I play skeeball. Yes, I know that you play skeeball, too. At arcades, on the boardwalk. But I actually play in a league
Lochmiel, Spartan Spirit does NOT come in an easy-to-swallow capsule!
(**NERD ALERT**). Actually, it’s just like any rec sport league: you play the game, then you enjoy the fantastic food and/or beverage specials at the sponsoring establishment.
The stress is unimaginable. I was the final roller with the game on the line. I nearly needed a change of pants! (No worries, I kept it in. I can handle my stuff. But it was a close one.)
Each game, the host awards one team with 20 bonus points if they show the most spirit.
Being the competitive guy (and uncoordinated athlete) I am, I was NOT going to let those points go to the other team. I started cheers referencing our team name (Skeebie Jeebies. Not my call.), our team color (brown – let the UPS jokes commence) and individuals on the team.
The host was so taken aback by my “Spartan Spirit” that he asked me if I was “a male cheerleader in high school.”
My initial reaction was to engage my wife in some PDA, just in case he got the wrong impression of me.
I responded with the truth – I was a bar mitzvah DJ in high school and a radio DJ in college – and NEVER a cheerleader. Satisfied with that answer, we got the points, I didn’t mess my pants and the Skeebie Jeebies won the game.
But it got me thinking – all of our experiences help get us where we are today.
For me, the time I spent in radio has been a tremendous asset in my PR career. Public speaking is a major part of the job and that experience in my past prepared me for it perfectly.
The question for you: What past experience has been most helpful in your PR/social media career?
(And, yes, I’ve been waiting my entire life to use Jim Carrey’s Lochmiel foreign-exchange cheerleader in a blog.)
As a student, you sometimes don’t realize how much “real world” experience can help you, before you actually need it. This is where internships come into play. Unfortunately, now internships have become the center of negative discussion within large companies and ambitious students everywhere.
The New York Times published an article in early April about unpaid internships and the great debate as to whether they are legal or not. However, the NYT article just reaffirmed what students and businesses worldwide already knew, specifically, that this is a growing issue. With the economy continuing to boom, employers have begun taking advantage of “free labor,” also known as internships. The problem with this is that many students probably haven’t broached the subject, because they are gaining experience, able to put recognizable company names on their resumes, and are receiving letters of recommendation. What could possibly be negative about that?
First, the fact that half of all interns are being taken for granted, and on top of that, not being paid for their time and effort. Second, there are even some companies that make you pay them for the experience.
Internships almost seem like a requirement to land a job post-graduation these days, so why not partake in one? I personally believe that they are something everyone should look into. Today, not only are college students applying, but so are high school students and adults who are out of work or are looking for a career change. The unique aspect about interning is that you don’t necessarily have to know the direct path of your career at that time, but rather an area of interest. More so as a student, you have the possibility to intern with various companies and feel out diverse environments and experiences, which will inevitably, help you to choose your desired career. Who wouldn’t want to take advantage of an opportunity to try out his/her field before committing?
One may wonder what qualities you must have in order to take on an internship. The answer is simple; you simply have to be someone with dedication and desire. Depending on the type of internship you are applying for, there may be particular skill requirements you must meet. For example, you might have to be able to work Adobe Photoshop if you want to intern with a graphic design company, or you must be familiar with a particular fashion brand if you want to intern as a public relations consultant. Either way, you have to start somewhere.
As unfortunate as it is, interning has become an experience that you have to prepare for. By this I mean both financially and on paper. However, if you know what you want in life, or even if you don’t, the best way to find out is by trying different things. Internships allow you to learn from the professionals while making and learning from your mistakes. Companies don’t expect their interns to be perfect, but rather show eagerness to learn and willingness to take chances.
Ask any professional and they will agree that internships are beneficial. Not only do they give real-world experience, they also increase the chances of employment after graduation. Benefits to interning include, but are not limited to:
A stronger work ethic
A better concept of time management
An increase in confidence
Enhanced personal communication skills
Personally, I feel that the main benefits of interning are learning and networking! Learning is obviously key. You wouldn’t take part in an internship if you didn’t want to learn, and whether you are pouring coffee or writing press releases, you are still learning. Networking is amazing in itself because you get the opportunity to meet people you wouldn’t have otherwise met, and through them, you encounter experiences and connections that will only benefit your future. Even if you do an internship and decide to change your major after your experience, those connections you made during that time, might know someone that knows another someone, who can help you with your new interest. In this case, it’s about quality not quantity.
