Hi all,
I'm here today to say that My PR Quest will be taking a bit of a time out. Between my two volunteer internships, revising for exams in September, working on my course project for September, and planning two weddings... well, you'd understand if I don't have all the free time in the world.
So with that said, my poor little blog will be out of action until the end of September, when I will return, a happier, infinitely less stressed out K.
Hopefully you'll still be following!
K
27 July 2009
09 July 2009
Customer Service Fail (and some wins, too)
Ever since Mr K and I got engaged in April, I've been paying extra-close attention to the customer service I've been given by different suppliers. Rest assured, I have absolutely NO intention of doing business with ANYONE who is anything less than friendly and courteous. Just because I'm a bride-to-be does not give you the right to rip me off. (oops... bridezilla moment...)
I've actually been surprised at how different suppliers have been challenging my long-held stereotypes of the customer service world, both for good and bad. Now, bear with me while I indulge in some serious stereotyping for a moment. In my 3.5 years in Dublin, people working in the service industry here are RUDE, with very, very few exceptions. Conversely, having lived in Vancouver for most of my life, I've always found service industry professionals to be smiley, polite and helpful.
Well. Something about the Wedding Industrial Complex (WIC - a term I picked up on a wedding forum) has turned this all on its head. I don't know whether it's the effects of the recession on Irish suppliers, or whether Canadian suppliers have just become complacent... but whoa.
Case(s) in point:
Customer Service Fail:
It's hard planning a wedding from 5000 miles away, so when I started emailing venues and photographers at home, I wasn't sure what to expect. We'd already sorted out our Irish photographer (yes, we're doing 2 ceremonies, mostly because I love hassle!) and were looking for a photographer with a similar style over in Canada. Easy, right? Well... not exactly. I approached one couple via email, said I loved their style and would be interested in using them for our wedding... with a few minor changes. Since we're not in the country we don't need an engagement session, and we're also not looking for albums at the moment. Basically we just want the photos.
So Canadian Photographer Girl (CPG) emails me back and tells me it's fine if we don't want the "extras", but that the regular package price will not change. Oh, and despite saying they'll travel anywhere in the Okanagan Valley on their website, they're going to charge $200 to go from Kelowna to Osoyoos. That's at least 4 times the cost of petrol.
Excuse me? You're seriously going to charge me your astronomical quoted amount despite the fact that we won't be availing of 2/3 of your services? And when I wrote back to "check" if they could be a bit more flexible, I was told quite bluntly that said astronomical quote is the minimum they charge to remain in business. Never mind that I don't even make that in a MONTH...
Fail.
Customer Service Wins:
Every potential supplier thus far in Ireland. Seriously. I have been so impressed with everyone I've spoken to. People are flexible in their prices, willing to help us out at every turn, willing to throw in added extras, and seem genuinely happy that we are considering them. It makes such a difference.
And it's not as though being nice or flexible is costing them much. Nice is free... and the recommendations that I'll be giving them to ALL my likely-soon-to-be-married girlfriends over here will likely MORE than make up for being flexible on prices.
Remember, CPG - "A happy customer tells a friend. An unhappy customer tells everyone." I'm only a potential customer, but I'm unhappy, so here I am telling the blogosphere.
30 June 2009
Volunteer Do-gooder
Since everything has gone a bit crazy over here at My PR Quest, I haven't really had a free moment to sit down and properly plan out the future installments of "Everything I need to know about PR, I learned from my Grandfather". Rest assured, it will be back with a vengeance soon(ish).
In the meantime, I thought I'd return to the ever-delightful world of the job hunt. After having several of my best laid plans foiled at the last minute (read: coming second in the interview process), I decided that enough was enough. I need SOME sort of work experience, and perhaps the best way to do that is to volunteer.
So I am.
I successfully landed a 6 month part-time internship with a local charity, doing some PR work but also supporter relations, which is hugely important in the charity/NGO sector and very "in demand". I'm learning wonderful programmes like Raiser's Edge - something I'd been meaning to learn for years, but never had the opportunity. So far it's all going really well, and they've even agreed to let me do my final PR project for my course on the organisation! Double bonus.
Of course, volunteer work isn't for everyone. It's tough. It's work. And it's unpaid. But if you're unemployed, I'd suggest that it's the best way to keep yourself busy, while at the same time picking up new skills and experience that always look good on a CV. Plus, potential employers like to see that you've kept yourself busy while you've been job hunting. And they like to see volunteer work as well. A lot of charities or NGOs are also offering part-time volunteer positions, as they realise that people need money coming in. This frees up time to have a part-time job, or even a job with flexible hours, like hotel, restaurant or shop work (which I've also tried to land, thus far to no avail).
So don't rule it out as an option - even a short-term one. It also earns you the often-needed karma points... for when you need the universe to align itself in your favour.
In the meantime, I thought I'd return to the ever-delightful world of the job hunt. After having several of my best laid plans foiled at the last minute (read: coming second in the interview process), I decided that enough was enough. I need SOME sort of work experience, and perhaps the best way to do that is to volunteer.
So I am.
I successfully landed a 6 month part-time internship with a local charity, doing some PR work but also supporter relations, which is hugely important in the charity/NGO sector and very "in demand". I'm learning wonderful programmes like Raiser's Edge - something I'd been meaning to learn for years, but never had the opportunity. So far it's all going really well, and they've even agreed to let me do my final PR project for my course on the organisation! Double bonus.
Of course, volunteer work isn't for everyone. It's tough. It's work. And it's unpaid. But if you're unemployed, I'd suggest that it's the best way to keep yourself busy, while at the same time picking up new skills and experience that always look good on a CV. Plus, potential employers like to see that you've kept yourself busy while you've been job hunting. And they like to see volunteer work as well. A lot of charities or NGOs are also offering part-time volunteer positions, as they realise that people need money coming in. This frees up time to have a part-time job, or even a job with flexible hours, like hotel, restaurant or shop work (which I've also tried to land, thus far to no avail).
