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      Teresa Mastin, Ph.D.  (second from left)
If you were independently wealthy, what would you do with your days, what would you do with your life?
During my summer 2010, I often found myself wondering what I would do with my life if I didn’t have to work for a living.  Two experiences in particular were responsible […]

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Cause-related PR is on the verge of exploding.   
For years, corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts have been handled by small, sometimes one-person staffs.  As consumers reacted positively to companies that did good deeds, CSR gained increasing credibility as it expanded from corporate philanthropy to a new marketing tool.  Rob Densen wrote a thoughtful guest post recently on CSR (he […]

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Many posts here have discussed the importance of volunteerism and involvement as a way to enhance your resume.  So, I was pleased to see the report from PR students at Columbia College who got actively involved in supporting Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Olympics. 
Although Rio de Janeiro was awarded the 2016 Olympic rings, the Columbia students […]

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As nearly 2 million freshman begin arriving on campuses in the U.S. alone over the next two weeks, most will focus on parties and academics.  Only a few will lay the groundwork for their future careers by becoming involved in extra-curricular activities. 
Since hands-on experience and networks are essential for future job searches, don’t postpone getting involved in […]

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Q.   I am the mother of a soon-to-be high school senior who currently thinks he wants to major in mass communications/PR when he goes to college next year.  My husband and I are in financial jobs, and don’t know enough about PR to effectively discuss our son’s career choice with him.  Suggestions?  Thank you.  -EB
A.  I’m prejudiced, […]

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  Brandi Boatner
College students and recent graduates should be aware of a common myth faced during your academic career. Myth: Extra-curricular activities in high school were good enough but in college they aren’t really a big deal.
You might think, who has time to join dozen of clubs and organizations, going to several meetings a week […]

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Columbia College’s Sandra Allen, who is a long-time friend and PR colleague, invited me to speak to her Social Change Communication class yesterday.  Her students are focusing on corporate social responsibility (CSR) and they clearly have been giving a lot of thought to the subject.
We discussed the evolution of CSR from over the past 30 years, […]

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Tom O’Keefe graduated from Villanova University last year and asked himself “now what”?  He found his answer and writes about it in a short, thoughtful post on Career Realism.  In this bleak job market, Tom answered his own question with another question:  ”Did you know you don’t necessarily need a job or internship to gain relevant experience in your […]

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  SONIA M. TORRES:  ‘Spinning’ for a Cause

I fell into PR by a fluke – literally. I had just graduated college without any idea what my next move would be. Law school? No thanks.  Grad school? Not just yet. As most stories go, I knew someone who knew someone who was looking for someone to […]

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Volunteerism is growing rapidly, and the process of finding an opportunity that fits your interests and availability is far easier than a traditional job search.  And some positions pay intern-level salaries so don’t overlook volunteerism as a way to get your foot in the door. 
The U.S. Congress is finalizing legislation that will streamline the infrastructure for volunteerism and […]

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