For those of you who missed the meeting last night, don’t worry, we’ve got you!
After listening to Taryn’s great insight, we put together a list of her best advice.
Taryn’s Top Ten
1. Dressing properly for an interview is crucial- Research your prospective employer’s clients. Are they creative? Are they investment bankers? Dress according to their clients. If they’re creative, wearing a suit is most likely not the best choice, in fact, some people will count you out for wearing a boring old suit. On the other hand, if you’re interviewing with a company who works with investment bankers, break out that suit.
2. Create your own personal brand- Decide who you are and what you want to convey to the industry. Your personal branding will make you stand out.
For Taryn, everything she has is pink and sparkly. That’s her thing. Find yours and be consistent with it.
3. Treat the media like a new girlfriend or boyfriend- Answer every phone call, immediately. Drop everything you are doing to talk to them. If they want something done, do it, quickly. It doesn’t matter how it gets done, or what they want, just make it happen. Your success directly depends on them.
4. Learn to write like a journalist- You should always pitch something to a journalist that they would print exactly as you’ve written it. It goes back to number 3, make their lives easier.
5. You MUST stay connected with the industry- You should constantly be plugged into trends in the PR world. Know what’s happening, know every media outlet, know the new and know the old. The hardest part about PR is the rules change, and they change fast. Don’t get left behind because you don’t know what’s going on.
6. ALWAYS follow up- Taryn says 90% of the time she will only get a response after she’s followed up. It’s critical to make sure you are being heard and seen. Oh, and hand write thank you notes to as many people as you can, it goes a long way.
7. Under promise and over deliver- Know what you can realistically do for a client in your head, then drop whatever you tell them a little lower. Don’t sell yourself short, but by promising less and then delivering much more, you’re setting yourself up to really impress your client.
8. Ask for help- You never know where asking for help can lead you. It could be a chance to meet and network with new people or a chance to learn. Don’t ever be afraid to ask people to help you.
9. Volunteering for the right cause- We all know volunteering our time and energy is important, but just don’t volunteer for the sake of volunteering. Don’t volunteer for a cause only to say you support that cause. Know your talents and abilities and Volunteer where you KNOW they can make an impact.
10. Don’t get discouraged by “NO”- PR is an industry notorious for liking the word no. Don’t let this discourage you. Keep going, someone will eventually say yes. Applying for jobs? Keep in mind it will be hard and you will hear no, but once you land your first job you’ll be set for the rest of your life.
These are totally fantastic points. Great job!