If there is any beneficial advice I can give to those thinking about interning, it is to not wait around for an opportunity to come to you. Although great things can land on our laps, that isn’t always the case. You have to research and network, and know what you want. The harder you try, the better the outcome.
Kayla Stevens is a student at The University of South Florida, studying public relations, and will graduate in May 2011. She currently is a virtual intern for Lauren Berger, The Intern Queen (www.internqueen.com), and is looking to meet and learn from PR professionals. Connect with her on Twitter (@knsteven), LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/in/kaylanichole) or her blog (www.kaynichole.wordpress.com).
During February’s #PRStudChat, Deirdre Breakenridge and Valerie Simon announced they had picked me to be the #PRStudChat Tweetheart because of how through chats I’ve reached out to other PR students and pros and developed relationships. In addition to being named Tweetheart, Deirdre and Valerie announced I would be moderating a future chat. Finally the day came on April 21, I guest-moderated the Twitter chat with the topic helping spring graduates with their job search.
As the day got closer to the chat, I became a little worried, mainly because I thought I was going to make a mistake. It did not help that on April 14 (the originally scheduled date for the chat) Twitter decided to have technical difficulties. Luckily, my fabulous Twitter family has so much confidence in me that I was able to calm down.
Six HR and recruiting reps joined the chat to form our very knowledgeable panel. Throughout the hour, I asked five questions I am sure every other soon to be graduate, like myself, constantly has running through our minds as the big day draws closer. Jessica Porterfield, Jessica Bayer, Laurie Bartolo, Lindsay Olson, Rachel Kay and Kate DiChristopher all provided their insight on how college graduates should approach a company when applying, interviewing, and post interview.
During the chat, Kelly Byrd summarized each question based on the general theme of answers our panelists provided, which was a big help if you missed a question. Here are the some of the major points from the questions asked.
Tailor each resume and cover letter for every job. One panelist received a cover letter for another company.
Do your research on the company and network beforehand.
LinkedIn is a vital part of the job hunt. If you are not on it then you need to be.
Dress to impress and highlight your work for employers.
Highlight and detail all of your internship experience and go for the job if you fit the description.
Overall, the chat was extremely helpful and a huge success that could not have come at a better time. Since the chat, I have seen many people that joined in or listened say how beneficial all the information was whether they are job hunting now or will be in a year or two. I am glad Valerie and Deirdre presented me with this amazing opportunity to moderate one of my Twitter chats (I get oddly excited each month over it). Also, the panelists were absolutely amazing and I don’t think we could have asked for a better group. Thanks again, ladies.
Brittany James is a senior at Quinnipiac University, where she is currently an active member of the university’s PRSSA chapter and held the VP of Fundraising position. She will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations with a minor in Marketing. You can find all of Brittany’s social media platforms on her Flavors page.
I traded in a good portion of my “man-card” yesterday, as I went with my wife and mother in law for a pedicure.
True, my feet were all sorts of nasty, discolored, rotten and just plain gross, but it was still a tough decision to go along with it.
[For those wondering why I would blog about this experience, I made a promise to my wife that I would. Man of my word.]
This decision did not take place in a vacuum. On our trip to Thailand last year, I had a foot scrub mishap, which led to over two DOZEN burns in the bottom of my left foot. It was the most painful experience I could ever remember, and four months later, it still hasn’t completely healed. Needless to say, I was skeptical about having treatment on my feet, but after my wife offered to pay for it and an hour spent staring at my grotesque toes for a bit, I decided to give it a go.
I’m not going to give play-by-play of a pedicure because, well, I’m sure the women reading this know about it and the men reading don’t really care. Just know that they used several sharp blades, countless lotions and a hot stone. And now my toenails are shiny. Who knew?
Overall, the experience was nowhere near as emasculating as I thought it would be. The massaging chair was phenomenal and the rubs felt pretty nice! I don’t think this is EVER a service I would regularly get, but maybe once a year, it isn’t the worst thing in the world. [Insert your own metrosexual joke(s) here.]
