What to expect when expecting… GRADUATION!

As a senior anticipating graduation, I am often asked: “What are you going to do after you graduate?” Making plans for post graduation can be overwhelming. Luckily, there are many resources for students looking to transition into PR professionals.

One option is joining PRSA. Students can begin their membership up to five months before graduating. Joining this organization provides many opportunities for networking and learning, as well as career development resources. If your decision is to continue your education by attending graduate school, you can still apply for a PRSA membership. Here is a link with more information about PRSA and how to join: http://www.prssa.org/career/beyond_graduation/

Visiting websites and reading publications on a regular basis, which relate to PR, is also not a bad idea. These include PRWeek, PR Journal, The Public Relations Strategist, PR Daily News, etc. The competition for entry-level jobs can be intense. However, using available resources and staying focused can help one’s odds.

On top of all the stress, there are a few things for PR graduates to be comforted by… According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of PR specialists is expected to grow much fast than the average for all occupations. Also, graduates with specialized knowledge in global PR or experience internationally are in high demand. Here is a link with some helpful information: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos086.htm#emply

Do you know of some other good resources for PR students who are anticipating graduation? Are there any other good plans for one to have for making the transition from student to PR professional?

By Sammie Jo Dellinger
Associate Manager

What type of global organization would you like to work for?

I am now looking for a job for after graduation. I am thinking I would like to enter a Japanese company that is expanding its business to the oversea. On the other hand, I am also looking for the foreign companies’ branch in Japan.

While I am searching both types of global companies, I realized I would like to contribute the global company which has a global campaign. For example, Toyota and Honda are Japanese-based global companies with a lot of subsidiary in the world, but they do not often do the global campaigns. Instead, each region has own marketing and PR strategy. Even if I work in those kinds of the companies in Japan, I think I might not have many chances to join each region’s campaign.

However, some global companies have global campaigns. For example, Nike has a global campaign. When I was in Japan I saw a lot of commercial film which was made by Nike’s headquarters. They use same slogan and athlete in the world. I would like to work in those kinds of companies.

By the way, have you ever seen commercial film or foreign movies? I think, unfortunately, the American do not have many opportunities to see that than other countries. The U.S. is always leading other countries and also the Hollywood often remakes foreign movies for American.

If you watch the foreign movies, you might get new inspirations and might be contribute your knowledge.

By Tetsuro Otsuksa
Associate Manager

US Takes On Its First Global Marketing Campaign

The US takes on its first global marketing campaign to increase tourism and hopefully create new jobs.

The Corporation for Travel Promotion has rebranded under a new name: Brand USA. With a $200 million budget, Brand USA aims to convey the message that “The United States of awesome possibilities welcomes everyone.” It’s consumer website, DiscoverAmerica.com, features videos, photos, travel tips, and a US logo comprised of multicolored dots.

Stephen J Cloobeck, chairman of Brand USA, said, “Brand USA has arrived, and it’s not just a tourism brand.” He goes on to say, “It is a 21st Century global brand that will help reposition our great nation in the market for travel, and drive economic activity, including billions of new spending, tens of thousands of new outsource-proof jobs and much needed-tax revenue, to spur powerful growth throughout all corners of the United States.”

Even though Brand USA promotes a message of awesome and boundless possibilities, many Americans still voice dissatisfaction through Occupy Wall Street protests and other demonstrations around the country. The US also ranks number one in holding the best national reputation worldwide, but that could be heavily influenced by the worsening economic and political trouble across Europe.

This is a HUGE PR undertaking; a country for a client, an industry as the product, and the world as the market. Hill and Knowlton, which is the agency handling the campaign’s pr, definitely have a full plate.

Will Brand USA be the answer to Americans’ prayers? Will Americans feel a greater sense of pride and patriotism and reinvest in our country? Will international citizens have a greater desire to experience the “awesome possibilities” the US has to offer?

