|
Camille Duber PRSSA Kent’s annual event, Communications Connection, provided students the opportunity to network with industry professionals and obtain complementary headshots as well as resume reviews. Eager students filled Rockwell Hall’s atrium, excited to speak with over 20 professionals in the advertising, public relations and communications fields. Landing an internship or full-time job can be a difficult task, but the professionals at the event gave some great advice to students on how to stand out and make a lasting impression. Here are some key takeaways from the event:
1. Advocate for Yourself Applying for jobs and internships can be a very daunting task. You may feel overwhelmed by the process and may just take any job that gives you an offer. However, the professionals reminded students not to take a job to take a job. Christian Grant, digital marketing manager at Full Spectrum Marketing, said it is important to know that even though you are starting an entry-level position, you still have and bring value. “Speak up, call those things out and advocate for yourself,” Grant said. By advocating for yourself, you are demonstrating your willingness to work, and Grant said that is what hiring managers are looking for. 2. Be Authentic With the amount of interviews hiring managers conduct, setting yourself apart from others in an authentic way can make all the difference. Kristyn Pearson, senior coordinator of DEI & social impact for the Cleveland Cavaliers, said that sending a thank you note after an interview and including something memorable shows interest not only in the job, but the company and interviewer as well. Kate Dilyard, marketing and author relations associate at Spotify, said asking questions helps to build your credibility. Pearson mentioned in interviews that asking a fun question can help keep the interview conversational and interesting. For example, Pearson asked, ‘What is your favorite part about Cleveland?’ 3. You Don’t Need to Say Yes to Everything No matter what job or internship you are in, professionals emphasized the importance of not feeling the need to say ‘yes’ to everything within the job. Izzy Stewart, integrated development marketing and communications for the City of Cleveland, and Kendra Davis, director of integrated marketing at the Cleveland Foundation, talked about creating and setting boundaries. Both Stewart and Davis reminded students that you can still say ‘no’ and be driven in your work; you just need to be intentional when creating your boundaries. Networking is an essential part of building long-lasting relationships. The event allowed for new connections to be made, and meaningful conversations were had. Perhaps some of these connections will potentially lead to individuals landing their desired internship or exciting entry-level position.
0 Comments
Shannon Russell With summer fast approaching, we are officially in internship season. As a student, I know how grueling and stressful the internship search can be.
During my college career, I have been fortunate enough to have three vastly different internship experiences at a museum, software company and travel bureau. Each opportunity gave me unique insights not only into the communications industry but the entire internship application process. Now, as I prepare to graduate this May, I hope to share some of the things I learned about finding internships to help you as you begin your search. Check out my top three tips for getting an internship this summer below. Look Local It is easy to find big-name internships with dream companies like Disney, the NFL or Apple. As fun and life-changing as these experiences may be, they are often hypercompetitive. Although it can be super exciting to apply for these internships (and you should), I recommend looking for opportunities at smaller, local companies as well. Two of the three internships I completed in college were at organizations near my hometown. I was a marketing intern for a local museum I frequented in my youth and a sales and marketing intern at a software company based 30 minutes from where I grew up. Although these internships were not with nationally recognizable companies, the experience I gained in these positions was no less valuable, and the interview process was a lot less competitive. In these positions, I got exposure to event planning, social media management, graphic design, copywriting and industry tools like Hubspot and Wordpress. With these experiences, I expanded my resume and skill set, which helped me land my third and final college internship at the more competitive Destination Cleveland. I’m not saying to stop shooting for the stars, but just be careful not to overlook the valuable opportunities in your own backyard. Take The Chance Looking at the requirements for certain internship positions can be daunting. Some call for multiple years of experience or proficiency in a dozen different platforms. As students, we tend to be hard on ourselves and not apply to positions unless we check every single box. I’m not advocating apply to positions you’re highly underqualified for, but if you hit 7/10 of the requirements, don’t be afraid to apply. With two of the internships I landed, I did meet every single requirement, but my passion and eagerness to learn that I conveyed in the interview set me apart. In my experience, interviewers would rather have someone with this passion who meets 80% of their wishlist as compared to someone with less enthusiasm who meets 100% of their wishlist. Always be sure to be transparent and honest about your skills and experience, but don’t be afraid to apply to internships even if you don’t hit every requirement because you never know what can happen. Market Your Transferable Skills As college students, especially in the first and second year, we may not have the robust resumes of some of our peers. It can feel intimidating to navigate an interview without professional experiences to reference and speak to. But even if we don’t have formal job experience in the industry, we often practice core competencies valuable to communications professionals in our day-to-day lives. Were you a multi-sport athlete in high school? This shows you have organizational skills. Do you have a retail or customer-facing job? Use this to market your communication skills. That Instagram or Pinterest account you made to showcase your hobbies? This shows you have experience in content creation, social media management and a value for creativity. If you can identify these instances from experiences in your daily life and show how you will apply these skills on the job, it will certainly increase your chances at landing the internship you were meant for. Final Thoughts Finding an internship will never be easy. We all are going to inevitably face rejection and periods where we feel defeated. But by keeping these tips in mind and not giving up, I am confident that each and every student can find an internship experience to help kick-start their career. By Lara Kilchenmann In today’s competitive world, personal branding isn’t just an option—it’s a necessity. That was the key message from Stacey Cohen, CEO and co-founder of Co-Communications, at the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) recent session on building a winning personal brand. With numerous accolades, including recognition in Forbes and being named PRSA Practitioner of the Year, Cohen shared valuable insights on how to craft and maintain a strong personal brand. What Is Personal Branding? Cohen explained that the concept of personal branding was coined by Tom Peters in 1998. Simply put, your personal brand is the combination of your passion, experience and the value you bring to others. While some may view personal branding as self-centered, Cohen emphasized that it’s not about ego—it’s about differentiation. “Why choose me?” is the million-dollar question that every professional should be able to answer. Why Personal Branding Matters Cohen compared personal branding to currency, noting that it opens doors to:
In a world where attention spans are shrinking—down to just eight seconds on average—standing out is more critical than ever. With people speaking at an average of 140 words per minute, you have only about 20 words to capture someone’s attention. How do you make those words count? A strong personal brand ensures that when someone looks you up—whether for a job, opportunity or collaboration—you make a lasting impression. Employers and admissions officers frequently research candidates online, making it essential to monitor your digital footprint. Your Personal Branding Road Map Cohen outlined a three-step approach to building and maintaining a personal brand: 1. Discover Before jumping into tactics, take time to reflect. Conduct a self-audit and ask yourself:
Understanding your target audience is crucial. Just like in marketing, you need a strategic plan to guide your brand. 2. Develop Create a personal branding toolkit that includes
Networking is another key component. “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know,” Cohen reminded the audience. Making meaningful connections can lead to opportunities and career growth. 3. Deliver Think of yourself as a media brand. Consider the best platforms for your audience, whether it’s a website, social media, blog, podcast or speaking engagements. Every touchpoint matters—even something as small as your email signature can contribute to how you’re perceived. Rules of the Road Cohen shared four essential rules for maintaining a strong personal brand:
Personal Branding for Life Cohen wrapped up the session with a simple truth: Personal branding is an ongoing process. It evolves over time, so it’s important to revisit and refresh your brand regularly. Checking in annually is a good benchmark to ensure it aligns with your goals and aspirations. The session served as a powerful reminder that building a strong personal brand isn’t just about self-promotion—it’s about showcasing the value you bring to others. By taking a strategic approach, you can create a brand that opens doors and propels you toward success. |
|
RSS Feed
