Chicago, Ill. – As I walked through the doors of Ogilvy Public Relations, I could tell that something different was in the air. As OPR went through their creative and inspiring work, it was obvious that the energy, the environment, and the people of OPR are truly some of the most creative in the business.
On Friday, Feb. 12, 13 IU PRSSA members had the privilege of touring the 11th floor of Wolf Point Plaza, where all of the magic happens. Many employees including IU alum, Joan Ong, welcomed the group of young professionals and answered questions about working at Ogilvy and in the PR industry as a whole.
When discussing internships, the panelists left us with key information about landing a job at not only Ogilvy, but at any PR agency:
“Do something to set yourself apart”
This advice came from Ricky Brandt, who has been working at OPR as an Account Executive for a little over a year now. Ricky puts his money (or I should say blog) where his mouth is, when he told us how his successful food blog helped land him a job at Ogilvy. Use your passions and interests as your own personal brand.
“Know a lot stuff, about a lot of stuff”
All of the panelists stressed the importance of being knowledgeable about… Well, everything. The PR and advertising industry is constantly taking on new clients with different business needs and communication goals, so being well-rounded is key. Talking with creative teams, designers, producers, CEOs, etc. are important aspects of the job, and knowing how each department operates in the grand scheme of things will yield a better result for your client.
“Be interested and be curious”
It is extremely important to know where your target market is, and how to engage them in the conversation. As Peter Kim, Social Analyst at Social@Ogilvy, says, the industry is always changing and it takes more than knowing social tools – know how to use them and aspire to be at the forefront of that change.
“If you can’t write, I don’t want to talk to you.”
If you can’t write well, you can’t communicate well. Pay attention in English class… Enough said.
Indianapolis, Ind. – If you’re seeking experience at a small agency that specializes in media relations (and is chock-full of some lovely IU alumni), then Dittoe PR could be the place for you. On Friday, Feb. 13, I visited Dittoe with seven fellow PRSSA members from the Beth Wood Chapter at Indiana University. We set out bright and early in the negative 5 degree weather and headed north. We were greeted warmly by Senior Account Managers Ashley Eggert and Michelle Bower (both IU alumna).
IU PRSSA members snapping a quick photo with recent IU grade, Becca DuPont (pictured: middle). Picture by Tori Lawhorn.
Ashley and Michelle showed us around the office, which is currently spread across multiple floors in a renovated church. However, the company is in the process of relocating, and they are very excited to soon have a trendy, innovative new space. Both Ashley and Michelle described Dittoe as having a fast-paced, tech-focused environment. It was founded as a startup in 1999 by Liza and Chris Dittoe (also both IU alumni) who originally ran the agency from their basement. Dittoe employees now work with a large variety of clients from ExactTarget to Green B.E.A.N. Delivery to Klipsch. They focus on media relations, but, as Michelle told us, they sort of do “everything under the sun” for their clients.
In addition to sharing details about Dittoe with us, Michelle and Ashley had some amazing insights for students currently applying and interviewing for jobs at PR agencies. Former PRSSA member and current Dittoe Junior Account Executive Becca DuPont joined us and gave us invaluable tips as well. Here are the most important things I learned from our conversation:
– Be a strong writer and have writing samples. Bringing a variety of writing samples into an interview (and knowing why they relate to your experiences) can make all the difference.
– Read everything. Even read things you normally wouldn’t. There is so much content out in the world that can help you become a stronger writer and communicator. Even if you haven’t had the experience yet, reading about hot topics in PR is a great way to stay informed and know what you’re talking about.
– Be able to SPEAK to your experiences. Just listing experiences isn’t good enough and won’t land you the job. You need to be able to explain what you did, why it mattered, and what results came from it.
– Do your research. Before you apply for a job or go to an interview, gather all the information you possibly can about the agency. Know what clients they are currently working with, recognize their past campaigns, and learn what they do differently.
Indianapolis, Ind. — If you’ve ever wondered what your life would be like working at a full service agency, keep on reading. On Wednesday, November 12, I attended an agency tour with five other PRSSA members from the Beth Wood Chapter at Indiana University. We took the day off school and traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana to meet with Brittany Yancey, Account Supervisor, and Jillian Wyatt, Account Director. From the outside, TrendyMinds looks like all other buildings in the city of Indianapolis, but after walking through the front door those perceptions quickly diminished; the office felt friendly and comfortable.
