Intern to PRo: Internship Workshop TODAY at BBC

Intern to PRo Seminar
WUC 245 4:30 p.m.
TODAY, Nov. 13

Sometimes the secret to standing out isn’t a secret at all. We tend to relent about the things we wish we knew growing up, but when it comes to a career in public relations we have your answer. PRSSA will be welcoming three special guests from the Max Borges Agency to give their insights, reviews, and feedback on the secrets to making your internship count.

The frontier of finding post-grad work may seem more like an intimidating battlefield, but it doesn’t have to be.  Nearly every job requests practitioners with experience and internships are the factor to set you apart as an outstanding candidate. Whether you’re paid or unpaid, the coffee runner or the copywriting stunner, an internship is a foot in the door to any job. Guest speakers Kristen Bean, Tiffany Iwankiw, and Sophie Isacowitz from the Max Borges Agency will be speaking at the Biscayne Bay Campus on Tuesday, Nov. 13 at 4:30 p.m. in WUC 245 about ways to advance your internship into a job.

The Intern to PRo event will be open to all students at FIU. “This is something we’ve never done before for our members. I think its great because the advice you receive from people who speak from experience is invaluable,” said Luciana Padula, Director of Fundraising. Padula was one of the many members who attended National Conference and got to learn from workshops similar to today’s event. “We are all in the same position now and we want to know how we can transition from an intern position into the real world,” she said.

The Max Borges Agency is top tech PR agency in the US with a focus on consumer technology. Over 70 inventive electronic brands trust MBA to with drawn out campaigns and elaborate product launches. Think Geek, Verifone, iLuv, Griffin Technology, The Huffington Post and Gizmodo are a few of the reputable companies that can speak of their success. Bean, Iwankiw, and Isocowitz were public relations students not too long ago and now work for the outstanding and competitive tech firm. The three Pros will be giving insight and advice on how to find internships, make an impact, and get hired.

Attendants will get a chance to enjoy useful tips, one-on-one talks and refreshments at the seminar. Resume critiques will be taking place for those who want to get a better idea on how to present themselves to a company. All attendants are encouraged to bring a resume for review. PRSSA members are free and non-members are open to a suggested $5 donation. Where will you be when your future is being decided?

Get to Know Your E-Board

From recruiting and contacting sponsors, to designing flyers and everything in between, our executive board organizes and runs events during the academic year in an effort to accomplish what FIU PRSSA stands for. What do they do when they aren’t working? Read below and get to know our new members of the E-Board!

Luciana Padula – Director of Fundraising

Follow Luciana @Padulalu

Luciana Padula is a Senior at FIU studying toward a degree in public relations. As the Director of Fundraising for FIU’s PRSSA, she is in charge of putting together events to fundraise for PRSSA’s many functions including National Conference. Luciana has a creative soul and a love for adventure, fashion and travel. She is currently dabbling in Real Estate and is always looking for a challenge where she can exercise her creativity and eye for putting things together. With hopes to one day open her own PR agency, she is determined to gain as much knowledge and experience as she can to flourish in the industry.

Jillian Goltzman – PRSSA Vice President

Follow Jillian @Jillian_Writes

Jillian Goltzman is a Public Relations major in her senior year at FIU.  She has a fond passion for writing, art and fashion. She has a background in journalism from her time as the Editor-in-Chief of the Broward College student newspaper, The Observer. Jillian is a marketing intern at Perry Ellis International where she specializes in copywriting and loves to exercise her creativity. She spends time being involved in FIU’s Honors College and PRSSA, as well as volunteering in the community with organizations like Children’s Harbor. She aspires to work in the field of fashion, entertainment or non-profit PR after graduation. Jillian hopes to attend graduate school and relocate to New York City to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a successful writer.

To contact the executive board visit www2.fiu.edu/~prssa/board.html. 

My Experience at National Conference

When I heard there was going to be a public relations conference in Orlando last year, I said to myself, “I have to attend”. I’m so glad I did.  What I never imagined was that attending The PRSSA National Conference in Orlando would give me such a great opportunity to grow in my field. I was able to network with other public relations students from all over the country, which was really amazing because we got the chance to share our thoughts and desires about our future plans in the industry.

