PR Job Blog

Top 10 Style Do's for a Job Interview

noreply@blogger.com (Britt Perkins) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 01:38:00 +0000

By Your Style Savior

[Editor's note: This was written for the ladies, but most tips work for guys, too!]

10. A manicure is 100% necessary. If you're an animated talker (such as moi), waving your hands in the air while dirt remains present under your fingernails is not a great indication of hygiene.

9. Minimal jewelry. No gaudiness. No costume jewelry.

8. Body piercing, remove; tattoos, cover up. Seems like the two easiest tricks in the book, right? Wrong. You'd be surprised how many can mess this one up.

7. A little heel goes a long way. You don't need to wear five inchers. In fact you probably shouldn't. But you don't want to wear flats either.

6. Print your resume on some nice paper. And bring at least 10 copies. A little bit of over-preparation never hurt nobody.

5. Get a good night's rest. Don't go into an interview hungover. You won't be able to hold an intelligent conversation, and you'll probably look like crap.

4. Wear a suit. Or a blazer at the very least. And you better make sure it fits.

3. Accent your black. Goes without saying, you'll never feel as sharp (or as thin) as you do in your black suit/dress, but help your wonderful self stand out of the crowd with an accented color of some sort - scarf, belt, texturized blazer - you catch my drift. Right?

2. Get your hair done. Bedhead = unacceptable.

1. Research the firm where you are interviewing. Know their goals, areas of expertise and clients. Knowing the potential job's style will make it much easier for you to slide right in.

Because I love my PR friends: Soup Dumplings

noreply@blogger.com (Sandy Charet) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:18:00 +0000

As a New Yorker, it irks me that LA would have something that we don't have. They do: it's called Din Tai Fung.

Although there's lots on the menu to rave about, the juicy dumplings are why the parking lot is always filled with people waiting for a table. The freshness of the food is noteworthy. The way everything is cooked makes me think the kitchen is clean and the chefs have integrity. Simple, perfectly cooked, tasty, inexpensive. I have to go whenever I'm in LA.

I've searched NY for juicy dumplings and found "Shainghai Joe's" (original in Flushing and one in Chinatown). Same thing in concept, but despite the cute video on their website, it's not the same quality at all.

Here is a link to a recipe for soup dumplings so if you don't live in LA, and you're an adventurous cook, you can try making them yourself:

Despite Many out of Work, Jobs Seem Harder to Fill

noreply@blogger.com (Sandy Charet) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:38:00 +0000

A recent Wall Street Journal article says "Applicants are Fewer and Many are Lacking." Although I think this is referring mainly to more technical roles, I have to say this is true in our industry as well.

I will be brutally honest here: Seems to me that older (yes, I'm using the word older) candidates with good skills are aplenty and younger candidates with good skills are few. And it seems that (except for senior level roles managing groups of professionals) the number of years experience required for roles gets lower and lower. But there's something else...the best of these must be sought after so much that they look at opportunities with a nonchalance that I've not experienced before, in my 25 years of recruiting.

It may be the times, the x and y generation, the constant stream of information coming at people -- but they lack the manners. They lack appreciation and insight. They can be downright rude.

In earlier days, a professional communicator answered every call or note. It was the right thing for a good communicator to do. I guess that's impossible now.

Is getting an answer actually unexpected these days?

Pinterest Drives More Traffic Than Google+, YouTube and LinkedIn

noreply@blogger.com (Sandy Charet) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:36:00 +0000

Pinterest Drives More Traffic Than Google+, YouTube and LinkedIn

Manager, Social Media Marketing

noreply@blogger.com (Sandy Charet) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:17:00 +0000

This is a fantastic opportunity to join an exciting company during a period of expansion in terms of products, staff, and customers.

This key role has responsibility for supporting the Director of US operations and the sales teams through the implementation and execution of innovative and strategic marketing campaigns. The role encompasses all parts of the campaign process including data management, campaign creation, implementation and measurement and since this is a new position, we need someone who can really create the role/department from scratch.

The Manager of Social Media/Channel Marketing will report to the Director of the US office (it's a British company) and requires close relationships with the sales teams and senior executives. The people at this company are terrific to work with!

In addition the right person will possess analytic skills with an ability to evaluate results and use findings to contribute to business direction/objectives. We are looking for a very creative individual so we will look for examples of previous innovative ideas and ways they have bought products to market.

If you are a results driven person with excellent verbal and written communication and exceptional copy writing skills, lots of social media marketing experience as well as strong interpersonal skills to deal with customers and senior contacts across the financial, professional services and business to business sectors, we want to talk to you!

We're looking for at least three years of experience and since this company is dealing with up to the minute media information - some of which is immediately streaming over the internet, we need someone with a quick response rate, creative and entrepreneurial spirit and strong experience in social media marketing.

