Your Career and You: "Don't Settle...Make Your Parents Proud"

Each year I have the pleasure of participating in Curry College’s “Awards Ceremony.” The student superstars in each academic department receive well-deserved public recognition for their scholastic and extra-curricular activities, and we faculty members get to sing their praises.

I was able to highlight the accomplishments of one of my own Public Relations Concentration “troops,” a young lady named Erika Kuzmicz who, to me, personifies the best of the best in up-and-coming public relations professionals.

Erika came cautiously into my “world,” tentatively taking introductory PR courses and then moving confidently into the “deep end” with advanced courses and internships…three internships, to be exact.

But this is/was just the tip of the proverbial iceberg…

· Communication major with PR concentration; double minor in English and Management

· Member, Lambda Chi Chapter of the National Communication Association’s Lambda Pi Eta Honor Society

· Immediate Past President of the Curry College Public Relations Student Association

She wrapped up her scholastic requirements in December 2011, a semester early, and segued immediately at the beginning of this year into a full-time position as Account Coordinator at The Castle Group, a great PR firm based here in Boston.

I had a chance to chat with her parents both before and after the Awards Ceremony, and that experience made everything worthwhile.

The absolute glow of pride on both their faces told me that this was what had been their dream for their daughter…to see her on her way to a lifetime of success…due in very large part to her own hard work and determination.

This, to me, is a major part of the puzzle called “growing up.” There are two parties, in my opinion, that have to be satisfied in the process…yourself, first and foremost, and your parents.

You will be your toughest critic because you, better than anyone else, know yourself…your strengths, your weaknesses…likes, dislikes, favorite flavor of ice cream.

But your parents see in you their dreams and aspirations. They believe you are capable of just about anything. And their joy in your accomplishments is without limits.

So don’t settle…stretch yourself…take on the challenge that scares you just a bit…that tests your abilities…your knowledge…your patience. And in the process, do great things!

Make yourself…and your parents…proud!

“For that which is boundless in you abides in the mansion of the sky, whose door is the morning mist, and whose windows are the songs and silences of night.” – Kahlil Gibran, “The Prophet” [1923]

Your Career and You: "Hard Work...Recognized"

I had the amazing good fortune last week to attend the Lambda Pi Eta National Communication Association Honors Society induction ceremony at Curry College.

Twenty-four young future professionals were welcomed into the Lambda Chi Chapter in recognition of their hard work, dedication to studying…and learning, and scholastic accomplishments.

While most were Communication majors, there was a Management major and a Health Education major, both of whom had a COM minor. And several of the Communication majors had a minor in another area.

Most were regular “day” students, but a couple of the inductees were Continuing Education…working adults who have returned to college to complete their studies.

In addition, a couple were members of my Public Relations Concentration “team”…students who have decided that PR is the career path they want to pursue. And they will succeed!

The very cool part for me was having a chance, as I usually do, to work the room before and after the ceremony, chatting with proud parents and/or fiancées. The unabashed looks of pride and joy on everyone’s face highlighted the significance of the evening better than anything.

The point here is that long hours of study, combined with enthusiastic participation in numerous on- and off-campus activities (the current Curry College Public Relations Student Association president is this year’s Lambda Chi president, and the CCPRSA treasurer was inducted into Lambda Pi Eta this year...both have also done multiple internships), have been recognized.

For some students, college is all about getting away from home and living “the life.” For others, it’s their first (initially) tentative steps toward adult life and adult responsibilities.

And it’s this second group that I will devote my own time and energy to…pushing and prodding, challenging, questioning, and consoling.

Why?

Because they deserve it.

They may not (I didn’t at their age, for heaven’s sake!) really know what lies ahead for them. But they definitely have figured out that the only way they’re going to stand out in the crowd is to stand out in the crowd. And they know this isn’t going to happen unless they work hard while they’re in college.

The old saying, “You get out of something what you put into it” holds true in college as well as in life. And I am doing my level best to help my friends get something for their hard word…to be recognized.

"The reward of a thing well done, is to have done it."
Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Nominalist and Realist"

Your Career and You: Enthusiasm Rocks!

Fall semester at Curry College, where I oversee the Public Relations concentration and teach most of the PR courses, has gotten off to a rocking start. Great classes. Engaged students. It's going to be fun!