So don't rule it out as an option - even a short-term one. It also earns you the often-needed karma points... for when you need the universe to align itself in your favour.
16 June 2009
Everything I need to know about PR, I learned from my Grandfather
Part III - Corporate Social Responsibility
Nowadays there seems to be an increasing focus on a company's ethical behaviour - it's definitely a trendy thing to be seen to be doing in the business world, and companies are taking full advantage of it. While people argue that some companies have questionable motives (environmental campaigns by oil companies, health campaigns by fast food giants), corporate social responsibility (CSR) is generally regarded as a good thing, and something that companies should be encouraged to participate in.
I suppose, from my "old school" perspective, it seems a bit strange that a company would need to be talked into taking on CSR programmes, and even stranger that some then go out of their way to show off their good deeds. Whatever happened to quietly making a difference? Is there really a need for such dramatic fanfare?
My grandfather was always a soft spoken man, although he would chat your ear off given the opportunity. For as long as I can remember, the only thing I can ever recall him bragging about were his grandchildren. He especially loved to tell complete strangers about his travelling granddaughter living over in Ireland, and everything I was getting up to.
When I was in college I was working on a paper for my BC History class. I'd decided to look at the development and economic successes of the local native population where my grandparents live, as their leaders have always been extremely admired and well-respected, and I was curious what made their band different from others in the country. During the course of my research I discovered that one particular chief had refused to let the children on the reservation be taken away to residential schools, instead setting up a day school so they could learn without having to leave. The teacher in question was a remarkable man who encouraged the children to revive near-forgotten traditions by asking their elders about songs and stories of importance to their culture. The children put on annual school productions and invited the whole town, resulting in a sense of pride and accomplishment that still resonates today.
The point of this slightly long-winded story is that I was able to locate a printed programme for one of the productions, and on the back was a small ad mentioning that the event was sponsored by Collen's Department Store.
When I mentioned it to my family, no one had ever heard anything about it. There was never any fanfare, or mentions of "how we are helping the community". It was just one decision made quietly by one person (my great-grandfather, upon closer research).
Just the way it should be.
Nowadays there seems to be an increasing focus on a company's ethical behaviour - it's definitely a trendy thing to be seen to be doing in the business world, and companies are taking full advantage of it. While people argue that some companies have questionable motives (environmental campaigns by oil companies, health campaigns by fast food giants), corporate social responsibility (CSR) is generally regarded as a good thing, and something that companies should be encouraged to participate in.
I suppose, from my "old school" perspective, it seems a bit strange that a company would need to be talked into taking on CSR programmes, and even stranger that some then go out of their way to show off their good deeds. Whatever happened to quietly making a difference? Is there really a need for such dramatic fanfare?
My grandfather was always a soft spoken man, although he would chat your ear off given the opportunity. For as long as I can remember, the only thing I can ever recall him bragging about were his grandchildren. He especially loved to tell complete strangers about his travelling granddaughter living over in Ireland, and everything I was getting up to.
When I was in college I was working on a paper for my BC History class. I'd decided to look at the development and economic successes of the local native population where my grandparents live, as their leaders have always been extremely admired and well-respected, and I was curious what made their band different from others in the country. During the course of my research I discovered that one particular chief had refused to let the children on the reservation be taken away to residential schools, instead setting up a day school so they could learn without having to leave. The teacher in question was a remarkable man who encouraged the children to revive near-forgotten traditions by asking their elders about songs and stories of importance to their culture. The children put on annual school productions and invited the whole town, resulting in a sense of pride and accomplishment that still resonates today.
The point of this slightly long-winded story is that I was able to locate a printed programme for one of the productions, and on the back was a small ad mentioning that the event was sponsored by Collen's Department Store.
When I mentioned it to my family, no one had ever heard anything about it. There was never any fanfare, or mentions of "how we are helping the community". It was just one decision made quietly by one person (my great-grandfather, upon closer research).
Just the way it should be.
02 June 2009
Everything I need to know about PR, I learned from my Grandfather
(apologies for the late post - clearly a sunny bank holiday weekend coupled with coursework and job hunting meant that my poor little blog was overlooked)
Part II - Be nice!!
Alright, I admit that this topic is a bit self-evident and kind of common sensical if you really think about it, but I also think that in the quest to increase profits, reach targets or deliver important messages, a lot of companies and organisations often forget the basics. And nothing is more basic than the simple rule - Be Nice.
I cannot remember my grandfather ever disliking anyone, or saying a bad word about anybody. Well, with the exception of a former Canadian Prime Minister, but we all have our politicians that we dislike, I suppose! He treated everyone, and I do mean EVERYONE, with respect, courtesy and human decency. No-one's money was better than anyone else's in the store, and the fact that you might not be the richest person in town did not mean that you were treated any differently from the person who WAS the richest person in town. Personally, I can't stand snooty salespeople who stare down their noses at you as if to say "you don't belong here, you can't afford our merchandise".
Learning this lesson early on has meant that I have always done well in the field of customer or client services, especially in the hospitality and tourism industries. I have treated celebrities exactly the same way I treated any other guests (name dropping time! - I gave Tommy Lee very friendly directions to the nearest ATM).
Don't get me wrong - I do not believe in the old adage that "The Customer is Always Right". That's not true... not by a long shot. What I do believe in, and what IS true in my experience, is that "A happy customer tells a friend. An unhappy customer tells EVERYBODY." Which means that unless your front-line staff are interacting with clients/customers in a positive way, it really doesn't matter how much you spend on marketing or advertising. In today's technological age, stories of bad customer service wing their way around the globe in minutes. What does that do to your reputation as a company or organisation?
