I’m helping Molly Hoyne Mahar over at Stratejoy put together a fantastic event in Chicago for women. The event will cover the following topics:

• – Specific strategies for evaluating your current reality
• - Inspiration & techniques to clarify YOUR version of success
• - Guidance through the creation of an action plans to tackle the big dreams

So head on over to stratejoy.com to learn more and register—space is limited!

ShareThis

1. Try attending a few events alone. When people attend networking events with friends or colleagues, they tend to create a comfort bubble and chat among themselves—which, by default, leads to far less networking with others
2. Know that most people feel a bit awkward when they arrive at an event and do an initial survey of the scene—but remember, they’re all there there to network too. That’s the point. Don’t be afraid to walk up to an individual or group and ask what brings them to the event
3. The more events you go to—and the more you reach out to strangers—the more people you’ll know next time (and you will see many of the same people again, so it will only get easier!)
4. If the event itself is not a great environment for meeting others (too noisy, too crowded, not enough time, etc.), make plans for a follow up lunch, coffee or gathering with other friends who you know would have something to add to the conversation. I met some great friends in the city through a simple follow up at a networking event for interns years ago
5. Volunteering at an event is one of the single greatest ways to break the ice—you have an automatic in with those who are running the event and other volunteers

How do you approach networking events?

ShareThis

So here’s one. If you’re new to town (or even if you’re not, and you’re just looking for a relaxing way to spend your Sunday afternoon), check out the CRAVE Bloom + Tone party this Sunday. The event consists of four 30-minute mini fitness classes, mini spa services, healthy snacks, a talk with a nutritionist and other fun happenings.

I know a few friends who are already planning to go—it should be a good time!

When: Sunday, March 28, 1-6 PM
Where: Architectural Artifacts at 4325 N Ravenswood in Chicago
Price: $25

Full disclosure: I have received a free ticket to the event, compliments of CRAVE Chicago, though I’d truly go either way (my friends will be there—I don’t want to miss out)

ShareThis

We’re looking for an Online Research Assistant. Jump on over to the Loudpixel blog to learn more.

ShareThis

Photo: Fishing for the big one by HikingArtist.com

During my time speaking at the PRSSA Get in the Loop conference hosted by DePaul last week, I had the opportunity to chat with a number of students about their hopes for their future careers. As can be expected, a number of students are looking to land jobs in large established PR or advertising agencies. They seem to see this as their only opportunity to work with big name clients.

Truth be told, the fragmentation of media has left a lot of opportunities for the little guys to win specialized portions of business from some big name clients—and with online communication where it is, it’s not terribly difficult to begin building a global network for yourself.

So don’t discount the little guys during your job hunt. They may offer equally fantastic opportunities to get your career off to a great start working with both large and small clients.

ShareThis

Though you can’t change the economy, you can change your career—which is why Nicole has partnered with Plan B to bring women of the Chicago area a night of top-level networking not to be missed. Held at the prestigious Hotel Allegro, guests who RSVP will receive a VIP pass to the event which includes:

• -Chatting up women in the area you need to have on speed dial
• -Free cocktails and desserts
• -Complimentary career advice from Nicole Williams

And the details:

• Date: February 17th, 2010
• Location: The Allegro Hotel
  171 West Randolph Street
  Chicago, IL
• Time: 6-8pm
• RSVP: RSVP (at) nicolewilliams.com

ShareThis

See you there!

ShareThis

I remember having a serious conversation with my friend, Kevin, the summer we both started PR internships in Chicago. We talked about the industry’s turnover rate (about 17.5% in the Midwest at the time—employees are often motivated to make the shift for larger salaries, a better fit in corporate culture or new locations), and we discussed our goals to break that mold and have a solid stay within a single agency.

Alas, while Kevin has maintained a successful career within the same agency that he interned with, I took a different route. I ended up moving to a new agency about a year into my career, and I recently left agency life altogether to start my own business with my fiancé and a good friend.

So who took the best route to career success?

I have no regrets about where I am today—I’m building a successful business with some of my closest friends, and I have had the chance to learn from incredibly brilliant colleagues and mentors who I still call my friends. But after the first move, I vowed to myself that the only thing that would motivate me to leave the agency was if I was going to work for myself. I actually don’t think consistent agency hopping is a good career choice, nor is it good for the companies you leave or the industry as a whole.

While it may lead to a short-term pay raise or change of scene, agency hopping has a number of downfalls:

1. Starting over is difficult. It takes time to build relationships and establish trust.
2. It’s not fair to colleagues. Agencies invest a lot of time getting employees up to speed on new projects and procedures, along with ongoing industry training. They also invest emotionally to build a successful team dynamic.
3. Leaving is emotionally difficult. It’s hard to tell a trusted team that you’re taking off. It can feel a bit like betrayal—going against the trust of the team, no matter how positive the intentions.
4. It could hurt in the long run. Agency hopping might be a good change in the short term, but a long resume of short-term jobs doesn’t read as very reliable.
5. The little stuff. Don’t forget about all of the little things that make a move difficult, from transferring 401Ks to selecting new health insurance.

Ultimately, I think there are only two reasons that make the change worth it.

1. You’re leaving agency life altogether to try something completely new (and hopefully long-term).
2. The idea of Monday morning makes you physically ill.

How do you feel about this issue? I’d love to hear your opinions.

ShareThis

I’m also proud to say that Edelman (my employer) is ranked fifth on the list—check out the video here. There are a number of other creative agencies on the list as well, including Marketing Werks (#9), Digitas (#14), Razorfish (#17) and Leap Frog Online (#42).

View the Gen Y Top 50.

ShareThis

If you’ve found yourself in a postgrad internship or entry level job, you’ve likely run into a few transitional frustrations here and there. Maybe you feel the tasks that you’ve been given are a bit too granular, or you’re tired of working from project to project instead of being assigned to one of your own. Having been through the obligatory internship phase myself, allow me to offer a some perspective and advice on approaching this experience.

1. No matter how great your resume looks, you still have to prove yourself. As the president of the central region of my own company said during the Gal’s Guide Summit a few short weeks ago, “No one cares where you went to college or what your GPA was—it’s all about what you can do for them.”
2. Attention to detail comes first. You have to prove that you can get the details right before moving on to the “bigger picture.”
3. Be proactive. Learn to think like the client. Answer questions and solve problems before they have the chance to ask. This will make you a valuable asset to the organization.
4. Learn basic design. No matter how great your ideas are, they won’t get you anywhere unless you can express them. Whether you’re communicating through PowerPoint, a print document or any other format, bad design is distracting.
5. Learn how to use your desktop apps. Not just use them, but really use them. You never know when you might need to pull a crazy excel formula or PowerPoint formatting trick.
6. Continue to network within the company. Ask to grab coffee with different employees who are higher levels than you to get to know more about what they do and learn about the various career options within the company. The more people you can get to know this way, the more you’ll have cheering for you when it comes time to make hiring or promotional decisions.
7. Learn to prioritize. You’ll likely have different projects coming from different people, so each time you get a new project, let them know what you’re working on and ask when the project is due by.
8. Make sure you get your review. Set up a review with your manager half-way through your internship. You need to find out where you stand in order to improve on any perceived weaknesses.

Photo: “Shoes to Fill” from my own photo collection

ShareThis

Barbara Nixon recently asked a number of professionals for some advice for her students.

Should a Public Relations student’s portfolio be digital or in a binder?

I can certainly answer this question with my personal point of view, both as a professional who has looked at portfolios during the hiring process and as someone who landed a number of opportunities based on my own online portfolio.

A few years ago, having an online portfolio as an advertising or PR student was much less common (so much so that I was able to land a scholarship to the Cannes International Advertising Festival’s Roger Hatchuel Academy simply for being the only student to apply with an online portfolio).

These days, the practice is becoming more common, and for students looking to stand out in a competitive job market, I would argue that an online portfolio is quickly becoming a requirement. This is particularly true for those looking for a digital position (and I might add, most PR positions have become at least somewhat digital).

Your Portfolio Might Simply Be Your “Personal Hub”

During the hiring process, you want to make it as easy as possible for hiring managers to get a fast impression of what you’re all about. This might be as simple as creating a “hub” that will lead them to your work, writing and participation in various online networks. It might even be a blog.

Creating an online portfolio can be a lot of fun—this is your opportunity to get creative and show off your personality.

Resources:

• WordPress (If you’re in Michigan, check out Loudpixel’s upcoming workshop on building a web portfolio using WordPress)
• Check with your university to see if it offers free web hosting to students (many do)
  
• Squarespace
• DreamWeaver (available in some college labs—this is what I used to get started early on)
• More Resources: Create a Professional Web Presence on a Budget

ShareThis

When I was a student at Michigan State University, my decision to travel to New York City for a weekend conference to network with professionals and other students set me on a path that ultimately landed me where I am today—soI’m thrilled to announce the Gals’ Guide Summit in Chicago, hosted my my colleague, Blagica Bottigliero.