I attended conference without knowing anyone of the FIU PRSSA members and by the end of the trip, I came out with a new amazing group of friends who share my aspirations. I met a great and talented team of public relations students from FIU that until this day, have helped me broaden my horizons in the field. The most important thing I learned at conference was the many kinds of paths that can be taken within the industry, and which of those is the best fit for me. An experience like this can’t really be explained, it’s something that needs to be experienced first-hand. I was amazed at all the diverse speakers and all the possibilities ahead. I learned about how to handle the media and heard great advice from speakers like Craig Dezern, Vice President of Global Public Relations for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts and CNN’s famed correspondent, Soledad O’ Brien.

I will never forget this experience because it gave me a great amount of knowledge about the career that I am pursuing and it brought me new friends who are a vital part to my network. Networking is the key. Not only did I learn all of these things, I also enjoyed every moment during my time in Orlando, we all enjoyed the city after conference events in many of Orlando’s attractions.

I am truly excited and look forward to the next opportunity to attend an event of this magnitude and importance to my progression in this industry. San Francisco, here we come!

-Cinthia Lozano

If you’re interested in attending this year’s Bridging the Gap National Conference in San Francisco Oct. 12-16 email fiuprssa@gmail.com. We hope to see you there! 

Networking – Embrace Every Opportunity

net·work·ing (noun): : the exchange of information or services among individuals, groups, or institutions; specifically : the cultivation of productive relationships for employment or business. (merriam-webster) 

As students of public relations and communications, we are constantly reminded of the value of networking. From workshops, to mixers,  conferences and meetings, making connections are a part of everyday life. But how exactly do we take advantage of these encounters/connections? Here are a few tips to spark a lasting relationship.

1. Embrace and Seize the Opportunity – Whether it’s the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, a fellow PRSSA student or the grill operator at Burger King, each person that you meet offers you an opportunity. Be curious, respectful and sincere with the person you meet, focusing your attention on them rather than yourself. First impressions are key.

2. Non-verbal Communication – Always maintain eye contact, use appropriate hand gestures and aim to establish a high level of rapport.

3. Cultural Awareness – Make sure you adapt to different cultures and their customs. For example in China, it is disrespectful to look straight into a person’s eyes when you are speaking to them. In American cultures, it is disrespectful to look away from a person’s eyes.

4. Farewell/Follow-up – Show appreciation for the encounter. Exchange information, and follow up with them through e-mail.

What other networking tips would you add? Please share with us in our comments section!

Francisco Tobon ftobo001@fiu.edu

@FranciscoTobon

Join FIU PRSSA and FIU AMA for Industry Night!

FIU PRSSA attends 2011 PRSSA National Conference

FIU PRSSA at the 2011 PRSSA National Conference

 

On Oct.14, 2011, eleven members of the William C. Adams Chapter of Florida International University (FIU PRSSA) attended the 2011 PRSSA National Conference, which was hosted this year in Orlando, Florida.

Uncertain of the weekend’s turnout, students approached the conference with an open mind, hoping they would leave with a greater understanding of where they stood in their career development and more importantly, what path they wanted to take in the profession.

Every day, the members dispersed throughout the hotel to different sessions that sparked their interest. “We were never really all together until night time, where we would all talk about what we learned during the day and all the different people we met,” says senior and National Liaison, Stephanie Necuze.  With the incredibly diverse lineup of panelists, there was something for everyone’s interest.

Although the majority of speakers were public relations professionals, there were also a variety of journalists and bloggers who shared their prospective on the best way to approach the media with information. Since a big portion of the industry is pitching ideas to the media, this was a unique angle to see it from, because after all, it’s not all about what we want.

FIU PRSSA members had the opportunity to attend some sessions of PRSA International Conference as well. Students were enthralled by the opening of Disney’s Voices of Liberty performance. Additionally, they got to hear great insight from Keynote speakers, Soledad O’Brien, CNN anchor and special correspondent  and Peter Diamandis, chairman and CEO, X PRIZE Foundation. “I really liked how the speakers focused on the importance of diversity throughout the workforce. In order to work together efficiently it is essential to understand each other as well,” said Gretel Perez, President of FIU PRSSA.

After a weekend of insight, networking and fun, the sleep-deprived members returned to Miami with a better understanding of the PR industry. “It was worth the money, I saw it as a huge investment in my future. It opened doors for our careers post-graduation, now it’s up to us to walk through them” says junior, Christian Williams.

