PR Job Coach

FEBRUARY 2, 2015

'In this age of instantaneous communications and rapid sound bites, long gone is the luxury of correcting something said in haste. Today''s proliferation of channels and technologies has completely obliterated any chance of a safety net. There is no place to hide. The old axioms we thought were destined for the dustbins of history now take on new purpose and vigor.

Pinterest 100

Pinterest LinkedIn YouTube Engineering 100

PR Job Coach

JANUARY 5, 2015

'As we enter 2015, the importance of public relations today can not be underestimated. And for aspiring PR pro''s this is especially relevant to keep in mind. Public relations is essential to a functioning of society and its enterprises. Public relations is crucial in building trust with people who have a vital stake in an organization’s operations and success.

Publicity 100

Publicity Enterprise Government Storytelling 100

PR Job Coach

OCTOBER 24, 2014

'This post originally appeared in Spin Sucks. It is reprinted here to stimulate thought among those in the hunt for a PR post. “Internal communications” is an anachronism. Born from the recognition that employees were becoming a critical constituency, companies at the turn of the century began establishing internal communications departments to develop employee morale.

Internal 139

Internal International Communications Employee 139

PR Job Coach

OCTOBER 24, 2009

'I recently heard from a young pro about a career predicament that likely occurs far too often. The job was not as advertised. Here is what this young pro had to say: "I need advice on which direction to go with my career. I graduated in 2008 BA in PR and four internships. I took a job with a new company and was promised training. My job responsibilities were suppose to be creating marketing initiatives, writing press releases, and some design.

Advertising 100

Advertising Advertising System Training 100

PR Job Coach

OCTOBER 28, 2009

'One of the advantages of the public relations field is that there are many components that allow you to generalize or specialize not unlike the medical field. I just received an inquiry from a student pondering the question of "what to do." I am a recent grad with a degree in multidisciplinary studies with three minors including public relations, arts administration, and entrepreneurship.

Study 106

Study Web Writing Examples 106

PR Job Coach

NOVEMBER 10, 2009

'This is a guest blog that I penned for [link] , the blog site for search executive Lindsay Olson of Paradigm Staffing [link]. The blog is repeated here to convey the urgency of helping reduce unemployment by raising awareness of those who are gainfully employed to the plight of those who are not. Paying it Back/Paying it Forward - Do''s for Helping a Job Search More than 100 people have sought advice from me in just the last six months on topics ranging from cold calling, search techniques, bad

Web 118

Web Blogging LinkedIn Interviews 118

PR Job Coach

NOVEMBER 27, 2009

'I love it when I receive questions from young inquiring minds. And normally it is folks just getting started in the public relations field. Never did I expect to see a question from an energetic person in high school who is anxious for success in our industry. The inquiry from the high schooler went something like this. I am in high school want to pursue a career as a celebrity publicist.

Training 106

Training Publicity Insurance Insurance 106

PR Job Coach

OCTOBER 24, 2009

'Here is another guest blog of mine on Lindsay Olson''s site on migrating from a career in journalism to one in public relations. [link] Being a public relations job coach, I am constantly advising folks about how best to manage and architect their growth as public relations professionals. Lately though, I am receiving queries about how to migrate into a career in PR from journalism.

Digg 100

Digg Publicity Journalism Insurance 100

PR Job Coach

OCTOBER 24, 2009

'Here is my guest blog at Lindsay Olson''s Blog on job hunting. [link] Thanks to the skittish economy, the job market today is not easy pickings. I have gotten more than a handful of letters asking whether now is the time to leave an existing role for hoped-for greener pastures. My answer is now is not the time to jump head first into the job market.

Insurance 100

Insurance Insurance LinkedIn Google 100

PR Job Coach

FEBRUARY 15, 2010

'A recent graduate with Masters and Bachelors wrote to ask for a recommendation on handling internships on a resume. This eager job seeker has limited communications experience largely focused on internships. The primary experience gained while attending college was in retail merchandising and healthcare. The question is whether a functional resume is better since the communications internships are more important and relevant to landing and thus should be at the top.

