Posts Tagged ‘career’

Chicago Gals’ Guide Summit

Tuesday, August 11th, 2009

galsguidesummit2

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—so I’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!

Tags: , ,
Posted in blog | 2 Comments »

Reflections on My Own Creative Career

Sunday, April 19th, 2009

You may remember Jun Loayza from an interview I did with him last August about his experiences as an entrepreneur. This time, we’ve changed things up a bit—Jun interviewed me last week about my own creative career experiences. You can watch the interview below, and be sure to check out Jun’s other interviews with a number of amazing bloggers and entrepreneurs at Awesome Revolution.

Tags:
Posted in blog | No Comments »

Chicago PR – A Day in the Life

Tuesday, February 24th, 2009


Chicago PR – A Day in the Life from Allie Osmar on Vimeo.

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.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in blog | 7 Comments »

If Twenty-Somethings Could Design Their Own Office Spaces, What Would They Look Like?

Tuesday, February 17th, 2009

Jeff at Catalyst Ranch

I have often imagined what my ideal office space would look like. I went to college with a generation of students who experienced total freedom to explore and create wherever technology allowed—which was generally everywhere. In the corporate world, on the other hand, most young professionals find themselves tied to the same desk day after day.

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:
Jeff at Meg at Catalyst Ranch

  • 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, equiping 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?

Tags: , , ,
Posted in blog | 4 Comments »

Ask Questions in Your Interview: Start With These

Tuesday, February 10th, 2009

In my short career, I’ve had the opportunity to sit on the side of the interviewer a few times—and from these experiences, I’ve learned two important rules.

  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?

Tags: ,
Posted in blog | 7 Comments »

10 Lessons Learned From Working in Public Relations

Thursday, January 1st, 2009
My friend Erin Spurgeon sent me her list of ten lessons learned from working in PR, and it’s absolutely worth passing on to you. I met Erin when we were both starting our careers in public relations here in Chicago (she has since moved to work for Utah Valley University—we miss you, Erin!).
10 Lessons Learned From Working in Public Relations
  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!

Tags: ,
Posted in blog | 2 Comments »

Going Against Mainstream Ideas of Success

Monday, November 24th, 2008

 
icon for podpress  Going Against Mainstream Ideas of Success [14:11m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (826)

Working Barbie We’ve all heard that money doesn’t buy happiness, and with recent downturns in the economy, the generally accepted ideas of success—driven by consumption money—may be shifting more toward personal fulfillment and making a difference.

For about 25 percent of the population, known as "cultural creatives," success has always been defined by personal fulfillment rather than money. Tara Joyce realized she fell into this category soon after beginning her life in the corporate world, which led her to found her company, Elastic Mind.

Links

Tara’s Blog:
Rise of the Innerpreneur

Cultural Creatives:
culturalcreatives.org

Cultural Creatives have also been labeled as the "Integral Culture":
The Global Spiral
The Rise of the Integral Culture

Recommended Books

Karma Queens, Geek Gods, and Innerpreneurs
Quarterlife Crisis: The Unique Challenges of Life in Your Twenties
What Color Is Your Parachute?

Photo Source: BigBlue under Creative Commons

Tags: , , ,
Posted in podcast | 3 Comments »

Path to PR

Monday, November 10th, 2008

 
icon for podpress  Path to PR [15:41m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (648)

Allie Osmar in Central Park

I received a note from Nicole Fosco with a few questions:

"I go to U of I and am majoring in advertising. In my advertising class, my group chose to do a project on the Public Relations career field. I was wondering if you could provide us with some personal insight into the field. For example, your day to day routine, how you got where you are now, what exactly your position and work is, etc."

So this is my story. I hope this helps, Nicole. Good luck!

Tags: ,
Posted in podcast | 2 Comments »

Richard Riley: “The Top 10 in-demand jobs in 2010 may not have existed in 2004″

Friday, October 24th, 2008

xo keyboardMany thanks to Jeremiah Owyang for pointing this one out on twitter.

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

Tags: , ,
Posted in blog | No Comments »

An Unconventional Career Path

Monday, October 20th, 2008

Doh! It seems I had a typo in my title, which I have now fixed.

 
icon for podpress  An Unconventional Career Path [8:40m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (592)

City of Chicago Theresa Carter, founder of The Local Tourist in Chicago took a less conventional career path. She graduated with a degree in journalism at the age of 30, knowing that she wanted to work for herself as a writer. After September 11, 2001, Theresa moved from Indianapolis to Chicago to be closer to her son. She immediately fell in love with the city, but soon found that she was having some trouble with the city guide sites, and so she decided to start her own local directory for the River North area of Chicago. With a lot of hard work, The Local Tourist grew into what it is today—a wonderful resource for all things Chicago.

I should also note that Theresa was recently part of a team that won an Emmy for Outstanding Achievement for Alternate Media/New Media Interactivity as a part of the NBC Street Team.

So what’s her advice for students?

Networking in person is a big help. If you’re looking for networking events to go to (and you should be), start with a basic Google search. If you’re in the Chicago area, check out Theresa’s site, greatdoings.com, Metromix or Business Network Chicago. Mediabistro is also a great source for writers.

Once you’re there, don’t just aim to meet as many people as possible—try to have real conversations with people and get to know them.

Book Recommendations

Tags: , ,
Posted in podcast | No Comments »