Careersparx

Image Credit: Karen Morrison

Today’s interview was written and compiled by CareerSparx Managing Editor Kacey Valla.

Today’s interview is with PR Couture founder and curator Crosby Noricks. If you haven’t had the chance to check out the PR Couture website, then you’re missing out on some incredible advice for those dreaming of making a career in public relations, and all the must-have pr jobs! PR Couture started in 2006, and has since been featured in Mashable, PR Week and 944 Magazine, just to name a few. In addition, Crosby was invited by WWDMAGIC and TeenVogue to be among the first bloggers invited to report live from the tradeshow, while earning countless awards along the way.

With all of the solid advice, valuable content and wittiness, it’s no wonder Crosby and PR Couture have gained a large amount of respect and credibility within the PR industry. PR Couture has become so influential for college students and recent graduates that Crosby is publishing her first PR guide (out any week now!): “Ready to Launch: The PR Couture Guide to Breaking into Fashion PR.” It will be available in both ebook and hard copy versions and is worth every penny. To be sure you’re the first to get your hands on this incredible book, sign up to get PR Couture in your inbox!

So, without further adieu, check out our interview with PR Couture’s Crosby Noricks! Also, for daily tips and updates from PR Couture, be sure to check out their Twitter and Facebook profiles!

1)  How did you make PR Couture a success, and what are some keys to managing a successful social community?

The biggest things I did to make PR Couture a success was simply consistency. I’ve been developing and publishing content for the site several times a week for the past five years, and in doing that I have developed a relationship with readers and partners who know they can count on me to keep the site up to par.

In terms of the community aspect, I think it’s important to be accessible and genuine, as well as consistent. I spent a lot of time in the early years providing advice via email — and even these days although I have switched to doing paid consulting, I still take a few minutes to provide quick ideas or suggestions to the inquiries that come through. I have a genuine interest in helping young PR pro’s along their professional path as well as proving opportunities for fashion PR practitioners and agencies to shine. I think that comes through and helps to build trust.

2)  What was the inspiration behind “The PR Couture Guide to Breaking into Fashion PR,” and when did you decide it was time to write this incredible guide?

It took me a long time to think of ways to monetize the site beyond just advertising. I had tossed around ideas with other PR Couture writers and friends about digital products I could sell for years, but it either didn’t feel quite right or felt overwhelming. A few divine encounters with some amazing women gave me the push I needed to begin exploring ways to take what I was already doing behind the scenes through coffee dates, email and the occasional phone call, and charge for it!

Step 1 was launching Power Sessions in September, where I review resumes, blogs, press releases, whatever and then jump into a fast-paced 45-minute consulting call and follow up with a custom action plan. I’ve done this several times over the past few months, both with entry-level practitioners as well as brands and really enjoy it. Step 2 was writing Ready to Launch, which is a more affordable option for students and younger practitioners who can’t or don’t want to do a session but are still looking for advice and expertise about fashion PR.  It feels amazing to have taken the initiative, despite sacrificing quite a few Saturdays, and to have put together what I think is a treasure-trove of insider information. It’s essentially everything I would have killed to have 10 years ago when I was starting my career.

3) Cover letters can be one of the most challenging documents to write. What are your top tips for writing a great PR cover letter?

Demonstrate that you have read the job posting, and connect specific job requirements or skills to your experience or skill-set. Highlight anything measureable — media coverage you have secured, awards you have won, attendees at an event you helped to organize. Avoid cookie cutter cover letter templates. Instead let your cover letter communicate the energy, personality and unique blend of education, experience and passion that makes you, you! Avoid clichés, (never say you have a passion for fashion), and spell check, especially the name of the person you are writing to.

4) We love that you discuss the importance of informational interviews! What is your experience with informational interviews, and why do you encourage them?