I've also had a series of invigorating conversations as well with friends, some now-graduated and working as well as others just on the brink of graduating, that really got me going. The takeaway for me was the energy and enthusiasm all exhibited during our chats.

Bobby has been out in the working world for a little more than three years, and his resume already displays some very cool experience as a public relations professional. He currently works for an international hotel/resort chain and is having the time of his life.

Erika and Katie are seniors, both (to my dismay) graduating early and heading off to make their respective marks in the world as budding PR pros.

Erika is closing out her time at Curry College with three awesome internships and as president of the Curry College Public Relations Student Association.

Katie, as I learned during the Communication Department’s “New and Transfer Student Welcome” event, will embark on her sixth internship this semester. O.M.G.!!!

What all three have in common is a budding yet already unbridled passion for the public relations profession...its many challenges as well as its numerous opportunities,

They’ve all experienced enough to sense that PR…as much fun as I say it is in our classes…can be maddeningly frustrating as well as deliriously exhilarating. Every day is different with the various situations that pop up; every day is the same…ditto.

What remains a constant for me as a PR professional-turned-PR professor is the love that I have for the field of endeavor that has been my life’s work and the passion that I try to share with my students…all of whom I view as the next generation of communicators.

Not all of the folks who pass through my classes will work in public relations. In addition to those who have gone into pure public relations positions, others are making their respective marks in television or radio or on the stage as budding actors and actresses or in higher education administration…the list goes on and on, with me smiling all the way!

I keep up with these wonderful people through Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email, phone calls, lunches…you name it. But we remain connected, and I continue to be amazed at their enthusiasm for and pride in what they are accomplishing.

And that’s the “secret” to success in this life…enthusiasm for what you’re doing and pride in what you’ve done. Of course, it helps to be reasonably good at what you’re doing, and I’m happy to report that these young superstars are just that…good at what they do.

Make mistakes? Of course! I manage to thoroughly bungle things once in a while (a LOT according to some sources!). But they…and I…learn from these boo-boos and move on.

I hope you will be this lucky at some point in your life...doing something you really enjoy doing, working with people you really enjoy being around, and making a difference.

And when you do...let me know. Enthusiasm rocks!!

"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm."

Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Essays: First Series, Circles" [1841]

Your Career and You: "Get a Focus"

I've had a number of conversations this week with students, advisees as well as others, about the future...the "future" in this case being the coming semester (Spring) and, for some, impending graduation.

Just about every one of these chats began with "What courses should I take?" And that's a very logical thing to ask since neither time nor the registrar are going to sit around and wait for them to make a decision.

My question in return was "Well, what is it that you're interested in?" To which I usually got a panicky look that told me the individual being interrogated didn't have a clue and hadn't really given the matter any thought.

Not a good way to start a discussion about your life and your future.

One thing I'm crystal clear about in my work with students at Curry College, where I head up the Public Relations concentration and teach most of the PR courses, as well as serve as Faculty Adviser for the Curry College Public Relations Student Association...get a focus.

This holds as true for college students as it does for young men and women just getting started out in the professional world. Figure out what it is that gets you excited and start shaping your academic or career path in such a way that you will be prepared to move into that area when the time is right.

When I was starting out in college, I was convinced I wanted to be a civil engineer building highways and bridges in my home state of Georgia. Went off to Auburn University with all intentions of becoming an overnight success.

Long story made very short...damn near flunked out of college! Among other things, couldn't draw a straight line with a straight edge if my life depended on it!

Not a good sign.

I switched to an English major and transferred to the University of Georgia where I discovered my passion (at the time) was 18th century British literature. Took every possible course related to that area and had the time of my life. I also had a dream of going on to get an advanced degree in English and becoming a tweedy prof wafting through the halls of the English department and exuding some semblance of brilliance.

Then, after graduation, I joined the Air Force and wound up in Saigon, Vietnam, teaching English as a second language...and developing a knack for public relations.

(Note: Don't try to make a connection...there was none. It's just that the opportunity came up during my second year there to manage a mini-nightclub for our instructors, and I took to it like the proverbial duck to water. Promoted the dickens out of the operation, built the business exponentially, and left the country with a very good notion of how community relations can benefit an organization.)