If that sounds familiar, then you’ve been paying attention to Sesame Street!
(For those keeping score, this is my second Muppets-related PR/Social Media post - check out the first here)
Cookie Monster has always been one of my favorite characters. Of course, as a kid, I approved of his diet. As a young adult, I appreciated his dedication to his favorite cause.
However, over the past few years, Cookie Monster has taken a dietary turn.
Take a look:
So, Cookie Monster now wants a healthy menu, making cookies a “sometimes food.” Cookies, once a staple in the Monster’s diet, saw a reduced role in an increasingly varied food plan.
But this “moderation” thing has some blogging world ramifications.
Here are two big ones:
1) Blogging is a Sometimes Activity (for people!) – Unless you are a media outlet (or close enough, like TMZ), you should eat cookies blog wisely. Posting new content several times a day will diminish the impact of your content. Personally, I post something new just a few times a week. That keeps me fresh, so I don’t feel pressure to crank out SOMETHING ever single day. I’m only human!
Two or three thoughtful, creative, well-written posts a week will probably be better than seven mediocre days of boring posts. Quality trumps quantity – and over-blogging is over-saturation.
On the flip side, brands and media outlets should be like the Cookie Monster of old and keep producing new content on as regular a basis as possible. (Hint: more traffic helps you sell ads, something individual bloggers don’t really have to worry about).
2) Viva Variety! – If Cookie Monster can spice up his diet with meat, fruits and vegetables, then you can add to your blogroll! Reading new and different sites will give you new insight on any topic. And there are some awesome, awesome minds out there.
Try to find a new site each week. Even better, interact with that blogger via comments or Twitter to really learn about who they are and their point of view. You don’t have to agree with everyone to learn something from them!
To that point, I am dedicating April to guest bloggers. Let’s call it Guest Blogger Month on The Buzz! I’ll still be writing from time to time, but the focus will be on giving exposure to some terrific guest posters! More to come on this initiative shortly!
You’re turn: How else can bloggers and readers be more like Cookie Monster?
You won’t admit it publicly, but it’s OK. I’ll take care of it.
You LOVE Rick Astley.
No shame in it. Great pop artist from the 1980s who, despite being the punchline for countless jokes has always seemed like an easy-going, play-along-with-it kinda guy.
His most famous song, of course, is “Never Gonna Give You Up.” Here is one of my favorite versions (yes, I fancy myself an aficionado of the song):
Do you know what he’s singing about? My guess is that you are thinking “love” or “lust” or maybe even some form of 1980s narcotic.
Nope. He’s giving everyone a lesson on social media.
Let’s examine a few lyrics to prove the point:
“You know the rules and so do I” – Social Media, while still a vast, unexplored frontier, has some rules. Common courtesy, polite discourse and give-and-take debate rules all. Play nicely, kiddies!
“A full commitment’s what I’m looking for” – To be successful in social media, you need to jump in head-first and stay neck-deep. If you don’t participate in the discussion as much as possible, you’ll be left behind. That’s not to mean that you have to be connected 100% of the time. Just do it and do it right as it fits within your schedule.
“I just wanna tell you how I’m feeling” – Be honest online. Be yourself. The more honesty you give, the more honesty you’ll get and you’ll build real professional and personal connections with people.
“Never gonna give you up” - Don’t stop! Even if it’s hard and frustrating, keep on keeping on. You made a full commitment, right?
“Never gonna let you down” – With content, you’ll never make EVERYONE happy. However, give it your best effort, be it a Tweet, a video or a blog post. Give your all and be authentic to yourself and that will resonate with your growing community.
“Never gonna make you cry” – Yes, the truth does hurt sometimes, but don’t offend people just to offend people. While shock-jocks may get good radio ratings for a while, ticking people off just to be shocking is a one-way ticket to obscurity and irrelevance in the social media realm.
“Never gonna say goodbye” – Full commitment, remember?
The rest of the song basically hammers home these points, in a glorious lyrical method.
So what are the main lessons Rick Astley has taught us about social media?
1. Be there.
2. Be yourself.
3. Be part of the community.
4. Be committed to being awesome.
And if you can’t commit to being awesome, just what are you doing reading my blog?