I never went on any, but I sure have done several! I think the biggest benefit is that we professionals are always searching for great talent — it just might not be the right time or the right fit. However, when we need someone, we reach out to our network — I need an intern, I need a part-time publicist, whatever. When that happens, we naturally go to the inventory we keep in our heads of people we know. Setting up informational interviews is not only a great way to learn about the job, how different agencies are set up, and practice your interview/communication skills, but it helps keep you top of mind when job opportunities do pop up.

5) From your incredible lists of interviews questions (both what you will be asked and what to ask), what is the one question to remember to ask the employer during an interview?

Here’s one that’s not in the book — How can I best support you in this position?

6) What is the ultimate key to making it in the fashion PR world?

Consistency. If you do something for long enough, you get really good at it. The key is to keep going, even when you are exhausted, embarrassed or frustrated. We’ve all been there

7) Any closing comments or advice for our budding fashion PR readers?

Most everything is a choice — think of your career as a living, breathing relationship. Tend to it, nurture it, even love it, but don’t be afraid to get out if the situation is unsupportive, out-of-control, and painful. There are opportunities everywhere.

Today’s post is a feature from Target’s “A Bullseye View.”

Each year, Target travels around the country to attend diversity recruitment conferences to support outstanding talent and seek out the leaders of tomorrow. Thousands of MBA students and professionals shut their textbooks, leave their desks behind and attend these annual events to encourage their peers, listen to inspiring speakers and foster their intellectual and career growth.

Below are five key words of wisdom Target picked up from some of the most influential MBA conferences.

1. LEARN FROM YOUR FAILURES
Every one of those no’s teach [taught her] the importance of persistence and the inevitability of failure. But calculated risks and failure will be a part of your success story.

2. BE BOLD
Whether you tend to be shy or the life of the party, it’s okay to be bold in the workplace. Make a statement and demand attention (in a good way, of course!).

3. COMMUNITY IS KEY
Forming positive relationships with colleagues and coworkers will increase productivity at the workplace and encourage inclusive office environments.

4. LIFE AT THE OFFICE WON’T ALWAYS BE FAIR
It’s not always going to be smooth sailing on the job, so accept that now. But that’s just the way it is, says Christy Haubegger. “You have to work a little harder, show up early and defy the stereotypes. It’s not fair – but deal with it!”

5. MAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF
You don’t get ahead in business without making sacrifices in your own life, but it’s important to give yourself a break every now and then so you can be the best version of yourself.

For the complete story, visit Target’s “A Bullseye View.”

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Reading Break! Yes, it’s time once again! This week our articles focused on internships: how to transition between them and how to be an awesome virtual intern! If you’re looking for advice to be a killer intern, check out these articles. And remember to follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook for quick tips to make your job search successful!

WSJ.com ::

Twitter Co-Founder Biz Stone to Advise M.B.A. Students at Berkeley’s Haas School of Business

A two-time college drop out is now advising at one of the top business schools in the nation! How can he do that? Well if you co-founded one of the most influential social media channels, we’re sure you could get away with it, too.

Levo League ::

How to Make the Most of “Not-Your-Dream” Jobs

Even if you aren’t at your dream job yet, that doesn’t mean you can’t gain valuable experience and connections at your current position. If you’re feeling frustrated with your current employer, check out this article from Levo League to make the best of it!

AOL Jobs – Career Articles ::

3 Words That Will Kill Your Job Search

With the job search market being more competitive than ever, you don’t want to make an easily avoidable mistake! It’s worth your while to check out these three words guaranteed to hurt you in your job search.

The Ladders ::

10 Good Ways to ‘Tell Me About Yourself’

This is usually one of the first questions you will be asked during an interview and one you may be asked multiple times. The Ladders has provided the top 10 answers that will be sure to impress your potential employer.

Fox Business ::

Five Job-Hunting Tips for Recent Grads

Here is an encouraging article for all recent graduates — employers are hiring based on enthusiasm and potential! You may think those with more experience will always get the job; however, this article proves otherwise. Remember to show how much you really want the job during your interview!

HerCampus ::

Falling Asleep in Class? Skip the Second Cup of Coffee and Follow These 5 Steps

How do you fight the mid-day crash? Make a quick stop to Starbucks or grab a RedBull? Actually, neither are included on this list! Check out five healthy ways to stay alert all day!