But I'm not just talking about being nice to ONLY your customers. Out of the customer service awards that I've won or been nominated for over the years, 2/3 of them were for inter-departmental service. Think about it. Does it really take that much time to send out a quick thank-you email to someone who has helped you on a particular project? Or say you're planning an important event - when it's over do you thank the caterers, the venue, etc?
Now some people would argue that suppliers are just doing their job - they had a contract with you, so of course they're going to provide whatever service they've been hired to do. But what's the harm in being nice? You never know... it might result in preferential rates, or the company choosing to work with you rather than another organisation if they are double-booked, because you've been decent to them over the years.
Plus, being nice is good for you!
Part II - Be nice!!
Alright, I admit that this topic is a bit self-evident and kind of common sensical if you really think about it, but I also think that in the quest to increase profits, reach targets or deliver important messages, a lot of companies and organisations often forget the basics. And nothing is more basic than the simple rule - Be Nice.
I cannot remember my grandfather ever disliking anyone, or saying a bad word about anybody. Well, with the exception of a former Canadian Prime Minister, but we all have our politicians that we dislike, I suppose! He treated everyone, and I do mean EVERYONE, with respect, courtesy and human decency. No-one's money was better than anyone else's in the store, and the fact that you might not be the richest person in town did not mean that you were treated any differently from the person who WAS the richest person in town. Personally, I can't stand snooty salespeople who stare down their noses at you as if to say "you don't belong here, you can't afford our merchandise".
Learning this lesson early on has meant that I have always done well in the field of customer or client services, especially in the hospitality and tourism industries. I have treated celebrities exactly the same way I treated any other guests (name dropping time! - I gave Tommy Lee very friendly directions to the nearest ATM).
Don't get me wrong - I do not believe in the old adage that "The Customer is Always Right". That's not true... not by a long shot. What I do believe in, and what IS true in my experience, is that "A happy customer tells a friend. An unhappy customer tells EVERYBODY." Which means that unless your front-line staff are interacting with clients/customers in a positive way, it really doesn't matter how much you spend on marketing or advertising. In today's technological age, stories of bad customer service wing their way around the globe in minutes. What does that do to your reputation as a company or organisation?
But I'm not just talking about being nice to ONLY your customers. Out of the customer service awards that I've won or been nominated for over the years, 2/3 of them were for inter-departmental service. Think about it. Does it really take that much time to send out a quick thank-you email to someone who has helped you on a particular project? Or say you're planning an important event - when it's over do you thank the caterers, the venue, etc?
Now some people would argue that suppliers are just doing their job - they had a contract with you, so of course they're going to provide whatever service they've been hired to do. But what's the harm in being nice? You never know... it might result in preferential rates, or the company choosing to work with you rather than another organisation if they are double-booked, because you've been decent to them over the years.
Plus, being nice is good for you!
23 May 2009
Everything I need to know about PR, I learned from my Grandfather
Part I - The Introduction
Before I launch into the important lessons in PR, marketing and customer service I picked up from my grandfather over the years, I thought I'd start with a bit of history.
British Columbia (my home province in Canada) has its settler origins in mining and railroads. It was part of the Gold Rush, and experienced similar successes to those in California and the Yukon, with hundreds if not thousands of men coming out West to seek their fortunes.
My great grandfather ran a few general stores during this time, in different towns in the Okanagan/Similkimeen Valley. Since I never got to see them (for the obvious reason of my not being born at the time), I like to imagine them as the kind of stores you see in old western films, or re-runs of Little House on the Prairie. He catered mostly to miners at first, then later to ranchers and orchardists as the mining dried up and people began to settle in the valley.
(Collen's Department Store advertisement - EJ Collen was my great-grandfather's brother)
My grandfather took over the main store, continuing the tradition of the family run business by enlisting the help of my then-teenaged mom and the twins (my aunt and uncle). The store always catered to the locals and was, by way of example, a (much) smaller scale version of Cleary's or Dunne's (or The Bay, for any Canadian readers). They stocked men, women and children's clothing, as well as fabric and sewing supplies, and ranching and orcharding gear.
I grew up hearing about "The Store", and although it was sadly destroyed by fire in the mid-1970s, well before I even had a chance to set foot in the place, I learned a lot about public relations, marketing, and running a successful business simply by listening to my grandfather's stories.
This blog series is dedicated to my grandfather, who passed away early last year. Papa, you taught me more than either of us realised... and I know you wouldn't mind me sharing what I learned from you. This one's for you.
Before I launch into the important lessons in PR, marketing and customer service I picked up from my grandfather over the years, I thought I'd start with a bit of history.
British Columbia (my home province in Canada) has its settler origins in mining and railroads. It was part of the Gold Rush, and experienced similar successes to those in California and the Yukon, with hundreds if not thousands of men coming out West to seek their fortunes.
My great grandfather ran a few general stores during this time, in different towns in the Okanagan/Similkimeen Valley. Since I never got to see them (for the obvious reason of my not being born at the time), I like to imagine them as the kind of stores you see in old western films, or re-runs of Little House on the Prairie. He catered mostly to miners at first, then later to ranchers and orchardists as the mining dried up and people began to settle in the valley.
(Collen's Department Store advertisement - EJ Collen was my great-grandfather's brother)My grandfather took over the main store, continuing the tradition of the family run business by enlisting the help of my then-teenaged mom and the twins (my aunt and uncle). The store always catered to the locals and was, by way of example, a (much) smaller scale version of Cleary's or Dunne's (or The Bay, for any Canadian readers). They stocked men, women and children's clothing, as well as fabric and sewing supplies, and ranching and orcharding gear.