The summit, taking place on Saturday, October 3, will host panels on money, career, health and wellness, city safety and relationship issues. I’m also hoping that those of you who are considering a move to Chicago will have an opportunity to meet a few others before arriving and maybe even find a future roommate.

If cost is a concern (I understand—I was there not too long ago), consider getting a few friends together to share travel and lodging. The summit itself is only $10 thanks to the support of sponsors. It’s sure to be a fun, informative day. Hope to see you there!

ShareThis

Marcus Sakey started his career in advertising. Ten years later, after a combination of fateful events, he made the leap into the world of writing novels.

He’s now an award-winning novelist based out of Chicago, and he’s about to release his fourth book, a crime thriller called The Amateurs (which will certainly end up on my book club list). Three of his novels are in development as films.

Listen to the audio interview to learn more about Marcus Sakey and his adventures from the world of advertising to the world of writing novels.

And while you’re at it, check out a few of his favorite novels.

Photo by Brett Carlson

ShareThis

To be fair, I’m biased—I chose to start my career in a big city. But honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Allow me to lay out a few quick points (and note that I’m talking fairly specifically toward those looking for jobs in creative agencies, so this won’t apply to everyone).

POTENTIAL PROS

• Networking: Large cities offer literally thousands of opportunities for networking. You could be at a different event every night, if you felt so inclined.
• Inspiring Peers: Not that smaller cities lack amazing professionals (quite the contrary), but larger cities offer the company of a number of inspiring, diverse, motivated and accomplished individuals. It takes a certain type of person to take the leap and move to a big city, and in my experience this has made for interesting peers.
• Visible Clients/Projects: Big cities are home to a number of larger agencies. These agencies often work with well-known clients. This means you could potentially be taking part in recognizable programs early in your career (and although your role may be smaller at first, I would argue that working on large programs provides an invaluable learning experience).
• Creative Outlets: In Chicago, I’ve been able to find inspiration and balance through creative outlets such as community photography classes, dance classes and various other meet-ups and events (not that these don’t exist in other cities, but the possibilities are absolutely incredible in a large city).

POTENTIAL CONS

• “Barriers to Entry”: Unless you’re already living in a big city, you’ll likely have to adjust to living in a completely new environment (culture shock is entirely possible). You may have to live with strangers in order to make rent early on. If you’re interested in working for a large agency, you’ll likely have to start out as a post grad intern. Then you must prove yourself and work your way up.

ShareThis

get a real job after college = make money = feel stable

Simple, right?

As it turned out, becoming a graduate and getting a job didn’t make me feel like a stable adult. Shocking.

So how long does it take to achieve stability, exactly? For me, I had to find balance in a few areas:

Financial
It’s hard to feel stable when you’re living paycheck to paycheck—it takes time to build up an emergency fund and learn how to manage your money.

Social
I moved to Chicago knowing next to no one. It helped to start out by meeting others in the same position as me through Young PRSA events, but it took at least six months to a year before I felt like I had a really close group of friends that I could call up at any time.

Work Life Balance
It takes time to adjust to a working environment and schedule after college. This is probably the most difficult transition, especially given the unpredictable nature of agency life.

Not to mention emotional stability, relationship stability and finding a comfortable place to live.

And since this is clearly different for everyone, I thought I’d ask a few others for their thoughts on how long it took them to feel “stable” after graduating college.

“Not until my mid-20s after I got some good corporate experience and knew what I wanted”
—Kristen

“Haven’t gotten there yet…”
—Dan

“For some reason, I associate stability with complacency and try to avoid even after 4 years in the “real” world that is Angelosland”
—Andy

“It took me another eight years after undergrad to decide on grad school. now I’m two years out and I’m still not there yet”
—Siobhan

“Not until we moved to Chicago from New York, paid off credit cards and built an emergency fund. Salary < financial intelligence”
—Sean

“I felt pretty stable a year or 2 after I did, but since I moved [to Chicago] things changed a bit”
—Maggie

“Haha I’ll get back to you on that one! Still working on it ”
—Emily

“This is going to make me sound old fashioned, but I didn’t feel financial stability until I got married. My jobs have been shaky”
—Erin

“It’s weird. I feel settled in the fact that I love Chicago, but I still feel v. unsettled b/c I want a FT job and a place of my own”
—Molly

If you’ve graduated, how long did it take you to find stability (if ever)? If you’re still in college, what are your expectations about finding stability after graduation?

ShareThis

“Think carefully about the username you choose. Once it’s been selected, you won’t be able to change or transfer it.”

-Facebook

Approximately 23% of Facebook users are college aged females. Statistics show that approximately 77% of these females will marry one day, and roughly 85% of those who do will change their names. This means that roughly 3.3 million women who are currently in college will one day change their names. Add to that the women who are out of college, and the 50%+ who will divorce, and you have quite a few people who will be changing their names sooner or later.

Yet Facebook wants us to pick one name for life—like a tattoo that can’t be changed.

So what’s a single female to do? Sign up with a maiden name and stick to it? Wait to see what happens? Take a chance on a future name?

The lack of flexibility is absurd. I guess I’m just going to have to get creative.

Did you create a Facebook URL? Whether you’re a man or a woman, how do you view this issue?

ShareThis

If you happen to be reading this in your reader, I recommend taking a moment to click through and check out the site.

ShareThis

The most satisfying part of the project came when I paired myself with Gloria—I couldn’t help but think that my own experiences matched her interests perfectly, so I sent her a note to let her know that I would be her mentor match. Over the next few months, I got to know Gloria over Skype calls and emails, along with a quick lunch when she was visiting Chicago.

Who knew that my little mentorship matching idea would play a part in leading Gloria into a role in my very own group with Edelman Digital? She starts next week (I guess it’s true then—networking is truly the best way to find a job).

I’ve decided to wrap up the mentorship connection site for now. It takes a fair amount of time to maintain, and between my full time job and growing list of hobbies, I’m not able to manage it properly right now. I want to send out a HUGE thank you to everyone who took part. I hope you found your matches to be as satisfying as my own.

Do you have a success story to share? I’d love to hear it!

ShareThis

Alexandra Levit said it best when she told new grads They Don’t Teach Corporate in College.

Here are a few things I’ve learned about the corporate world—particularly related to creative communications, in no particular order:

1. “Best,” “Cheers,” “Thanks” and “Thank You” are all good default sign-offs for emails at work.
2. Good ideas can come from anyone, regardless of age.
3. Pay attention to the details (especially when it comes to scheduling conference calls across timezones).
4. Don’t be surprised if you spend hours working on a project just to hear “it’s a good start.”
5. If your company gives you a blackberry, there’s an immediate expectation of availability outside of the office (even on the weekends).
6. On that note, if you go on vacation and leave your cell phone number, there’s a fair chance you’ll be contacted with questions at least once.
7. Recognize that it can be difficult to decipher tone in email—brevity is not always intended to be rude (for example, sometimes messages are kept brief because they are typed out on mobile devices).
8. Kindness will take you far.
9. So will the ability to multitask.
10. You’ll be amazed by what can happen when you just raise your hand to volunteer.

For those of you who have worked in the “corporate” world, what else would you add?

Photo Source: uncultured, Creative Commons

ShareThis

ShareThis

It’s hard to believe that it has been a full two years since I stood on stage and gave the commencement speech at the Michigan State College of Communication Arts & Sciences graduation ceremony. I recently revisited my old speech to reflect on how things have changed in those two years—and I actually think it still resonates in a number of ways.

You can watch the video archive on the Michigan State Broadcasting Services Site (you’ll have to jump to 34 minutes in).

The Speech

As a telecom and advertising student at Michigan State, I started learning some important life lessons as soon as I moved to campus, before I ever stepped into a classroom. I think I was walking the streets of Grand River, getting acquainted with East Lansing, when I learned two of the most powerful words of my college career. Two words that have the power to move and motivate people, especially college students. I’ve seen these words in action here on campus many times since, and if you take nothing else away from what I have to say to you today, remember these two words.

Free food.

That said, a lot has changed in the world since that fall when I was first introduced to life as a college student—the old days, before relationships were defined by the all-important question (Should we make this facebook official?), back when—if I wasn’t in my dorm room I couldn’t be reached because I didn’t own a cell phone (which I now can’t live without). I remember during my sophomore year, I had heard about the big Ashley Simpson Saturday Night Live debacle and I tried to find a video clip online. I could not find a clip anywhere. Today, I can go on YouTube and find it in no time. Information is becoming a lot easier to access, and at the same time, a lot easier to distribute.

We live in a connected world today, a world where 1/4 of people have searched on a persons name prior to meeting them, a world where, if you’re not online, you practically don’t exist. People have always maintained their own personal brands to some extent, but today it goes well beyond a resume or list of experiences. We’re defined by our facebook profiles, our voicemail greetings, our eBay ratings, our personal websites, our online photo albums, and now more than ever, by what comes up when our names are entered in that Google search box. It sounds a bit scary, but it’s empowering at the same time.