Retail 106

Retail Healthcare Software Writing 106

PR Job Coach

FEBRUARY 23, 2010

'Resumes today are, or should be, more about what you have achieved not about what you do. The job market is so tight in the current economy that it is easy to hear the squeaks and squeals of people reading the thousands of resumes that are targeted at every available job. The problem is that according to a recent New York Times piece “Job seekers now outnumber jobs by six to one.

Banking 145

Banking Fashion Software Writing 145

PR Job Coach

MARCH 23, 2010

'On Saturday, March 18, 2010, I had the honor and pleasure of speaking to about 80 newly and soon-to-be minted public relations professionals at a regional PR student conference at San Jose State University The theme of the conference was "Surviving in the Public Relations Industry." These energetic students, all members of the Public Relations Student Society of America , from San Jose State, Sacramento State and Cal Poly Pomona were eager to pick every morsel of wisdom from all who spoke.

How To 150

How To Conference Google Analytics 150

PR Job Coach

APRIL 23, 2010

'No doubt about it, this economy is the one of the worst for job hunters in many years. What used to take days and weeks is now taking months and years. Despite the good news in The Wall Street Journal on Monday April 19 about hiring of young engineers in Silicon Valley, by and large the outlook for old and young alike is abysmal. Anecdotally and otherwise, I am constantly hearing stories of incredible age discrimination in today’s job market.

Creativity 112

Creativity LinkedIn Engineering Web 112

PR Job Coach

MAY 16, 2010

'Increasingly search engines like Google and Bing are becoming the first destination of choice for companies and their search firms and human resource professionals when looking for people to recruit or vetting job candidates. The chief dilemma for the job seeker is to how to make sure you can be found through search engines. Short of stardom and employing advertising, there are certain techniques you can employ to make sure you can be found and in a way that is controllable, professional and co

Engineering 158

Engineering How To Google Web 158

PR Job Coach

JUNE 6, 2010

'What you say and how you say it matter significantly. Your words and the choice of the words you employ say much about you, your character, your integrity, your brand and the very essence of who you are and what you represent. So as you write your resume, your cover letters, your social-platform profiles, your blog, your twits and other prose, pay critical attention to your words and how you use them.

Financial 112

Financial Writing Education Blogging 112

PR Job Coach

JULY 5, 2010

'As the job market continues its snail’s pace recovery, it bears noting that now more than ever your virtual footprint should well reflect your achievements, professionalism, savvy and hire-ability. There is no room for compromise when it comes to your profile and track record or what I call your Virtual Data Points. When an HR person or an executive recruiter goes looking for evidence of your worth on the web, make sure it screams your value and integrity.

Insurance 100

Insurance Insurance Fashion Web 100

PR Job Coach

AUGUST 1, 2010

'Passion is a term defined as strong emotion. The term is hardly synonymous with job search. But in these days when job seekers outnumber jobs by six to one, passion is precisely the emotion that bears harnessing if you want to distinguish yourself in the job market. So what does it take to harness passion. Words like enthusiasm, energy, engagement, excitement, eagerness, elation, exhilaration, esprit, and élan are apt terms to describe the characteristics hiring managers are likely to look for

Energy 139

Energy Interviews Mobile Creativity 139

PR Job Coach

AUGUST 21, 2010

'In my early years in public relations, I was constantly reminded by reporters, editors and columnists that the cardinal sin of media relations was trying to pitch without knowing, reading or understanding the reporter’s work and beat. In their quest for a quick hit, wet-behind-the-ears PR newbies pitched stories and ideas that fell flat because the stories or ideas were either not related or just plain irrelevant to the writer’s interest.

