The Leading Lady of PR

Since beginning my Master's earlier this Fall I have become somewhat obsessed with research in the field of communications. Recently I've been finding myself doing mini literature reviews purely out of interest. Last week I was all about lifestyle branding and consumer marketing.

I stumbled upon a gem in the Journal of Public Relations that left me feeling inspired. The researcher preformed in-depth interviews to construct a story of Charlotte Klein's career in PR. This method of research is called a narrative study. In case you haven’t heard of Klein until now, she can be described as the “Leading Lady of Public Relations” in a time when the industry was in its early stages and was dominated by men.

The purpose of the paper is as follows: to document and contribute to the knowledge of a rich but little documented era in public relations history and records successful strategies that remain relevant to practitioners today.

Klein gained a lot of recognition for her big ideas. Here are some highlights:

• During the 40’s, before television, special events were used to get word and name recognition for one's clients. In order to get attention for one of her Hollywood clients, Klein orchestrated a PR stunt where students were instructed to hold up placards to spell the name of her client’s upcoming movie “Duel In the Sun” during a rivalry football game between UCLA and USC. She then interested a LIFE Magazine photographer in snapping the photo, which ran nationwide.

•  Klein also had an idea for an early form of product placement. She was assigned to promote the 1948 movie ―Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House. In those days, in the hotels, bellboys would shout the name of a person who had a telephone call.  So she suggested that her firm call different hotels at dinner time and other times and ask for Blandings.  So all throughout the city they were paging the character in her movie around the time that the movie was opening.

• In the 1950’s African American girls had to play with white dolls because there were no black dolls available on the market. Klein worked with a number of famous African Americans to come up with a natural looking complexion for the black doll. Her client, Ideal Toy Corporation, didn't want to process with the doll‘s production because he believed that the target audience would not have the money to purchase it.  However, Klein persisted and convinced the client by saying she could obtain a lot of good publicity. Not only did she get a lot of positive coverage, but the doll was very popular.

• Klein used a former U.S. Olympic swimming champion, as the model and media tour spokesperson for their client‘s novel washable leather gloves.  She brought in television cameras to film the former Olympian swimming in a hotel pool in the morning with her gloves on, then had the media back for tea later in the day when the model wore the same gloves, now dry.

Genius!

Networking Challenge: The Informational Interview

Networking is an important part of professional development. I’ve decided to add informational interviews to my networking mix. If you’re like me, you’re probably thinking something along the lines of: “Can I really do this? Asking someone to meet me for an informational interview sounds intimidating!”

However, it’s important to focus on the many benefits of informational interviews, especially if you don’t yet have an established network. The point of this interview is not to ask for a job, but to gain perspective on an industry or company from someone whose career path you find impressive. Informational interview=Information gathering. However, this interview may eventually lead to a job so it is important that you are well prepared.

Where to begin?

1. You’ll want to come up with a list of people who you would like to speak with: someone you know, a friend of a friend or someone you’ve seen on LinkedIn.

2. Contact the person you would like to interview and ask them if they would be interested in meeting you for a short informational interview over coffee. More likely than not, the person is going to be flattered that you value what they have to say.

3. Do your research. It's wise to read the person’s bio prior to the meeting. This way you’ll get a better idea of their work history and accomplishments. I also recommend providing your resume to the person so they can have a good idea of your professional history.

4. Come up with a few questions that you’re going to ask. Here are some example:

·         How did you get into Public Relations? What is your advice for breaking into the industry?

·         How did you get to the position you’re in today? Do you have any advice on career advancement?

·         What projects/accounts are you working on at the moment?

·         What do you like most and least about working in PR?

5. Follow up. Show your appreciation by sending your new contact a thank you note.

Do you have an informational interview success story?

Why is measurement important in PR?

Yesterday I attended a #cision webinar about communication measurement, one of my favourite topics and a crucial component of strategic planning. Measurement enables communicators to quantify the fruit of our labour and gives use the information we need to demonstrate our value (and toot our own horn). Beep beep!

PR activities are necessary if a company wants to survive in today’s competitive market. However, demonstrating a clear return on investment (ROI) is challenging for many communicators because the impact doesn’t have a direct monetary value. How can we measure the value of our relationships with media? A mention in the Globe and Mail? The ability to change perceptions that can potentially damage brand reputation?