The Internet world is chaotic right now. No one is exactly sure what to do with all of these new tools. Each and every one of you now has the power to take advantage of all of this chaos and stand out. You are a brand. You are your own Coke, Nike, iPod, Target, or Google, and with the technology available today, you have a lot of the same opportunities as these brands to build your own brand equity and connect with people around the world.

There’s a reason you’re all Time Magazine’s 2006 person of the year. You’re all experts on something. You all have opinions, or some sort of creative viewpoint. A lot of you have produced brilliant creative work. And now, you have more opportunity than ever to share that viewpoint, to share your expertise, to expose that creative work to an endless audience, or to contribute to a conversation and create a network with a group of people around the world with whom you share a common interest, even though you’ve never actually met in person.

Anyone can start a podcast or blog, or at least comment on one. You can send an e-mail around the world in seconds, or post a video online for thousands to discover. Anyone can gain or lose credibility or fame with nothing more than a computer, an Internet connection and a point of view.

I did my own little experiment with this when I started a podcast last November. When I was in New York City for a career conference, I interviewed people in careers in advertising and marketing and posted the interviews up on iTunes and some other directories online. Within a few days I had listeners and fans from around the world—Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, South America, and all across the United States. I have fans. And who am I? I’m just a student from Michigan State with a point of view and a connection to the Internet.

But while websites, e-mail, blogging, podcasting, and social networking are all the buzz right now, there is always going to be a world beyond the Internet where you can continue to build your personal brand in a more traditional way.

I looked on Wikipedia (yet another great resource I’ve come to love) for the definition of the word “brand.” There was one particular line that stood out to me. It said: A brand serves to create associations and expectations.

The way I see it, a brand has a perceived value. Each and every one of you is walking away from Michigan State today with a great deal of value; you all have something remarkable and unique to offer. You will never just be defined by your given job title (or lack thereof for those of you still trying to figure out exactly what you want to do). The average American holds 3 to 5 different careers and between 10 and 12 jobs in a lifetime. But there’s more to you—you’re more than that.

Every time that you choose to act with kindness, whether it be toward someone who has a lot of sway in your professional life or someone who doesn’t seem to matter to you at all right now, you’re building your personal brand. You never know when you might run into that person again, or what position they may be in when you do.

Every time you step up, put in that extra bit of effort, go beyond what’s written in your job description or just what’s expected of you, you’re building your brand. With all of the resources out there these days, you have the ability to continue learning long after you leave Michigan State. And there are so many people out there who would love to help you. All you have to do is ask.

ShareThis

I’ve had a lot of requests over time to create a list of the top creative careers, which is difficult to do since it’s so hard to define what roles fit into this category. Instead, this is a collection of the interviews I’ve done over time with a wide range of creative professionals. I’m planning to grow this list as I interview new people, but here’s a start.

1. Graphic Designer
2. Marketing
3. Digital Marketing
4. Fashion Entrepreneur
5. Public Relations Specialist (View interviews 1, 2, 3 and 4)
6. Web Entrepreneur (View interviews 1, 2 and 3)
7. Author (View interviews 1, 2 and 3)
8. Creative Director, Advertising
9. Digital Creative Director
10. Advertising Copywriter
11. Web Copywriter
12. Branding Director
13. Professor
14. Art Camp Director
15. Creative Self Development Coach
16. Professional Blogger

ShareThis

ShareThis

If you’re a college student who is finding creative ways to help fellow classmates stay calm in the face of stressful times, submit an essay or video to the Chill Out Now Sweepstakes.

ShareThis

1. Location, Location, Location!
   Location is everything. It affects how much time you’ll spend on that train or bus each day (as well as how crowded it will be), how much time you’ll spend tromping through the cold and snow to get to that train or bus, how you get groceries and how you see friends. A lot of new grads move to Lincoln Park, Lakeview or Wrigleyville—the commute downtown from these neighborhoods ranges from 20-30 minutes, plus walking. When I lived in Wrigleyville, I left at 8:00 AM to get to work by 8:40.
2. Transportation
   Before you even make the move, go to the CTA website and order yourself a Chicago Card Plus. You can set this to automatically reload for increments of money—or, if you commute every day, you can have it reload every month ($86 per month for unlimited rides).
3. Groceries
   There are a few chain grocery stores in the Chicago neighborhood Jewel-Osco, Dominick’s, Treasure Island and Trader Joe’s, along with a few smaller neighborhood stores. Trader Joe’s tends to be a popular option. A lot of people who work downtown pick up their groceries at the Ontario store after work. If you’re going for a big grocery trip, don’t be afraid to buy a folding grocery cart (they are totally socially acceptable, I swear—I bought mine at The Container Store at North and Clyborn).
4. Apartment and Roommates
   I recommend finding roommates, if you haven’t already. It will save you a good amount of money (I paid $745 for my half in my first place—a two bedroom walk-up in Wrigleyville). A lot of Chicago newbies use Craigslist both for roommates and to find an apartment (I used it myself). There are also free apartment finding services such as Apartment People and Apartment Finders.
5. Social
   If you’re new to town and don’t know a lot of people, there are a ton of ways to get out and make new friends. You just have to get out there and get involved. There’s volunteering, social club sports, Tweetups, Twenty-something blogger get togethers and plenty of events (generally, follow other twenty-somethings on Twitter to find out when they come up).

I’m certain that I’ve left a lot out, so if anyone has anything to add, leave your comments. I may end up updating the post in the future.

Photo Source: Good Egg under Creative Commons

ShareThis

For those of you who are interested in learning more about web design, Jeff is doing a giveaway for his new book, Head First Web Design—the compliment to Head First HTML with CSS & XHTML.

If you’re interested in expanding your current skills (or lack thereof), check out the book giveaway on Jeff’s site.

ShareThis

If the reality of graduation is starting to settle in, and you still don’t a job lined up, here are a few things you can do.

1. Invest some time away from online job sites, and start networking with real people.
   I used to spend hours scanning job application sites, and while they might be helpful for some, most people I know (and note that I’m coming from a large agency perspective here) don’t find their jobs through job search sites. They find them through networking. Where to start? Comment on agency blogs, find agency people or HR reps on Twitter (try searching for the company on Twellow), set up informational interviews, have coffee with people you admire and go to any networking events you can find (even if it means you have to travel to get there).
2. Get ready to be flexible.
   When I was preparing to graduate, I had a part-time job and a lease through the summer that would have given me some time flexibility if I didn’t land a job right away. If you have the ability to maintain your current job and apartment for a few months, or even move home with Mom and Dad until you figure things out, do it. You’re better off taking some time to find a position that’s a great fit than jumping at an opportunity that isn’t what you want to do.
3. Look for rolling internships.
   If you’re looking to get in with a larger agency, post grad internships are the way to go. If you missed out on deadlines for set summer internship programs, there are still opportunities out there. Look for companies that take interns year-round (try following Heather Huhman on Twitter for updates on available internships)
4. Pump up your digital knowledge.
   Digital is the sweet spot these days. Start reading, listening, creating and participating.

ShareThis

I don’t receive health insurance through my employer—in fact, I don’t receive any benefits at all. I make good money and pay taxes, but because I chose to start my own small company, I’ve placed myself at the mercy of the US healthcare system.

The United States is the only industrialized nation in the World that doesn’t offer universal healthcare to its citizens. Instead, we rely on an arcane collection of state-regulated insurance companies to provide coverage for the vast majority of Americans. Most get coverage through their employers; low income individuals and the elderly receive benefits through Medicaid and Medicare, and the rest of us are left to “shop around” for individual coverage. Unlike group plans offered by employers, individual health insurance can be denied for almost any reason. It is considerably more expensive, does not cover pre-existing conditions and does not fall under HIPPA laws put into place to make sure people between jobs don’t lose benefits.

Entrepreneurs and Innovators Are Left Behind

This means that many entrepreneurs and innovators—those of us paving the way on our own—are left with costly insurance or no insurance at all. Because of the limited choices for affordable healthcare, the decision to become an entrepreneur looks increasingly less attractive. Even if an individual is to secure an individual policy, the rates will be higher, and the coverage will be less than policies available through an employer.

My Personal Struggles With Entrepreneurship and Health Insurance

About three years ago I had a cyst removed from my jaw. It was a fairly standard procedure, much like having wisdom teeth pulled, until my doctor received the pathology report. I had an Odontogenic Keratocyst (OKC), an aggressive, benign tumor in the jaw that has a high propensity to return (about 30 – 50%). Since then, I’ve had similar procedures to remove the reoccurring cyst two other times with the most recent (in January of 2009) finally producing a clear pathology report. Of the three surgeries, one was covered by my graduate assistant insurance, and the other two were paid for out-of-pocket, totaling about $3000—expensive, but less than many deductibles.

When my graduate health insurance ran out in November 2008, I purchased a short term policy to get me through a few months while I decided whether to build my small company or go look for a full-time job. I decided to become my own boss, and I started looking for health insurance while I began to build clients. I knew that most plans probably wouldn’t cover any problems that arose from the jaw cyst, but I never thought it would be cause for denial.

