IMPRESS

KnowPRNight

University of Oregon PRSSA | Vol. 2 | Issue 2

Making the Next Step: Internships and Careers

+ Take a Peek atSpring Term’s Events

Dear PRSSA members, friends and supporters,

There’s no doubt the 2013-2014 school year is going quick. Winter term was full of exciting moments, including a trip to Seattle for agency tours and a successful Winter Workshops Series. We also welcomed more than 16 official dues-paying members in March!

But my favorite moment was a new annual tradition for the School of Journalism and Communication. In collaboration with Allen Hall Public Relations, UO PRSSA helped host KNOW PR Night. The “open house” evening gave new or pre-journalism majors the chance to learn about the PR major, meet current faculty and discover ways to get involved on campus. Though I feel a little old admitting it, this was the next generation of PR students.

With another term just around the corner, I cannot wait for all the things our Chapter has planned for spring. Catch up on the latest with our winter issue of ImPRess, and keep an eye out for more. Thank you for your continued support this school year!

Thank you for your continued support,

Callie Gisler

Curious students flocked Allen Hall to learn all about the PR major as UO PRSSA teamed up with Allen Hall PR for the first time for KnowPR Night. The event, held on Feb. 27, 2014, was an opportunity for pre-journalism and undeclared students to find out about the public relations major and career options, as well as the many ways they can get hands-on experience within the journalism school.

Kelli Matthews, public relations instructor, kicked off the night with a presentation on the courses, curriculum and opportunities within the PR major. Austin Lacter, AHPR Director, as well as Callie Gisler, UO PRSSA President, and Mandy Shold, UO PRSSA Vice President, were on hand to introduce the two student-run PR groups on campus.

The evening concluded with a networking hour, during which students could talk with faculty, view PR portfolios and work samples, and visit with student groups. Envision, Ethos, Flux, Duck TV, Emerald, AHPR and PRSSA were all available to talk to interested students at the event.

Kylee Plummer, UO PRSSA Events Director, said close to 80 students attended KnowPR night as well as most of the PR faculty.

“The SOJC produces such outstanding talent in students, and the fact that those kids took time out of their busy schedules to come to our event and learn about what we love just made me (and all of us) so happy,” said Plummer.

FROM THE PRESIDENTCallie Gisler | Chapter President | @calliegisler

KnowPR NightHannah Osborn | UO PRSSA Member | @hannahmarieoz

SNAPSHOTS

For many of us, graduation is around the corner. That final day in spring is full of excitement, happiness and fear. The monumental transition into the real world can seem daunting, so, here are tips to help you along the way:

Make goals. As public relations professionals, we know a lot about the importance of planning. Pretend that you work for an agency and the client is yourself. Make a plan with long-term and short-term goals. Ask yourself reflective questions to help you plan your future, but always leave room for change and opportu-nities you don’t expect.

Land that first internship or job. Landing a job right out of college can be overwhelming and discouraging, especially when you don’t get a job you thought you were qualified for. The trick is to stay optimistic and keep your options open. Apply for jobs that could lead to your dream position. As a young professional, you have time to try out plenty of options and you never know which experience could lead your ultimate goal.

Manage your money. Now that you have a new job with a real salary and expenses, you need create a budget and stick to it. iReconcile, Expenditure, MoneyBook and Mint are great apps to help you track your budget.

Continue to network. Building a strong network is about sur-rounding yourself with people who inspire you and will vouch for your character. A professional network will help propel your career forward and strengthen your resume. Personally, network-ing can connect you to your new community and help build a balanced life.

Keep learning. College may be over, but knowledge is still out there. Ask questions, this will demonstrate passion and commit-ment to your employer. Seek out new experiences to bring more to the table – personally and professionally.

MAKE A SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION FROM COLLEGE TO CAREERRuby Hillcraig | UO PRSSA Member | @RubyJayne31

So you have finally landed the interview. Now what? Here are 10 tips to help you overcome anxiety and land any internship or job with ease:

1. Come prepared. Do your research about the company or the person interviewing you. When they ask you why you want to work for them, you can talk about work they have done for cli-ents or campaigns that inspired you. Also, bring a pen, paper and a copy your resume.

2. Know your resume like the back of your hand. Chances are, your interviewer is not going to read through your entire resume before the interview. They will be glancing over it throughout your conversation and asking you to speak more directly about experience that intrigues them. Practice elaborating on key points on your resume the night before your interview.

3. Come with three great questions. When your interviewer asks you if you have any questions at the end of your interview,

you have a chance to ask more about what really interests you about their company. Try to avoid sticking to questions about the internship position itself.

4. Arrive early, but not too early. Try to walk into the lobby about five minutes early.

5. Map out your route the night before. Know how to get to the company that you’re interviewing at and how long it will take to get there.

6. Prepare an interesting elevator pitch. If you only had 30 seconds to tell someone about yourself, would you just parrot information that they could get from your resume? Be creative but strategic.

7. Dress to impress, but keep company culture in mind. Even if the company you are interviewing at is casual, you should show in your attire that you take the interview seriously. Typically for a casual company, you don’t have to wear your nicest suit or heels. Find one formal piece, such as a blazer, and balance all of your less formal items around it.

8. Be confidant. You have to believe in your abilities before any-one else will.

9. Smile. Show that you want the job and that you are happy to be there. An interview is really just a conversation between pro-fessionals – not a hostage interrogation session.

10. Say thank you. Write a hand-written card thanking your in-terviewer for considering you for the position the day after your interview. It shows that you’re detail oriented and makes you stand out.

10 INTERVIEW TIPSAmelea Renshaw | Operations Director | @amelearenshaw

APRIL MAY JUNE5.7

5.8

5.21

Portland Paddle Registration Due4.4

4.8

4.9

4.11

6.3

NODAC

Chapter Meeting

Portland Paddle

Chapter Meeting

Chapter Meeting

San Francisco Agency Tours

Ducks Love Dogs

Internships are a great way for college students to gain real world experience and expand their network. An internship is not only a great experience for your resume but also beneficial for gaining knowledge that can be implemented in your future career. Below are five tips to take into account when considering which intern-ship you should apply for:

1. Paid vs. Unpaid InternshipThere are countless internships for you to discover, but the first thing to take into account is paid versus unpaid internships. Keep in mind that an internship can be very time consuming, while the experience is the most essential reason for applying, a paid internship will provide you with meaningful experience and a paycheck.

2. Degree Correspondence Many internships today are tailored to your degree, it is import-ant to find an internship that will set you up for future success. It should give you insight on what to expect in the future. Anoth-er benefit of relating your degree to your internship is that it is highly likely you will develop relationships and create a network, which is extremely important for any graduating college student.

3. Exposure When looking for an internship do not limit yourself. Being an intern is a very time consuming position, you want to make sure that your internship exposes you to a variety of work skills. During your search evaluate the position you will be applying for, consider if it will allow you to immerse yourself in multiple areas of the company.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN AN INTERNSHIPCarlee Myers | UO PRSSA Member | @CarleeMyers

4. Atmosphere When searching for an internship it is important not to settle, make sure it fits your personality, devotion and experience level. It is crucial that you become comfortable with the atmosphere that you work in on a day-to-day basis as well as the people you surround yourself with.

5. Post-Internship Opportunities Many internships often result in a job offer at the end of gradu-ation, however this is not always the case. It is important to be straightforward in your interview, ask about future job opportu-nities within the company. Do not be afraid to be curious about your future as an intern and shy away from asking questions, it could make or break your decision!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

4.23 Chapter Meeting

E-Board Application Due4.27