The communicators at Microsoft suggest comparing the effectiveness of communications outcomes against the goals of the company. They used a tool called PRIME research to combine measures of advocacy and influence.

In my opinion the most valuable part of the webinar was when Microsoft shared its top lessons regarding their experience with measurement:

1-Educate and evangelize constantly
Ongoing education is  must because of turnover rates. They couldn’t assume that people know their PRIME score.

2-Always bring value with insights and analysis
Don’t just send out a report that flushes numbers explain what they mean and their value.

3-Communicate context – more than a score
Make sure to explain the variables and long term trends.

4-Share best practices to build confidence.

5-Involve all stockholders
Build common framework instead of a patch work of practices

How does your organization measure PR activities? Have you used PRIME or any other PR measurement tools?

Dear Diary

Dear Diary… I haven’t written those words since Junior High. Lately I've been thinking about getting myself a fancy notebook and start journaling again. This time around my entries will focus on career management instead of my weekly crush, it won't be bright pink with a lock and the heart shaped doodles will be replaced by checklists.

I'm referring to the career development journal, also known as a work diary. For some, career journaling is a way of figuring out a direction. This is probably why it's often used in MBA programs. As I’ve said in the past, I’m still trying to figure out a direction when it comes to my career.  In fact, many young professionals graduate University with a lack of direction. This isn’t surprising.  I am part of a generation who has been promised that we can do to anything. Anything…that’s a lot of options!

The career journal can benefit young professionals in many ways. It can help you keep track of your goals and record your progress; it can help you figure out what aspects of your work makes you happy and; it can give you a better understanding of your professional growth.

Need some inspiration? Career expert Dr. Randall S. Hansen lists several types of entries that are typically recorded in a career journal:

• Keeping track of your daily career-related achievements, progress
• Discovering and exploring your workplace values
• Writing a personal mission statement
• Preparing a SWOT (strengths-weakness-opportunities-threats) analysis
• Expressing your reactions to job and career success and failures
• Practicing job interview questions - and answers
• Gathering salary information; conducting salary research

Do you have a career journal? Have you ever thought of starting one?

Is your organization right for you?

Have you ever worked for an organization and realized that it just wasn't right for you? Maybe you were happy with your responsibilities, your salary and the location but you couldn't pinpoint what wasn't quite right.  The reason was probably because the organization's values were not aligned with your own. The way employees view the organization that they work for plays a large role in their commitment to its mission, vision and values. 

Internal communications is an essential component for making this commitment happen. Internal communicators are responsible for passing organizational culture onto new and existing employees. During my undergrad I pursued a focus in organizational communications. From what I can remember, my interest in internal communications and specifically how it affects organizational culture was sparked by a case study entitled The Beauty of L'Oréal Is in Its Employees. Here are a few ways that L'Oréal Canada has succeeded in creating an impeccable organizational culture:

1)      It starts in the recruitment stage. According to the case study, L'Oréal often employs recent graduates. Often, they offer a "clean slate" because they have yet to be exposed to another organization's culture. New recruits undergo an integration period in which they receive an overview of the company’s history, structure and strategies.

2)      The learning never stops. L’Oréal offers all employees with opportunities for professional development through seminars, training and career planning sessions. Continuous learning motivates employees to improve themselves so they can advance their career within the organization.

3)      Internal communication tools. L’Oréal relies on employee surveys, internal newsletters, an intranet and electronic screens located throughout the building to increase employee loyalty by keeping them informed on up-to-date company news.

4)      Diversity. In an era of globalization there are many identities (ages groups, genders, classes, religions, ethnicities, etc) in the workplace. L’Oréal embraces this because they recognize that each brings a “different and valuable perspective to the company”.

5)      Perks. L’Oréal offers perks that cater to the needs of their diverse workforce. The Globe and Mail featured the company in an article entitled Whaddya know? Some bosses do listen. The article highlights how L’Oréal Canada’s on-site cafeteria offers a healthy take-home dinner service at a reasonable price, perfect for working-parents.

You can get a great deal of information on an organization's culture by surfing their website.  Take a look through the “About” and “Careers” section to find out if the organization is right for you. 

A New Chapter

Hello my dear readers! I have some wonderful news to share with you. I'm going to be a graduate student starting this fall! I got admitted into both schools that I applied to and thankfully I had already decided on what one was best suited for me. This is a very good thing because having to make a big decision keeps me up at night. I'm looking forward to this new chapter in my life and I can’t wait to document it right here on La Relationniste.