Chicago Tribune ::

Find the Top Job For Your Personality type

To be successful at a job you need to fit seamlessly into the position and company, and an important factor in determining this is your personality. So what job do you fit into? Find out here!

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Today’s post is written by CareerSparx Managing Editor Kacey Valla.

College students and recent graduates who have the opportunity to intern at multiple companies know that the transition between internships is not always easy. Each company comes with a new set of rules, employees, expectations, values and workloads. With all of these changes and more, adjusting to a new surrounding can provide for a roller coaster ride. However, there are incredible advantages to multiple internships, as well as ideals you should be realistic about. Whether you have a good or not so good internship experience, all help you grow and mature to become a seasoned professional.

• New experience, new knowledge, new power.

They say knowledge is power and the more experience you have, the more knowledge you gain! Working in different companies, and even industries, will give you the opportunity to learn different working styles and management of professional relationships. One of the best things about interning at multiple companies is the amount connections and relationships you will gain! Your career will most likely be dependent upon networking, so nurture the connections! You just never know whom you will run into.

• A whole new learning curve.

Just when you think you have a handle on your surroundings, you need to start over from scratch! Most internships are three months, although some may be extended, and this is just enough time to find your footing. The great part is you found your niche, the challenging and soon rewarding part – it’s time to find your footing, again.

• Don’t let expectations determine the outcome.

It’s in your best interest to only set one expectation going into an internship – to succeed! If you go into an internship expecting something specific and reality gives you a different outcome, it will affect your work. Try to always go into an internship with an open mind and be ready to learn! Each company is very different, even if they work in the same industry.

• Time to shine!

If there was anything you wish you did differently in your previous internship, now is your chance to start fresh! Every experience is a learning opportunity and with a fresh slate, it’s your time to shine! The company hired you for a reason; prove what you’re capable of. New internships lead to new experiences, lessons and connections. All of these lead to a new career and a soon-to-be accomplished professional!

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Are you ready for a Reading Break? We sure are! This week we had the opportunity to interview Jim Hopkinson, author of the “Salary Tutor,” and posted photos on our Facebook page from “A Night With CareerSparx!” If you haven’t tagged yourself in the photos, check it out! And follow us on Twitter; our feed is packed with career advice to help you succeed!

Forbes ::

How To Pitch Anything To Anyone

One of the most difficult tasks to do is to deliver a pitch successfully. This means that the person being pitched actually wants to finish reading the pitch and respond. So to help you out, Forbes has explained the key initiatives to successful pitching.

Levo League ::

How To Network: Your 7-Step Action Plan

Just to remind you how important networking really is (in case you didn’t pick up on that in September) learn how to create your own action plan when networking!

US News and World Report ::

How To Move Abroad and Keep Your Job

With technology changing the shape of the way businesses operate, it’s now more likely than ever to find ways to bring your job with you if you happen to be bitten by the travel bug. This article offers tips on how to approach going about taking your job where you want to go.

Her Campus ::

Grad School 101: Your Guide to Graduate School Entrance Exams: MCAT, GMAT, LSAT, GRE

Thinking about grad school? If so, you know that it’s in your best interest to research and prepare as much as possible before making the big decision of where to attend graduate school. Her Campus has created your first step in preparation — Grad School 101.

New York Times ::

What if the Secret to Success is the Opportunity to Fail?

No one wants to fail, and who would’ve thought successes would be based off your opportunity to fail? If you’re looking for a good read and have a few extra moments for your reading break, definitely take the time to check out this article.

Career Bright ::

5 Ways to Prep Your Career Skills for Social Media Jobs

Just because you can tweet and post a status update, it doesn’t mean you’re ready to make it in the world of social media. But thanks to Career Bright you now have five ways to help you become successful in a social media position.

