11.28.07
How am I dealing with it? Trials, Tribulations and Advice
I am the CEO of me. Chris Brogan told me that. Many others have asked me “what’s your brand?” What are the three or four word that synthesize “you”? When Googled, do you know what comes up about you? When I asked the group attending the new media job search session at PodCamp Boston 2 what advice they had for me as I begin my hunt for life-after-school, I was told to create a marketing campaign — with ME as the product.
I knew that a cover letter is supposed to “sell” you, but is a marketing campaign a little over-kill? In the world of new media — the answer is unequivocally no. But making a campaign about yourself is much easier said than done (to be cliche). During a traditional job hunt, you figure out what you might be interested in doing, find a position that offers that, then try to figure out what the employer wants from you and you try to package yourself in a way to make yourself look like you fit the part regardless of whether you actually do or not. That seems so easy compared to what it seems I’m up against now. I actually have to know who I am. Three or four little words that synthesize the essence that is me.
I attended Jeff Pulver’s Real time social media breakfast this morning. I knew in advance that upon arriving at S&S Restaurant and Deli in Cambridge I would have to fill out a name tag. Normally this would not be cause for panic. I have long known what my name is and even how to spell it. But this name tag required an extra piece of info: a tag-line. I needed a tag-line for myself. The horror. I fretted over this for hours last night and it finally came to me while my Herbal Essences Defunkify Shampoo tingled my scalp (it is really quite an amazing feeling. you should try it): Maria Thurrell. SuperGeek – Here to save the world. A little cheeky (like me), geeky (also like me) and six words long (verbose – just like me). While I think that this fits me rather to the T, is this an image I want to present to possible future bosses? What does SuperGeek say to people who don’t know me?
Jeff Pulver told me this morning that I need to figure out what it is that I am passionate about. But I already know, I exclaimed! New Media. Public Relations. Social Activism. Way too vague was his response. Uh oh. I thought I was doing pretty good. I have to narrow it down even further?! Maybe I don’t want to grow up after all…
So, with all of this swimming around in my brain I am going to write the case study for my Organizational Structure class that is due at 6pm tonight and hope that somewhere between asleep and awake the answer will come. Or perhaps someone will clue me in.
If you know me, how would you describe me in 4 words or less (ok, I’ll give you 6)?
11.27.07
How Did YOU Deal With It?
I finish school in about three weeks. I am at once astounded, scared and excited beyond belief. I feel like everything in my life is changing or about to change.
To my new-kids-on-the-real-world-block friends like Yianni Garcia, Sandy Kalik and Alison Driscoll, and to anyone else who’s fresh in the marketing and communications biz, how did you make sense of all the changes that happened in your life when you finished school and started a job?
What’s the best advice you have for someone who’s about to graduate and enter the field?
11.18.07
Amanda’s Story: How Did I End Up Here?
I could go on for days, but here’s my abbreviated story:
I was one of those incoming freshman at Boston University who decided to be an English major. (Feel free to make a face at your computer screen and/or laugh.) I knew I liked writing, and there had been a few books here and there that I enjoyed, so obviously English was the perfect major for me. Or so I thought, until I remembered that a big part of going to college is to get a job when you leave. Alarming. As soon as I could, I switched over to the College of Communication.
I joined COM during the fall of my sophomore year. I knew I didn’t want to be a journalist and I certainly had no interest in film or television, so I was left with a advertising or public relations. I didn’t REALLY know what PR was, so I figured advertising was a good choice.
That spring, I took a class called Writing for Mass Communication with Michael Dowding. Life changing. I learned so much about public relations and about my own strengths as a communicator, and I also gained one of the best friends I’ve ever had in my life. Michael wisely took me aside one day and told me that I HAD to change my major to public relations. I was made for it- it would be ridiculous of me not to go into this field. I figured, “What do I have to lose?” so I switched. Why not, right?
During my junior year, I worked as a public relations and publicity intern for the Brain Tumor Society in Watertown, which was a moving experience. My supervisors Dawn Grenier and Josselyn Salter were amazing, and I got the first taste of truly contributing to a real-life cause in communications. I decided I really liked this PR stuff, and worked at Cone, Inc. over the summer in the Brand Marketing Group on some exciting accounts. At Cone I met a bunch of smart, savvy professionals like Amelia Ott, Jen Newberg and Amy Russ, who helped me to develop my PR skills and confirm for me that I had made the right career choice for myself.
I’ve always wanted to do something with my life that would get people talking, change the way people think, give people something to think about… For me, public relations and social media combine everything I love to do–I thrive on inspiring conversation and influencing public opinion. PR 2.0 is absolutely an exciting, creative and gratifying field, and I’m proud to be a new kid on this block.
So, to echo what Maria said, that is me. A girl inspired by people who wants to inspire publics. As my good friend Chris Brogan put it at Jeff Pulver’s recent real-time social networking event in Boston, I guess I kind of am “the future.“
11.12.07
How I found PR and other stories – Maria
For our first post, Amanda and I decided to write about how/why we decided to study PR at BU and where we hope our new found knowledge will lead us. So, this is my story.
I stumbled upon PR while doing volunteer work in southern India the winter between sophomore and junior year (I took two years off from college to travel). At that time, I only had a vague, Hollywood induced idea of what PR entailed. I’m sure I had heard the term before, but probably couldn’t have define it. While staying in Auroville, I became involved in the planning and running of a UNESCO sponsored conference — Youth for Human Unity. It was love at first sight. I began asking people, “what is this called and how can I do it for the rest of my life?” The resounding response was Public Relations. That is when I began looking for a program to transfer to (I attended Vassar College for my first two years). I found BU, applied, was accepted, and am now finishing my third semester in the public relations program (I graduate in May).
For as long as I can remember I have known that my purpose in life is to make a difference in the global community. Until recently I wasn’t sure how I was going to accomplish this as it seemed to me that a lot of PR had to do with consumer goods. I thought I would have to work for a non-profit, or find an agency that takes on non-profit clients. For reasons that I can’t explain, this didn’t seem like it would be enough for me. Then I discovered new media. Again, it was love at first sight.
My intentions for after graduation is to find a position in which I will be furthering social causes via my PR and new media skills. Hopefully, I will find this position before graduation *hint hint* At this time, agency work looks very appealing as I love fast-paced environments and multi-tasking.
So, that is me. Tales of my journey in pursuit of saving the world (and finding a job) to follow.
11.08.07
PR Students, Unite.
This blog is the collaboration of Amanda Gravel and Maria Thurrell, both seniors in the public relations program at Boston University.
We are using On the PRowl as a place to discuss the excitement and challenges of making the transition from student and intern to practitioner and pro in this business. Watch, listen, join, discuss… as our stories unfold.