See the video introducing Brand USA here:
http://www.brandrepublic.com/news/1102710/America-gives-itself-brand-refresh/

By Kate Brissenden
Associate Manager

My experience on the London PR Seminar (and why I recommend it to others)

Last summer, I had the opportunity to participate in the London PR Seminar as a graduate student from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. It was one of the best experiences of my life.

At first, I admit I was nervous about going to London for three weeks (the only other country I’d been to was Canada…to Niagara Falls…with my parents). And I was even more nervous about forking over a few thousand dollars for the trip.

But it was worth every penny. Here’s why:

• With advancements in technology, it’s becoming easier to communicate globally – increasing the need to understand the PR practice in a complex international environment.

• If you’re going to study international PR, doesn’t it make sense to study it internationally? During the trip, students interacted with several UK-based practitioners and made site visits to places such as The Times, Ketchum Pleon, the US Embassy and Bank of America.

• It looks good on a resume. Less than 5% of American students study abroad; having this experience shows you’re motivated, independent, and willing to face challenges.

• By submersing yourself in a different culture for three weeks, you learn more about the culture and expand your worldview. A great way to do this is by interacting with the locals at pubs, on trains, and even on campus on topics from President Obama's foreign policy to the old argument: which is better - soccer or American football?

• It gets you out of your comfort zone. Though intimidating, by being 3,000+ miles away from home for nearly three weeks, you become more independent and start to challenge the way you used to think about things.

• You get an opportunity to meet friends from around the US and the world (and with global technology, it’s easy to keep in touch!).

• It’s a great way to travel. During our trip, students went to Paris, Rome, Dublin, and Barcelona while others stayed in the country and traveled to local destinations such as Stonehenge, Bath, Windsor Castle, Hampton Court, and Brighton Beach.

And finally:

Take it from me: if you don’t, you may regret it. One of my greatest regrets after graduating with my Bachelor’s degree was not studying abroad. So when I was offered the chance to study a subject I love in a city as awesome as London, I jumped at the chance.

Given the chance, I'd do it again. No questions asked.

For more information, visit http://www.edabroad.uncc.edu/prel.

By Chelsea Wilde
Manager

Handling Stress in Crisis Communication

Did you know that, “CareerCast.com named public relations officer the second-most stressful profession in America?” If you talk to any Crisis Communication professional you will realize how this rating is accurate. Crisis Communication is a field that is surrounded with constant worry.

There are numerous pressures that arise each day demanding immediate attention. At what point does it become too much?

Categorized into four groups, PRSA details how to manage and be proactive in the battle against stress. Preparation, teamwork, perspective, and practice are techniques used to handle each situation with an open-mind and make beneficial decisions. This article details the struggles, outcomes, and preventative measures of handling stressful situations and clients.

http://www.prsa.org/Intelligence/TheStrategist/Articles/view/9444/1037/Stress_and_Crisis_in_Public_Relations_Staying_Cool

By Anna Craver

Associate Manager

Ethics and International Public Relations

For public relations practitioners working in International Public Relations, practicing ethical behavior is vital. The success of practicing ethical behavior can be measured by how trusted an organization, company, etc. is. Trust must be present in order to establish strong, long-lasting relationships with publics. When working internationally, trust may be harder to achieve due to the amount unfamiliarity and skeptics involved.

The presence of ethics in public relations is often times questioned. Public Relations practitioners should strive to prove the existence of ethics in this field.

In the IPRA’s “Code of Conduct”, the following are areas in which public relations practitioners should be aware of: observance, integrity, dialogue, transparency, conflict, confidentiality, accuracy, falsehood, deception, disclosure, profit, remuneration, inducement, influence, competitors, poaching, employment and colleagues. This “Code of Conduct” can be found at http://www.ipra.org/detail.asp?articleid=31

September was PRSA’s ethics awareness month. Here is an interesting post from PRSA’s blog relating to International Public Relations and ethics: http://prsay.prsa.org/index.php/2011/09/21/global-ethics-standar-for-public-relations/

Do you think it is possible to achieve an International Public Relations code of ethics?


By Sammie Jo Dellinger
Associate Manager