FIU PRSSA Fills Up Tanks with “Creative Fuel” at O’Connell & Goldberg Agency Tour

FIU PRSSA with the O’Connell & Goldberg team

MIAMI – Members of the Florida International University (FIU) Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapter visited the O’Connell & Goldberg public relations (OGPR) agency on Monday, Oct. 10, 2011. The PRSSA executive board, as well as members, gained valuable insight as to how a public relations agency functions and the differences between agency and in-house PR.

Toby Srebnik, director of social media for OGPR, greeted PRSSA members and gave them a tour around the office to introduce the other team members. Barbara Goldberg, the agency’s president, gave a presentation about the many components of the agency and later led a Q&A session with the students. Goldberg intrigued the members when she spoke about the signature “creative fuel” that forms the building blocks of this multi-faceted agency. Being that it is the mantra for OGPR, “creative fuel” simply refers to the edge that sets this agency apart from others. Goldberg explained the many endeavors that the company has taken on over the years and why she believes the firm has remained successful, again crediting the “creative fuel” that pumps out of the office.

Goldberg also made it a point to discuss the importance of a work-life balance among her employees, something that really impressed the students. “O’Connell and Goldberg is an agency that values the importance of integrity and honesty,” said Gretel Perez, president of the FIU PRSSA William C. Adams Chapter. “It was very refreshing to hear from the professionals how important it is to balance work and family and be able to be successful with both.

Apart from Srebnik and Goldberg, Jeff Bray, Account Supervisor & Senior Editor, Karen Dennis, Account Executive and Ashley Rodriguez, Account Executive, joined in on the Q&A session and shared their experiences with the students. After discussing their roles in the agency, the staff treated the students to a delicious lunch from one of OGPR’s clients, Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza. Students and OGPR staff ate together and discussed the ins and outs of agency PR with Goldberg and the rest of the OGPR staff.

With the help of PRSA Miami College Relations Chair, Nathalie Santa Maria, the FIU PRSSA chapter was able to take part in their first agency tour of the 2011-2012 school year. The members are eager to visit another public relations department in the future, whether in-house or agency, to continue growing and learning in their field.

Contact:

Mariangela Imbrenda

Director of Public Relations, FIU PRSSA

mimbr001@fiu.edu

Professional Development Workshop 2011

Our speakers at the Professional Development Workshop were both very keen in the development of students’ careers through the use of engagement and tactics. Betsy Soler spoke about the advantages social media has in today’s busy PR world, addressing the importance of connectivity and interaction. Maria Alexandra Sanchez emphasized the need to stay in the loop of the important happenings going on within an organization while relaying the information in an effective manner.

 

Overall, we had a successful event with a great turnout. We are very excited for our next Professional Development Workshop coming up in a few weeks.

 

 

 

FIU PRSSA presents the Social Media Summit

FIU PRSSA presents the Social Media Summit November 16, 2010

Are you prepared for the Social Media Revolution? Join the Florida International University William C. Adams Chapter of PRSSA on Tuesday November 16th for an exclusive event featuring three of South Florida’s top social media and marketing strategists as they share their knowledge of the art of social media networking. The panel will feature Michelle Catin– digital and social media manager for rbb PR, Ashley Fisher– social media specialist at Bitner Goodman PR and Alex Vidal– marketing director of South Circle Media. Learn how social media can help secure your future as a public relations professional, how to protect your personal brand and online reputation, and best practices for a successful social media experience! The event is complimentary to all attendees and open to the public.

2010 PRSSA National Conference Community Service Initiative

At this year’s PRSSA National Conference, we have an opportunity to improve the lives of young children and high-risk youth in the Washington D.C. area through donations to For the Love of Children (FLOC). FLOC provides young children and high-risk youth with resources to achieve educational and personal success and prepares them to become confident, life-long learners and contributing members of their communities.

If every Chapter brings a donation worth $50 to Nationals, we could raise enough money to purchase all their needed computers. Please help us help them reach their goal!

To help FLOC raise money for new computers, each Chapter can donate used printer ink cartridges and old cell phones, or through a monetary donation. All donations should be dropped off 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Friday, Oct. 15, in Lincoln 2-4 at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park during National Conference. If you are unable to drop off your donation at that time, you may give it to PRSSA Vice President of Chapter Development Kimberly Ciesla at anytime during the Conference. Make checks payable to “FLOC,” not PRSSA.

[via: PRSSA Community Service Initiative]