Contact Sandy Charet at sandy@charet.com or call 917 880 0813

PR Specialist

noreply@blogger.com (Sandy Charet) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:51:00 +0000

Dynamic, expanding, international, upscale furniture dealer based in NYC is looking for an experienced Public Relations and Marketing Associate

Looking for someone with two to four years of agency or internal PR/marketing experience working within the interior design industry, working directly with the media.

Responsibilities will include both industry and non-industry editorial placement in print publications, online blogs, books, etc. Write press releases; manage of digital pressroom; oversee extensive social media program; Foster relationships with interior designers, architects and other industry leaders; as well as establishing and nurturing relationships with reporters and bloggers. Create and handle busy special event program including showhouse and trade show development and management; Develop, execute and manage new PR opportunities.

Experience with Adobe Creative Suite a big plus. Must also be creative and 100% reliable. Additional languages are also a plus. Competitive salary and benefits.

Hate to put political posts on my blog, but...

noreply@blogger.com (Sandy Charet) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:38:00 +0000

This was too funny:

US Cities with Most PR Opportunities

noreply@blogger.com (Sandy Charet) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 16:00:00 +0000

I just did a search on Indeed for all the "Public Relations" jobs in various cities. I put Public Relations in quotes because "Public" and "Relations" are in lots of different titles so it can give a false picture.

Top cities:
1. New York 1173
2. DC 1065
3. SF Bay area 594
4. LA /Atlanta 547 (tied for fourth place)
5. Chicago 502

It drops down to Boston with 353, Philly 333, Seattle 261, Houston 243, Denver 220. As a comparison, Fargo has 9, Pittsburgh 80, Santa Barbara 21, Rahleigh-Durham 78, Aspen 0, Ithaca 15 and Santa Fe, 5.

Even though I live here, I couldn't think of a city in NJ worth checking. But I know there are jobs in 'dem 'dere hills so I checked the state: 505. Compared to NY with 1265 (92 outside NYC), CT with 200, PA 535, North Carolina 287, Hawaii 39, MA 444, and an interesting thing is that California has 2218 which is more than NY, NJ and CT combined.

I'd like to check out Dubai and Mumbai and some other places.

Manager of Public Relations - Global Financial company

noreply@blogger.com (Sandy Charet) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 13:12:00 +0000

The key focus of this position is to participate in planning and executing the firm’s public relations activities in order to promote positive visibility, recognition, and positioning of the firm and its portfolio of products across the Americas, EMEA and Asia-Pacific regions.

This position requires close interaction with key stakeholders including heads of divisions and desks throughout the firm including regional, product and executive leadership. Reports to Vice President of Communications & Marketing.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

*Planning and coordinating print, broadcast and new media outreach campaigns on behalf of the firm in the institutional, commercial, and investment banking space.

*Assist in garnering appropriate publicity for spokespeople and executives in key media.

*Writing and distributing press releases announcing important and timely company information and events.

*Drafting communications for business heads for external/internal meetings and presentations.

*Assist in organizing press events, exhibitions and press tours.

REQUIREMENTS:

*Approximately 3-5 years experience in public relations/communications with progressive career growth.
*Experience working with the press.
*The ability to generate news.

*Exceptional interpersonal and professional presentation skills.

*High comfort level and competence in working with senior executives.

*Excellent writing, copy-editing, and presentation skills (i.e. press releases, press pitches, etc.).
*Must be highly organized and detail focused, with ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously under tight deadlines.

*Bachelor’s degree required.

Chris Brogan--Highlights from the PRSA 2011 International Conference

noreply@blogger.com (Britt Perkins) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 02:33:00 +0000

Things have been a whirlwind since the PRSA 2011 International Conference in Orlando. Phew!

But taking a step outside the day-to-day is the probably best way to get a fresh perspective on your daily work activities.

One of the most refreshing talks featured Chris Brogan, blogger, author and entrepreneur.

Probably the best thing about Brogan is that he’s real. In an industry not necessarily known for being blunt, and one that Mr. Brogan is not necessarily a part of, his views on PR offered a perspective looking from the outside in.

Something that many of us are catching on to and that Brogan promotes is that fact that we have left the era of pure self-promotion. It’s no longer “Our widgets are the best!” It’s “What can we do for you lately?”

“Make the customer the hero,” Brogan said.

Another catchphrase that I found myself noting down is “business is belonging.” And another: “frequency matters.”

When you combine these key points together, you have a snapshot of the new way businesses are connecting with people.

Now for more blunt statements:

“Check-ins are not PR.”

And something like:

“Please tell me you are not using Klout as the only way to measure your results.”