TrendyMinds is a vastly growing agency currently occupying two buildings complete with full kitchens, a green room, over 5 different meetings areas, and iPads around the office in order to accurately schedule meeting times and places. You could say this agency is extremely social media forward and has all of the hottest new devices. (We were told that have so much new technology it is sometimes difficult to keep up with how to use all of it!)
During my visit, I was given a tour of both buildings and was given the opportunity to meet almost all employees. I felt very welcome and could see my myself working for a full service agency like TrendyMinds in the future. I was fortunate enough to sit through two different presentations from employees who work with corporations such as Eli Lilly and Indiana University Health.
Before I left, my peers and I were given the chance to have a question and answer session with 5 TrendyMinds employees. The most important things that I learned from this experience were
Get the experience. Whether that be through an internship, nonprofit work, etc., experience makes you marketable.
Stand out! Have your own projects or presentations you can share with a company – it makes you seem dedicated to people who otherwise do not know you.
Ask questions. There is no dumb question and the more you ask, the more knowledge you will come out with.
Take a variety of classes in journalism, communications, marketing, advertising, etc. This devotion speaks to a company and demonstrates your passion to learn about other related fields.
Not all internships/jobs will be what you want but if you keep working towards your ultimate goal it will work out in the end.
NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK! Use your resources!
To learn more about TrendyMinds, check out their webpage.
Indianapolis, Ind. — On Wednesday, November 12, IU PRSSA members had the opportunity to take part in Hoosier PRSA’s annual Half Day with a Pro, an event that allows PRSSA students from across Indiana to spend the morning shadowing different PR professionals in the Indianapolis area, followed by the monthly luncheon. We’ve gathered some member highlights below:
I had the pleasure of shadowing Kristen Fuhs-Wells of Indiana Humanities, a nonprofit that seeks to connect people throughout the state with opportunities to engage with the humanities (art, music, food, literature, history, etc.) and provide support for such programs. The office is housed in a historic home on the Old Northside of Indianapolis; the working environment felt very cozy and comfortable. The staff is small, so a lot of collaboration takes place when getting the job done.
During my visit, I learned about some of the tools Kristen and her co-workers use, such as Exact Target to send e-newsletters to specific audiences and Hootsuite operate the official social media accounts. I was with two other students from another university, and Kristen had the three of us write up some tweets to help the organization promote an upcoming workshop about grants. We also watched as she edited the website to reflect the recent addition of a new employee.
Some of the most important skills to have in this kind of job, Kristen said, are:
1. Writing clearly
2. Being able to adapt your writing for different purposes
3. Working well with a team
4. Being flexible and responsive
5. Pitching to reporters and keeping up on current events
6. Being creative, able to come up with solutions even when you don’t know the answer to something
Kristen also looked at my resume and pointed out some areas for improvement. I learned a lot about nonprofit PR and PR jobs, even in just the few hours I was there. Despite the early start to the morning, I’m so glad I took advantage of this opportunity to network and grow professionally, and I look forward to more opportunities in the future.
— Alyssa Schor
I had the great opportunity to attend the PRSA Hoosier Chapter’s Half-Day with a Pro event in Indianapolis. I was assigned to shadow the Director of Marketing and Communications, Darcy Marlett, at the National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG).
IU PRSSA members spend the morning at National Chimney Sweep Guild. Picture by Allison Lara.
Chimney Sweeps? Much to my surprise, they still exist.
Upon arrival, I received a tour of the building and learned about chimney sweeps in America. Darcy then took the time to sit down and answer any questions I had about the PR industry and the job search. She graduated from IU in 2011 with a Journalism degree and had a lot of relevant experience and current insight on looking for jobs in the industry.
Darcy’s advise on what to bring to an interview:
1. Extra copies of your resume
2. A portfolio to show specific examples of work to your potential employer
3. AP Stylebook in case you have to take an AP editing test
After shadowing Darcy, I attended the PRSA Hoosier Chapter’s monthly luncheon, where we met with other PR professionals and students. During lunch, two professionals presented “Beyond the Pie Charts: How to Fend Off the PR Research Woes.” They addressed the topic of market research and how it relates to the PR research process. Understanding the customer and what drives their decisions is the key goal of market research. With the recent boom in smart phone users, it has opened up new opportunities to reach consumers anywhere and anytime.