I grew up hearing about "The Store", and although it was sadly destroyed by fire in the mid-1970s, well before I even had a chance to set foot in the place, I learned a lot about public relations, marketing, and running a successful business simply by listening to my grandfather's stories.
This blog series is dedicated to my grandfather, who passed away early last year. Papa, you taught me more than either of us realised... and I know you wouldn't mind me sharing what I learned from you. This one's for you.
19 May 2009
New blog series - unfortunate delay!
Apologies for missing last Friday's "Everything I need to know about PR, I learned from my Grandfather" - I had a chaotic week AND weekend which, coupled with sporadic internet access, meant I couldn't post the first instalment as I'd hoped. That series will definitely start this coming Friday, so stay tuned!
I've also been thinking through some issues to do with marketing messages, so hopefully once I've managed to relax a bit and collect my thoughts in some coherent form, I'll have a few other new posts as well.
I've also been thinking through some issues to do with marketing messages, so hopefully once I've managed to relax a bit and collect my thoughts in some coherent form, I'll have a few other new posts as well.
12 May 2009
Interview Prep 2 - This Time It's Personal
Unfortunately the potential new employment referred to in my last post relating to interview prep didn't work out. I blame the fact that I had a touch of a stomach bug, but went to the interview anyway. I can't say I was in the greatest shape for a thorough questioning - in fact, I did one thing "the experts" always tell you not to do, and that was to chew gum during the interview... but I only did it to alleviate the nausea. To be fair, I probably wouldn't have hired me either!
Having been called in for a different interview this coming Thursday, I'm now faced with Interview Prep 2, and this time it's personal. I know the group I'm interviewing with fairly well, and the position is an excellent match for my skills and experience. I should be set, and ready to nail this one, right?
Well... no. I had a session with Life Coach (LC) yesterday, and I thought I'd use the session as an opportunity to focus on my interview skills. We went through the job description and person specification in painstaking detail, and what emerged is that while I'm very good at what I do (if I do say so myself), I need to work harder at both knowing myself and, more importantly, selling myself.
Take, for example, the dreaded question "What are your strengths and weaknesses?" I, like most interviewees, hate this question. I feel like any answer I give is only going to sound like bragging (for the strengths) or like a silly attempt at trying to re-frame a positive as a negative ("I work too hard... I'm a perfectionist...") So I've been working on this, and working through the notion that selling yourself isn't the same as bragging or being a show-off (not if you do it properly, at least!) - no, it's actually what is expected of you at an interview. Common sense, right?
So yes, potential interviewers... my name is K, I am awesome at what I do, and given the opportunity I will strive to be the best thing that has happened to your company or organisation since it was founded. Your long and arduous search is over. I'm your girl.
Wish me luck!
Having been called in for a different interview this coming Thursday, I'm now faced with Interview Prep 2, and this time it's personal. I know the group I'm interviewing with fairly well, and the position is an excellent match for my skills and experience. I should be set, and ready to nail this one, right?
Well... no. I had a session with Life Coach (LC) yesterday, and I thought I'd use the session as an opportunity to focus on my interview skills. We went through the job description and person specification in painstaking detail, and what emerged is that while I'm very good at what I do (if I do say so myself), I need to work harder at both knowing myself and, more importantly, selling myself.
Take, for example, the dreaded question "What are your strengths and weaknesses?" I, like most interviewees, hate this question. I feel like any answer I give is only going to sound like bragging (for the strengths) or like a silly attempt at trying to re-frame a positive as a negative ("I work too hard... I'm a perfectionist...") So I've been working on this, and working through the notion that selling yourself isn't the same as bragging or being a show-off (not if you do it properly, at least!) - no, it's actually what is expected of you at an interview. Common sense, right?
So yes, potential interviewers... my name is K, I am awesome at what I do, and given the opportunity I will strive to be the best thing that has happened to your company or organisation since it was founded. Your long and arduous search is over. I'm your girl.
Wish me luck!
08 May 2009
Old is the new New
A few weeks ago, my friend Chris at GeekPhilosophy wrote an interesting post that really got me thinking. He (and his readers) noticed that a lot of the "old school" ways of thinking and doing things seem to be coming back into fashion, citing examples such as the urban gardening movement (particularly popular in Vancouver, although I admit I have my own herb garden on the balcony of the apartment!), and the increasing popularity of using midwives and doulas in the birthing process.
I'd like to suggest that the same is also true for the world of Public Relations and Marketing. As a self-professed "old school" customer service and communications professional, I've definitely noticed a move toward the older, previously discarded, ways of doing things. What I find particularly interesting is that these "new old" methods are drawing on "old" knowledge, but using this knowledge within "new" technologies and frameworks.
Confused? Don't worry, I have a plan.
I've decided to begin a weekly column called "Everything I Need To Know About Marketing, I Learned From My Grandfather". Every Friday I'll look in-depth at a particular aspect of marketing and public relations as it was "back in the day", and explain how similar techniques are being (or can be) used today.
Stay tuned!
I'd like to suggest that the same is also true for the world of Public Relations and Marketing. As a self-professed "old school" customer service and communications professional, I've definitely noticed a move toward the older, previously discarded, ways of doing things. What I find particularly interesting is that these "new old" methods are drawing on "old" knowledge, but using this knowledge within "new" technologies and frameworks.
Confused? Don't worry, I have a plan.
I've decided to begin a weekly column called "Everything I Need To Know About Marketing, I Learned From My Grandfather". Every Friday I'll look in-depth at a particular aspect of marketing and public relations as it was "back in the day", and explain how similar techniques are being (or can be) used today.
Stay tuned!
24 April 2009
Staying "Up" in the Down Times
Part of my recession-chic (read: "unemployed and penniless") lifestyle involves making the most of available opportunities, especially the free ones. So when I read on Krishna De's Twitter feed that not only would she be speaking at a networking event on positivity during the recession, but that she was giving away FREE! TICKETS! TO BLOGGERS! I jumped at the chance.
