Sunday, May 4, 2008

Packing List


We know that you'll bring your smiles and eagerness to the Regional Activity Tuesday morning, but what else should you bring?


The second installment of conference preparation features what you need to pack with you to the Holiday Inn Downtown/Convention Center in Portland. Here's my list:


  • Professional attire



  • Raincoat or umbrella (this is Portland, remember)



  • Directions to the hotel (if you're not taking the vans)



  • Copies of your resume



  • Portfolio



  • Business cards (if you have them)



  • Lots of questions!

Is there anything I left out? What are you going to bring?

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

You've registered. Now what?


It's hard to believe, but the Regional Activity is less than a few days away.

Confused about the next fork in the path to sucess? After registering and submitting your session preferences, the next step is preparation. How do you prepare for a conference? Take a look a the following tips from PRSSA JobCenter, also included on the Regional Activity Web site:

Refresh your resume

Update your resume to create a snapshot of your experience. The goal is to pique the employer's interest and generate an interview, but not get too caught up in the details. Employers generally only spend 15-30 seconds looking at a resume for the first time.

Tips:


  • Keep it to one page

  • Include bullets

  • Leave ample white space for the reader's eyes to rest

  • Include limited italics, bold words or underlines

  • Have easy to understand chronology

  • Emphasize action verbs and results

  • Proofread for typos and grammar

Create a portfolio


Having a portfolio is the best way to promote your work and accomplishments. You don't need to include everything you've written in college, just the pieces that scream with talent. It's best to have a hard copy of your portfolio to show employers during face-to-face interviews and also an electronic copy to e-mail or post to a Web site or blog.


Tips:



  • Include a writing sample. It can be something you've written for a class, but make sure you mark it as such (especially if it includes the name of a real organization).

  • Include a brochure, newsletter or Web site copy that shows off your desk-top publishing and technical skills

  • Include your name, address, and contact information (phone, e-mail, etc.) in the beginning

  • Proofread to make sure your portfolio is free of typos and efficiently organized

  • Provide a good mix of your skills and talents

Items typically found in professional portfolios include a resume, letters of recommendation, licenses or certificates, evidence of specific skills (public speaking, leadership, writing), and work samples (produced in a class or internship).


Prepare for the Portland Paddle interview


Think about what you want the interviewer to know about you, before you meet. Your responses to the interviewer's questions should reflect your ambition, motivation, dedication and integrity. The more personal and specific you get, the more you will stand out from the crowd.


Tips:



  • Practice as much as possible

  • Be honest and straightforward. Promote yourself and your skills without being hyperbolic.

  • Dress professionally

  • Be on time

  • Maintain good posture

  • Have a positive attitude

  • Stay informed of current news and trends

  • Have a focus on your assets and expectations, even if you don't know what you want to do 5 years from now

  • Appear in demand and selective, but be careful not to sound over-confident

  • Expect the unexpected

  • Prepare questions for the interviewer(s). This displays interest and gives you the opportunity to learn if the job is right for you.

  • Send a thank you letter or note, preferably via mail. Try to send it the same day as the interview.

Find out more information on cover letters, resumes, portfolios, interviews, networking, assessing your skills, or finding a job or internship at the PRSSA JobCenter Resources page.


Is there anything else you think is helpful in preparing for a conference? What is a useful tip you've learned during a job search? Leave comments here for your fellow students!

Monday, April 7, 2008

Ch-ch-ch-changes


The Regional Activity is less than a month away! Have you registered?

We have two important changes to our onference schedule (pardon me for the Bowie reference - or don't).

1) The happy hour sponsored by PRSA has changed to a social later that evening at the new Turnbull Center at UO Portland. Transportation will be provided.

2) The New Professionals Summit is now Thursday, May 8, two days after the Regional Activity, as opposed to the day after. The event is now half-day.

