#RW2010

This year, I was finally able to attend PR Real World. The conference is put on specifically for college students to learn more about what public relations professionals go through each day in the "real world." Fourteen classmates, Dr. Miller and I left before the sun was up in order to arrive in Atlanta on time for registration and a delicious breakfast.

I went to several different workshops - my favorite of which was entitled "How to make yourself marketable" - a career expo, and a resume critique. During lunch, we were able to listen to Sean Cassidy, president of DKC Public Relations & Marketing in New York City. This guy is so influential in NY, New York Magazine has referred to him as one of the "Most Influential New Yorkers." He discussed the evolution of entertainment/celebrity PR and even told us a few stories about his experiences with celebs.

Between each of the sessions, we were able to mingle with other PR students from all over the United States. I even met one girl (Shelby) from Michigan. We talked about the similarities and differences of our PR programs and what we wanted to do after graduation.

For my blog this week, I am going to take the same approach as Dr. Miller and list a few things that I learned about getting a job after my first trip to PR Real World.

1. GET INVOLVED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE! Networking with different students made me feel relieved and scared at the same time- while some students had as many as four internships, others had none. Not all of the students there, however, were required to take three practicums like GCSU, however, so I felt a little better about my PR experience. Either way, managers are looking to hire people with a lot of experience. The more, the better!

2. Always come equipped with professional materials (i.e. business cards, resumes, etc.). Unlike the rest of my classmates in PR Campaigns, I am not in senior seminar this semester. Therefore, I did not bring a resume. In fact, I have not even updated my resume since high school (which is two pages in length, and I quickly learned it should only be one page). Had I brought a resume, however, I would have been able to have it critiqued by professionals that could potentially interview me one day for a job. Instead, I had to sit in on a group critiquing session to learn what needed to be done to my work in progress. Even though I learned a lot from others' resumes, I missed out on a great opportunity for myself for being unprepared.

3. Dress to impress at interviews, no matter how casual the company is.

4. Always do research on the company you are going to interview for BEFORE the interview. During the "Market Yourself" session, all of the professionals continuously stressed how important it is to make an effort to get to know the company and what it is about prior to your interview. One lady even said that if someone comes in without any idea of what the business does, she will tell them just to go back home.

5. BE ON TIME. This was also HIGHLY stressed during each session.

6. Stay involved. Although it is important to be involved during college, it is also important to continue building your resume after graduation. One professional said to look at your first job as simply your "first job." If you continue to be involved, it will be easier to move up in the "food chain." One easy way to do this, I learned, is by working on different committees within PRSA.

I am so grateful that PRSA|GA puts on this great conference each year for students like me. I learned a lot from my first experience that will stay with me for the rest of my PR career. One day, I hope to be on the other side, giving college students useful advice for their own future.

My Personal Ethics

This semester, I am taking business ethics as an elective. This week, we were assigned the task of writing a personal ethics statement so that I can apply these to a business or life experience situation later in life. This is my first ever personal ethics statement:



Personal Ethics Statement
I will always be an honest person, to both my colleagues and myself. I will never distort the truth to benefit my own needs or wants. I will always follow the Golden Rule and never treat others in a way that I, myself, would not like to be treated. I will always be an active listener and remain open to all ideas and suggestions without discriminating. I will always do what is right, regardless of the consequences I will face for doing so (even if I lose my job). I will make decisions that will result in the least amount of harm to others and never forget what is the most important in my life – Christ, family, friends and job. Kickbacks will never be accepted – regardless of how tempting they are. Holidays will be days devoted to family time, never work. My decisions will not be based on monetary compensation, and I will never gather or accept illegally obtained information.