I strongly believe that my references played a positive role in the selection process. Whether you just got admitted into grad school or landed your dream job, it's important to follow up with the people who had a direct impact on your accomplishment.

I think that a hand written note is a great way to do this. Below are some suggested do's and don’ts to consider when writing a thank you note.

Do:

- Say thank you and be specific

- Keep it short and sweet

- Make it personalized

Don't:

- Ask for a favor or ask a question. Remember that the goal is to state your appreciation.

Do you write thank you notes? 

A Strategic Career

Every once in a while I’ll meet someone interesting during my morning commute. This week, a woman gave me some career advice that I wanted to share with you. I told her, that like many recent graduates, I’m trying to figure out what direction I want to take in my career. Her advice was simple but it made me reflect. She said: “Think about what it is that you want to learn and go for it. Ultimately you should be doing something that brings you joy.”

This woman, who was so passionate about her career, had put a lot of thought into the path she had chosen. It can be difficult for recent graduates like myself to even know where to start. This is where a career plan can be useful. Below I have outlined the basic steps to creating a short term career plan.

1.     Self Assessment

Start by looking at your professional experience to date. What aspects do you like, what aspects don’t you like? Do these jobs align with your personal interests and values? List your findings.

2.   Research and Set Concrete Goals

Research some career options that are aligned with the information gathered during your assessment. Then indicate the ones that interest you the most and figure out what it is that attracts you to these options. A great way to do this is to look at current job openings and descriptions that interest you and list all the similarities. Is it the sector, the salary, the responsibilities, work-life balance, training opportunities, etc? The answers will help you shape a better picture of where you want to be 6 months to a year from now.

3.  Consider Obstacles

Based on the job descriptions for the role you want, you can determine what you need to achieve in order to meet the requirements of that role. You may realize that you need extra courses or volunteer experience in order to meet the requirements of your goals. Write down any gaps.

4. Actions

In this section, list exactly what you are doing to meet your goals and when you expect to complete them. 

Your career plan should constantly evolve along with your experience and interests. The steps above will provide you with a solid foundation.

If you’re having a difficult time visualizing what a career plan might look like, a simple search on Google will bring up various templates and examples.

Have you ever strategically planned your career on paper?

Page Ranks High

Larry Page will become CEO of Google on April 4^th and I can’t wait to see what he has in store for the company.

My love affair with Google began in my second year of University when my New Media professor had asked us to select a book from the list he had provided for a reading assignment. As I scanned the list, David A. Vise’s The Google Story caught my eye. Little did I know that it would quickly become the best book that I have read to this day. Larry Page and Sergey Brin are beyond inspirational. I’m amazed that two young men were able to transform the way we access information. In the past, skilled researchers were the only ones who could extract information from the Internet. How far things have come thanks to Google!

If you haven’t yet read The Google Story, I highly recommend you do. In celebration of Google’s next chapter, I have put together a few facts that you may not have known about the search engine’s early days.

•  Google was started as a research project while the guys were attending Stanford University.
• When Brin and Page pitched their idea to existing search engines, every single one refused.
• Google’s growth took place entirely by word of mouth instead of advertising.
• The co-founders had avoided going public as long as they could because they wanted to keep their modest lifestyles.
• The Google boys accepted a joint investment from Sequoia Capital and Kleiner Perkins who each invested 12.5 million dollars into Google.
• Many Microsoft employees, including the most significant technologists, left Microsoft to join Google’s team. 

Have you read any inspirational books about a person, company or brand? I think my next read is going to be Richard Branson’s autobiography.

Organize Your Job Search

Over the past couple of years I have done contract work in various communication positions. What’s great about this is that I get to "try on" various jobs which have helped me better understand what it is that I’m looking for in a career.

(Corbis)

However, there is a downside to taking on contract after contract. I have found myself looking for work much more often than the average person. Anyone who has ever done a job search knows that it can be downright exhausting!  In order to minimize my stress level and stay organized, I created an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of my search. Being organized during your job search can enhance your chances of landing that dream job. What's great about a spreadsheet is that it's simple to create and maintain. Here is how I went about building my spreadsheet:

1. Start by making a list of all the organizations that you would like to work for. Insert the names of the organizations in the first column (Company name).

2. In the next column (Contact info) add the contact information of the department executive or the HR person that you will contact about a position. Make sure that you contact the person who is in a position to hire you.

