DC Flacks will celebrate a HAPPO Happy Hour this Tuesday at District Chop House in Downtown D.C. If you’re a communicator in the area, please join us! RSVP here.

ABOUT HAPPO

If you’re following social media and PR Twitters like Mike Schaffer, Robert French, Heather Huhman or Sarah Evans, you’ve likely read about HAPPO via the hashtag #HAPPO. It stands for Help a PR Pro Out, a brilliant concept that connects PR job seekers with employers looking for top talent.

Although folks are Tweeting gigs and using the hashtag daily, the real event is on Friday, February 19, from 10am-2pm CT, when some of the nation’s leading PR pros will Tweet job openings and help facilitate matches. Read More…

Lately, I’ve had quite a few chats and glasses of wine with friends looking to make the switch from their current industry to a career in public relations.  Of the four career-leap talks I’ve had in the past month, my advice remains consistent: the burden of explaining to a potential employer the value of your non-pr-career experience is on you.

To the average PR recruiter, hiring you is not a no-brainer. You are going to have to connect the dots for hiring managers, which means you must create an all-new resume with a matching cover letter. Please, I beg of you, don’t use the words “social,” “media,” “maven” and/or “guru” in any sentence about yourself.

These paper versions of you should not only convey the overall depth of your skill set, but clearly explain how the responsibilities and successes at each of your past gigs are relevant to the public relations career you now seek. Read More…

Sneak peek of the new Brazen Careerist!

I’ve shared with you my excitement about the online GenY community, Brazen Careerist, before. Well, in a few hours, they’ll launch a new site in just about every way: new look, new vision, new reason for you to care – and maybe – for me to move on.

Since I read mostly PR, writing and geek blogs, I dig Brazen because it allows me to follow posts about journeys I don’t usually read about, like paying your dues in the workplace, searching for ultimate purpose, frustration with non-techy boomers, whether or not to get your masters degree, etc.

Even though I’m on the almost-too-old-to-really-be-Gen-Y side of the Brazen Careerist spectrum, I still routinely get a lot out of the site – including meeting new folks (Hi, Nisha!), learning new things, and a steady amount of blog traffic.

The “old” site was billed as a true online community, with contributors “bold enough to explore divisive topics, but sensible enough to admit that they don???t have all the answers.”

The new site is touted as “the career management tool for next-generation professionals.” It’s intended to showcase you – twenty-something newbie – and your vast potential. It understands that lack of experience doesn’t mean not smart or capable. It gets you. It gets what you will be.

I LOVE that new vision, that business niche. I love the fact that Brazen will now be a place where smart and proactive grads will gather to take over the world.

There’s just one problem: I guess that kinda means I’m out.

I turn 30 in three weeks. With eight years of public relations and reputation management experience, I’m no longer your gal if you are targeting our future workforce. I may be young, but I am currently a professional. I love my career and can articulate my desired path. I wear a suit every day and have Manager in my title. Worse, heart excel sheets and regularly lead task forces.

Maybe it’s time for me to find the online community for the “not-quite-running-the-world-but-nearly-there professionals”? Did I just describe Twitter?

Don’t get me wrong: I’m thrilled for Brazen – and Penelope and the Ryans. If you liked the “old” Brazen, you’ll love the new site. I’ll still surf it and (hopefully) contribute.

Their strategic move to target and empower the next gen of pros is spot on; sadly, it’s just no longer the spot I’m in.

As you may have heard, I’ve been offered – and have accepted – an incredible job opportunity in Washington DC.

I KNOW! (squeal!)

As odd as it may seem, most folks I’ve told about this adventure promptly ask, “Well, what about Dave? Is he going with you?” Um, yes. Dave is going with me. And so is the porge.

In anticipation of this and other queries, we’ve created a quick Frequently Asked Questions section for your reference: Read More…

Ah, career advice. As much as I love giving it, I really love to hear it. I’m dork, I know. Sometimes it’s commonsense and rather pointless like “work hard” or “never give up.” But many times it makes you step back and access your situation. It makes you grateful for what you’ve got and/or passionate about what you could attain.

It’s even more fun when the advice is cool. Like this offering from career strategist J.T. O???Donnell, which points out that since the vast majority of new jobs are landed based on who you know, you should probably start caring about who you know and how they remember you.

To this point, O’Donnell asks if you are a marble-type or sponge-type employee and warns, “your answer will determine the quality, quantity & quickness of job offers you receive.”

So … are you a marble?

Marbles are people that as they progress through their careers, don???t take the time to connect with others and build meaningful professional relationships. While they maintain a shiny professional persona, they fail to gather any weight in the form of contacts and resources that can help them in the future.

Or are you a sponge?

Sponges are people who make it a point to connect and build relationships with managers, co-workers and clients. They see value in building a strong professional network by getting to know people on a deeper level. By acquiring and maintaining workplace connections, they build professional weight that they can leverage in the future.

Why does it matter?  Read O’Donnell’s explanation here. I can testify to the impact a first/only impression makes on your future. That dude you just stood next to at the Shelby County Imagination Library event may be your next boss. Just say’n.