Supporting Principles
• I will always seek the truth and report (even if it is an ugly truth).
• Everyone will be treated with respect. I will promote an experimental workplace where employees will feel comfortable coming up with new ideas.
o Gossiping about my colleagues will not occur.
• Family matters will always be the highest priority – Employees will never be punished if they must leave work early to deal with a family situation.
• If I am ever offered a bribe, I will not accept it and, more so, consider never doing business with this person again.
• Money will not buy me happiness. I will find joy in the little things in life.
• Any form of trespassing will never be permitted – regardless of how much the information could help me and/or my business.
• I will continue to go to church regularly and remain involved in my children’s lives.
• I will get to know all of my colleagues so that I can keep their values in mind when making decisions.
• I will be careful not to take on too much at a time so that each task I complete is done to the best of my ability.

"Clear Cloud" Over Milledgeville

In September 2006, the City of Milledgeville was awarded an $862,500 grant from the Georgia Technology Authority to establish a citywide wireless Internet service. Milledgeville was one of only six cities in the state of Georgia to receive this grant under Governor Sonny Perdue’s Wireless Communities Georgia initiative, introduced in 2006. According to the WCG, “high-speed Internet access has become essential for communities to attract business and industry and compete in today’s global economy.” City officials believe that residents having access to a Wi-Fi network will increase the city’s economic development, educational access and governmental services.

The Georgia Technology Authority and the City of Milledgeville have partnered with Clearwire, an Internet Service Provider whose name has been shortened to Clear, to provide 17 square miles of wireless signal. In addition to having unlimited access to Milledgeville’s signal, subscribers will also be able to use their Clear accounts in any of the 46 Clear markets, including the nearby cities of Dublin and Atlanta.

To ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to receive the service, the city has partnered with One Community and the Knight Foundation to provide several different package options, including discounted subscriptions for students and low-to-moderate income families. To receive a Clear subscription at a lower price, residents must go through an application process that will be available by late March. These applications can be found at several different entities throughout Milledgeville, including Digital Bridges and Mary Vinson Memorial Library.

The process has been a long and tedious one. However, the city is excited about coming together to provide this beneficial opportunity to the residents of Milledgeville. The “Clear Cloud” has the capability of changing the City of Milledgeville into a new and improved city with endless possibilities.

Tweeps-R-Us

I first began my tweeting career last semester in PR Administration. At first, it was like learning a foreign language. I had no idea what I should say or who I should say it to. Most of the people I originally followed tweeted only about what they were doing at that moment; therefore, I couldn't grasp the significance of Twitter. I rarely watched the videos people posted and even less frequently read the articles.

Last Wednesday in PR campaigns class, Dr. Miller assigned (what I have named) the "Dreadful Twitter Assignment." We were required to tweet a minimum of five times per day, follow 25 more PR professionals and/or social media outlets, and try to engage them in conversation. I immediately began stressing out. I work two jobs and am in charge of my sorority's step team while taking a full course load at school. When in the world would I have time to do all of this?!

For the first couple of days, I admit, I did not tweet five times a day (I am trying to make up for those lost tweets now). I just couldn't think of anything I could say. I did, however, start following new PR professionals to see what they were able to tweet about every three hours. I slowly started seeing what people were talking about, and ideas came to me randomly throughout each day. Before I knew it, I was getting emails on my iPhone left and right about new tweeps who were now following me. Who would have ever guessed... I am slowly becoming popular on Twitter!

Over the past week, I have learned a lot about one of the newest... And possibly most confusing... Social media outlets, Twitter. I have realized that Twitter isn't just somewhere to write exactly what you are doing at the moment you sit down at your computer. Instead, it's an absolutely amazing networking tool. I have made friends with people all over the United States, from LA to New York. I am even following PR agencies in Europe now (in case one day I get a wild hair and decide to move out of country). I have even found tweeps who were also PR students at different colleges facing the same obstacles as me! The coolest thing I have discovered in the past week about Twitter is that, hopefully one day, it will be my lifesaver and help me find a job! Every day, you hear people say, "Oh, you might as well plan on going to grad school, because you won't find a job." However, I see a new tweet almost every day about a new job opening.

Overall, this assignment has taught me to take Twitter seriously. Of course... The words 'tweeps' and 'tweet' are funny to say, but they shouldn't be taken lightly. Twitter is a valuable tool that all professionals (of any career field) should learn to use.