3. In the next column (Follow-up) I indicate if the person has gotten back to me or whether or not I've contacted them to follow-up on my application

4. When you land an interview you may choose to keep track of the details in your spreadsheet. Who did you interview with? How did it go? Do you still think that you are a good fit for the organization?

If you find that maintaining your spreadsheet gets too exhausting over the course of your search, you may want to look into online tools such as JibberJobber.

Do you keep track of your job search? Do you have any tips that can help others make their job search less stressful?

Go Beyond The Listing and Other Apartment Hunting Tips

In my previous post I told you that David (Boyfriend agreed to be mentioned by name) and I recently signed the lease for a new apartment. I’m not a professional apartment hunter but I have had quite a bit of experience searching for apartments over the past few years. I also have a terrible addiction to HGTV and have probably seen every episode of “For Rent”. Does that make me credible enough? Probably not, but here are some tips that you may want to consider during your own hunt:

Have a plan

Know exactly what you’re looking for before you start your search. This way you can eliminate any listings that don’t suit your needs and you’ll avoid wasting your time with viewings. Some things to ask yourself: Do you want a place with character in a heritage building or a newer unit in a high rise? Is there laundry on site or are you willing to spend a couple of hours a week at the Laundromat? Is the price within your budget and are utilities included? Do you want your new apartment to be located near your school/work or are you willing to rely on transit?

Go beyond the listing

Don’t shy away from listings that don’t include pictures. I’ve found that pictures are at times outdated or make the place look bigger than it actually is. Also, during our recent search we noticed that many listings indicated “no dogs”. Often we would view the place regardless and found that once we brought it up, the landlords admitted that it wasn't a deal breaker. 

Get an early start but act fast

Starting your search early will give you time to look at a few places without having to jump at the first thing you see.  I found that getting the chance to view different apartments gave us a better idea of what we like and don’t like. However once you find an apartment that you like, I suggest you ask for the application during the viewing and get it back to the landlord ASAP.  If you don’t act fast, chances are that by the time you follow up, the place will be rented out to someone who did.

We have big decorating plans for our new place so I will be sure to post before and after pics!

Do you have apartment hunting tips?

For Rent

If you follow me on Twitter you most likely know that I have been apartment hunting over the past few months. Now that Boyfriend and I are young professionals, we decided to kick our living space up a notch.

Trust me when I say that during our search, we’ve seen it all! Too small, too sketchy, too pricy, not enough natural light, no pets, no laundry… Just when we were about to give up hope, we stumbled upon a potential candidate. (Okay, not exactly “stumbled upon”.  Boyfriend and I have been relentlessly stalking Kijiji and Craigslist.)

The moment we walked through the door, I knew that this young professional couple and their furry friend were going to be very happy living there. Within a day we filled in the application, signed the lease and jumped for joy. The search is finally over!

In my next post I’m going to share some tips that you may want to consider during your own apartment hunt.

Please leave a comment to tell me about your own apartment hunt!

Working Portfolio

Many job interviewers like to stick to a script and ask typical questions such as "Tell me about your strengths and weaknesses".  Sure these questions are important, yet I'm guessing that most people give similar answers. What will make you stick out from the competition during an interview is the way that you present yourself and your previous experience. The professional portfolio will help you achieve just this.

I started building my portfolio during my very first student internship. I made sure to keep every blurb, press release and report that I created. Much like my career, my portfolio constantly evolves and I make sure to work on it even when I’m not searching for work. The trick to keeping your portfolio organized and relevant is to have a master portfolio where you keep all samples of your work. This way you can select the pieces that best suit the position that you're interviewing for.

What should be included in your portfolio?
Really any work samples relevant to your field. If you work in PR this includes writing samples, campaigns, media relation activities, etc. You can also add samples of your volunteer work, school projects and transcripts.

There are many ways to assemble your portfolio. I like to switch it up every once in a while with new sections and themes. However, the best advice that I can give you is be creative because your career portfolio should reflect your personality.

During the interview, use your portfolio to support your answers. For example if the interviewer asks : "How do you prepare before taking on a big project?" you can give your explanation all while giving them concrete samples of work plans and strategies.  Having these examples handy will likely make you more confident during the interview.

I would love to hear about your working portfolio! 

