should say. And so on. The first adopters are milking their early advantage for all it’s worth. I found one rule, though, that answered a long-standing question I had about Twitter: “Don’t tweet about what you’re doing right now.”

* People can be just as snotty on Twitter as they are everywhere else on the Internet.

* Another person criticized me for not following enough other Twitterers. The implication was that if you send out tweets but don’t subscribe to a lot of other people, you’re an egotist."

And Pogue's conclusion is:

"In the end, my impression of Twitter was right and wrong. Twitter IS a massive time drain. It IS yet another way to procrastinate, to make the hours fly by without getting work done, to battle for online status and massage your own ego.

But it’s also a brilliant channel for breaking news, asking questions, and attaining one step of separation from public figures you admire. No other communications channel can match its capacity for real-time, person-to-person broadcasting."