The first company I looked at was Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois. They are well established and their plans are accepted all over the Chicago area. I completed a rather lengthy application, fully disclosing the cyst, paid two months worth of premiums ($350) and waited for a response. About two weeks later I was notified that they needed more information and scheduled a phone interview to discuss the OKC. I gave them all the information requested over the phone and assumed I was that much closer to having health insurance.

I was wrong.

After another ten days or so, I received an email saying that BCBS could not offer me coverage due to information provided during my phone interview. I had been denied. A letter that came a few days later confirmed the fact that they were not going to issue me insurance because of my cyst that was now gone. Even worse was the fact that I now had to answer “yes” to the ubiquitous application question: “Have you ever been denied coverage in the past?”

Black-Listed

This question essentially black-lists me, making it next to impossible to find affordable individual coverage. My last option is the Illinois high-risk pool, or ICHIP, that offers coverage to individuals who are willing to pay, but who are not insurable through individual plans. If that doesn’t work I may be forced to put my company on the back burner and look for a full time position with health benefits (or convince my current girlfriend to make a trip to Vegas).

I have to wonder how many potential entrepreneurs have forgone their plans to forge their own paths for the benefit of health insurance.

ShareThis

New Math
by Craig Damrauer (introduced via Stephanie Russell)

Indexed
by Jessica Hagy (introduced via Meg Howard)

ShareThis

• 5:45 AM Wake up and get ready for the day
• 6:30 AM Head out the door with my wife to work
• 6:55 AM Board the Red Line at the Belmont stop to head downtown
• 7:15 AM Arrive at the office, boot up my computer, eat oatmeal for breakfast
• 7:30 AM Sending coverage to Client A and sending speaking submission information to conference
• 8:15 AM Press release phone outreach for Client B and reviewing edits to a byline with Client B
• 9:30 AM Moderating media call for Client C between a reporter and end user
• 10:00 AM Moderating a call with Client D’s end user for an upcoming press release
• 11:00 AM Call with Client C to review a customer reference program
• 11:30 AM Summer internship candidate phone interview
• 12:00 PM Sending call notes from media interview to Client C and ESS outreach
• 12:30 PM Byline edits and revisions for Client B
• 1:00 PM Lunch with media tracking vendor
• 2:30 PM Finalizing byline for Client B and sending to author for final approval
• 3:30 PM Drafting weekly office New Media newsletter/Dropped by office party for 5 minutes to get a cup cake
• 4:00 PM Moderating a call with another of Client D’s end users for an upcoming press release
• 4:30 PM Finalizing weekly New Media newsletter and sending out to office
• 5:00 PM Reviewing byline and pulling pitch ideas for Client B
• 5:15 PM Entering time for the week
• 6:00 P M Heading home
• 6:45 PM Arrive at home

ShareThis

Check out the quiz: Are You Ready for PR or Marketing?

Update: Before you begin, note that you have to sign up for the site to get results.

ShareThis

My favorite answer (and forgive me for not remembering who said it) was simple: we check our egos at the door. The successful professional is the person who is not afraid to ask for help where help is needed—the person who can run with ideas from colleague rather than getting hung up on his or her own ideas—the person who can work across age groups and levels to find the best possible solution to any problem (for example, we have a reverse mentorship program called “ROTNEM” that pairs young techie/digital types with those who want to learn more about digital).

So how does this compare to group projects in college?

Unlike group projects, which tend to have one stand-out leader and at least one slacker, work in an agency (in my experience at Edelman, anyway) is much more balanced across team members—if you don’t pull your weight, or if you can’t work collaboratively with the rest of the group, you’re not likely to last long in an agency setting.

Finally, many college students tend to be a bit selfish about their time. Where I’ve found my colleagues to be very collaborative and open to sharing new learnings, news or trends, college students are often more focused on their own grades—and why shouldn’t they be? The grading system is typically set up on an individual basis.

Is there any way to make the college group project experience more similar to the real working world? I think it’s difficult to duplicate in an educational setting where the stakes are lower—which is why internship experience is so important.

Photo Source: jisc_infonet under Creative Commons

ShareThis

• 8:30-9:30 Arrive at work, sort through e-mails, monitor for client placements and relevant media.
• 9:30-11:00 Pitching! Calls or e-mails to journalists to convince them your clients should be a part of their next story.
• 11:00-12:00 Catch up on e-mails, send updates on pitching, team call with client.
• 12:00-12:30 Lunch
• 12:30-1:30 Brainstorm for next big client idea. Lunch is served. You already paid for yours a half hour ago. Shoot.
• 1:30-4:00 Write press release, build media lists for next client pitch.
• 4:00-5:00 Research project from your account leader.
• 5:00-6:00 E-mails, enter time, go home!

ShareThis

So after being laid off, as many have been lately, Steph was able to find another job in just three weeks. This is the email she sent me after she got the job. I love the story so much that I asked if I could post it.

I want to thank you for inspiring me to blog. This is why: it landed me a job. After losing my job three weeks ago I struggled with finding another one. I sent out resumes and cover letters to all sorts of places and never heard anything back. I thought it was hopeless. But I was wrong. When I got an email from a company in Arkansas I was just a bit baffled. I vaguely remember applying for a position there but had quickly forgotten about it because I didn’t think anything would come of it. But here they were. I had a phone interview with them and this is what they said: They loved my work and my experience, but the thing they loved most was reading my blog and discovering my personality.

They said the blog was the reason they called, the reason they brought me in to their office, and the reason they knew they were going to offer me the job even before I made the 11 hour trip to meet them face-to-face.

How amazing is that? I know my blogging style is different and I still have a lot of things to work out, but this company saw my personality in it and they loved it. So indeed, I have you to thank for that. You really inspired me to get my own webspace and communicate my ideas to the world. At first I was discouraged because I didn’t receive any comments. But it didn’t matter in the end. People out there were still reading.

You can read Steph’s blog at stephanierussell.net.

ShareThis

After reading Allie’s post about a day in the life at her Edelman job, I contacted her offering my story. Every PR pro will tell you there really isn’t a typical day, and it’s true. What I’ve outlined below is very different than what today will bring.

As a brief introduction, I’m the media relations manager at the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), a national, nonprofit health care professional association. I’m a one-woman show, although I’m trying to get an intern. (My boss tells me if I didn’t come up with so many wonderful ideas I wouldn’t need an intern!)

I absolutely love my job, but it was a long road getting to this point. I put in my time at the agencies—both big and small—like everyone else. But, I ultimately knew I’d end up at a nonprofit. Most of my clients over the years have been nonprofits. I find the work truly rewarding, especially working for a health care nonprofit. Every day I’m helping people live longer, healthier lives. What’s better than that? Plus, my co-workers and boss are all fantastic people.

Other than AOTA, I’m also the entry-level careers columnist for Examiner.com—another job I truly enjoy.

While I don’t have a video like Allie, picture in your mind what I’ve written below. I’m sure I’ve left out many details, such as checking e-mail and keeping up with Twitter. But, you get the picture—my days are crazy!

• 4:30 AM Wake up; get ready for the gym
• 5:30 AM Arrive at the gym and begin workout
• 6:30 AM Head home to shower and get ready for work
• 7:10 AM Catch the train; begin writing today’s Examiner.com article
• 7:30 AM Arrive at work; continue writing today’s Examiner.com article
• 8:00 AM Complete and post today’s Examiner.com article
• 8:05 AM Read the news; media clipping
• 9:00 AM Teleconference with The University of North Carolina PR rep re: autism and occupational therapy research press release
• 9:20 AM Review peer-reviewed journal article for newsworthy talking points
• 10:00 AM Begin writing press release
• 11:30 AM Print off press release and proof for boss’ review
• 11:47 AM Print off documents for boss’ review, including press release, trade press article and two fact sheets (I’ve been working from home the past two days—work has piled up!)
• 11:49 AM Begin editing and updating last year’s Occupational Therapy Month materials, including Ten Things You Can Do to Celebrate OT Month, OT Month Sample Press Release, Public Service Commercial Radio Announcements, Public Service Public Radio/TV Announcements, Tips on Reaching the Media and Tips on Talking to the Public
• 1:30 PM Stomach is growling—heading to the kitchen to heat up lunch
• 1:50 PM Ok, back to work on OT Month materials
• 2:00 PM It’s the budgeting time of year for us, so I jump on a teleconference with a potential vendor
• 2:26 PM Again, back to work on OT Month materials
• 2:45 PM Call from a member’s PR rep wanting more information about OT Month
• 3:00 PM Turned in first round of OT Month materials to my boss for review; scheduled a meeting with the policy team for tomorrow to discuss autism and OT legislative issues for a one-pager
• 3:15 PM Prepping for a meeting with my boss
• 3:30 PM Meeting with my boss
• 4:00 PM Returned a member call re: information to include in a press release
• 4:36 PM “Finalized” press release for researcher review based on my boss’ feedback
• 4:41 PM Interview with a staff expert to respond to a media inquiry
• 5:01 PM E-mailed a response to the reporter; heading out to work from home
• 5:36 PM Arrived home; checking e-mail and sending responses
• 6:30 PM Time to call it quits for the day!