Women in Social Media

Women make up the largest social media user group on many prominent social media sites. According to Mashable, women outnumber men on Flickr, Facebook, Twitter, FriendFeed, MySpace and Bebo. If you’re interested in finding out more about women and their usage of social media,  I strongly suggest you check out this video by Porter Novelli.

I try to participate in Follow Friday (#FF) on Twitter as often as I can. When I do, I make sure to share one person who inspires me and who I know will inspire my followers as well.

Last week I Tweeted the following :

dominiquejoli Feb 11, 2:31pm via HootSuite

                  Today's #FF is @casiestewart simply because her blog ROCKS!

Then I started thinking about all the other savvy women who have impacted social media. In fact, I can easily name a dozen. I decided to keep it short and sweet and share with you the three women that I turn to when I’m looking for credible information on everything social media.

Amber Mac

Social media bragging rights:  Amber is an author, columnist, blogger and technology host on all things new media.

Why you’ll love her: She’s ahead of the game. Amber can spot social media and tech trends from a mile away.

Sarah Evans

Social media bragging rights: This self proclaimed “social media addict” is the founder of her own PR and new media firm called Seven Strategy. She also moderates #journchat on Twitter and runs a blog.
Why you’ll love her: Sarah offers valuable tips and advice on various topics in PR and social media. It’s no wonder why she’s been recently popping up everywhere as a social media expert.

Julia Roy

Social media bragging rights: Julia blogged for the fund-raising campaign "Making Change for Katrina". Roy also blogs at Juliaroy.com and hosts her own web video series “Tweet Week”.

Why you’ll love her: An expert in her field, Julia encourages others to participate in online conversations and has a loyal fan base.

                                                                                                             

Who inspires you to get involved in social media? What’s the best social media advice that you’ve ever been given?

The Power of Community

Last week I braved the snowstorm that hit the Capital and headed out to a presentation about crisis communication in the age of social media. As expected the speakers, Keelan Green and Sean Howard, presented us with many interesting case studies.

My favourite example demonstrates the power of online communities. The Motrin Moms example confirms that there has been a social shift due to social media. With this shift, organizations no longer shape opinions and interests. Instead people go online to connect around things they like, want, believe in or dislike.

According to Ad Age “mommy bloggers” are one of the most sought after communities in the blogosphere. So when a company like Motrin put out a national ad that refers to babies as accessories mommy bloggers took their opinions online. Eventually, the controversial ad was pulled and Motrin replaced their homepage with a message addressing the ad.

However, had Motrin known to monitor what “mommy bloggers” were saying about the ad they could have had an immediate indication that there was a problem. They could have also actively engaged with key bloggers like Jessica Gottlieb before the issue escalated into a bigger story that was soon picked up by traditional outlets.

What are some of your favourite crisis communication case studies?

Dear Selection Committee

All necessary documents have been signed, sealed and delivered by express mail. Over the weekend I applied to graduate school. The most difficult part of the entire application process was writing my statement of intent. During the last two years of my undergrad, I knew that I wanted to pursue a Masters degree. I first began to write my letter of intent last year. “Why do I want this?” I kept asking myself. There were so many reasons but I had a difficult time neatly packaging my short and long-term goals on paper. Before I knew it, the deadline had come and gone and I still wasn’t satisfied with my letter. I soon realized that my hesitation was caused by a lack of experience in my field. I knew that I couldn’t make such a decision based on internships alone.

A year later, the words that I once could not express quickly flowed onto paper without a moment of hesitation. I wrote about how my passion for the field of communications has no barrier. How it spills out of my work life and into my personal life. I also wrote about how my life is enriched from continuous learning. I wrote about my experience and how it has shaped me into the young professional that I am today. Finally, I touched on my enthusiasm for sharing my knowledge with my future classmates and learning from their experience in return.

Having had the time to reflect on the application process, I would now like to share with you what I have learned:

Research schools: The first step is to decide what schools you’re going to apply to. Sounds easy right? No so much. Here are a few things to ask yourself when selecting schools: Do you want to do your courses by distance or in person? Are the professors well recognized in the field? Do you want your program to be course based or research oriented? How long is the program? Does it offer a flexible part-time option if you expect to work full-time during your studies?

Start early: Gathering all required documents, getting references and writing your letter of intent take a lot of time and dedication. Give yourself enough time to edit your essay several times. This way you can avoid panic on the day you send out your application. I also sent my applications by express mail to make sure that they made it to the schools in time.