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Reading Break: Your weekly dose of job search and career advice headlines. This past week we ventured back to Sept. 28 when we hosted “A Night With CareerSparx” and featured a guest post by Cheryl Minnick, career counselor and internship coordinator, to help you figure out your next steps after graduation. We always post awesome career tips on our Facebook and share great articles to help you land your dream job on Twitter! So if you haven’t connected with us, please do so!

Forbes ::

The Career Advice You Should Never Offer or Accept

You are fed countless career advice on a daily basis, but which advice should you take to heart and which should you let go? Forbes has compiled the top career advice you should never give or accept. A must-read!

Yahoo! Finance ::

Ignore These 10 Outdated Pieces of CareerAdvice

With the job search market changing so rapidly, you need to be sure you’re not behind the curve. To keep up-to-date, check out these 10 outdated pieces of career advice we hope you haven’t been applying to your job search!

Levo League ::

Getting Your Resume Noticed: Don’t Just Be Impressive, Be Relevant

Creating a perfect resume is only the beginning. You want to make sure it’s actually noticed and read! The key to getting your resume noticed is being relevant. How? Read on.

AdAge ::

Digital Takes the Jobs Lead in New Mainstream Media

Which industries are hiring and who are letting many go? Check out these statistics compiled by AdAge to see how the digital, radio, broadcast and magazine industries stack up.

New York Times ::

At the University of Chicago, Football and Higher Education Mix

Athletics and academics do mix! Well at least at the University of Chicago … Do you think they mix at your university?

In The Door ::

In The Door

Our favorite social job search site! By far the easiest job search resource you will use, so log in today!

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It’s Friday, meaning it’s time for your weekly Reading Break completely packed with career advice to help you land your dream job! This week we shared our interview with the author of Job Searching with Social Media for Dummies, Joshua Waldman, and have been spending time compiling our recap and looking through great pictures of “A Night With CareerSparx.” Look for it within the coming weeks! And by now, you should be following us on Twitter and have already liked us on Facebook! If not, you’re missing out some great opportunities!

Forbes ::

What are the Secrets to Success for Twentysomethings?

Almost every college graduate’s dream is to make it big in the real world and to do it quickly. So what are the keys for success when you’re young? Check out this article to see if you’re on the right track.

Scholars and Rogues ::

Getting Hired and Getting Ahead: Five Important Tips for the Career-Minded College Student or Recent Grad

Learning never ends and there is no exception to this rule in your job search. To really get ahead of your competition, you will definitely need to apply these five tips.

Huffington Post ::

Angie Chang: “Action First” — Interview with Alltuition Founder & CEO Sue Khim

Financial aid – a love/hate topic of conversation. To help students and their families manage this process, Angie Chang has created a program incorporating every step of the financial process. Get to know her here!

St. Petersburg Times ::

A Look at a Tampa Bay Job Fair From the Recruiter’s Perspective

With the job market as tough as it is, you never know which side of a job fair you might end up on. Here’s a look at what a job fair is like from the other side of the table.

Levo League ::

SLEEP! You need it to survive and thrive!

With media, friends, social networking and your budding career who has time to sleep? It may seem like all you need are a few lattes throughout the day, but without sleep there’s no way you will be productive or have enough energy to even get those lattes! Make sure to get your ZZZ’s for more than beauty sleep.

PR Web ::

Top 5 Reasons Job Seekers Should Use Google Docs When Applying For Job Positions

PDF? Microsoft Word? Google Docs? Well there’s a reason to use each program, but if you’re a fan of Google Docs, read why you should use this program when applying for a new job.

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Time for your weekly Reading Break full of articles, videos and tips to help you in your job search! Until our big speed-networking event this coming Wednesday, Sept. 28, which you should have bought your ticket to, we’re trying to give you every possible tip to network successfully! During this past week we shared the biggest key to networking, introduced you to a mentor for our event, shared tips to overcome shyness when networking and featured the ultimate tips to succeed at a speed-networking event.

