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   Elise Spadavecchio
Confidence, Courage and Enthusiasm. That was my dad’s advice before my first speech in 5th grade. Last fall, I walked into my internship with the same excitement as I had during my speech, ready to blow everyone out of the water and get hired in a week.
Well, I did have my confidence, courage and […]

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Two young neighbors were busy this weekend getting organized for their first full-time jobs.  They are among the lucky ones who landed jobs prior to graduation.  Reportedly, only 25% of ‘09 graduates begin jobs in June.  For most, the job search continues.
For those starting jobs soon, I want to call your attention to excellent posts by two student bloggers.  Michigan State University student and […]

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   I have been a long-time advocate of a casual work environment, but dress standards sometimes become too loose, especially in Summer.  As a CEO once responded when I recommended that the company should extend casual days to the entire week, not just Fridays:  “Unfortunately, some employees don’t know the difference between business casual and […]

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  Leah Bassettt
Your first day at a new job has arrived – a swiveling chair, an empty desk, a new email address and a feeling that you’ve started the climb up the corporate ladder begin to circle around your brain like Chicago’s blustering wind. A few days into your new job and you might be […]

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Q.  This was my first day working as a full time PR person in a financial services firm. It’s tough, things are slow. I am the only PR person in the firm and it has also been hard to begin a dialogue about what our needs are, and how we will pursue them. How can […]

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 William Berger
Before I was hired by Houlihan Smith & Company, a specialized investment banking firm serving small- and mid-cap companies from San Francisco to South Africa, I was just another December ’08 Columbia College Chicago graduate in the worst job market in recent memory.
My first two weeks on the job drew from many skills I learned […]

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Q.  After three internships (two during college and one after graduation) and lots of networking, I finally landed my first full-time PR job.  Any tips on what I should do to ensure success when I start to work next week?  -BG
A.  Show up early and be willing to stay late.  Remain visible, but don’t impose […]

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Alysha Daytner, a May 2008 Purdue University graduate with a degree in Public Relations and Advertising, provides the following insights from her experience as an intern at the 2008 Summer Olympics.  I’ve already asked Alysha to write another guest post at the end of her once-in-a-lifetime internship.  Alysha is pictured below (center) with other interns in the balcony of […]

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Jennifer Rice
Marketing Consultant
Methodist Medical Group
My first job after college was a PR internship. I was trying to get my foot in the door to the healthcare world in Indianapolis. Having thought I had appropriately calculated my timing out the door, I had sadly mistaken how backed up rush hour traffic would be and was ultimately […]

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While attending the PRSA International Conference in Philadelphia last Fall, I met the future, and I was impressed. Betsy Plank talked me into participating on a panel comprised of veteran PR leaders who addressed the student arm of PRSA–PRSSA. Several hundred students showed up for the early Sunday morning session–all in interview-ready attire. Impressive sight. […]

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