Who Rescued Who? A PR Girl's Guide To Dog Adoption

When I first moved into my apartment here in Madison, it seemed like all of my neighbors had dogs!  As a self-proclaimed crazy dog lady, I was happy to see their slobbery faces in the hallways, yet I yearned for a fur kid of my very own.  After much deliberation, I finally adopted my dog Violet.  I am crazy about her and adopting her was one of the best decisions I ever made, but I’m glad I didn't make it lightly. If you’re a busy PR girl that’s considering pet parenthood, take these tips into consideration.

Being an Introverted PR Girl

When I was a little kid, I was painfully shy. Really simple things would make me incredibly nervous. I always picked out the simplest, most uncomplicated things on restaurant menus, because I didn’t want the server to ask me any follow-up questions about what I wanted as my side. I begged my mom to make my doctor and dentist appointments for me, because I hated talking on the phone. When I would raise my hand to answer a question in class, my face would break out into a bright red blush before I even said anything.

Though less shy these days, I still see myself as more of an introvert, which seem few and far between in the world of outgoing, extroverted PR girls. I still blush pretty easily (blame it on my paleness), but I have learned a few strategies to help me be more confident and outgoing when it comes to work. 

• Preparation is key. It’s so much easier for me to participate in a meeting or brainstorming session when I’ve had some time to think about what I want to say first. Before stepping into a meeting, take 10 minutes to write down a few ideas or questions you have. Not sure what the meeting will entail? Don’t be afraid to ask your boss or coworker for more details on what you’ll be talking about. 

• Talk to everyone. This may seem obvious, but the more you talk to people, the easier it becomes to work your voice into any conversation. Make it a point to try and strike up conversations with your coworkers in the break room, your Cision rep, or the barista making your latte. The more you practice just talking to people, the more confident you’ll be with clients, in meetings, or at events.

• Set goals. Each week, make a list of personal goals to help push you out of your comfort zone. It can be something simple, like making a point to speak up at least 3 times in an upcoming staff meeting, or something more complicated, like presenting a new campaign idea to your boss and colleagues. When you set manageable goals, your personal growth becomes more of a priority, and less of a daunting task.

These are a few strategies that have worked for me – feel free to share others!

Photo credit: http://familymobileapps.com/social-skills-vs-developing-good-habits-part-i/ 

Tips For Traveling Solo

This week I visited San Francisco for the Game Developer's Conference. It was fantastic! Except one little detail - I was traveling all by myself. This was the first trip I had ever taken by my lonesome, but by the end of my trip - it didn't feel that way.

I spent three days navigating the conference, meeting members of the press, and catching up with friends. The trip was fantastic, and I look forward to traveling by myself again. I think traveling solo is a great way to push your comfort zone, and learn a little bit about yourself. Here are my tips:

Keep it Short. This may not always be within your control, but my advice is to keep your trip under 4 days. You will have enough time to get some work done, and hopefully a few hours to explore a new city.

Fill Your Schedule. Whether it's press meetings, time spent on the trade show floor, afternoon coffee dates, and dinner meetings - keep your schedule full. You'll be less likely to be lonely if you are busy. Got an hour to kill? Why not get a pedicure! I bet your feet deserve it after all that walking.

Be Safe. It's in your best interest to keep the fact that you are traveling solo to yourself, especially on your first trip to a city. Don't venture too far from your hotel room for dinner after dark, and take it easy on the wine while you're there.

Bring the Essentials. Spotify Premium and Amazon Kindle were my saviors during the 6+ hours traveling to San Francisco and back. Bring your favorite headphones to tune out any crying babies and snorers within earshot.

Eat. Even when you are traveling all by yourself, you still need to eat. Don't be shy about it. Grabbing a bite solo is not as intimidating as it may seem, but it takes practice. The upside to eating by yourself? You never have to compromise on which restaurant you will choose. While you're enroute, its important to stay fueled. My boss makes it a point to eat something at each layover. You're less likely to be starving and crabby when you arrive at your final destination.

Early morning wi-fi time at GDC.

The Hierarchy of a Public Relations Agency

Who's Who & What Do They Do

This week I am preparing a 'Everything I wish someone would have told me before I graduated in PR' talk for a group of college students. I'm really excited to be covering a variety of topics both related to working in PR, and life after graduation.

One subject I had to research a bit, prior to creating my presentation, was the hierarchy of positions in a PR agency. Although I do not have experience working for a PR agency, I have several girlfriends that do. Thanks to my fellow MadGirl bloggers for your input about who's who.

Agency Roles:

Account Coordinator: (1-2 years)* This is the most entry level PR role you'll find. This professional is preforming basic projects such as documenting press placements, assisting in media target research, maintaining contact lists, and managing social media accounts. People in this role typically stay at this level for a year or two.

Account Executive: (3-7 years) The account executive works directly with their assigned clients. They write press releases, plan events and write speeches. They also look for opportunities for the client to receive media coverage. Account Executives are the do-ers.

Account Supervisor: (7-10 years) The supervisor oversees PR accounts and usually manages the account executives and coordinators. Account Supervisors are the strategizers of the account, they oversea and direct the PR vision for the client.