Remember to check us out on Facebook and Twitter for the latest career tips! And when buying your tickets to “A Night With CareerSparx,” don’t forget to enter CSXreader for a $5 ticket. We have mentors from NBC, Disney, LinkedIn, WDCW and many more! This is the event of the season for your job search, so don’t miss out!

eHire.com ::

How To Make A Good First Impression On An Interview

You landed your dream interview. Congratulations! Now you need to make your best impression. Check out these tips so you can look your best at your interview!

Business Insider ::

Got Job Search Fatigue? 5 Ways to Rev Up Your Hunt

It’s a tough job market out there, and we fully understand that job searching can take a toll on you. So, remember to take a moment to revitalize yourself; sometimes it’s just as important as editing your resume and cover letter.

Levo League ::

Let Work Teach You How to Play : Applying Successful Job Skills To Your Social Life

This article fits perfectly into our theme of the week: NETWORKING! Check out this article to know how to apply your job skills to your social life, correctly.

Social Media Today ::

How Social Media Will Help Your Job Search

Social media has completely taken over the job search market and probably most of your free time. (We know you check your Facebook and Twitter as soon as you’re home.) Try to get the most out of your time browsing the social networks and see how your social accounts can actually help you find a job!

The Daily Muse – Forbes ::

Rookie Mistakes: 5 Extremes to Avoid at Work

You landed the job and you start next week, so how do you prepare for your first day and start making lasting relationships? Check out this article for the perfect tips to help you transition smoothly into your new position.

ABC News ::

Facebook Aids Job Seekers

We know social media has a huge impact on job searching, so check out this video from ABC News to see how Facebook is trying to help you out!

Ezine @rticles ::

Key Resources in Your Online Job Search

If you’re still searching for your dream job, make sure you’re looking in the right places! Check out the top four resources you should be searching for job openings.

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Today’s post is written by CareerSparx Student Adviser Ralitsa Kiskinova.

The times when I’m most productive are when I focus on one thing and one thing only. But what does it mean to focus? Focus is the quality of attention you devote to a specific task, which impacts how productive you end up being. One of the most common causes of interrupted attention is stress. Stress increases from changing the state in which the brain has to work often, in other words, multitasking. When you sit at your desk to do work or research, look around and notice how many other distractions are around you. You might have your laptop in front of you with five different windows opened, your smartphone next to it and music in the background. Without noticing it, all of the latter start eating off your attention leading to decreased productivity.

Job hunting is an activity that often proves to be very demanding. The truth is that at some point job searching becomes a full-time job in itself and all we think about. In order to stay productive in a job search we need to know how to lower stress levels and keep them under control. The reason I say “lower stress levels” and not completely remove stress is because without it, we actually would not be productive.

Attention

Many times I question myself: “Why do I perform better at interviews when they’re not back-to-back?” or “Why am I able to write a better cover letter when I sit in a room away from the kitchen or the living room?” To answer my curiosity, I started tracking very closely how I behaved when I was in different situations. If I knew I had an interview coming up I would dedicate all of my time and attention to researching and preparing for that specific one. Quality attention allows for more energy to be invested on a certain topic, which feeds our awareness. If we create more time and energy for our awareness we start observing more details, leading to a better choice.

The way this translates to a job search is that going over 100 different positions and openings in a day, we start missing out on details that might prove crucial for our application. Many times there are specific cues that are given to us between the lines of a job description, and if we have our full attention available we become aware of those. This increased attention will help us to take the right actions to gear a better resume and/or cover letter, which leads to better results and our chances of being picked out.

What is Stress?

In very simple words, stress is the natural instinct of our body to react to a perceived threat to our survival. When people feel stressed by something happening around them, their bodies react by releasing chemicals into the blood. These chemicals mobilize energy and strength for our brain to readjust to the new environment and find the best solutions. When you’re unemployed there’s a very serious threat over your life, future, happiness and so on. What many do not understand, though, is that there’s a positive relationship between productivity and stress. In an ideal world there would be no poverty, everyone would have the jobs they want, competition would be minimal, and no one would be fired. However, without any stress, our motivation to be more productive would be zero. If everyone had a job aligned and waiting, we wouldn’t spend days working on our resumes and cover letters.