The Communicators Conference is still Wednesday and Thursday, May 7 and 8, beginning the day after the Regional Activity. At $300 for two days, your laundry money won't cover the cost of attendance (don't show up smelling of sweaty gym socks), but the organizers say the quality is on par with a national conference. Plus, you get to hear the hilarious Joel Stein keynote the conference! Discounts are available for volunteers. If you're interested, contact our Regional Activity Director, Beth Evans, for more information.
The new conference schedule is as follows:

Conference Schedule* - Tuesday, May 6

9 a.m. – noon: Career Tours
Agencies, in-house PR and media outlets

12:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.: Lunch with Keynote Speaker, Kyle Warnick

2:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.: Portland Paddle
The Portland Paddle is an annual event organized by the UO Chapter Vice President and the School of Journalism and Communication’s career counselor. UO PRSSA will pair professionals from several North Pacific states with student attendees for one-on-one informational interviews.

2:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.: Career Fair

5:30 p.m.: Social sponsored by PRSA at Turnbull Center

*schedule subject to (more) change

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Kyle Warnick to Keynote Regional Activity

We are pleased to announce that Kyle Warnick, PR Manager for Microsoft Surface, will be our keynote speaker.

Kyle Warnick joined the Surface team in July 2006 as the senior marketing communications manager. He is responsible for directing and handling all the PR, marketing and branding communication strategies for Microsoft Surface™, Microsoft’s first surface computer, and the surface computing category at Microsoft.

He has previously worked for T-Mobile USA as a corporate spokesperson and medial relations and internal communications specialist, and founded his own PR consultancy firm, Chapter 2, where he directed all PR efforts for a variety of technology and non-profit clients. He is experienced in conducting statewide, national and international PR programs for technology and non-profit clients.

We're honored to have Kyle as our keynote speaker. Check out Kyle's entries on the Surface blog. Then hear what the Northwest native has to say about PR, networking, and what it's like to work for a multinational technology corporation on May 6!

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Calling all online shoppers


Ladies and gentlemen, we're finally online.

The Regional Activity's online registration and Web site are up and running!

Early bird prices are $30 for PRSSA members and $50 for non-members. Follow the same registration link to register for the PRSA Portland Communicator's Conference, held May 7 and 8, the two days after the Regional Activity.

Press a few keys, click the check out, and drop some professional development in your cart.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

The Stage is Set




The Regional Activity is less than three months away!

We've been putting the ax to the grindstone these past few weeks, despite midterms and beckoning rays of sunshine (few and far between in Duckland), to bring you the best possible conference. Our webmeister is rapidly typing code for the conference site, our director is busily ironing out all the kinks for online registration, our sponsorship committee is coordinating funds, and our other members are planning all the details of lodging, transportation, and conference programs. Me? I'm trying to get the word out.

So what will the conference entail? For those of you who've already marked May 6 on your calendars (or for those who haven't yet), check out our updated conference schedule below. We're planning on a busy, but exciting, day!

Conference Schedule* - Tuesday, May 6

9 a.m. – noon: Career Tours
Agencies, in-house PR and media outlets

12:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.:
Lunch with Keynote Speaker

2:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.: Portland Paddle
The Portland Paddle is an annual event organized by the UO Chapter Vice President and the School of Journalism and Communication’s career counselor. UO PRSSA will pair professionals from several North Pacific states with student attendees for one-on-one informational interviews.

2:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.: Career Fair

5:30 p.m.: Happy Hour sponsored by PRSA
*schedule subject to change

Sunday, January 13, 2008

The 2008 Northwest Regional Activity Awaits You

Tired of stumbling through a forest of job postings? Unsure where the post-graduation trek will lead you? Take a straight path to success with a Regional Activity!

The University of Oregon is thrilled to host its Regional Activity, “Northwest Networking: Hiking Toward PR Success,” Tuesday, May 6 at the Holiday Inn in Portland, Ore.

This inaugural event will feature agency tours, lunch with a keynote speaker, a career fair and informational interviews with PR professionals from the around the country.

While in Portland, take some time to immerse yourself in this burgeoning metropolis. Home to some of the nation’s largest companies, such as Nike, Intel and Columbia Sportswear, Portland is a growing city bustling with young professionals. The city is also world-renowned for its outdoor adventures, music and natural beauty. Where else can you enjoy a microbrew and a view of snow-capped Mt. Hood while listening to the hottest new indie band? Only in the Northwest!

The Professional Communicator's Conference, held the two days after the Regional Activity, will also attract professionals who have agreed to come a day early to attend the Regional Activity. Come to enhance your resume, visit with prospective employers and learn about the public relations profession, all while enjoying the “City of Roses.”

Your career is only steps away.