The event was hosted by PA Assist and Osborne Recruitment at the Ballsbridge Court Hotel on Wednesday 22nd April. Thanks to my genetic predisposition to arrive at any event at least 15 minutes early, I had lots of time to grab a coffee and chat to other participants. Unlike me, most people I spoke to seemed to have jobs, but were attending the event because of the near-constant state of fear and uncertainty in today's job market. As I mentioned in my previous post, how does one stay positive when all around us things seem to be crumbling and changing?
The first speaker to address this issue was James Sweetman - a leading business, personal and performance coach based in Dublin. His hour-long presentation was full of encouraging messages, tips and suggestions, combined with an infectiously optimistic personality and a great sense of humour. His tips on how to stay "up" in the down times focused on maintaining positivity, knowing yourself and being aware of what you can control. So I may not be able to control being rejected for a job, but I can control how I react to the rejection.
The next speaker was Brendan Murphy, from Osborne Recruitment, who focused on the employment side of things. He had good tips on jobhunting (yes, I took copious notes!) and emphasised the importance of knowing yourself: your strengths, your weaknesses, and what makes you different from other candidates. Needless to say, I'm hoping that knowledge of these issues leads to increased self confidence which will naturally lead to a job. I plan to test this theory intensively, and will report back!
The final speaker was Krishna De - social media, marketing and personal branding expert, and the reason I even found out about the conference. She highlighted the value of using social networking to help you in your life, your job or (in my case) your job hunt, which I found extremely useful. Being relatively new to sites like Twitter and LinkedIn, I could sense the potential, but wasn't sure how to fully harness it. Her talk definitely helped, and I'm now pursuing everything with a better understanding of how to get the most out of my various sites!
Overall I'd have to say the conference was really enjoyable. It's definitely not an easy time out there in recession-land, particularly for jobhunters, and often "staying up" is easier said than done when you've just received your millionth "Thank you for your application, but..." letter.
Really, it's all about confidence, and having the courage to persevere. A rejection is not the end of the world. Stand up, dust yourself off, go for a walk in the sunshine, and make a fresh start at it tomorrow.
It works. Honestly.
The event was hosted by PA Assist and Osborne Recruitment at the Ballsbridge Court Hotel on Wednesday 22nd April. Thanks to my genetic predisposition to arrive at any event at least 15 minutes early, I had lots of time to grab a coffee and chat to other participants. Unlike me, most people I spoke to seemed to have jobs, but were attending the event because of the near-constant state of fear and uncertainty in today's job market. As I mentioned in my previous post, how does one stay positive when all around us things seem to be crumbling and changing?
The first speaker to address this issue was James Sweetman - a leading business, personal and performance coach based in Dublin. His hour-long presentation was full of encouraging messages, tips and suggestions, combined with an infectiously optimistic personality and a great sense of humour. His tips on how to stay "up" in the down times focused on maintaining positivity, knowing yourself and being aware of what you can control. So I may not be able to control being rejected for a job, but I can control how I react to the rejection.
The next speaker was Brendan Murphy, from Osborne Recruitment, who focused on the employment side of things. He had good tips on jobhunting (yes, I took copious notes!) and emphasised the importance of knowing yourself: your strengths, your weaknesses, and what makes you different from other candidates. Needless to say, I'm hoping that knowledge of these issues leads to increased self confidence which will naturally lead to a job. I plan to test this theory intensively, and will report back!
The final speaker was Krishna De - social media, marketing and personal branding expert, and the reason I even found out about the conference. She highlighted the value of using social networking to help you in your life, your job or (in my case) your job hunt, which I found extremely useful. Being relatively new to sites like Twitter and LinkedIn, I could sense the potential, but wasn't sure how to fully harness it. Her talk definitely helped, and I'm now pursuing everything with a better understanding of how to get the most out of my various sites!
Overall I'd have to say the conference was really enjoyable. It's definitely not an easy time out there in recession-land, particularly for jobhunters, and often "staying up" is easier said than done when you've just received your millionth "Thank you for your application, but..." letter.
Really, it's all about confidence, and having the courage to persevere. A rejection is not the end of the world. Stand up, dust yourself off, go for a walk in the sunshine, and make a fresh start at it tomorrow.
It works. Honestly.
21 April 2009
Humour and the Jobhunt
"Laughter is the shock absorber that eases the blows of life"
(source unknown)
It's all too easy to get depressed by the state of the world today, particularly if you're unemployed, as I am. You only have to turn on the news to see stories of layoffs, bankruptcy, people losing their homes, their savings, their pensions... you name it.
Ireland's unemployment rate is hovering around 10% and some are predicting that figure will go higher. Competition for jobs is intense. Stories of bankers applying for jobs in McDonald's and hiring fairs attracting thousands of applicants for only hundreds of jobs are becoming all too common.
As a full-time jobhunter, I have amassed enough rejection letters to wallpaper my apartment. It's not always easy to take that much rejection, and as jobhunters we always run the risk of falling victim to depression and despondency.*
Sometimes all you can do is laugh. And I've found some excellent jobhunting-related humour sources!
1. The Most Awesome Cover Letter Ever
Can't you just feel the pain and frustration? Don't you wish you had the nerve to use this as your own cover letter?
Seriously, though... we've all had the standard rejection letters that thank us for our interest in the position, mention how impressed they were with our qualifications/experience/CV, and wish us all the best in our future endeavours/continued jobhunt/life in general. We know what it's like.