Do you ever feel more productive in a dynamic environment? If I have days when things are slow, I feel less motivated to work and more tired in the evenings, compared to when things are happening fast and I have certain goals; I feel more energized. With the increase of stress our productivity increases, to the point where they both peak. That’s the point where we have enough stress to boost our energy and reach great results. Unfortunately, after every peak there’s a downward slope. At the bottom of that slope we reach a freezing point — the point, after long hours of stressful, hard work, you hit your limits of energy, your mind starts drifting away, you slow down, start to panic and even procrastinate. You have reached your freezing point. Your brain becomes so overwhelmed that it starts using the available energy to readjust to new settings and situations, not for doing work.

If you ever feel like you’re starting to scatter your mind into too many things, it’s a good practice to start making to-do lists. If you’re looking at job openings, instead of opening ten windows and jumping from one to the other, bookmark the ones you’re interested in and start viewing them one by one. This approach will give you enough stimulation to do what you need to do and will allow your brain to use your energy gradually, being attentive to one topic at a time.

Multitasking

In today’s dynamic life, apart from all of the responsibilities we have, there are a number of distractions everywhere and in everything we do. When you sit in front of your computer to apply to jobs, how many times do you check your email, Facebook and/or your phone in between? I do it all the time, and there are certainly days that are worse than others, when at the end of the day I realize I have not finished even half of what I had planned.

Handling a few activities at the same time might seem to be very productive, but in reality, your attention becomes divided between several different stimuli. By shifting your attention from one thing to another, you cause stress to your brain provoking it to readjust to the new stimulus a number of times. On top of that, when you have to perform repetitive actions, such as reading job profiles, your brain becomes a bit lazier as things start looking similar. By switching your attention too many times, you add unnecessary stress on the brain, lower your awareness of important details, make incorrect choices and, ultimately, decrease your productivity.

Being able to stay productive in a job search is not easy as at some point, things become repetitive and we start missing out on details. If you manage to allow enough space and time for your attention to stay on one topic you will allow yourself to see and read more, which will ultimately lead you to better results!

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Today’s post is written by CareerSparx Managing Editor Kacey Valla.

When it comes to your job search, it’s important to create a defining objective. We aren’t talking about an objective that people told you to put on your resume (which you shouldn’t include), but the objective that defines the goal of your job search. Before you begin your job search make sure you have put time into creating an outline with objectives and goals to achieve your dream job.

It’s important you map out short-term objectives and long-term goals in order to achieve the final result you want. It will be easier if you break down the process, and you will feel more accomplished along the way. If you just fly by the seat of your pants, chances are you won’t land where you wanted. So, take the time to create an objective that is a perfect fit for your needs, values and dreams.

Getting Started

So how do you go about creating this objective? Start with creating a list of characteristics that you look for in a job. This list could be simple or complex, but the point is you know what you’re looking for in your dream job. After you create this list, search for companies and jobs that thrive and promote those exact characteristics. Seek informational interviews and any opportunities you have to network and meet people in the places you want to be. It’s important to find a company that you will fit seamlessly into, otherwise it will be an unproductive choice for both you and the company.

And When Life Happens?

Although you have defined an objective and created a list of important characteristics, this doesn’t mean you can’t be flexible and change them! Life throws you curve balls, so don’t be afraid to make appropriate changes. When making changes, don’t sacrifice everything you lined out or have worked for. Keep those in mind, but know what you would be willing to work with. You may discover a love for something new that you never thought you would like!

Get to Know Yourself So You Can Represent Yourself

It’s important to create objectives and goals for yourself, because if you don’t know what you want, how will the employer ever know if you’re what they’re looking for? It’s important to be able to define yourself and have a polished “elevator pitch” going into every interview. Knowing who you are and what you want will take you further than blasting your resume at a hundred different companies. Take the time to truly know yourself, and then go out there and sell that accomplished, professional person you’ve become.

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