Feel free to e-mail me at heather@heatherhuhman.com with any questions or follow me on Twitter for internship/job leads and PR advice!

If you’d like to share your day in the life, get in touch and I’ll post it on the blog.

ShareThis

My point is, dedicating time to activities outside of work (or school) is extremely important. I’ve often drawn creative ideas from my “outside” hobbies and experiences, and meeting new people with different perspectives helps to remind me that we all think differently.

So what are you doing outside of work or school? Where do you draw your creativity from?

ShareThis

I’ve been meaning to do this for a long time—I gathered these clips back in August, 2008 and never got around to putting them together. This is the start of a few “day in the life” features I’ll be doing over the next few weeks. Although it’s rare that two days are alike in public relations, I’ve asked a number of young professionals I know to document a single day from their jobs. You’ll see those soon, but for now, here’s one day from me.

• 6:35 AM Wake up
• 6:37 AM Feed the cat
• 6:45 AM Jump on the elevator to head downstairs to the gym
• 8:00 AM After getting ready, prepare breakfast
• 8:03 AM Eat breakfast while catching up on Google Reader
• 8:26 AM Time to walk to work—it’s about 3 blocks from my apartment
• 8:36 AM Arrive at the Aon Center and head upstairs
• 8:40 AM Coffee from the Starbucks machine at work
• 8:43 AM Settle into my desk and start in on conversation research and insights, preparing a brief survey for a new client
• 10:30 AM Meet with Phil to discuss the online lessons we’re creating on digital insights and social media
• 11:00 AM Work on the online lessons, my main project at Edelman
• 12:30 PM Lunch time – Head across the street to grab lunch with my colleagues
• 1:06 PM Head back to work
• 1:15 PM Continue to work on research and insights
• 2:45 PM Snack time – every Tuesday and Thursday Edelman has free fruit for all employees, along with snacks for 50 cents each.
• 3:30 PM Head upstairs to meet with the PR team to brainstorm ideas for an upcoming project
• 4:30 PM Back to working on the online lessons
• 5:30 PM Head over to a Chicago networking event with colleagues, and head home by 8:30 or 9:00 PM.

ShareThis

I was reminded of this the other day when I went to the Twestival event at Catalyst Ranch here in Chicago, where I met up with a few other young professionals. The unique space was reminiscent of the offices I had seen in my daydreams:

• – Open and creative
• – Wifi throughout
• – Tables and chairs for concentrated work
• – Plenty of spaces for groups to sit around in cozy chairs to collaborate on ideas
• – Various rooms and spaces to escape to for some quiet

I have to wonder if the corporate world will ever see a push toward more offices like this, equipping employees with laptops, wifi and plenty of inspiration. This is becoming a natural environment for many young professionals, especially as more grow up with the mobile freedom of wireless technology. Might it make them more comfortable and productive at work, or do you think it would be a distraction?

What does your ideal office look like?

ShareThis

Well, it looks like someone else was thinking the same thing. Waiit.com is a new community and guide to long distance relationships, including forums, articles, videos and more. If you’re going through an LDR right now, check it out. This may be just the support you need.

Of course, these days, the web offers support on this topic all over the place. With the communities and conversations forming online, there are plenty of places to find others who can relate.

My personal experience with a long distance relationship was difficult, but proved worth it in the end, and we were made stonger for it.

How did (or do) you deal?

ShareThis

1. Enthusiasm is often the deciding factor.
2. Asking questions shows enthusiasm.

So what questions should you be asking your potential employer in an interview? Here are a few thoughts:

• – How does [company name] keep up with changing trends and technologies?
• – Does [company name] offer any ongoing training for employees?
• – What do you think sets [company name] apart from it’s competitors?
• – Can you tell me a bit more about the company culture?
• – When did you become interested in [said career]? How did you end up at [company name]?
• – Are there any extracurricular activities at [company name] for employees to get to know each other outside of the office? (If you know about a specific activity the company takes part in, such as the office softball team, go ahead and ask about it).

And of course, research the company so that you’re prepared to ask specific questions during the interview.

What questions do you recommend asking?

ShareThis

What to Cut

1. That irrelevant job as a bagger at the grocery store—Sure, you put in your time, but in the grand scheme of things, you’re not telling me much. I want to know about relevant work experience.
2. Your Dean’s list standing—If you’re hurting for space, leave this one on the cutting room floor. Your GPA will say enough.
3. Every duty from the internship you had—I don’t necessarily need to know that you filed papers and stuffed envelopes when things were slow at your internship. I’m assuming you can do those things. Try to focus on your unique accomplishments and leave out the menial tasks.
4. All of your hobbies—Unless you have a hobby that makes you uniquely qualified for the job at hand, leave it out.
5. Bad design—Often, lengthy resumes are simply a matter of poor design. If you can get your hands on a computer with InDesign at your school or from a friend, I highly recommend it. It’s much more flexibly, and often looks significantly more professional than a resume developed in a typical text document.

What to Keep

1. A link to your LinkedIn profile—If there’s more information that just can’t be included in one page, use LinkedIn to complete the story.
2. A link to your blog or portfolio—This may include writing samples, design and a bit more about your personality. Plus, it shows that you care enough to figure out how to establish a site for yourself.

Photo Source: Patrick Beeson under Creative Commons

ShareThis

Way back in the early days of The Creative Career, I wrote about saving money in the expensive big city. While I still think that the old list is pretty spot-on, another year in the city has taught me new ways to enjoy the city life—cheap bastard style. If ever there was a time to start saving some money and bettering our finances, today is it.

1. Opt for Student Services

I’ve tried everything from $12 student haircuts to free student acupuncture in my day—and while I’ve admittedly moved away from some of these, there are a few student services that are still impossible to beat. For example, Chicago’s Soma Institute offers one hour clinical massages for only $25. Check out the options in your town—you never know what you might find.

2. Milk That Old College ID For All It’s Worth

My college student ID still has a special place in my wallet. Movies, for example, are expensive in Chicago. Might as well save a few bucks when you can.

3. Be Smart About the Bar

It’s hard to go through your twenties without going to the bar here and there, but there are definitely ways to spend less while you’re out. Besides finding specials, I try to limit how much I drink while I’m out (both for my wallet and for my well-being). My friends know me for ordering virgin tonics. If that doesn’t suit your tastes, just swap out a regular water between drinks to slow yourself down.

4. Pack Your Lunch

This one is embarrassingly obvious. I cringe when I track my budget in the months when I eat out too much, which leads me into my last point…

5. Track Your Spending

If you’re holding yourself accountable , you’re less likely to jump on the impulse buys, and you can re-balance yourself where the damage has already been done. I use expensr.com to track my spending—I’ve also heard a lot of good things about mint.com

Photo Source: emdot under Creative Commons

ShareThis

1. 100% of 7th graders are sure they know exactly what they want to be when they grow up (despite the fact that many of them will most likely end up in careers that don’t yet exist).
2. 7th graders own iPhones (ok, just one that I knew of—but seriously? I may have owned a giga pet when I was in 7th grade)
3. 7th graders are the centers of their own universes. I had them play around with trends in Google Insights for Search. The most popular searches? Their own names.
4. If you don’t know what Runescape is (pronounced “Rune-Scape”), you are behind the times.
5. Top news sources: 1. Parents 2. TV 3. Mainstream news sites
6. Pirates are definitely cooler than ninjas
7. 24-year-olds are so old

ShareThis

1. In middle school, I learned to ride a unicycle. I rode it in local parades.
2. I have always loved musicals. In high school I was in 7 musicals: Grease (chorus), Fame (dancer), Singin’ in the Rain (dancer), Pipin (lead dancer, and I somehow managed to ride my unicycle in the show), West Side Story (chorus), Les Miserables (Eponine understudy and lead whore, my proudest moment) and Footloose (Rusty).
3. I was a summer camp counselor and outdoor education instructor, where I spent two summers living in the woods without a television or Internet. I became a certified archery instructor when I worked there.



4. I cheered for Michigan State’s co-ed team for football and basketball. I competed in a national partner stunt competition in Vegas, as well as team nationals in Orlando.



5. I gave the commencement speech when I graduated from the College of Communication Arts & Sciences from Michigan State.
6. I was one of four U.S. students selected to attend the Roger Hatchuel Academy during the International Advertising Festival in Cannes, France in 2007. I took that opportunity to travel Europe by myself, which was incredibly scary, but also inspiring.



7. I started dating my boyfriend after we started working on a group project together in a class called "Scripting for Web 2.0." Very geek.

Hey, in my industry, it helps to have a diverse background.

Now it’s my turn to tag some folks.

• Andy
• Nicole
• Jessica
• Laura
• Jess
• Erin
• Angie

As I understand, if you choose to participate, these are the "rules."