Web 135

Web Pitching LinkedIn Interviews 135

PR Job Coach

SEPTEMBER 16, 2010

'Social media platforms continue to proliferate and evolve at a fast clip. It was only a short six years ago that blogging and podcasting came into their own and only two years ago when Twitter and Facebook became the soup du jour. All of these platforms serve to bring people and communities closer together and allow more people to have a voice in those communities and in society at large.

Writing 124

Writing Interviews Twitter Community 124

PR Job Coach

NOVEMBER 3, 2010

'I often have commented in blogs and guest posts why it is important today to speak to and about your accomplishments. Fact is companies want to know what you have accomplished not just what jobs you have held. Your past accomplishments are an indicator of how you will perform in the future. So in this hotly competitive job market, you must “stand out” and be “outstanding.

Engineering 176

Engineering LinkedIn Google Insurance 176

PR Job Coach

NOVEMBER 21, 2010

'The majority of folks landing new jobs today are doing it through networking and their networks. Tools like job boards, classified ads, job fairs and blind mailings are useful but there is nothing like good old fashioned networking whether it’s in person or not. The question is “what are the best questions to ask of a new or renewed connection?” It depends on how well you know this person and how long you have had a relationship.

Fashion 173

Fashion LinkedIn Facebook Industry 173

PR Job Coach

JANUARY 14, 2011

'As public relations experts we strive to successfully deliver the goods for our customers and clients. “Brand” for us is critical and a solid reputation is what is important at the end of the day. Words are the vital threads that we weave together in a cohesive statement that fully and succinctly describes the organization so that it strongly resonates with customers and other audiences.

Brand 133

Brand Branding Exercises Guidelines 133

PR Job Coach

FEBRUARY 9, 2011

'There are a myriad of web tools that allow you to keep score on your personal brand whether it is your Web site, Linkedin page, Twitter account, Facebook site, blog or even your Google presence. And I have used them all for a variety of reasons including benchmarking and continuous improvement. But what these tools really help with is perspective and insight.

How To 160

How To Analysis Web LinkedIn 160

PR Job Coach

FEBRUARY 28, 2011

'For certain we are enduring one of the worst job markets since the 1930s. Unemployment is still near double digits and we are now only seeing early buds of a recovery. Jobs are far and few between and those landing are bolstered by solid networks and a great ability to communicate their accomplishments to employers only too willing to hire the best, the brightest and the most economical.

Employee 158

Employee Web Company Google 158

PR Job Coach

APRIL 12, 2011

'You are what you write. I recently did a search on resume tips on a popular search engine that starts with a “G” and to no surprise found more than 37 million pages dedicated to some form of tips for resumes. Everyone has an opinion and I am no different. As I coach though, I have seen literally hundreds of resumes and have come to consensus about their content.

Real Estate 129

Real Estate Education Fashion Interviews 129

PR Job Coach

JUNE 29, 2011

'Connectiquette is not a typo or a new state in the U.S. It refers to a process of thoughtful deliberation. This age of the network and personal collaboration is bringing important benefits to people around the world. Technology has brought us all closer together, afforded the ability to create like communities, given voice to all and particularly to those who previously had no voice and enabled countless good deeds and beneficiaries.

Ethics 202

Ethics How To Technology Education 202

PR Job Coach

JULY 29, 2011

'As government bickering and inaction continues, job seekers are growing ever restless, frustrated and annoyed because, for many folks, there just are no jobs to be had. You are either too old, too young, suffering the stigma of no job or you have run out of runway in your network. According to a recent article in The Wall Street Journal , “More than one in three of the unemployed were out of work for at least a year in a handful of U.S. states that appear to be disproportionately caught up in t

How To 176

How To Leadership Government Reputation 176

PR Job Coach

AUGUST 19, 2011

'Cover letters and resumes play critical roles in career management and job search. You can argue that one trumps the other but the fact is they work together as a team. And the cover letter plays a starring role because it can get the recruiter, HR folks and the hiring manager warmed up for the main pitch of the resume. In short, the cover letter should cover your bases and home runs.