2. Overqualified
Joey Comeau, of A Softer World webcomic fame, has published a collection of his most crazy, outlandish, and off-the-wall cover letters. On the book's website, he notes:
"Cover letters are all the same. They're useless. You write the same lies over and over again, listing the store bought parts of yourself that you respect the least. God knows how they tell anyone apart, but this is how it's done."
You can read some of his letters in the archive section. He often resorts to begging, conspiracies, and outright threats, but what results is a bitterly funny picture of your average frustrated jobhunter.
Of course, these are just two examples of the humourous side of jobhunting. If anyone has any other favourites, please feel free to share them!
*depression is a very serious reality, and should never be treated lightly. If you or someone you know has been "battling the blues" for an extended period of time, please consider getting help. For an excellent list of resources, including a 24/7 helpline, visit Aware.
(source unknown)
It's all too easy to get depressed by the state of the world today, particularly if you're unemployed, as I am. You only have to turn on the news to see stories of layoffs, bankruptcy, people losing their homes, their savings, their pensions... you name it.
Ireland's unemployment rate is hovering around 10% and some are predicting that figure will go higher. Competition for jobs is intense. Stories of bankers applying for jobs in McDonald's and hiring fairs attracting thousands of applicants for only hundreds of jobs are becoming all too common.
As a full-time jobhunter, I have amassed enough rejection letters to wallpaper my apartment. It's not always easy to take that much rejection, and as jobhunters we always run the risk of falling victim to depression and despondency.*
Sometimes all you can do is laugh. And I've found some excellent jobhunting-related humour sources!
1. The Most Awesome Cover Letter Ever
Can't you just feel the pain and frustration? Don't you wish you had the nerve to use this as your own cover letter?
Seriously, though... we've all had the standard rejection letters that thank us for our interest in the position, mention how impressed they were with our qualifications/experience/CV, and wish us all the best in our future endeavours/continued jobhunt/life in general. We know what it's like.
2. Overqualified
Joey Comeau, of A Softer World webcomic fame, has published a collection of his most crazy, outlandish, and off-the-wall cover letters. On the book's website, he notes:
"Cover letters are all the same. They're useless. You write the same lies over and over again, listing the store bought parts of yourself that you respect the least. God knows how they tell anyone apart, but this is how it's done."
You can read some of his letters in the archive section. He often resorts to begging, conspiracies, and outright threats, but what results is a bitterly funny picture of your average frustrated jobhunter.
Of course, these are just two examples of the humourous side of jobhunting. If anyone has any other favourites, please feel free to share them!
*depression is a very serious reality, and should never be treated lightly. If you or someone you know has been "battling the blues" for an extended period of time, please consider getting help. For an excellent list of resources, including a 24/7 helpline, visit Aware.
16 April 2009
Life Coach
One of my lecturers mentioned that a colleague of his was offering free life coaching sessions as part of her certification process. All we had to do was write in and describe our current situation, and we'd be able to arrange the sessions.
So I did. Encouraged by the word "free", and the thought (correct or not) that this stranger might hold the key to sorting my life out once and for all, I figured I'd be foolish not to jump at the opportunity.
I had my first session yesterday, and I can already sense the potential benefits. It's so refreshing to have a new, outside perspective on my situation, distinct from the old standbys of the partner and the parents who, despite their best intentions, are incredibly biased in thinking I'm the best thing since sliced bread.
Life Coach (LC) and I went over the steps I'd taken in my job hunt thus far, and analysed what might be some of the barriers to my success. As I've always been confused at how seemingly ideal candidates (not just myself) often are unable to get interviews, it was interesting to get the opinions of someone who has also done executive and business coaching - an "insider" of sorts.
So now I have "homework" to do before my next session. This involves making a list of companies or organisations that I'd like to work for, including the names of the HR managers, so that I can put together a plan for proactive job hunting (rather than relying on advertised positions, which is what I've been doing at the moment).
I'm approaching it with a healthy dose of optimism and confidence. I will land a job if it kills me. I'm so glad LC is there to help me!
So I did. Encouraged by the word "free", and the thought (correct or not) that this stranger might hold the key to sorting my life out once and for all, I figured I'd be foolish not to jump at the opportunity.
I had my first session yesterday, and I can already sense the potential benefits. It's so refreshing to have a new, outside perspective on my situation, distinct from the old standbys of the partner and the parents who, despite their best intentions, are incredibly biased in thinking I'm the best thing since sliced bread.
Life Coach (LC) and I went over the steps I'd taken in my job hunt thus far, and analysed what might be some of the barriers to my success. As I've always been confused at how seemingly ideal candidates (not just myself) often are unable to get interviews, it was interesting to get the opinions of someone who has also done executive and business coaching - an "insider" of sorts.
So now I have "homework" to do before my next session. This involves making a list of companies or organisations that I'd like to work for, including the names of the HR managers, so that I can put together a plan for proactive job hunting (rather than relying on advertised positions, which is what I've been doing at the moment).
I'm approaching it with a healthy dose of optimism and confidence. I will land a job if it kills me. I'm so glad LC is there to help me!
13 April 2009
Reading
I haven't started my Crisis PR module yet, but when I do, I'll be sure to use this as an example of how quickly news can travel these days. I've only seen one mention of it in "traditional" media, but it's all over Twitter (#amazonfail is one of the top Trending Topics) and the blogs.
Amazonfail
Amazonfail
A Marketer's Worst Nightmare? (pt. 1)
One of the modules on my PR course deals with marketing, particularly its relationship to public relations. It has its own exam - part of the Big September Exams I'll be facing in a few short months. It's been suggested (or recommended) that whilst writing these exams, we should try to use as many examples as possible of successful campaigns - in this case, marketing campaigns.
Our lecturer always recommends that we "think of the brands you love, and use those as your examples". Well... I have one small problem with that.
