OKPrProf

Oh the weather outside is... not too bad

But it is supposed to get bad. So, class for today (all classes, PR Comm 001 and 002, Principles of PR and Media Relations) is cancelled. If you had an assignment due - you have the golden ticket, four more days to perfect it.

Now, just cause we don't have class doesn't mean we can't learn something. I want everyone to watch the video below. All you ever wanted to know about the benefits of wikis.

For my pr comm and media relations students, be on the lookout for an e-mail offering a collaborative outlet (a wiki site) to share your work, ideas, etc. for the greater good of all, including yourself.

See everyone Tuesday!

Resume Help

I get a lot or requests to review resumes for people job hunting in the PR industry. In just the last month I have probably reviews more than a dozen. What I find amazing is they all look the same and my comments are almost all the same.

Keep this in mind, the resume is your first paid advertisement - about you. Make sure the copy does a great job of letting people know who you are and not just why they should hire you, but why they should be concerned their competition might hire you (think about that for a second).

Okay, first things first. Do a little research. Every resume is a living, breathing document. Unless you apply for the exact same job over and over, it should be modified appropriately for every job you apply. What should be modified - that all depends. Applying for a copy editor position - highlight your journalistic work. Applying for an AE position - highlight your ability to coordinate multiple projects. Applying for a generalist position - highlight your best campaign. On your resume, always put first what will keep them reading.

Speaking of first things, drop the objective heading on your resume. Everyone's objective is the same. Written in different words they all say, "I want a job." The employer knows that, it's why they are reading your resume. Instead, create a "summary of qualifications." If you have no qualifications then I might suggest you forgo the resume and simply fill out application at any business with a "now hiring" sign in the window.

After the objective tell them what college you graduated from, your degree and your area of expertise if one exists, etc.

Remember, your goal in creating a resume is to keep the prospective employer reading and interested. Now for the meat.

When you give your job experience tell them about your accomplishments at each company, not just what you did. Were you responsible for simply answering the phone or did you support the company's customer service goals by answering specific questions and routing inquiries to the appropriate person? Trust me, there is a huge difference between the two and any business owner knows it.

Did you write for the college paper? If so expand on that, how many articles, what did you write about, what topics, did anything occur as a result? How many were front page articles? 

If you helped with a campaign, talk about the accomplishments of the campaign and your role. Did you create a facebook page? Great, tell us how many people visited it, became members, did what you told them to do.

Again, focus on what you have accomplished; goals, objectives and tactics alike. This advice is also true for your philanthropic section. Don't tell me you were the president of your PRSSA chapter, tell me what you accomplished during this time.  Talking about your accomplishments is what will set you apart from all the other candidates.

A few other points:

Your resume can be longer than one page so long as you aren't full of fluff.

Have at least five people review your resume. Of that five, at least three should be in the profession. I know, I hate having people review my work simply for the fact they will find fault with it. But, that is the goal, and better them than the person you want to interview with.

Finally, once you take all the edits, revisions and suggestions into consideration, re-write your resume and send it back out to everyone with a thank you note. In that note ask them to forward it to anyone they might know who is looking for a person like you. (at least that is what a good PR person would do)

Good luck!

Five reasons Chad Osko will be successful

Chad Osko was a student of mine. I received a note from him the other day and, after reading it, it occurred to me that Chad will be successful - for a lot of different reasons. To clarify, "will be successful" doesn't necessarily mean successful today or even tomorrow or that he will have a mansion and a yacht. He may not reach his definition of "success" for some time. But, I have no doubt that he will reach it or, more to the point, it will reach him.

So, without further adieu, five (rambling) reasons Chad Osko will be successful:

Chad is unique - No question about this, and in a lot of different, good ways. One day I was walking to class and thought Chad was walking in front of me. A young man, of medium build, blond curly hair... and then I realized, that can't be Chad, the person in front of me isn't wearing flip flops.

His flip flops aren't the only thing unique about Chad - and I doubt he wears them all the time. His unique attributes are the kind that make people want to hang out with him. What I found most unique about him was, for as unique as he is, he didn't hide it. He is very comfortable in his own shoes... ahem... flip flops.

Chad is talented - No question about that either, very, very talented. Talented in a creative way, a way that pays dividends to any company once they harness his energy. But, oh that energy. I know, I know. Chad is, for lack of a better term, a goof. Some of my best friends are goofs. I am a goof (self confession - don't hold it against me) and some of my best/most productive employees have been focused, creative, talented goofs. Ask any successful team leader who their best/key team members were and most will describe Chad.

He is open to change - It doesn't have to be a debate/argument for him to change his mind. His eyes, heart and mind are open. The most successful people I know are open to change. Sometimes they change their minds, opinions, habits, etc. because they were simply listening and hadn't closed off the pathways to alternate ideas.

What change did I witness? I didn't, but he shared. Let me use his words. ..."at the beginning of the semester, you and I got into a little tiff about the legitimacy of a Public Relations degree.  I absolutely had my doubts, but you, almost single-handedly changed my mind."

I remember that conversation. It was actually with the entire class (class, what are you doing to improve your reputation as public relations professionals?) and lasted no more than ten minutes. For Chad, apparently, it lasted all semester. And, in the end... well, he saw the light.

Chad is passionate - Go ahead, ask him about the movie Rushmore or a myriad of other topics. Be ready to sit for a while though. Bottom line, people who are passionate about something understand passion. And, that tends to migrate to other topics and people.

And last, but not least, Chad gets "it" - I am not sure why he wrote me. He didn't have to and there was no benefit or gain for him. He didn't ask for a favor or need advice. It was truly altruistic, to say thanks for being a good professor, being "Paul Miller's Mr. Holland". But that is what people who get "it" do.

A lot of my students will be successful for all the same reasons listed above. For those not taking notes, let me summarize. Unique, talented, open to change, passionate and getting "it" equals future success.

For the record, let me clarify success - it is what you determine it to be, no one else. I am not sure how Chad will define success, it may be having a job where he can wear flip-flops to work. For me, success is being a college professor and receiving, every once in a while, a note like Chads.

It's a train wreck and I can't stop watching

Journalism at its best. Not sure which is worse though, watching a reporter try to spank a guest or watching the guest. It reminds me of the age old advice - Don't wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig enjoys it.

The worst part, read the comments at Youtube.

The end is near and I will miss Bill (not me, the other Bill)

But it does make me wonder about the future of Microsoft. How much impact can one person, an iconic figure, have?
Video: Bill Gates Last Day CES Clip

Working the plan or planning to work

I have spent the last week or so working on several business plans (setting goals, objectives, strategies, etc.) and one personal plan for 2008. It is always amazing to me how much there is to do but how easy it is to do it all once it is down on paper. And, how easy everything can stall once you loose sight of and stop working the plan. My question to all my readers/students/etc. is how is your plan coming along? Are you working it? If something isn't going as planned, what are you changing to reach your goals?

Population U is about done - more on that as the semester progresses. For the alumni, I hope you will be part of it.

To Mr. Osko - I got your note and you rock. Stay tuned for "Five reasons why Chad Osko will be successful in Public Relations." And, a response is on its way.

School starts tomorrow! Go Pokes!!