IABC is the premier organization for communication, business and journalism students. We offer a variety of resources and opportunities for students who plan on entering the communication profession. Get insights from leaders in the profession, make valuable contacts, and supplement your academic education with practical training to get your career started.
We kick things off with Sandy Pell, who is the PR Manager at HootSuite. She has held that role for over a year and has seen the company grow exponentially in that time. Her background is in photography and marketing and still provides stock photography to major websites. Her insight is particularly valuable as the profile of HootSuite has seemingly exploded overnight and the PR challenges at the company are always evolving. Thanks Sandy!
What makes PR different than the other streams of communications, such as corporate communications or marketing?
PR is all about encouraging the sharing rather than selling of your story – helping to teach users how they can simplify their lives. I’ve found success in public relations by striking a perfect balance of being both 50% proactive, and 50% reactive to the needs of those stakeholders who matter most. It’s important for PR teams to make sure they have continued a 2-way flow of communication in a genuine, conversational format. This type of relationship, although similarly related to corporate communications or marketing teams, differs in that it’s all about true conversational engagement with contacts, trust, and your ability to tell a story that others can easily relate to.
At HootSuite, we’re always looking for new ways to revolutionize social communication on a global scale. Through various public relations initiatives, my team and I focus on driving initiatives built to educate today’s power user, small business, and large enterprise on the best practices for bringing social media into an organization. Each audience differs greatly from one another and it is PR’s challenge to meet the needs of each of these groups.
Businesses can no longer ignore that social media exists – it’s happening whether or not a company is listening. I see proactive companies driving PR initiatives to help guide these social media conversations in order to meet long term goals and strategies. Read the rest of this entry »
As I prepare to say goodbye to my undergrad college career, I can honestly say that college has been one of the best experiences of my life. I put in a lot of hard work but definitely had my fair share of “play” along the way. And now in a few short months it’s all going to be over, and it’ll be time to enter the real world. Am I scared yet? I sure am.
But as nervous as I am to begin my life as a working professional, I know I’m ready. During my undergrad career at Loyola University Chicago, I’ve gained crucial knowledge and skills that have prepared me to enter the world of suits, strong handshakes and 9–5 jobs (that is what this all leads up to, right?).
My time with IABC has helped immensely to prepare me for what comes next. Through my participation on the student chapter board and the variety of events I attended, I was able to become a stronger communicator, a better networker and a more confident person in general. As I move forward in life and look to begin a long and successful career, or at least just score that first job, these are the skills I feel I can use the most to get myself where I ultimately want to be. Read the rest of this entry »
The business card: a small, understated piece of paper that every professional has in their arsenal. At networking events, happy hours, and off-site meetings as well as during business and even personal travel, you should never be without it. Why is this 2 x 3.5 inches of paper so important? Aside from having a memorable personality, it is the only way people can follow up with you and, more important, keep in touch. An exchange of business cards presents an opportunity to expand your network, which can come in handy immediately or in the future for job advice or possibly a career change.
Many people get business cards when they enter a company, but anyone can have business cards made. If you are an intern, a freelancer or even between jobs, get cards that display your contact information and maybe your business interests, such as journalism or history. This could be the gateway to a new job. Read the rest of this entry »
Whether you’re looking for your first full-time job or just a short-term gig, there’s one thing you must learn to communicate about right now. It’s you.
Did you realize you’re now another communication project to add to your portfolio? If not, it’s time. But you don’t need a fancy website, ad budget or well-designed collateral to reach your goals for this campaign. You can go far just using these four simple (and free) tools. Read the rest of this entry »
If you’re like many students who are looking forward to a career in the communication or marketing fields, the more you are exposed to different paths within the field, the harder it is to decide exactly which direction you should take with your first post-college job.
Here are three lessons I learned early in my career that may help you find your way.
If a career in communication is in your future, you would do well to follow the advice of accomplished communication professionals Liz Guthridge (Connect Consulting), Virginia Stefan (ROI Communication), Kenneth Windsor (BrandAdvocat), and Mary Kuhn (AAA).
In IABC/San Francisco’s 7 March panel discussion on being an effective communication adviser , these professionals discussed Guthridge’s five A’s: Acumen, Awareness, Anticipation, Affability and Adaptability.
Leaders look to a number of different strategic advisers to help them solve their problems and get results that meet their goals and advance their strategies. With so many problems rooted in communication and so many communication choices out there, communication professionals have many opportunities now and in the future to provide strategic counsel. Read the rest of this entry »
Did you know IABC has an extensive archive of free and free for member web seminars? Check out some of these great learning opportunities and be sure to check out all the other web seminars available now.
How to Build and Maintain Your Personal Brand
7 March 2012 11 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time presented by Heather R. Huhman
Standing out in today’s job market is tough, particularly as a new graduate. Building a strong personal brand — and regularly maintaining it — can be key to your job search and career success. Not only does a personal brand help you stand out among other job candidates, but it also helps to forge new relationships with others in your field, ultimately leading to new opportunities.
Many factors are important when you’re applying for a job. Your résumé, letters of recommendation, samples of work from past communication projects—and tattoos. Yes, tattoos are a form of “personal branding,” but as up-and-coming communication professionals, we also need to be aware of how we “brand” ourselves, literally and figuratively.
According to a 2010 Pew Research Center Study titled Millennials: A Portrait of Generation Next, 38 percent of Millennials (ages 18–29) have at least one tattoo. What Millennials fail to remember, however, is that although they have the right to express their personal identity, the people hiring them are often from a different generation, for whom tattoos may not be as socially acceptable in the workplace. Read the rest of this entry »
Introducing the Student Connection Twitter @IABCstudents. Content that helps you prepare to enter the communication profession, internships/jobs, events and IABC student chapter news.
We kick things off with Sandy Pell, who is the PR Manager at HootSuite. She has held that role for over a year and has seen the company grow exponentially in that time. Her background is in photography and marketing and still provides stock photography to major websites. Her insight is particularly valuable as the profile of HootSuite has seemingly exploded overnight and the PR challenges at the company are always evolving. Thanks Sandy!
Many factors are important when you’re applying for a job. Your résumé, letters of recommendation, samples of work from past communication projects—and tattoos. Yes, tattoos are a form of “personal branding,” but as up-and-coming communication professionals, we also need to be aware of how we “brand” ourselves, literally and figuratively.