I cannot for the life of me think of brands I love. In fact, the very word "brand" makes me cringe inwardly. I can't seem to recall a time when I've ever bought something because of who or what it was. Ever.
I have a much easier time thinking of commercials that annoy me, or companies that I'd never buy from. This probably does not bode well for my marketing exam.
Case in point - I remember when I was about 14 years old I was asked to be part of a marketing research focus group. The company was Polo Jeans - an offshoot of Ralph Lauren, and from what I recall they were attempting to discern how the brand would fare in the Canadian market. Apart from a pair of hand-me-down Guess Jeans, I'd never owned any branded clothing in my life (I still don't). Needless to say this didn't endear me to the researchers.
I recall getting hung up on the Polo Jeans logo. I could not, for the life of me, figure out why the researchers assumed Canadians would want to wear t-shirts with a big American flag on them, albeit one that was adapted to fit the brand. I remember being horrified that everyone else in the group seemed to think that this brand was The Coolest Thing Ever, with one girl saying that she'd absolutely wear that, no question. I argued with those researchers for at least 20 minutes, even going so far as to suggest that they might want to alter their logo slightly to reflect the potential Canadian market. No dice.
At the end of the session, all the participants were given a free gift - a Polo Jeans shirt, complete with American flag-esque logo.
I think they missed the point. Or maybe I did, because I still don't get it.
Our lecturer always recommends that we "think of the brands you love, and use those as your examples". Well... I have one small problem with that.
I cannot for the life of me think of brands I love. In fact, the very word "brand" makes me cringe inwardly. I can't seem to recall a time when I've ever bought something because of who or what it was. Ever.
I have a much easier time thinking of commercials that annoy me, or companies that I'd never buy from. This probably does not bode well for my marketing exam.
Case in point - I remember when I was about 14 years old I was asked to be part of a marketing research focus group. The company was Polo Jeans - an offshoot of Ralph Lauren, and from what I recall they were attempting to discern how the brand would fare in the Canadian market. Apart from a pair of hand-me-down Guess Jeans, I'd never owned any branded clothing in my life (I still don't). Needless to say this didn't endear me to the researchers.
I recall getting hung up on the Polo Jeans logo. I could not, for the life of me, figure out why the researchers assumed Canadians would want to wear t-shirts with a big American flag on them, albeit one that was adapted to fit the brand. I remember being horrified that everyone else in the group seemed to think that this brand was The Coolest Thing Ever, with one girl saying that she'd absolutely wear that, no question. I argued with those researchers for at least 20 minutes, even going so far as to suggest that they might want to alter their logo slightly to reflect the potential Canadian market. No dice.
At the end of the session, all the participants were given a free gift - a Polo Jeans shirt, complete with American flag-esque logo.
I think they missed the point. Or maybe I did, because I still don't get it.
11 April 2009
Rent Reduction
After reading this article in the Wall Street Journal online, I decided to see if it would be possible for my partner and I to have our rent lowered as well.
Our lease renewal was coming up on the 18th of April, and we wanted to give our landlord plenty of time to mull over our suggestions, so we drafted a letter and sent it off at the beginning of the month. Sure enough, on Thursday we received a phone call from our landlord, agreeing to our suggested €250 a month reduction, thereby saving ourselves €3000 per year.
Success!
If you are currently a renter, here are some tips for negotiating a reduction in your rent.
1. Do your research
The last thing you want to do in this crucial letter is appear uninformed. I'd been monitoring property prices in our area of Dublin for the past few months, including rental prices. When we decided to write a letter to our landlord, I was able to inform him that units similar to ours (2 bedroom, 2 bathroom) in the same complex were renting for €250 per month less than we were currently paying. This research worked in our favour, as the landlord quickly contacted the letting agency to confirm what we'd said. The agent did his own research and was able to confirm our findings.
2. (Try to) be perfect tenants
Okay, sometimes this may be easier said than done, I admit. But if you have anything that may work in your favour, bring it to your landlord's attention. For example, we mentioned that we have always paid our rent on time and in full. We also wrote that, apart from one isolated incident involving rusty cutlery, pots and pans and a strongly worded letter, we have always been delighted with our apartment and would love to continue to call it home.
3. Above all, be nice!
You certainly don't want to seem demanding or unreasonable. By writing the letter to our landlord, we tried to demonstrate that lowering our rent would be mutually beneficial. We (as the tenants) would naturally benefit from saving €250/month. The landlord would also benefit from keeping the apartment occupied for another year (at a time when many rental properties are sitting vacant, losing their owners money), and not having to find new tenants (which would likely result in him having to lower the rent anyway to remain competitive in the rental market!) It's win-win, but play nice!
4. Be aware of potential repercussions
In an ideal world, every landlord would be as accommodating as ours. But before you rush off and write a letter of your own, have you considered all the potential consequences and possibilities? What if he or she refuses to lower your rent? Are you willing/able to move? Or are you happy to keep paying the same amount, but just wanted to "test the waters"? These are all important things to think about before writing your letter.
Ultimately, asking for a rent reduction involves a lot of research and some tense negotiations, but if you're successful, it can come as a huge relief, particularly if you're worried about making ends meet in these difficult times.
Best of luck!
Our lease renewal was coming up on the 18th of April, and we wanted to give our landlord plenty of time to mull over our suggestions, so we drafted a letter and sent it off at the beginning of the month. Sure enough, on Thursday we received a phone call from our landlord, agreeing to our suggested €250 a month reduction, thereby saving ourselves €3000 per year.
Success!
If you are currently a renter, here are some tips for negotiating a reduction in your rent.
1. Do your research
The last thing you want to do in this crucial letter is appear uninformed. I'd been monitoring property prices in our area of Dublin for the past few months, including rental prices. When we decided to write a letter to our landlord, I was able to inform him that units similar to ours (2 bedroom, 2 bathroom) in the same complex were renting for €250 per month less than we were currently paying. This research worked in our favour, as the landlord quickly contacted the letting agency to confirm what we'd said. The agent did his own research and was able to confirm our findings.
