My name is Jenna Schneider and I had the privilege of going to New York City with PRSSA two weekends ago. I am a junior Communications studies major with a concentration in public relations, so this trip was perfect for me. I am also a native New Yorker, but this experience was one that I have never had before in the city. We were in NYC on Thursday, February 16 through Friday, February 17th and visited six firms in these two days. We had jam packed 10-hour days, but it was beyond worth it. We visited Ketchum, Weber Shandwick, FleishmanHIllard, Porter Novelli, BMI and Golin. We were lucky enough to meet with very experienced public relations professionals at these agencies. We also met with James Madison University (JMU) alumni that currently work at these agencies. It was very enjoyable to meet fellow dukes and reminisce about JMU. I really enjoyed going to all of the different agencies and meeting different employees. Everyone we spoke to was extremely knowledgeable about the field and gave very insightful information about their specific firm and the internship/job process. It was interesting to see what each firm looked for specifically and to see what qualities they look for in a potential employee.
On Thursday evening, we attended a networking happy hour with fellow James Madison University alumni that are currently employed in NYC. It was a great opportunity to network and socialize with these incredible role models. There were about 20 JMU alum from all over the country. Some of these alumni worked in finance, business, communications, public health, law, and even hospitality. After meeting these insightful alumni, I felt very reassured that JMU has amazing connections for post grad. Friday afternoon some of the ladies from the group were able to explore the city together. We went to places such as Central Park, Grand Central, Time Square, Brooklyn, 9/11 Memorial, The Empire State Building and Bryant Park. For some, this was their very first time visiting the big apple, and for some it was the place that they call home. For myself, New York is my home away from home, so it was very nice to return even for a few days. This was an incredible experience and I feel so privileged to have had the opportunity to attend. The planning that went into this trip was very extensive, but all of the PRSSA exec did an incredible job. From the agencies, to lunch breaks, to the happy hour, to the evening plans, everything was very enjoyable, safe, strategic and overall ran very smoothly. I had an amazing time with not only with the amazing 15 PRSSA ladies that attended this trip, but also all of the people we met at these agencies. I can’t wait for next semester to hopefully be selected to attend another agency trip! GO DUKES! By Jenna Schneider
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Year: Junior
Hometown: Yorktown Heights, New York Major(s)/Minor(s): Theatre and Dance Major (dance concentration) and Communications major (public relations concentration) How has PRSSA impacted you: PRSSA has impacted me by giving me an insight into what PR truly is and how I can make a career out of it. What was your favorite PRSSA event: My favorite PRSSA events were the 2017 New York agency trip and the 2016 banquet. What is your dream job: My dream job would be to work for an international PR agency in either dance or fashion. What is a fun fact about you: I hosted Derek Jeter's birthday party for two years. Last week, PRSSA hosted George Washington University professor Larry Parnell, JMU and GW alum Kaitlin Solomon and Jonathan McGee. Dr. Parnell shared the top 5 things to be considered when choosing a graduate school. For the young and hungry out there, they are… 1. "Name, reputation, and brand of the school is very important" Parnell emphasized an "automatic return on the investment you make,” that can come directly from a well-known academic label. Having to explain what your grad school is known for is a situation you may want to avoid. 2. Applied Programs are the BEST It’s so important to complete a masters program that’s focused on application and not just academics if you want to be a “practitioner” - someone who goes out into the real word of PR! 3. Faculty The key here is adjunct professors. These are teachers who are professionals by day, and bring real world problems to class by night. Parnell says “it’s all is about the combination of credentials and doing work throughout the day while teaching at night.” 4. Alumni Network "Invest in the people out there." Your peers and professors become important professional connections throughout grad school. JMU and GW alumni Katie says, “It's not just graduating and being a press secretary. With the alumni network of GW, I can work anywhere and do anything.” 5. Track Record of the school Dr. Parnell proudly announced that “GW is on its 10th year with the Graduate School of Political Management.” A grad school that has been in operation long enough to establish what works and what doesn’t, results in:
A PRSSA Member’s Opinion: I truly enjoyed when Kaitlin, a former JMU Duke and graduate of the GW program, offered some great insight on working in PR and spoke about her experience of grad school, assuring the college students in the room that real life does actually start. She ended up working for three years before beginning her 2-year grad school program while continuing corporate life and found it to be both professionally and personally beneficial. That dreaded job application requirement of “graduate degree and five years of work experience”? Done. Being able to bring new ideas and concepts to work after learning real world application in class? Done. It's important to consider that graduate school for public relations is for those who “know what they want to do” with their PR career. While it’s a heavy financial investment, those who have done it say that it pays off hugely in the long run. Now, I challenge you. Is grad school your next step? If so, good luck! By Melissa Hadley Last week, on January 23rd, PRSSA along with HER CAMPUS hosted the CEO of the Brand Girls, Rachael Bozsik. The Brand Girls was started when Bozsik realized her friends were accepting jobs that did not reflect their passions. She was motivated to help them reach their dream careers and soon moved to mentoring which turned into private coaching and soon enough The Brand Girls was born. They now work with college women and guide them in building their professional confidence through a highly personalized workshop. The goal of this process is to also uncover the characteristics that will help you stand out among all other female applicants competing for the same jobs. Bozsik gave a breakdown of the process that begins with building your personal brand, moves into networking practice, and lastly meeting with media contacts. She advised the group to begin talking with family and friends about yourself and define what makes you truly special and unique in order to build your brand. She stated that expanding our network was also crucial if we wanted to put ourselves in a place of opportunity. Talking to more than just professionals about your career goals and dreams can bring forth more connections than one might think. Professional etiquette was another topic she covered. Bozsik advised that getting calling cards was important when networking so that people have your information and are able to reach out to you. Your name, phone number, email, LinkedIn and personal website are what Bozsik advised should be included on the cards. After meeting with a contact, a hand-written thank you note should be sent within 24 hours of the meeting in order to ensure a positive networking experience. Rachael Bozsik was able to provide the group with a lot of valuable information, but there were two things that really resonated with me. The first piece of advice was to never wait. Bozsik encouraged us to apply to jobs even if we do not meet all of the requirements. We should have confidence in the skills we do have and apply for the job instead of waiting until we are ready to apply and letting the opportunity pass us by. The second piece of advice was to take control of our futures and not get stuck doing passionless work. The Brand Girls have changed the way young women all over the country think about themselves simply by starting with focusing on their personal brand. The importance of confidence and knowing who you are and what sets you apart really shined through the presentation. I will definitely continue building my personal brand while keeping in mind Rachael Bozsik’s advice that “knowing your personal brand shifts you from being a desperate job-seeker to a chooser of opportunities”. By Marcela Luna |
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