Well, gee. There’s someone who has a distinct viewpoint on not jumping on every trendy social media bandwagon. I like it.

And the last nugget that I will end with:

“Us instead of you.”

All of these are values that can be put to use immediately in any PR or communications endeavor if you want to bring your strategy into the 21st century. Granted there is much more planning, training and measurement involved, but I like the fact that I left the talk thinking, “Okay, here are some definite steps we can take to make what we are doing better and more interesting and valuable. Let’s take it up a notch.”

- Britt

Surviving and Enjoying a Business Conference, Spotlight PRSA 2011 International Conference

noreply@blogger.com (Britt Perkins) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 21:20:00 +0000

As we busily gear up and checklist and pack and prepare for this year's PRSA 2011 International Conference in Orlando, we thought some of you may be doing the same and would enjoy some tips that we are relying on ourselves to jump into all that PRSA is offering us this year in Orlando.

Networking opportunities Orlando-style.

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GOALS

1. Create a "mission statement" for your conference experience.

Having clear goals and objectives in mind will help you best utilize these subsequent tips and further align your conference activities. For example, my goals are: "1. To take away the most professional PR knowledge possible and share it with colleagues and clients; 2. Establish contacts with potential PR job candidates and executive search clients who would greatly benefit from our services."

While this is obviously not intended to exclude contact with any particular attendee or workshop opportunity, it allows me to FOCUS on why I'm at the conference, instead of purposelessly wandering around a beautiful, large hotel.

2. Plan your workshop and networking schedule in advance.

You can download and review the conference program from PRSA's website here. A schedule is also available from the same site. Review the program for networking events and workshops that you are most interested in and make the most sense to attend based on your overall conference goals. Plug these events into your calendar or even a simple, listed itinerary to keep you on track.

3. Be flexible.

It's important to be organized so you don't get overwhelmed with new sights and places. But even though you have your conference battle plan all mapped out, don't be afraid to change it when you learn the lay of the land. A workshop you thought would be perfect might end up being something other than what was expected. So go ahead and check out something different. An unplanned networking opportunity might come up that pushes something to the wayside. That's okay. Go with the flow when it makes sense.

TECHNOLOGY, BABY

1. Pack and charge.

This means your laptop, phone, spare phone, batteries, camera, iPod, iPad, tablet, recorder, video camera, Flip or anything else with batteries and buttons you own and care to bring. Industry conferences provide countless opportunities for impromptu interviews and meetings, not to mention planned workshops and networking meetups. At the very least, these digital tools provide an easy way to take notes. If you blog, these tools provide a huge explosion of content that will keep you busy for weeks and months to come.

2. Download the PRSA app.

With versions for iPhone, BlackBerry, Droid and Windows Mobile, you have no excuse not to take advantage of this handy little app that will keep you connected with social media, schedules, contacts and more.

3. Stay connected via social media.

On Twitter, follow @PRSAICon and use the #PRSAICon for the most direct connection to conference activities. Use the Facebook event page titled PRSA 2011 International Conference created by Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). On LinkedIn, you'll find us at the PRSA 2011 International Conference group. And for AV footage, visit the PR Society of America (PRSA) on YouTube.

IT'S ALL ABOUT YOU

1. Wear comfortable clothes (shoes!)

Visual presentation is no less important when it comes to your personal attire. Dress to impress, but keep in mind that conference days are long. Make sure you are wearing something that is going to feel comfortable ALL DAY. Keep in mind that Florida is hot and hotels are usually freezing. Layer to prepare for highs in the upper 80s and air conditioned spaces in the mid 60s.

But the key element here is what you put on your feet. Shoes with good support or some Dr. Scholl's inserts are essential. Women: a good wedge is a great way to be fashionable but also get much more support than a stiletto.

2. Eat well and hydrate.

No one wants a cranky workshop partner or someone who gets a little too loose at the networking cocktail hours. Protein bars, fruit and water are key.

3. Relax

Traveling hundreds or thousands of miles to interact with strangers is definitely out of your day-to-day comfort zone. But remember that most other attendees are in the same boat. Take advantage of the fact that you are doing something different and that you are doing it with people who are just as interested in PR as you are.

If you feel overwhelmed or need a break, ask the concierge for nearby parks or attractions that will give you the space you need to return to the conference energized and refreshed.

We hope these tips will help you with your PRSA 2011 International Conference experience.

See you there!

- Britt

Senior Account Executive - Healthcare NYC PR Agency

noreply@blogger.com (Sandy Charet) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 02:13:00 +0000

This agency is growing but stable, the company is 35 years old but the healthcare practice is new. They're serious about their work, but have a great work life balance. The firm has been noted as one of the best PR agencies in America to work for, year after year. In fact, this year they were on the Craine's NY Business "Top Ten Companies in NYC to Work For" list.