Pitching 118

Pitching Analysis Writing Corporate 118

PR Job Coach

MAY 28, 2011

'In this age when knowledge and information are king and social infrastructure platforms are proliferating, professional membership organizations are becoming even more essential to the progress and professional development of public relations and communications professionals. With credit to American Express, membership does have its privileges and rewards and these days membership organizations are a quick means to building a network.

Insurance 111

Insurance Insurance Crisis Management Meeting 111

PR Job Coach

SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

'There is nothing more frustrating in a job search than the lack of response by hiring managers or recruiters. You follow all the rules of a compelling cover letter. You compose a custom resume that matches your accomplishments to the job specifications posted by the company or the recruiter. You have scoured your network to find insiders at the company and you have followed their advice to the letter.

Radio 161

Radio How To Construction Energy 161

PR Job Coach

NOVEMBER 1, 2011

'Effectively managing your career in the economy of 2011 is a vastly different world than it was just a few short years ago. No longer does it suffice to have just a resume of qualifications and access to job boards and a few connections to executive search firms. Managing a career in the public relations and communications industry can often be a full time job akin to managing the communications strategy for a Fortune 1000 firm or being a product promotion specialist in the world of technology.

Google 148

Google Web LinkedIn Facebook 148

PR Job Coach

DECEMBER 19, 2011

'You just finished three job interviews in a week and are still Monday quarterbacking about how well you did or did not. You are analyzing every question and answer to grade your performance with the hope that you got a touchdown and will soon be on your second interview cycle with the offer letter close behind. Then reality sets in and you hear nothing for the next several weeks except the sound of your own criticism and an occasional heartbeat.

Interviews 140

Interviews Analysis Communications 140

PR Job Coach

JANUARY 30, 2012

'So you finally passed muster in the 15 interviews you endured at ABC Company over two weeks. You are exhausted. You lost about eight pounds, sweated bullets and are in the final throes of that seemingly elusive job offer. Now comes the hard part. Who and what references can you provide that will help seal the deal and pave the way towards the job offer that has had you in the waiting room for what appears to be a lifetime.

Insurance 141

Insurance Insurance Enterprise Ethics 141

PR Job Coach

APRIL 23, 2012

'The employment market in the second decade of the 21 st Century is literally topsy turvy. All of the rules that we have all come to love and respect over the years no longer apply. It is a new day, a new world and all bets are off. Unless you have a job, don’t assume you garner the respect of employers, headhunters and hiring managers. The only sure fire way of landing is to be networked, known, accomplished and have a track record that is virtually visible to all.

Web 165

Web Meeting Blogging Groups 165

PR Job Coach

MARCH 29, 2012

'The revelation that companies are asking potential employees for Facebook passwords got me thinking about how Facebook has rapidly evolved as both diary and biography. Given the addition of timeline to Facebook’s configuration, people on the hunt would do well to make Facebook work for them instead of the converse. While there are other solid platforms like LinkedIn that are a source of rich C.V. type information, Facebook is fast becoming a treasure trove of great data about the 850 million pe

Facebook 160

Facebook How To Construction Insurance 160

PR Job Coach

FEBRUARY 24, 2012

'There is no debate what so ever, networking is the chief avenue to landing a new job , hands down. And the plethora of tips, tactics and tricks to network are limitless on the web. Just Google the term networking and you are likely to be inundated with information on how to do it and profit from it. My cursory search found 127 million inks. In thinking more deeply about the nature of working your contacts and connections, here are several ideas to get you started to use networking to get workin

How To 141

How To Web LinkedIn Groups 141

PR Job Coach

MAY 16, 2012

'Ignominious is how one might describe the latest Yahoo mishap , one of a long line of failures and foibles the company has endured over the last few years. The experience is rife with teaching moments for managements of traditional companies and soon-to-launch startups. Fact is, there are lessons for everyone if we just take the time to think and learn.

How To 130

How To Insurance Insurance Writing 130