This was a valuable experience because of the new connections I made and the insight I gained. It gave me confidence that I have chosen the right field of study. I highly encourage students to attend next year’s Half-Day with a Pro event.
— Allison Lara
I spent my Wednesday morning at Hirons Advertising and Public Relations. You never truly know how much you want to work in an industry until you step into the environment. As soon as I entered the doors of Hiron and said hello to the receptionist, I knew public relations was the place I wanted to be. During my short time at the agency I learned a lot and was able to relax just a tiny bit about finding a job after graduation next semester. A small panel of Hirons employees, three being IU graduates, were more than happy to answer any and all of the questions thrown their way. Making connections and having a portfolio were, as expected, a few of the topics discussed.
Toward the end of my time at Hirons the panel briefly mentioned having your own personal brand. They recommended taking that one thing that makes you special or stand out from the crowd and use it to your advantage. Design a personal logo, add just a touch of color to your resume or even add graphics to your resume that your employer might like. Hirons encourages innovation and creativity. It’s go big or go home; the worst that could happen is hearing the word “no.” If I learned nothing else at Hirons, it’s that stepping outside of the box and being bold is what gets you noticed. Be creative, be brave and always have fun doing it.
— Charnay Pickett
Our #HalfDayWithaPro experience started off bright and early on Wednesday with a tour of Borshoff’s office in downtown Indianapolis. Tim Coxey and Mary Higgins showed us around the 5th floor where account coordinators sit and the 4th floor where the so-called “creative” work. After our tour, Tim gave us a crash course on what it takes to work at an agency like Borshoff. 6 basic skills: – Writing – Editing – Proofing – Pitching – Researching – Attention to detail. Tim stressed the important of AP Style and of being confident making 30 second phone pitches. 4 advanced skills: – Building media relationships – Thinking about strategic marketing planning – Writing and editing – Budgeting.
Our half-day at Borshoff provided helpful insight into the skills needed to succeed at an agency and what type of daily work one would have at an agency like Borshoff.
— Katie Denta
During Half Day With a Pro, I shadowed Tim Coxey, an account manager at Borshoff. Throughout the day, we heard from several different Borshoff employees of all different positions such as principals of the company, art directors, and account directors.
A section of the presentation that I thought was really interesting was when Brittany Melvin, an account manager, discussed community relations. Brittany had six tips on how to form the best relationships with people in the community so that your story can be heard.
1. Target the right reporters. Make sure that you’re researching which reporter writes on your topic so that you can be certain it’s something they’re going to be interested in.
2. Build relationships. Brittany suggests using social media platforms to find common interests that you have with reporters or opinion leaders on your topic. If you find that you and the contact are both “foodies” and enjoy food blogs, for example, try to bond over that. The contact will remember that you have something in common and will be more likely to pick up your pitch.
3. Excite the reporter with something that also excites you. Create a hook for your pitch that would be interesting to you—it will likely be interesting to the reporter as well.
4. Share a visual. Include a picture, video, or infographic with your pitch so that it stands out from the rest.
5. Answer the question “so what?” Make sure that your pitch has a good news hook. In the end, reporters are there to make sure that the news is covered, so it’s important that you show them why your story needs to be told.
6. Be concise. The reporter isn’t going to want to read a lengthy pitch. If you can present the basic information in a short, informative message, you can share the details during your interview.
I had the awesome opportunity to intern downtown Chicago at SocialMedia.org this past summer. At SocialMedia.org, we work to give social media executives at big brands the opportunity to collaborate with each other in a vendor-free environment. We do this by instant feedback discussion forums, weekly calls to discuss issues, and several conferences and meetings every year. Some of our clients include Allstate, BMW, Boeing, Target, Burger King, Microsoft, FedEx, U.S. Cellular, McDonald’s and many more.
Every few weeks I got to rotate through a different department in the company so I was always working on new projects in different areas. I was able to get my hands in many different tasks and learn a lot of new skills. My job mostly centered around event planning, creating content for newsletters and the website, and helping create relationships within the community of members.
One of my favorite tasks was writing scheduled tweets based off of the “Big List” which is a list that is compiled every week of interesting case studies and social media news. I scheduled tweets for an entire week to send out to SocialMedia.org’s 24,000 Twitter followers. I also had the opportunity to write posts for their blog on the website.