The position I'm recruiting for involves media outreach to the medical trades, hospitals, national media, business press, and even directly to targeted consumers. We are looking for someone with strong social media skills, and excellent writing and interpersonal skills.

The company has some great clients, and wonderful people to work for. We're looking for someone really special, who'll appreciate the extraordinary environment and people at this agency. This person ideally has about four or five years experience working in the healthcare group of another NYC PR agency.

What employers can do about the trend toward specialization

noreply@blogger.com (Britt Perkins) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 06:45:00 +0000

This is not really going to be a post about what employers "can do about" specialization as they are probably most benefited from this trend. At the same time, it's fair to say that as human resources practices change, employers are going to need to make some adjustments in the way they hire in order to attract and maintain a strong workforce.

Seek a specialist

Seeking someone with specialized knowledge in a particular area brings a more driven and focused perspective to a new position. While team players and general competence is key, hiring those with a particular knowledge of an area can help build a stronger position from which you can make larger strides in a certain sector.

For example, hiring a PR who can do both general PR and healthcare PR will allow you to focus on the healthcare vertical of your agency.

Hire someone who everyone is happy with

In a BusinessWeek article, Steve Jobs says he's had candidates be approved by nine co-workers only to be rebuffed by the 10th.

This may seem overly democratic, but Jobs says that it pays off to only hire someone who will work well with the entire team, not just a select few. Eliminating that friction, especially among smaller working groups, can be key to a productive and creative atmosphere where things are moving forward, not back.

Invest time and energy into the search

Here too, Jobs offers the insight of a genius leader, saying,

"Assume you're by yourself in a startup and you want a partner. You'd take a lot of time finding the partner, right? He would be half of your company. Why should you take any less time finding a third of your company or a fourth of your company or a fifth of your company? When you're in a startup, the first ten people will determine whether the company succeeds or not. Each is 10 percent of the company. So why wouldn't you take as much time as necessary to find all the A players? If three were not so great, why would you want a company where 30 percent of your people are not so great? A small company depends on great people much more than a big company does."

As many PR agencies are small companies, or have divisions that operate as agile units, this is key. Taking the time to find candidates shouldn't be an afterthought or a "when I get around to it" item on your list of things to do.

Relying on automatic systems isn't necessary going to provide these results. Instead, Internet tools such as LinkedIn, Twitter, blogs and online news sites can be excellent tools in pointing the way to professionals both experienced in the industry and offering a creative viewpoint that provide the kind of human capital needed to propel companies into the future during any economic environment.

So, in the end, we're left with a few simple principles:

1. Know what you want.
2. Look for what you want and avoid compromising the ideals of small teams.
3. Making finding a new member of team an investment, not an afterthought.

Account Supervisor (or Sr AE)

noreply@blogger.com (Sandy Charet) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 13:46:00 +0000

One of my favorite clients, one which I've worked with for more than ten years, has asked me to help them find an extraordinary A/S or Sr AE for their relatively new healthcare division.

The 36 year old firm opened a healthcare practice about three years ago, and it is growing steadily. They need to add staff. The firm is very thoughtful about their hiring which is understandable, since the company has a unique culture. The firm has been noted as one of the best PR agencies in America to work for, year after year. In fact, this year they were on the Craine's NY Business "Top Ten Companies in NYC to Work For" list.

The position I'm recruiting for involves media outreach to the medical trades, hospitals, national media, business press, and even directly to targeted consumers.

They are looking for someone that will be mentored and who can mentor others. They take care of employees and are actually concerned about each person's career development.

The company has some great clients, and wonderful people to work for. I was hoping that you might know of someone who would be interested in a very special move like this. We're looking for an AS and/or Sr AE.

What job seekers can do about the trend toward specialization

noreply@blogger.com (Britt Perkins) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 23:10:00 +0000

In today’s job market, employers are more and more frequently seeking specialists over generalists.

That leaves many job seekers in the not-so-comfortable position of looking for gainful employment while maybe also needing to move in the direction of a specialty.

Add to that the increasing discrimination against candidates who are not currently employed, and it’s not hard to empathize with those looking for a job.

Here are some suggestions for job seekers dealing with the trend toward specialization.

Maybe you are a specialist, you just have to show it

First things first, having a daunting, three or four page resume does not indicate you are a specialist. It takes a lot of effort for a potential employer or recruiter to sit down to a long and dry CV that doesn’t get to the point. Often, they don’t. You don’t want this to happen to you.

Here are some steps to streamline your application:
1. Make your resume as simple and brief as possible. Include your job title, period of time you occupied the position and a very basic job description.

2. Create an addendum to highlight experience relevant to the position you are applying for. For example, if you are applying for a position that requires speech writing, describe the speeches you have written and for what occasion. Those asking for extensive event planning want to know about the events you’ve planned.