1. Share seven facts about yourself in the post.
2. Link to your original tagger(s) and list these rules in your post.
3. Tag seven people at the end of your post by leaving their names and the links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they’ve been tagged.

ShareThis

As I’ve started mentoring through my own match in Mentorship Connection, I’ve been helping my mentee prepare a stand out resume. One of the points we worked on was making the resume unique by showing personal accomplishments, rather than listing points that sound like a generic job description. This morning I came across this video from Fox Business that makes many of the same points.

If you’re preparing a resume to land an internship or job, take a minute to check this out. You can also subscribe to the Fast Track podcast in iTunes.

ShareThis

If you took high school biology, you know that you have about a one in four chance of getting a recessive trait carried by both parents. These were the odds I had for getting Metachromatic Leukodystrophy. Lucky for me, I wasn’t effected, and I’ve been able to follow my dreams to Chicago. My little brother, Patrick, was not so lucky. In 1993, at age six, he was diagnosed with this rare, life-threatening disease. This was before Google, of course, so little information was easily available to my family.

The Disease

After three months in the hospital and a bone marrow transplant from my sister, Patrick came home (by the way, the bone marrow donor registry is fairly easy to join). The transplant saved his life, but over the following months, the disease slowly progressed, until he was unable to walk or feed himself, and his speech slowed dramatically. If you’re curious about the full impact of the disease, I recommend you watch the movie Lorenzo’s Oil or check out these before and after photos.

Nearly 16 years post-transplant, my brother is still alive and under the care of two of the most incredible people I know. While he’s been considered lucky, Metachromatic Leukodystrophy continues to effect roughly one in 40,000. This is, of course, a small number compared to many diseases, which leaves it up to the families closest to it to come together to raise money for research and support.

The Cause

Through the United Leukodystrophy Foundation, I came across iGive.com, which allows users to align with a cause of their choice and donate a percentage of sales from over 700 stores to that cause. Many of these are stores I shop anyway—why not kick a few dollars back to support the United Leukodystrophy Foundation?

The web has changed the game for charitable giving. Now we hardly have to lift a finger to give part of our everyday spending to charity. Why wouldn’t we? So I encourage you to go to iGive.com, search "United Leukodystrophy Foundation" and align yourself with the cause. Or maybe you have another cause you’re passionate about, that’s OK too.

I could go on and on about how selfless giving from others helped my family get through the trials of 1993, but I’ll leave that for another day and place. Just know that small givings add up, and they mean the world to the people receiving them.

ShareThis

I moved to Chicago in July, 2007, shortly after graduating from college. Trouble was, while I was starting my life over and transitioning into full time work, most of my friends were still finishing college, or at least living the college lifestyle while they looked for jobs. I would get phone calls from friends on their way out to the bar late on weekdays, reminders that I was pretty much alone amongst my friends in my new career-oriented lifestyle. I imagine many winter grads feel the same as they begin their careers while their friends finish up back at school.

For those who go to college, the 21-24 age range can be especially tricky. It’s the first time that age really ceases to define your stage in life. After years of following a somewhat guided path through education, always having at least some idea or say in what comes next, everyone is scattered to the wind and left to figure out for themselves what comes next. Some move to new cities to start work (like I did), some move home, some start businesses, some travel, some get married and many take more time to finish school.

Coping With the Change

I’ve found two ways to cope with the life stage rift amongst my friends, and both take time.

1. Get out there and meet people in the same life stage as you.
2. Give your friends some time—many of them will get to the same stage you’re in sooner or later, and when they get there, you can be there to help them adjust to the changes.

I would have given anything to go back and join my friends in college during those first few months in Chicago—but now, a year and a half later, many of them have joined me here to start their own careers. Just give it time.

Photo Source: Hello Serjiy, Creative Commons

ShareThis

The importance of customer service in a world of instant online feedback is by no means a new concept, but my recent experiences on New Years Eve really showed this concept in action. We arrived at Wildfire for our 9:30 PM dinner reservation, only to find out that the restaurant was running over an hour late (and if you’ve ever spent New Years Eve in Chicago, you’ll know that it’s nearly impossible to make last minute changes to plans. Just about every restaurant and bar in the city is absolutely packed to capacity—so we were stuck).

Looking for an outlet for our frustration, we turned to Twitter for a little venting about the restaurant. There. Take that, Wildfire. Now everyone knows you screwed up.

But in the end, terrific customer service saved the day. The restaurant manager was at our table minutes after we sat down, offering a personal apology and a free appetizer—and when we were still finishing dinner as midnight rolled around, everyone in the restaurant was offered a free glass of champagne and party favors to ring in the new year. So even though our night didn’t work out exactly as planned, we had a great time celebrating midnight in the restaurant—and, of course, felt compelled to express our gratitude toward the restaurant to our Chicago buddies (and beyond), both on and offline.

There are plenty of opportunities to rant about bad experiences: Yelp, Get Satisfaction, Twitter, Metromix, Citysearch (etc. etc. etc.). These days, there’s little room for error.

Photo Source: MyTangerineDreams, Creative Commons

ShareThis

1. The glamor of media relations fades quickly if you’re forced to advocate things you don’t support or care about.

2. Being kind goes a long way. (This is more for when you’re a supervisor. I had two vice presidents who were wonderful to me and I would have done *anything* for them, even if it meant working all night.)

3. Being reliable and punctual goes a long way. (This is for before and after being a supervisor.)

4. Media want to use you as a resource; the only thing stopping them is how well you serve the role! Treat them with respect and really learn what they need and how they need it, what they like and dislike, how their daily routines work, etc. and it will be more fulfilling for both of you.

5. If you’re a creative person outside of the job, recognize that you’ll need a job that allows you to be creative. (Same goes with other skills or personality traits. If you’re "type A" you would do well to surround yourself with similar people that won’t hinder your progress. If you’re socially conscious or politically-minded, plan accordingly.)

6. Embrace differences. Learn from all the strengths your team provides.

7. Be open-minded.

8. Take risks.

9. Trust your gut.

10. Don’t ever let work become your life. It is your life that makes you good at your work, and you need both. (Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.) A happy, balanced employee is of significantly higher value to an organization or company and smart employers know this.

Thanks Erin!

ShareThis

It’s easy to become fatigued by the never-ending stream of online content, messages, connections and stats. I’m afraid I was beginning to have a bit of an unhealthy bond with my computer, working tirelessly to keep up and checking my stats a few too many times. But at what point does it get to be too much? When your work and life are both consumed by the web, where do you find balance?

This leads me to a few goals that web hostages everywhere should aim to accomplish in order to find some balance between the online and offline worlds in the new year.

1. Meet Online People Offline

Jamie Ridler had some great advice when she recommended stepping back and meeting online connections in the real world. I’ve followed this advice, and it’s a refreshing way to connect—with real live human beings.

2. Find a Hands-on Creative Project

For me, it’s finally enrolling in that jewelry and metalsmithing class I’ve been putting off for a year. I never want to lose appreciation for art without the “undo” button.

3. Read Fiction

It’s easy to get caught up reading within the same bubbles of information online. Reading a novel is a great way to break free and refresh your imagination. I started a book club to read more fiction. If you’re in Chicago and want to join us, feel free to get in touch.

4. Schedule Web-Free Time

Every Sunday morning, Jeff and I head out to the coffee shop around the corner—sans Internet—just to hang out and catch up on our offline reading. This is often one of the most relaxing parts of my week, and a refreshing way to step back from being always-on (although I’ll admit, it can be hard to resist the urge to send a mobile tweet every now and then).

What do you do to find balance? Do you have any goals for the new year?

Photo Source: Leia under Creative Commons

ShareThis

I’ll also be making a few small changes in the coming days. The "other" field, which was originally intended to fill in the gaps for any creative careers I may have missed, has been coming back with some interesting surprises. While I’m thrilled to see the diversity of career aspirations from students, I may have a difficult time filling some of these particular requests, as the majority of professionals signing up work in various creative communications fields. That said, I’ll keep everyone who has submitted a request in mind. You never know what could come up.

Finally, I want to send a big THANK YOU to those who have helped get the word out about the project.

• Teaching PR
• Jessica Mah
• The PR Practitioner
• Career Girls
• The PR Open Mic Community
• Jeff Siarto (and thanks for all the help getting it started)

And thanks to Alexandra Levit for providing a teriffic quote about the importance of finding mentors.

P.S. You may have noticed there was no new podcast today. I’m taking a little break for the holidays, but you’ll hear more soon. Happy holidays!