Another of my favorite tasks was researching and proposing topics for show and tell calls. These calls happen every week with our clients. We give them a topic along with several key points to discuss and then they dial in to give and get advice from other executives in a roundtable. Several of my proposals were chosen and used for these calls.
The highlight of my internship was definitely preparing for and attending the 32nd Member Meeting that was held in Chicago. Not only was it a great venue (overlooking Millennium Park on the first day , and then the river and Trump tower on the second day), but the experience was invaluable. I did everything from printing information packets, to typing out directions on how to get there from every direction and every mode of transportation possible. I picked out gag gifts for the members, and recommended hotels for them to stay in. I also paired members together based on common interests and sent them buddy emails so they would have a friend at the meeting.
At the meeting, I helped greet members and get them registered. I also worked presentation slides, assisted with the setup, and then finally, the tear down. The best part was that we were allowed to sit in on some of the case study presentations and small group discussions. It was a privilege be able to sit in on these highly confidential conversations to hear the kinds of challenges and wins of the social media executives of the biggest brands around.
Overall, working with SocialMedia.org this summer has been an incredible and invaluable experience. The people at the company were great and so was the work I was able to do. I will be sad to leave them, but I’m excited to get back to Bloomington and improve on the skills I have learned.
Katie Hogue is currently a sophomore at Indiana University, majoring in Journalism, specializing in Public Relations and Advertising, along with a second concentration in Marketing. She serves as Co-Director of Programming for IU PRSSA.
This summer has been particularly good, due to the fact I’ve been able to combine my two true loves: food and journalism! Interning with Baltz & Company, a food, travel and lifestyle public relations agency, I began at the Denver office near the start of June, and since then, I have been looking at food, reading about food, writing about food, researching food and more often than not, eating food. It’s not a bad gig.
A typical day consists of drafting press releases, pitching to media, compiling media lists, fact checking, attending meetings with clients, brainstorming social media ideas and prowling the internet for media hits. In addition, I have transitioned into a professional organizer (wishful thinking), due to regularly cleaning up the office and arranging our massive collection of magazines. However, it’s true what they say: there really is no “typical” day in agency life. One day I could be sitting in on conference calls and writing articles at my desk, and the next I could be navigating downtown Denver at rush hour, delivering a dozen bottles of fine wine and a giant neon piñata to a client — true story.
I am very grateful to be working at such an awesome agency in such an awesome city during the week, and exploring the mountains and rivers of beautiful Colorado on the weekends. The free meals, taste testings and regular happy hours (Old-Fashioned Fridays!) aren’t bad perks either. Here’s hoping my pants still fit at the end of the summer.
Eliza Williams is currently a senior at Indiana University, majoring in Journalism, specializing in Public Relations and Advertising while minoring in Marketing at the Business School. She serves as Director of Membership of IU PRSSA.
Tori Lawhorn, Bell Pottinger Public Relations Intern.
For the summer, I’m a public relations intern at Bell Pottinger, a multinational public relations and marketing company in London, England. Bell Pottinger is the largest U.K.-based public relations consultancy. Here, I worked in the consumer branch, one of many.
Every day is a bit different for me, with constant work on a few major projects in between. Tuesday, I could be researching and writing about brands and logos for an upcoming presentation, but on Wednesday I could be researching the different local motoring journalists for Volvo’s mid-summer party.
My internship revolves around three major areas: research, communications and client coverage. Basically, I research. A lot. I also make a ton of media lists for prospective client coverage in their specific areas of interest. Along with that, I keep in communication with the media, specifically with journalists who could give our clients media coverage.
However, I’m not completely tied to a desk. One weeknight, I volunteered at a charity gala for the Children in Crisis foundation, an organization founded and maintained by the Duchess and Princesses of York. I even got to meet them when I was working the event. In total, we raised more than £165,000 in donations.
One time, I even ran chocolate to the BBC (by accident, I might add). Though I was actually just supposed to walk the box of chocolates to the front desk and ask for a courier, I just went to the BBC Broadcasting House myself. I was a proud pseudo chocolate courier for the afternoon.
I have learned two new search engines that have made my job a lot easier: Gorkana and Factiva. Gorkana is a media database that has every journalist’s contact information. This makes my media list construction much, much easier. All I have to do is search a name, and an email, phone number and address come up. Factiva is a media coverage database. If I’m trying to find an article about a client or a certain area of interest, I just type in a few keywords, and I get a list of published articles in seconds.