2. (Try to) be perfect tenants
Okay, sometimes this may be easier said than done, I admit. But if you have anything that may work in your favour, bring it to your landlord's attention. For example, we mentioned that we have always paid our rent on time and in full. We also wrote that, apart from one isolated incident involving rusty cutlery, pots and pans and a strongly worded letter, we have always been delighted with our apartment and would love to continue to call it home.
3. Above all, be nice!
You certainly don't want to seem demanding or unreasonable. By writing the letter to our landlord, we tried to demonstrate that lowering our rent would be mutually beneficial. We (as the tenants) would naturally benefit from saving €250/month. The landlord would also benefit from keeping the apartment occupied for another year (at a time when many rental properties are sitting vacant, losing their owners money), and not having to find new tenants (which would likely result in him having to lower the rent anyway to remain competitive in the rental market!) It's win-win, but play nice!
4. Be aware of potential repercussions
In an ideal world, every landlord would be as accommodating as ours. But before you rush off and write a letter of your own, have you considered all the potential consequences and possibilities? What if he or she refuses to lower your rent? Are you willing/able to move? Or are you happy to keep paying the same amount, but just wanted to "test the waters"? These are all important things to think about before writing your letter.
Ultimately, asking for a rent reduction involves a lot of research and some tense negotiations, but if you're successful, it can come as a huge relief, particularly if you're worried about making ends meet in these difficult times.
Best of luck!
08 April 2009
Taxi Drivers and Interview Prep
If you want to know whether or not you are well prepared for a job interview, might I suggest taking a taxi to the venue? Particularly one driven by one of Dublin's trademark chatty taxi drivers?
Best thing I ever did. Honestly.
Driver: "So are you running late for work or what?"
K: "No, actually I've got a job interview at 10.30."
D: "Oh that's great. With who?"
K: "[Company X]"
D: "Oh right. Who are they now? What do they do?"
K: "Oh they're a [insert company description here]. You know, they do things like [insert lengthy description of company's activities]."
D: "Ah that's great. Good luck with that. I hope it goes well for ye."
Now, on the surface it seems like your average small talk - the type everyone is used to on taxi journeys of a certain duration. What it proved to me, however, was that I actually did know what I was talking about. I had done my research on Company X and could explain quite confidently (to someone who had never heard of them before) who they are and what they do.
I'm not sure how the interview itself went, and I won't find out for a while yet. But at least I can thank my Dublin taxi driver for helping me realise that I was adequately prepared for it.
Best thing I ever did. Honestly.
Driver: "So are you running late for work or what?"
K: "No, actually I've got a job interview at 10.30."
D: "Oh that's great. With who?"
K: "[Company X]"
D: "Oh right. Who are they now? What do they do?"
K: "Oh they're a [insert company description here]. You know, they do things like [insert lengthy description of company's activities]."
D: "Ah that's great. Good luck with that. I hope it goes well for ye."
Now, on the surface it seems like your average small talk - the type everyone is used to on taxi journeys of a certain duration. What it proved to me, however, was that I actually did know what I was talking about. I had done my research on Company X and could explain quite confidently (to someone who had never heard of them before) who they are and what they do.
I'm not sure how the interview itself went, and I won't find out for a while yet. But at least I can thank my Dublin taxi driver for helping me realise that I was adequately prepared for it.
07 April 2009
Welcome!
Hello, and welcome to My PR Quest!
I'm starting this blog to chronicle my journey through the world of PR and Communications. I feel like every day I am learning so much, by reading books, blogs and articles on what is obviously a dynamic, ever-changing subject, and I'd like to be able to share my thoughts and findings with the wider community.
My name is K, and I'm a 20-something Canadian ex-pat who relocated to Dublin, Ireland in 2006. My educational background is International Relations, human rights and ethnic and racial studies.
After several wonderful volunteer experiences in the Dublin NGO community, I was hired to work in the communications office of one of the organisations, where I discovered a knack for project management, particularly in events. Unfortunately, due to a number of factors, not least of which being the recession, I was let go in November 2008, and have been actively job hunting ever since.
In early 2009 I decided to go back to school part-time to become properly qualified in PR and Event Management, especially after developing a keen interest in social media and its uses in business. I've always been interested in communications - after reading a book or an article on any topic I can hardly wait to tell everyone I know about what I've just read!
I hope readers will find My PR Quest useful, informative and entertaining. Please feel free to leave comments and suggestions, as I always appreciate feedback!
Thanks for reading!
I'm starting this blog to chronicle my journey through the world of PR and Communications. I feel like every day I am learning so much, by reading books, blogs and articles on what is obviously a dynamic, ever-changing subject, and I'd like to be able to share my thoughts and findings with the wider community.
My name is K, and I'm a 20-something Canadian ex-pat who relocated to Dublin, Ireland in 2006. My educational background is International Relations, human rights and ethnic and racial studies.
After several wonderful volunteer experiences in the Dublin NGO community, I was hired to work in the communications office of one of the organisations, where I discovered a knack for project management, particularly in events. Unfortunately, due to a number of factors, not least of which being the recession, I was let go in November 2008, and have been actively job hunting ever since.
In early 2009 I decided to go back to school part-time to become properly qualified in PR and Event Management, especially after developing a keen interest in social media and its uses in business. I've always been interested in communications - after reading a book or an article on any topic I can hardly wait to tell everyone I know about what I've just read!
I hope readers will find My PR Quest useful, informative and entertaining. Please feel free to leave comments and suggestions, as I always appreciate feedback!
Thanks for reading!
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