Media Relations Manager: The Media Relations Manager's job is to convince reporters to write a story about the client. This professional makes phone calls and pitches to journalists. Depending on the agency, this role sometimes falls on the Account Executive or the Account Supervisor.

Director/Vice President: The managers the firm, the Director or VP will meet with high-level clients, and create communication strategies. They also are actively looking for new clients while (along with Account Supervisors) maintaining the satisfaction of current customers. They also may train and mentor younger staff members.

*Years of experience and individual tasks at each level varies by agency (and clients).

One last thing.

Are you interested in salary levels for each level? Here is average salary information for PR professionals around the nation from PRSA. Ragan PR Daily also did a large salary and work life balance white paper that I found quite interesting. You'll have to give them your contact information, but it's definitely worth a read if you are interested in learning more about the PR lifestyle. Finally, here's a nice visualization of the various PR roles I found on Hierarchy Structure.

Hopefully this clears a few questions up for those entering the work force soon, and hoping to join a PR or Marketing agency! Doing in-house PR is a bit different, and I'd be happy to cover that side in another blog soon. I'll be sure to post my presentation on SlideShare following my talk. Stay tuned!

Lean In: First Impressions

Disclaimer: I am not a senior executive at a Fortune 500 company. I am not a wife, and I am also not a mom.

That said. I am a woman working in a male dominated industry, in a work environment with a 90% male population. I am a young professional, trying to figure out where I fit in this world - and what opportunities are worth pursuing. The Lean In book appealed to me because I aspire to be in a leadership role. Here is my first impression of the book.

I received the Lean In book on Tuesday, and have been busy reading in my spare time all week. I'm about five chapters in, and have both enjoyed and taken a lot from it already. Prior to the publishing date, Sheryl Sandberg received numerous criticisms for her opinions and strategies. Critics said her advice only applies to a small sliver of her actual readership, those upper middle class women who can afford the resources that Sheryl has.

While I understand that there is a major gap between her position and say, my current position or the average women's position, I really think there is something in this book for everyone. No matter how many years of experience you have, what industry you work in, or whether you are male or female. Sheryl's statements throughout the book are fresh, honest, and occasionally funny. She backs her information with statistics and studies. The book draws on both her experience, that of her female family members, and her peers. It's almost like having a little window into her past, and learning from her key moments, but with less pain and suffering.

My Opinion.In general I don't think young women advocate for themselves enough in the workplace. Whether it's salary negotiation or a potential new project, I worry that women take what is given to them, instead of stretching to pursue something bigger. This book and the hundreds of statistics Sheryl presented made me a bit sad and wondering if I have been working in a very protected environment or am too early in my career to have experienced the issues she brings to light. Overall I highly recommend taking the time to read this book.

Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead $13.72 on Amazon.

If you hate reading. Or don't have the 4-5 hours it will take to read the book, I would highly recommend watching Sheryl's Ted Talk from 2010. Lean In is a expansion of the ideas she expressed in this 15 minute talk.



Noteable Quotes:

A 2011 McKinsey report noted that men are promoted based on potential, while women are promoted based on past accomplishments.

We hold ourselves back in ways both big and small, by lacking self-confidence, by not raising our hands, and by pulling back when we should be leaning in. (page 8)

Ask a man to explain his success and he will typically credit his own innate qualities and skills. Ask a women the same question and she will attribute her success to external factors, insisting she did well because she 'got lucky' or 'had help from others'. (page 30)

Careers are a jungle gym, not a ladder. Ladders are limiting - people can move up or down, on or off. Jungle gyms offer more creative exploration. (page 53)

Have you read the Lean In book? What were your first impressions of the book?

Live With Intention

Photo cred: Mary Anne Radmacher
Lean Forward into Your Life: Begin Each Day As If It Were on Purpose

Graduation: The Beginning of the Rest

Next week is the beginning of March, and it's hard to believe that spring is just around the corner! My little brother is graduating from college this semester, and it got me thinking about how smart and successful people prepare for gradation.

I graduated three years ago and I don't miss college, not a single bit. Occasionally, I miss the convenience of living with my best friends, but other than that - college was difficult for me. The stress of finals and midterms, group project deadlines, and the pressure of job searching was heavy. By the time graduation came around, I was ready to be out.

Are you ready for graduation? What you should be doing to get ready? How can you position yourself to be ready to hit the ground running after you toss your motar board?

Prime your resume. It is never, EVER too early to start working on a killer resume. You're in the position now to have others review your resume objectively. Connect with your professors, your advisors, your mentors. Have them take a peak at your resume and LinkedIn profiles for their input.

Reconnect. Reach out to your former internship leads and supervisors. Remind them that you are approaching graduation, and would love any thoughts they had on your job search, or maybe they have anything available.

Plan your next move. Where do you want to be after graduation? Start looking, start planning now. Where will you live? How far are you willing to commute? How much can you afford on a starting salary? Want to land a job somewhere you've never been. Maybe it's NYC or San Francisco. What option exist for you? Be bold, but don't be afraid to move back home for a bit if you need to.

Be Flexible. I worry sometimes that new graduates are too focused on finding their dream job right after graduation. Or that someone has chosen an industry that they will break into, and will not accept anything less. Be open for surprises, because you never know what you might find in the most unexpected placed.

Are you getting ready to graduate this semester? What tips do you have for students about to graduate?