ShareThis

1. This American Life (View in iTunes)
   This has become my all-time favorite show (including all TV). This Chicago Public Radio show is full of great stories—always different, always amazing. (Thanks to Jay Wigley of Brazen Careerist for pointing me toward this one back in August).
2. The Moth Podcast (View in iTunes)
   This is another podcast filled with great stories. Each episode features a different storyteller telling a personal story in front of a live audience. Most of there are fairly hilarious, or at least thought provoking (Thanks to Mignon Fogarty of Grammar Girl fame for pointing this one out to me).
3. 30/20 Vision (View in iTunes)
   Three twenty-something life and career coaches and authors—Alexandra Levit, Christine Hassler and Lindsey Pollack have casual but insightful conversations about life in your twenties. They touch on regular life issues just as often as they touch on career issues, which makes this podcast a refreshing listen.

These should get you started. What else do you listen to or read when you just want to relax?

Photo Source: Emilybean under Creative Commons

ShareThis

It has been two years now since I started interviewing professionals about their work and advice for students, and over time I’ve started to see a theme. Mentors have played a huge role in guiding successful professionals to where they are today. For many students and young professionals, finding a mentor, especially one in the right career field, can be easier said than done.

I’m hoping to make this process a little easier for everyone. With help from the talented Jeff Siarto, we’ve created a simple form to help students find mentors who can offer them career guidance—this might include reviewing a resume or portfolio, discussing potential career opportunities, narrowing in on a field of interest or any other kind of advice.

The rules are simple. Whether you’re a student or professional, fill out the form to help us find you a fitting mentor or mentee. Let us know you if prefer someone in your own city so that you can meet in person, or if you are willing to communicate any questions or concerns through email, phone calls, Skype, chat, etc. Students, if you’re interested in finding a mentor in a particular city where you’re considering moving after school (New York, Chicago, etc.), add this information under "Additional Comments." Once a connection is made, you’ll receive a goal sheet to get started. Plan to check in at least once a month (again, this might be a simple email, or it could be an in-person meeting).

We’re launching this as a "beta" through the end of the year, so feel free to send any feedback or comments to allie.osmar@gmail.com.

Finally, spread the word! If you know any students who could use some guidance or professionals who want to make a difference, send them over to Mentorship Connection. The more people we can get involved, the more valuable this project will become.

ShareThis

Back in high school, when I was still certain that I wanted to go on to become a graphic designer, my art teacher tasked everyone in the class with creating a personal logo. I’ve used mine on all over the place: on my resume, business cards, twitter and my digital media portfolio (now deceased).

If you’re pursuing a creative career, a personal logo will help you stand out. Done right, it adds a touch of professionalism and shows that you take pride in yourself and your work. If you have absolutely no artistic ability, it could be as simple as playing with typography and experimenting with font styles or colors. In fact, some of the world’s most famous companies use simple typographic logos.

For additional resources, check out these sites:

• Logo Design Love
• Logo Faves
• Blog Spoon Graphics: How to Create a Logotype from Conception to Completion

If you’re working on a logo and need some objective feedback (read: not from your friend or roommate who will feel obligated to like it), feel free to email me.

What do you think? Do you have a personal logo? Why, or why not?

ShareThis

I learned from this, and when it came time to apply to jobs after college, I made a point to establish myself with my preferred name, using "Allie" on my resume. On top of this, as I was filling out paperwork with HR, which must include a full name, I specifically requested that my email address use my nickname to avoid confusion.

I still see some colleagues struggling when their email addresses don’t match the names they actually go by on a daily basis. It’s difficult to go back on a name or email once you’re introduced within a company. Once that announcement goes out with your formal name, don’t expect colleagues to ask if you prefer to go by something else.

You may not think about establishing a preferred name when you’re wrapped up in the job hunt, but take the time to consider it now, and you’ll thank me later. Just make sure you Google the name first.

Photo Source: comicbase

ShareThis

For those of you who, like me, work in this space on a daily basis, the concepts may not be entirely new, but you will, no doubt, be able to use tools in the book to illustrate the power of the social web to clients or colleagues. Chart and graphs are a powerful tool; case studies, even better.

If I were interviewing applicants to work in our digital group at Edelman, I would expect them to have read or at least be familiar with the concepts in this book. Within the next few years, I’m expecting that everyone applying to work in any group within Edelman should understand these concepts, and I don’t think I’m alone in this belief. The tools for learning are out there. Embrace them.

ShareThis

Besides the marriage, my extended family is huge, and growing. My dad comes from a family of eight kids—my mom, six. I lost count of my cousins somewhere around 50 or 60. They’re getting married and reproducing at such a steady rate that it’s hard to get everyone in one place anymore.

Part of me wants to keep old family traditions going—the part of me that hates change and losing touch. But the other part of me knows that it’s time to move on and accept that many of us will go our separate ways. It’s logistically impossible for all of my cousins to get together for Thanksgiving forever.

My family is definitely going through the transformation phase right now, and it will probably take a while. My sister is having a baby in June, which, I suppose is the beginning of new traditions for our family.

ShareThis

I’ve been entering my spending into Expensr religiously for about a year now to figure out my budget breakdown. I’ve covered Expensr once before here on the blog—you can anonymously enter your information and then break it out for evaluation and compare yourself to others who have defined themselves through various tags. For example, I’ve tagged myself with 23, young professional, woman, renting, Chicago, employed full time, etc. I spent $1,789.11 during the last month—which was actually inflated by the fact that I adopted Romulus, and he needed a fair number of shots for his kittenhood. As it turns out, my spending is well below average.

So here’s what surprised me…

Check out the average amount spent per month for the following age groups, according to Expensr (I should point out that this sample size is fairly small, but this is interesting nonetheless):

Age: Average Dollars Spent Per Month

• 18: $952.08
• 19: $1,022.27
• 20: $1,599.37
• 21: $1,454.17
• 22: $1,938.54
• 23: $4,175.99
• 24: $3,664.86
• 25: $3,011.25
• 26: $4,942.25
• 27: $3,648.50
• 28: $3,860.44
• 29: $5,275.85
• 30: $4,931.99

To put this into perspective, at this rate, these 23 year olds would need to be earning well over $200,000 (This should be $50,000—my mistake, I multipled by weeks in the year, not months, thanks Amanda) per year in order to deter massive debt. I’m not sure how representative this actually is of typical 18-20 year olds, but if it is, I’m worried. Please restore my faith and tell me that you’re not spending this much per month. Please tell me Expensr is flawed.

ShareThis

As much as we would all love to believe that we, as creative professionals are continually coming up with completely original ideas and work, the truth is that creativity in communications is often the result of applying new insights to familiar ideas. We work with a finate number of basic media types—it’s similar to the idea that all literature derives from only seven basic plots—but from this somewhat limited pool, the possibilities for new stories are endless.

I recently came across an exercise from a class I took as an undergrad, Creative Processes in Advertising. For the assignment, we had to draw two random items out of a hat and find a way to weave the attributes of both items together into an ad (I drew violin and Mini Cooper). As it turns out, this same type of thinking can be applied to the work I do today. Although I’m not creating ads, I’m often working on new ways to approach communications situations—playing with new combinations of media and messages.

In order to keep innovating, it’s important that we keep up on current events, rising trends, new forms of media and media outlets. The more you know, the greater the opportunity you have to find the perfect creative fit for the problem that you’re trying to solve.

ShareThis

ShareThis

But imagine what these kids will be creating when they get older.

Read more about the Blue School in the Time Magazine story, Postcard from New York City .

Photo Source: Robert Goodwin under Creative Commons

ShareThis

When I moved to Chicago in July of 2007, I knew next to no one. I only wish that I’d had (or known about) some of the great resources for connecting with other young people at the time. Sure, there are plenty of ways to do it on your own, but thanks to the wonderful power of the Internet, new resources are making it easier than ever. In fact, you could even start seeking out and connecting with others via Twitter before you move—try searching Twellow by location and interest (thanks to Jessica for that one).

Here are a few of the resources I’ve been introduced to in the Chicago area (I realize the first two skew a bit female…I happen to be one myself, which has swayed my interests slightly). If you’re not living in or planning to move to Chicago, I hope you’ll take some time to check out similar resources in your own city.

• Monthly Meet-ups for young women: After the success of the "It’s Chic to Be Geek" event on November 6, this groups is gearing up to meet every month to connect, teach and inspire young women in Chicago.
• Cheeky Chicago: I met the founders of Cheeky Chicago last week—they just launched, and they’re aiming to give females a resource to get to know the city and connect with each other. Sign up for the newsletter to find out about future events.
• Windy City Social: I met Hope Bertram, founder of Windy City Social, at the "It’s Chic to Be Geek" event. She’s connecting people on four levels: social, professional, intellectual and physical. Check out the site for upcoming events.
• Jelly: If you plan to work for yourself, Jelly is a group of freelancers who gather together in one location a few times a week—these groups popping up all over the world.

Photo Source: Mpopp under Creative Commons

ShareThis

ShareThis

I used to be adamantly against unpaid internships—and I still am in certain cases. The relationship should be mutually beneficial—if you are working as an unpaid intern and all you’re doing is answering phones, that’s an abuse of the relationship. There are two factors that must be accounted for before accepting an unpaid internship.

1. You should be receiving college credit for the experience.
2. The role should provide you with real and valuable experience—not just look good on paper.