3. Use your cover letter primarily to highlight your personality and secondarily to guide the HR rep easily through the resume and addendum.

This breaks down the application into easily digestible parts without being overwhelming. It also clearly presents areas where you have specialized, instead of burying your experience among many other skills.

Focus your efforts

Review your past experience. Inventory your various skills, concentrate on the one or two strongest areas and build on them. Maybe it’s digital marketing, maybe it’s recruiting, maybe it’s multimedia. Brainstorm ways to continue your education or experience within that framework. Nowadays, it can also help to document your specialty knowledge on a professional blog.

The same can be done for industries you’ve worked within. Healthcare, law, retail, manufacturing—all require knowledge of conditions specific to these verticals. Pursuing that knowledge makes you more valuable.

Move in the right direction

Chances are, you may be able to create several addendums that highlight specific projects and specialist skills you have gained over the years. But it’s also common for many generalists to desire further experience in a specific area in order to continue to set themselves apart from their competition.

In this case, it is important to seek experience within the areas you’d like to work. While it may seem to be the opposite direction to go in when pursuing gainful employment, providing gratis or discount services within the industries where you need to build your skills is a useful way of building your CV and portfolio. Non-profits often require professional volunteers to accomplish their goals and in return offer excellent recommendations.

Now is the time to think of personal interest. If you’re a dad and working for a company that has a strong family connection is important, consider seeking opportunities with a park or tutoring center. If you know the ins and outs of your city, put that knowledge to use with regional opportunities.

The bottom line is that we don’t want you to feel trapped as a generalist in a specialist’s world. Hopefully you can use some of these suggestions in the job search.

If you have other tips you’d like to share, please e-mail britt@charet.com.

- Britt Perkins
Image via Flickr by o5com

The trend toward specialization

noreply@blogger.com (Britt Perkins) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 03:34:00 +0000

“I can do it all.”

It’s a phrase that most people think paints a proactive picture. The candidate who says this has experience in many different areas, and if she doesn’t, she can learn. This is the generalist that typifies our independent, entrepreneurial spirit. The go-getter. The person who makes it work.

But for all the romance, the generalist is no longer the candidate whom employers are going after in most cases.

“The trend is to go toward specialists,” said Sandy Charet, president of communications executive search firm Charet & Associates. “What I see is that there are a lot of candidates out there, but my clients tell me they have difficulty finding the right specialist for the job.”

The search for specialists

With today’s technology, it is possible for search firms to use the Internet to discover exactly what they want, rather than shotgunning a classified ad in major metro papers. Criteria have gotten ultra-specific to focus the search on a defined vertical wherein the candidate has specialist knowledge.

For example, if you're with a law firm looking for someone to get the company in the press, why hire a generalist PR pro, when you can hire a PR expert who focuses solely on the legal industry? In fact, why hire a legal PR expert, when you can find someone who deals directly with, say, real estate law, if that's what you specialize in?

You get the idea.

Why it’s not that easy, a fishing metaphor

Specialist or generalist, it’s still important to understand the search and recruitment process.

Before technology, employers had to cast a line into an ocean of candidates. They would hope that their bait was enticing enough to attract qualified prospects. But they were sitting on top of the ocean, and they couldn’t see where the fish were. If employers didn’t get the catch they wanted, they would hire a headhunter to guide them to better waters.

With new technology, the ocean has become transparent. Employers can see the fish; but the problem is they can see the entire population of fish, not necessarily the one they want to hook. Again, the recruiter is there is find out where the schools of specialist fish are migrating. They're not answering the classified ads, and they're not even hungry. But they are on LinkedIn. Or maybe their favored current is Twitter.

It’s still a game of searching for the most desirable catch, which is most likely not out in the open. The more specialized the professional, the harder locate, attract and hook.

Now, job seekers must make themselves appealing with specialist experience and know-how. Employers must decide which specialist will be right for their team and then find out where that ideal candidate is located. Both candidates and employers are faced with the ultimate challenge of striking a balance between generalist and specialist.

- Britt Perkins
Photo via Flickr by kevin dooley

PR Job Search Checklist

noreply@blogger.com (Sandy Charet) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 20:45:00 +0000

Here's the PR Job Search Checklist that I wrote for the PRSA Conference Center. Come visit us at the PRSA convention in Orlando, October 15 to 18.

Job Search Checklist for PR Jobs

Preliminaries
Resume
Create a simple resume that can be modified easily.

Prepare Samples
Have samples ready to send by email or bring with you on disk or travel drive.

Prepare cover letters
Proofread carefully when sending cover letters to match content to recipient.

Decide who your references will be
Contact references before putting them on your resume so they can expect to be contacted by your potential employers.