Be yourself: The selection committee will assess your grades, your CV and your references. Your personality is what will enable you to stand out from other applicants that are similar to you on paper. Your letter of intent or application essay is your chance to tell the selection committee your story.

Volunteer and intern: The selection committee is looking for people who will be able to participate in class discussions and provide concrete examples. This is one of the reasons why they are looking for candidates with work experience. Due to the competitive workforce, some people choose to pursue graduate studies directly or soon after completing their undergrad. Internships and volunteer work will help prove that you are ready.

Now I am going through the second most difficult part of the application process: waiting for a decision to be made. Not always easy for an impatient person like myself. 

Have you been through graduate school? Are currently a graduate student? Are you applying to a graduate program? I would love if you shared your story!

The Brand Yourself Series: The Facebook Fan Page

In 2010, Facebook revealed that it had doubled its users in less than a year and a half, reaching 400 million. The attraction that people have to Facebook isn't difficult to understand. In fact, the Facebook story is so fascinating that it was made into a motion picture that, in my opinion, was one of the best movies of 2010.

With all that FB has to offer, it is sometimes difficult to think of it as branding tool. However, the Facebook fan page provides bloggers, entrepreneurs and organizations with the opportunity to directly engage with their audiences all while leveraging their unique brand.

I recently "liked" Anna And Kristinas Grocery Bag on Facebook. Once I became a fan, I started receiving A&K's status updates and other activities in my user feed located on my home page. After browsing their page, I wasn't surprised to see that the duo already had over 2,500 fans. I used A&K's fan page to come up with a few key tips to consider when building a successful Facebook fan page.

1. Encourage user participation.

A Facebook fan page is not about one way communication. The best fan pages are used as a means to actively engage with fans. This can be done through forum discussions, consumer reviews, polls, status updates, contests and interactive games. Your fans will appreciate that they can produce and/or add their own content.

Anna and Kristina's page is used to host contests where fans can win some of the products reviewed on their show. They encourage user participation by asking their fans to provide their very own product reviews.

2. Multimedia is key.

Anna and Kristina share photos and videos with their Facebook fans that can't be found anywhere else online. What’s great about multimedia is that it can easily be shared around different social media platforms and your fan base will likely increase as a result.

3. Mirror your target audience.

Make sure that the content that you are adding reflects the interests of the people that you are trying to reach. A&K do this by sharing their cookbook and product reviews. There is no doubt that fans of the show will find this information useful when looking for new ideas in the kitchen.

4. Engage, engage, engage.

This is more of a rule then a tip when it comes to all forms of social media. A&K achieve this by replying to users that comment on your their status. They also answer questions and ask fans about their thoughts on trending topics related to food. In conclusion whenever a fan comments on your new status, a photo, a video, a thread, or anything else, you should use this as an opportunity to start a discussion.

Can you think of any other great examples of organizations or individuals that use the Facebook fan page to leverage their brand?

The Brand Yourself Series: The Elevator Pitch

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a job seeker or a consultant chances are that you have been given a window of opportunity when you least expected it. Often times that window of opportunity is so small that it passes you by. Perhaps it was when you were at a networking event and saw a person that you aspire to be. Yet you were unable to introduce yourself because it felt as if you had lost your tongue. Maybe it was the time when you went to a career fair and you were so eager to impress the recruiter of your favorite company with your CV that you forgot to prepare what you wanted to say to that person. Instead of impressing them you rambled on and left the booth feeling defeated.

An elevator pitch will help you take full advantage of an opportunity like these the next time around. It’s called an elevator pitch because it should be no longer than an elevator ride. If you had the chance to impress someone in 30 seconds or less what would you say?  Here’s what:

1.Your name and what you do: Ex: “Hi I’m Dominique Jolicoeur. I’m currently a communications coordinator at a not-for-profit organization that promotes dental health to Canadians.”

2.What you do best: “I help organizations deliver key messages to their external audiences through social media and public relations.”

3. Impress them: “I’m a recent university graduate who has already had experience in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. Over the past two years I have managed the social media activities of various organizations. I’ve been told that I’m a young professional poised beyond my years.”

4. But don’t end it there. “I also write a blog called La Relationniste and I would love to share it with you.” This is your chance to extend the invitation to create a relationship with this person. Make sure to get their business card so you can follow up by email.   

Once you have written your pitch don’t forget to practice it until you can recite it effortlessly.

Happy pitchin’!