I also get to work with new clients. For instance, Bell Pottinger is working to acquire a new client, so when they were preparing for their meeting, I had to construct a media packet that included the history of the company, its products, media coverage and even its competitors. This packet was then given to everyone on the team. It felt great that they could use something I created.
We also get to test our client’s products. One of our clients is a chocolate company, so we have plenty of samples lying around the office. Whenever I need a sweet pick-me-up, I just grab one of those. Not only are they delicious, but it’s also nice to be able to experience firsthand the product you’re helping to promote.
Tori Lawhorn is now a junior at Indiana University, majoring in Journalism, specializing in Public Relations and Advertising and Digital and Interactive-Media Journalism. She serves as active President of IU PRSSA, and has worked actively as Co-Director of the Programming & Publicity Committee in the past year.
The end of the school year is approaching fast, and for seniors that means graduation and then transitioning into the workforce.
Although this can be stressful or overwhelming at times, it is helpful to remember that your time as a PRSSA member allows you to now join the PRSA, which can be a great resource as you search for jobs and start your career.
So where do you start? The PRSA website is helpful and lays out your next steps. The first thing you can do is to join PRSA National as an Associate Member. Being a previous member of the PRSSA reduces your membership fees to $60. This can be done up to 5 months before graduation, which is convenient because membership can be an integral part of your job search and beyond.
Some benefits of being a PRSA member:
• The PRSA Jobcenter lists a multitude of PR job opportunities.
• Joining the New Professionals Section of the PRSA provides networking and information to people just starting out.
• Joining a local PRSA chapter in the place you’ll be living after graduation provides a community of support from PR professionals who can give you advice specific to your area.
For the links to all of these resources and for more information, click here.
Whatever you plan to do after graduation, or wherever your future job may take you, rest assured that the time and effort you’ve put into the PRSSA has helped you to develop valuable skills and that the PRSA can continue to be a great resource as you make your transition.
Congratulations to the upcoming 2014 IU PRSSA graduates!
The holiday season came early for PRSSA’s newly formed nonprofit committee Give 4 Good. Our committee first got into the giving spirit back in September. We teamed up with the Bloomington Volunteer Network to spruce up their annual Community Wish List.
The Community Wish List is a compilation of various needs from nonprofits around the Bloomington community. The list ranges from basic needs like pens and copy paper to more specific items like iPads. There’s even a car on the list!
Giving back with the added bonus of real world PR experience? Count me in! In three short months, our committee developed a social media plan, designed promotional material and created table centerpieces for the Bloomington Bagel Company on Morton Street.
The highlight of all the work was the on-campus tabling event. We brought two of the best parts of the season to the IMU: holiday music and chocolate. Our crew jammed out to Christmas pop music while spreading the Community Wish List’s message to fellow Hoosiers.
It was a busy three months, but it all worked out in the end. I’m excited to dive into planning for 2014‘s list next semester.
While you’re packing up at home to head back to Bloomington, check to see if you have any extra supplies laying around. Chances are, an awesome nonprofit in the community could use it!
Visit this website to learn more about the Community Wish List and Volunteer Bloomington.
DeVault Alumni Center – 1000 E. 17th St. (across from Assembly Hall)
Networking Nights is a collaborative event hosted by the IU Career Development Center and the IU Student Alumni Association. It is a night created to provide students the opportunity to learn the art of networking through interaction with professionals in their field of interest.
Please join IU Alumni and career professionals in diverse careers within the Politics, Public Service, and Law realms for an evening of networking. Guest speakers will participate in a panel discussion focusing on their career paths, organizational opportunities, and sharing advice for students entering the world-of-work. An introduction to networking will follow with light refreshments and the opportunity to mingle with the guest speakers.
We ask that students please RSVP through their myIUcareers account, accessible at http://www.indiana.edu/~career/. Business casual attire (dress shirt, dress pants, or skirt) is appropriate for this event.
Thus far, panelists for the evening include:
–Jason Carnes, Field Representative, U.S. Congressman Baron Hill
–Brian Drummy, Attorney, Bunger & Robertson
–Maria Heslin, Deputy Mayor, City of Bloomington Office of the Mayor
–Joseph Qualters, Captain, Bloomington Police Department
–Special Agent Todd Prewitt, Federal Bureau of Investigation
Special Thanks to: IU area studies and Title VI centers; International Studies
The Beth Wood Chapter of PRSSA at Indiana University 