Keep it Going!

Begin building your own personal brand by jazzing up your profiles, tweeting and participating in discussions online.

Check the PRSA Job Center and other job sites regularly.

Contact PR recruiters.

Attend local PRSA and other trade events. Talk to people and make friends!

Get your first and second interview wardrobe ready.

Drill answering tough interview questions with your friends.

Prepare for Your Interview!

Study all you can about the company you're going to interview with:
- Look for PR people who work there through PRSA and LinkedIn
- Study the company's website and blogs
- Look for the company, its PR team and leadership in the news
- Study the company's press releases

Find out who you will be meeting and check LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter to learn about them.

Make sure you know exactly where they are located, including suite and floor, and how to get there. Find out if there are special instructions if you're going before or after regular business hours.

Take notes on questions that stump you in interviews and figure out great answers to them in case you're asked again.

Afterwards

Send thank you notes. Email is acceptable but make sure each one is personalized.

If you got the interview through a personal contact, be sure to send them a note of thanks as well.

Send the people you met with any information you had promised or referred to during the interview.

Follow up with your recruiter, if you worked with one, or HR if you did not.

Keep all of these positive actions going, even if you've just had a great interview, until you land the perfect job.

Good luck!
- Sandy Charet

Director of Public Relations - Northern Virginia

noreply@blogger.com (Sandy Charet) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 21:22:00 +0000

We are looking for an energetic and creative PR Director for this business to consumer company headquartered in Northern Virginia.

This position reports to the Senior VP of Corporate Communications and Investor Relations. The right person for this exciting role will be responsible for developing and executing strategic public relations programs that are media-results driven to support the dynamic needs of a growing company.

These programs will the company brand in both local markets and nationwide. Programs will focus on gaining publicity and exposure for the various parts of the company with traditional and online media outlets and to industry thought leaders/stakeholders. The public relations programs must also leverage digital and social media assets.

The right candidate is a highly motivated self starter, with experience managing multiple priorities and diverse audiences.

In addition to building public relations outreach, this Director will develop new and strategic partnerships and programs that further the company brand within geographic communities
with such things as speaker's series, community partnerships and career workshops, etc. There will be some travel.

This person will drive social media strategy in support of overall PR objectives, develop stories from within the company, write releases and other materials.

The Director of PR will oversee the tactical and strategic management of the outside PR agency and will also work closely with marketing at the company.

This PR DIrector supports special events and internal communications on various initiatives, gets involved in media training as necessary, updates the corporate communications and related sections of the website, and there are often other projects or functions that may pop up.

We are looking for someone with 15 years demonstrated success in public relations program planning

and execution with an emphasis in media relations. This person will need to have a solid understanding of social media space as it relates to public relations. The right person will have the ability to manage multiple detailed projects at one time and bring them to completion on time and on budget. Ideally, this person will have agency and corporate experience. The job calls for someone with excellent written and oral communication skills and excellent presentation skills.

Charet & Associates Likes: Vizualize.me

noreply@blogger.com (Britt Perkins) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 19:41:00 +0000

Endless streams of resumés haunt many HR reps' nightmares. Black and white. Black and white. No variation. Black and white.

There are the times when we can focus a fresh set of eyes on a cover letter and resumé from a qualified applicant and feel that old, familiar excitement. The prospect of someone who has experience that would work for the position. No gaping holes in history or huge red flags. Some demonstration of creativity. It's a dream.

But these reactions are becoming few and far between due to the speed at which e-mail inboxes fill up with unsolicited and uninspiring cover letters and resumés.

That's why Charet & Associates is excited about the prospect of Vizualize.me, a new site that helps bring the passion back into the applicant-HR relationship. Color pops. Personality stands out. History is illuminated.

Developed by three computer-genius, whippersnapper Canucks, Vizualize.me connects with your LinkedIn profile to provide an artful, illustrated diagram of your work history. Categories include all of the standards such as Employment & Education, Skills & Specialties, Interests, My [LinkedIn] Stats and My Links. The result is a colorsplash of you.

Here are some samples illustrating the founders' personalities and work histories:

I'm even working on my own Viz, as these graphic CVs are known.

PRO: You can see your entire work and education history more clearly than every before.

CON: You can see your entire work and education history more clearly than every before.

This is actually a great tool for both applicant and HR. As for me, I had no idea my LinkedIn resumé was so incomplete. On paper, it seemed like I had no holes in my job history. Now I can see that my early period bouncing around colleges and jobs and life choices does not present a holistic CV. BUT because it is so obvious to me now, it's something I can be proactive about addressing in my resumé and with my employer, instead of crossing my fingers and hoping my work history appears passable.

PRO: You have a personality.

