The document discusses ways for students and graduates to gain experience in public relations and marketing fields over the holiday season. It recommends unpaid internships, volunteering with non-profits or professional organizations, writing for school publications, blogs or as a freelancer. The document also provides tips on networking, planning career goals, and leveraging one's personal network to find job shadowing or informational interview opportunities. Holiday events are mentioned as good opportunities for networking in a less competitive environment than usual.

1. PR & Marketing
‘Tis the Season to Gain Experience
#Cachinko
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3. Introduction
• The PR & marketing industries are
growing.
• 80% of PR & marketing firms expect to
hire in 2011.
• Social media, digital media, and
interactive media services are becoming
commonplace.
• Communications is playing a larger role
within corporations.
• In 2008-09, 4,475 students received a
degree in PR
– 3,606 were female
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4. What We’ll Discuss Today
• New ways to gain PR & marketing
experience this holiday season
• Strategies to make the most out of
any experience
• Holiday-specific job search tips
• Questions
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5. How can I gain
experience in PR &
marketing?
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6. Internships
• In-house & agency
• For students
– Winter break as well as
planning for semester
or summer break
– For credit
– Internship class
• For grads
– Paid
– Leads to employment
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7. Organizations
• Industry-specific
– PRSSA/PRSA (Public
Relations Society of America)
– IABC (International
Association of Business
Communicators)
– AMA (American Marketing
Association)
• Executive board
• Event coordination
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8. Volunteering
• Nonprofit
– Local & National
• Pro Bono
– Social media
– Promotion
– Publicity
– Event planning
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9. Writing
• Writing = #1 PR &
marketing skill
• School paper
• Blog
• Freelance
– Writer’s Market
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10. Work Experience
• All “other”
experience
• Retail
• Administrative
• Childcare
• Food service
• Etc.
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11. Over the Holidays...
• Research
– Review and stay up to date on companies
you’re interested in
• Season’s Greetings
– Send a holiday note, stay connected and
reconnect
• Volunteer
• Travel
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12. What strategies can I
use to make the most
out of my experience?
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13. Network
• Goal: Make 3 new
connections
– Peers
– Supervisors
– Executives
• Social media
• Maintenance
– Notes
– Lunch dates
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14. Plan Ahead
• Always anticipate
• Where will you be in…
– One week?
– One month?
– Three months?
• Map it out
– What steps do you need to
take to get your dream job?
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15. Connect
• Past experience →
future career
• Specific skills
• Accomplishments
• When in doubt,
generalize
– Multi-tasking
– Conflict resolution
– Problem solving
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16. Leveraging Your Personal Network
• Ask for recommendations or introductions
– Have personal network connections contribute to
your recommendations on various sites, write
positive things about you on your Wall, or
introduce you to someone they know in your field
• Inquire about job shadow or informational
interview opportunities
– See if you can set up a time to learn more about
a contact’s job or industry
• Set up in-person get-togethers via
Facebook
– Go out for lunch or coffee with a friend
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17. Keep in Mind…
• Starting the new year (and a new budget) more
companies will be hiring
• Fewer people look for jobs during the holidays,
making far less competition
• Holiday events are good for networking – don’t
carry your portfolio, but always be prepared and
on the look out for opportunities
• Pick up the phone
• Enjoy YOUR holiday
‒ Some calls might go unanswered, some
people will be out of the office, don’t stress
about it
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19. Thank you!
For more tips: blog.cachinko.com
Join us for our next job seeker webinar on:
January 10, 2012: Hello 2012!
Reinventing Your Job Search in the New Year
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