That said, paid versus unpaid internships often depend on the market you’re in. From what I’ve seen, if you intern in a big city for a big agency, you’re more likely to get paid, and you’ll have a better guarantee of hands-on experience. This is not to say that some smaller markets and agencies can’t offer the same, but as you plan your path through college and on into your career, it may be worth exploring a summer in another city, if that’s where you’ll find the experience that’s right for you.

Resources

• youintern.com: Internship reviews and postings
• internshipin.com: Job board dedicated to internships, created by 18-year-old Jessica Mah

What do you think? Have you, or would you, accept an unpaid internship?

Photo Source: David Boyle

ShareThis

1. It has made me a more confident writer. Anyone who takes the time to practice a skill on a regular basis is bound to get more comfortable with it. This can be applied to other forms of writing in my job as well.
2. It has introduced me to some amazing people. A few months after I started blogging, I got involved with Brazen Careerist and 20 Something Bloggers. I’ve met a number of people from these groups in person, and even started a book club with some fellow 20 somethings. I’ve also been incredibly inspired by the people I’ve met during my podcast interviews.
3. It has led me to a job that I love. When the folks at Edelman heard the podcast and read the blog, they reached out and asked if I would be interested chatting about a potential position in their digital integration team. I’m now developing online courses to integrate digital thinking and social media across the company. I would never be in this position if not for the blog and podcast (and a bit of luck).
4. I love hearing from you! I’m still so excited by every email and comment that I get from students and young professionals. I always love to hear your thoughts and stories, and to help in any way that I can.

If you’ve been thinking about starting a blog, but keep putting it off, what are you waiting for? Jump right in!

Hat tip to Meg Roberts for reminding me of my "Blogoversary."

ShareThis

Read the story: Call centre worker caught out by boss after posting ’sickie’ plan on ‘Facebook’

Photo Source: Pshab under Creative Commons

ShareThis

After hearing about the Obama Election Night Rally ticket sign-up through Twitter, I signed up to receive mine just in time (Twitter is great—in the past few months, it has gotten me a free Oprah ticket and Grant Park tickets). I was so excited to get that email—I knew this was going to be BIG. It was like holding the golden ticket.

A few of us who work in the Aon were able to look out over the park and see the crowds gathering around 5:00 PM.

Jeff wasn’t able to make it (I guess that’s what happens when you’re writing a book), so my friend Ryan and I made our way over to the line around 6:30 PM to go through a series of security checkpoints, passing by vendors selling t-shirts and “I was there” pins. The energy in the air was unbelievable. I have never seen a friendlier crowd (or such a variety of creative t-shirts). When you get thousands of sober people together, all pushing for one cause, something really incredible happens.

We made our way over to the east side of the park, where we were able to see the podium where Obama would speak and watch the events of the night unfold on CNN.

You can just make out the American flag on the CNA Center in this picture. The whole skyline was filled with red, white and blue.

Me, Ryan and Kevin (we found Kevin about 20 feet ahead of us in line—pretty amazing considering the number of people out that night)

After counting down the closing polls on the west coast (it was sort a combination New Years Eve, football game, pep rally…), it felt like only seconds passed before CNN announced Obama had won. The crowd was quiet as McCain gave his speech (although a bit less respectful when they saw Palin).

I went back and forth between watching Obama on the big screen and Obama in real life.

After the event let out, Michigan Avenue was completely shut down to all traffic. The streets flooded with people. Some were carrying a cardboard cutout of Obama around, taking pictures with people. Some were singing. Some were laughing. Some were crying. Everyone was smiling.

I was home by 12:15 or so—luckily, I live in the loop, so I didn’t have to deal with CTA.

That was one night I’ll never forget.

ShareThis

Every now and then, a phrase will pique my curiosity, and I’ll take a closer look to see what has caused the sudden spike in interest. Not surprisingly, Oprah has been the driving force behind multiple hot trends over time.

Well, the "Oprah Effect" struck again on October 24, 2008, when the show featured the Amazon Kindle as Oprah’s favorite new gadget. This is an interesting illustration of how mainstream programming and news can reach well beyond original content, driving interested viewers to search for more information, and inspiring bloggers to chime in with their own thoughts on the matter.

Take a look at the spikes Oprah caused across the board when she featured the Kindle on her show—from search volume to blog posts to Twitter mentions.

Google Insights for Search
Kindle Search Volume: October, 2008

Google Hot Trends
October 24, 2008

BlogPulse
Blog Mentions Over Time: Kindle

Twitter Flaptor Trends
Twitter Mentions Over Time: Kindle

This may be an extreme example, given the influence of Oprah, but it’s not an anomaly. It happens every day, to some extent. There are people searching for more information and talking about just about everything that appears in the media.

ShareThis

View the video: Did You Know?

Although opinions waver over which jobs are the most in-demand today, Richard Riley’s prediction that the top 10 in-demand jobs in 2010 may not have existed in 2004 is absolutely relevant to the marketing industry.

When I started college in the fall of 2003, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, Digg, Yelp and Twitter didn’t exist yet. MySpace and Wordpress were brand new.

Students entering college today may very well be studying for jobs that won’t exist for a few years, and at the same time, agencies that fail to implement continued education for their employees may very well become irrelevant.

Photo Source: robertogreco

ShareThis

It’s nice to be able to combine "reading" with the some of the other things I’m doing anyway—working out, walking to the grocery store or walking to work.

For students, there’s an even cheaper option out there for audio books—the library. I still use the library to this day, and it boggles my mind that more people don’t take advantage of it.

Are any of you doing this already? If not, why not?

ShareThis

Both make valid points. There are, in fact, some communications students who remain uninformed about what social media is really all about, but this broad generalization against college education is unfair. There are also are a number of professors taking amazing leaps forward to educate their students, and even more students who are taking it upon themselves to participate and learn first-hand (which is, by far, the best way to learn social media).

I started this blog to encourage students to take it upon themselves to learn through participation outside of the classroom. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again—your college degree is not a free ticket to a valuable career. I didn’t get my job at Edelman Digital because of the classes I took at Michigan State. In fact, I never took a single PR class in college. I got there because I participated, read blogs, listened to podcasts , started my own podcast, talked to professionals and read a lot of books.

There are thousands of free resources out there to learn social media. Students who choose not to learn have no one to blame but themselves.

ShareThis

Here are a few more graphs to think about.

digital AND (PR OR "Public Relations") Job Trends

digital AND (PR OR "Public Relations") jobs

(PR OR "Public Relations") Job Trends

(PR OR "Public Relations") jobs

ShareThis

Xerox’s erasable paper, revealed during Chicago’s WIRED NextFest, "prints" through a reaction to light of a specific wavelength and then erases within 24 hours to be used again. This lends itself perfectly to an eco-friendly on demand print newspaper model—giving readers the ability to read their favorite content on the page, where it is easier to absorb. The Xerox representatives also hinted at the possibility of a more portable printer to be used with mobile phones. If this were to become common practice, how might it change the way we create content online?

ShareThis

By using a more "limited straw"—such as a search engine that only returns results from blogs or message boards, you will jump directly to this content without wasting time with the rest of it.

For example, if you are looking for a mix of timely, honest opinions on a specific product or service, it will likely be faster to search only blogs or only message boards to find relevant content from "real" people, rather than using Google, which usually starts with the company’s own content.

But don’t take my word for it—try for yourself. Here’s a list of search tools to get you started. Have more search tools to add? Share them here, and I’ll add them to the list.

Specialized Search Tools

Blogs

• Goolge Blog Search
• Technorati
• BlogPulse
• IceRocket

Message Boards

• BoardReader
• BoardTracker
• Omgili
• Twing

Twitter

• Twitter Search
• Twitscoop
• Tweet Scan
• Flaptor Twitter Search

Audio/Video

• Everyzing (Search the text within the audio)

ShareThis

So last week, I decided to start volunteering at PAWS Chicago, a no-kill humane organization. I figured this was a nice way to work for a cause and hang out with some animals without the responsibility of ownership. I actually wish I would have found this organization last year when I moved to the city. It’s a great way to get out, get involved and meet other volunteers.

I was incredibly impressed with the organization from the start (Oprah recently featured it on her show), and so I decided to sign up to foster a cat for a few weeks—all the fun with none of the commitment. PAWS provides the initial food and takes on any veterinary responsibilities during the foster period.

I didn’t realized when I signed up that they would be calling so soon.

I got the call three days after signing up. "Squirt," a 7-week-old kitten, needed a place to stay for two weeks. After agreeing to take him, I was shocked to find that he was a little orange kitten—exactly what I’ve always wanted.

This has been my favorite volunteer experience to date. It’s hard to imagine this energetic little guy hanging out in a cage—or meeting a fate worse than that. So if you’re considering getting a cat or dog, but you’re not sure that you’re ready, I strongly encourage you to share some love and foster or adopt an animal.

Squirt from Allie Osmar on Vimeo.

I’ll be adding more pictures to Flickr.

ShareThis