CON: The format is still based on a traditional resumé, so those who have more portfolio-based work like writers, event coordinators, etc. may need to find a different way of visually expressing their work history and abilities.

We'll keep you posted as we continue to adventure into the world of colorful and digital resumés. If you have a digital resumé experience, you'd like to share, please e-mail britt@charet.com.

-Britt Perkins

Do you think today’s PR grads are lacking writing skills? Part Two: Responses

noreply@blogger.com (Britt Perkins) — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 00:59:00 +0000

Photo via Flickr by wnstn

To write or not to write, that is the question. Actually, not really.

With more and more work transitioning to the service industry in a shift that has been occurring for at least 60 years, writing is often the crux of many positions.

However, with the advent of technology, some think that it’s tech skills more than writing that will get them through. Many hiring managers seem surprised that basic and fundamental writing skills are lacking to such a degree that remediation provided by the corporation is required.

We also asked our LinkedIn colleagues whether or not they thought recent PR grads lacked writing skills.

Many PR students defended themselves and the social media savvy that is one of the major factors being blamed for slangy, improper writing. Instead of harming their writing, many respondents insisted new condensed writing media have improved their ability to get their point across and fast.

But the overwhelming response was that even though none of our respondents offered themselves as examples of deficient writing skills, many agreed that texting and other micro forms of writing have degraded the general level of written communication today.

In the end, writing is more a skill than a talent. One needs discipline to achieve a level of professional writing and that same discipline to maintain it. Communication won’t be lost but the way we communicate will evolve.

Here are some of the responses we received:

Jim Nichols from the PR Daily Group wrote:
“I wouldn't be surprised if the scribes of the pre-Gutenberg era bemoaned the skills of the own emerging successors.

“Of course, there is some truth to the complaints, today and historically. Older practitioners tend to be, and OUGHT to be, better writers, for two good and overlapping reasons: experience and professional Darwinism.”

Steve Costgrove added:
“As Bill Burroughs said: "Language is a virus from outer space." Talent plays a part, but the more I taught writing, the more I realized that training, practice and feedback will improve anyone's writing skills, from the undergrad to the executive. Read. Think. Write.”

Zachery Buege said:
“I am currently a PR student going into my final semester... I have actually been hearing the opposite from companies that I have worked with, from my professors and guest speakers in class. However I will admit we all have our positives and negatives in writing, some of us are good at formulating sentences and paragraphs others are good at grammar. To me writing is a skill that should always be practiced and can be improved on.”

Lisa Brandush said:
“I don't think it's fair to lump all new grads together as they come from different schools, backgrounds, and experiences. Sure, there are plenty of new grads that can't write or are lazy about it, but there are also plenty who can write very well for their level of experience.

"There are also plenty of seasoned professionals who can't seem to write or just don't care enough about it. I often have had to correct the rambling, incoherent writing of experienced communications and marketing professionals. I was shocked at the fact that they seemed to not know (or not care about) the difference between your and you're.”

Debra Bethard-Caplick, MBA, APR said:
“Just as we shouldn't stereotype new graduates as poor writers, we shouldn't stereotype older professionals as out of touch with social media (a myth I experience frequently).”

From PR Career Café, Sal Vilardo said:
“I don't have any employees, but one thing I have noticed, while going back for my MBA is that there are a number of college students who either don't care about their writing skills or are so strictly conformed to a single style they don't ever toe the line to get a point across or add any emphasis.”

Carole Wehberg said:
“Having attended a graduate program for communications professionals recently, I can confirm that many of these technologically sophisticated and bright people cannot communicate in an effective or persuasive manner in writing. Spelling and grammar are poor due to over reliance on texting.”

From #PR Intern/#Entry PR, Chelsea Grint said:
“I believe social media is leading to a downfall of writing skills with my generation but it is leading to a lack of pure conversation with the generation below me. I have two teen sister-in-laws (to be) who spend most of their time with their phones attached to their hands texting [or] Facebooking at startling speeds… Is anyone their age even communicating? That is going to kill not only their writing skills but their communication skills all together."

Do you think today’s PR grads are lacking writing skills? Part One

noreply@blogger.com (Britt Perkins) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 22:19:00 +0000

To be honest, we asked this question to discuss an issue we had already formed an opinion on: that writing skills are not what they should be and that they used to be better.

Sandy Charet, our president, has been observing the writing skills of job applicants for more than 20 years and says they are on the decline.

“I read cover letters and resumés from recent graduates all the time and they’re not as good as they were. Vocabularies have gotten smaller and spelling errors like ‘definately’ abound,” Charet said. “I don’t think recent grads work at writing something that actually speaks to you. They don’t try to connect and engage with the written word.”

But we were curious about the specific experiences of our colleagues and whether or not they experienced the same phenomenon.

I could talk about the content of the responses we got, which was often very insightful, but I’m not going to get into that right now.

Instead, I’m going to talk about the typos and errors within the responses. These were informal comments on LinkedIn, a professional social media site, but a social media site nonetheless, which may act as evidence to the fact that the technical evolution has taken its toll on the written word.

Respondents probably saw the question posted in the discussion boards, skimmed some of the remaining text and the other responses and then typed out a quick response before they returned to the thousands of other things vying for their attention on a daily basis.

While I am very grateful for the participation, because this was a discussion on writing skills, I can’t overlook the fact that there were some typos and errors in these responses.

Even though social media is designed to be quick and dirty, proofreading any and all communication is something everyone should do.

That especially applies to emails, resumés and cover letters. A fresh set of eyes would actually be better for resumés and cover letters.

It seems that most college graduates know the basics of writing. But it’s really about whether or not people have the discipline to consistently apply what they know.

Vice President - Head of Healthcare Practice -Interactive PR firm in DC area

noreply@blogger.com (Sandy Charet) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 20:10:00 +0000

We are very proud to be working with this new client. The agency has a great reputation for professionalism and creativity and a unique, effective approach to offering clients what they need in digital, advertising, marketing and PR. It's a generalist firm, servicing different industries that fit loosely in four categories, this job being over the healthcare practice. The agency has functional specialists that move across all the industries, providing creative and strategic integrated communications programs for clients.

We are looking for someone to head up the healthcare practice. This person will provide leadership and vision to the business unit, direct account teams, work on new business development and manage the development and involvement of staff. The firm has stable crew of terrific professionals to work with.

This person will be located in the firm's headquarters office, which is in Baltimore. We're looking for someone with excellent oral and written communications skills, knowledge of marketing, social and traditional public relations, and 15 to 20 years experience working at an agency as well as on the corporate side. The salary is very competitive, there are great incentives and the company will help relocate the right person.

If you meet the above requirements and are interested in the position, contact me and I will be delighted to tell you more, and share the company's job description with you.

Sandy Charet
sandy@charet.com

Manager of Investor Relations - Mining Company - Colorado

noreply@blogger.com (Sandy Charet) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 15:37:00 +0000

My client is a mid tier Canadian gold mining company that is looking for a Manager of Investor Relations to provide the full range of Investor Relations activities for the company, liaising with corporate office staff and General Managers of the mining sites, Technical Services Group, Sustainability Group, shareholders, potential investors, media, analysts, consultants and legal advisers. The position is based right outside Denver Colorado.

This Manager will write and present speeches and articles for publication; Effectively present information to top management, investors, banks and investment banks, public groups and board of directors. Liaise with external organizations and agencies that the Corporation does business with. Respond to common inquiries from investors, media, exchanges, regulatory agencies, analysts or members of the business community.

We're looking for someone with the ability to understand and translate technical data into more simple concepts, who is diplomatic and well spoken. Someone with background working with an international company involved in some form of technical production would be the easiest fit.

This person will be expected to develop and maintain relationships with the mining and investment communities. Also, to maintain knowledge and experience of the financial and regulatory environments for the mining industry. He/She will be expected to effectively communicate the company's activities and provide counsel to senior management regarding IR, and corporate communications issues. This will include the development of key messages and a range of communications. He/She will also organize and coordinate marketing activities for the company, attending trade shows and building reputation with all stakeholders.

For more information, contact sandy@charet.com

Senior Account Executive - Life Sciences - NYC agency

noreply@blogger.com (Sandy Charet) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:43:00 +0000

We are helping one of our all time favorite clients to find a very strong and fast track AE or Senior AE to join their growing healthcare practice. The practice is doing very well, with a beautiful variety of large and small and varied healthcare accounts.

They've just brought on a large international client and a specialty lab company. There is lots going on already and a few very exciting accounts on the near horizon.

What we really need is a very strong writer who has experience working on Science accounts, experience working with the media, and who has worked closely with senior leaders to plan events. This vital post also involves writing reports, doing research and more.

This person will work on the two new accounts as well as some of the work that's already in the house, and be ready to take on new and exciting assignments in the near future. So we need someone smart, energetic, and able to juggle priorities. Exposure to large and small clients is helpful.

This company is one of the best mid sized agencies in America to work for. People come first, and the philosophy of the company is to really invest in the junior people and help them build their careers. People tend to stay for a long time for that reason, as they are also a meritocracy, where if you do good work, you are rewarded well.

This is really a plum position.

For more information, contact sandy@charet.com

5 Resume Don'ts

noreply@blogger.com (Britt Perkins) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 22:54:00 +0000

Visit the PRSA JobCenter for the latest advice from Charet & Associates!