I served a total of eight years in the Air Force, with assignments at various bases in the States as well as a stint in the Philippines...in all cases and places further refining my PR skills and getting a sense of what I really wanted to do in life.

When I left the Air Force, I had the good fortune to qualify for a civilian Public Affairs internship with the US Army and subsequently spent a little over seven years fine-tuning my PR skills and figuring out exactly which areas of the profession I was best equipped for.

The point to this recitation is just this...in the beginning, I didn't really have a focus. I just was enjoying something that interested me. But it really wasn't preparing me for a viable future.

With the Air Force/Army experience, I got a focus. I figured out what it was (a) that I was very good at, (b) that I could get excited about, and (c) that I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

And I've never regretted that choice. For nearly 40 years, I have worked in/ succeeded in/revelled in a career field that was simultaneously maddening and exhilarating. Today that includes being allowed to share the knowledge and experience of those amazing years with young future public relations professionals.

Has it been all roses? Absolutely not.

There have been days when I wished I was back in Saigon checking classrooms for bombs before the start of the day. But there also have been days when I just sat and marvelled at the amazing opportunities and experiences I have been blessed with.

That's the goal in all this...to find that one thing that is you and focus on it. Give it your all. Throw yourself body and soul into the deep end and start working to make your mark.

It doesn't come easily, and there may be some missteps along the way. That's called "life," and you can learn from everything you encounter.

But it will come together, and you will find yourself, as I have, revelling in the sheer joy of doing what you love to do and...most important...want to do.

It all starts, though, with the most difficult step...you have to get a focus.

"'The time has come,' the Walrus said,
'To talk of many things:
Of shoes - and ships - and sealing wax -
Of cabbages - and kings -
And why the sea is boiling hot -
And whether pigs have wings!'"
Lewis Carroll, "Through the Looking Glass"

Your Career and You: "It's Okay to Change Things"

We had a meeting of the Curry College Public Relations Student Association last week with guest speaker Whytnee Bush, Events & Media Coordinator for Boston Harborfest.

Whytnee is an up-and-coming PR superstar who came into the field somewhat by accident and discovered to her delight...and to mine as a Director of the world-renowned organization...that she loves the challenges of nonprofit public relations.

She shared her experiences getting started in an organization that, for going on 30 years, has been attracting nearly two million visitors annually to Boston from around the globe for a week's worth of family-oriented, affordable entertainment and education.

Advice flowed fast, furious and factually, with attendees chiming in with questions to learn more about actually getting a start in public relations. One recommendation, in particular, resonated with me and gave me the idea for this posting.

Among her "lessons learned," Whytnee advised listeners to "be willing to change things if you think you have a better idea." She followed up with examples of how she had revamped the news releases that were sent out regularly and often by Harborfest to the media.

"They obviously had not been updated in years," she said. "Interns working at Harborfest just plugged in new dates or other information but didn't do anything to the basic copy. I rewrote just about every one to make them sound more 'fresh.'"

The end result? An increase in media interest and use of the materials in publicity about Boston Harborfest.

While this advice from a "junior" practitioner might cause some of my more "traditional" colleagues to swoon, I am totally behind the concept. Something might not be "broken," but it very likely could be improved with a little tinkering.

I did this as an intern myself. Back in the dark ages, I was assigned to the US Army Training and Doctrine Command's Editorial Branch to get some experience editing training materials.

One step of the editing process required that we calculate reading levels for individual manuals, and I noticed right off the bat that my more experienced colleagues were painstakingly creating columns of numbers and then transcribing calculations onto a second piece of paper...a long, drawn-out process.

Being somewhat "labor-averse," I decided that there had to be an easier way, and I experimented with a couple of templates into which I simply plugged numbers and performed calculations. It was the same amount of adding and multiplying, but the process was more orderly and less likely to produce errors.

End result? When I completed my assignment with the Editorial Branch, the commander presented me with a letter of commendation citing my proactive approach to simplifying reading level calculations...that was now an official part of the editing process.

I didn't ask for permission. I simply looked at what was there and identified a simpler, more effective way of accomplishing the task.

This is one thing I try to instill in the minds of my Communication students at Curry College...that it really is okay to be proactive and change things.

I'm not advocating going in willy-nilly and trashing everything that's ever been done. But I am championing the idea of questioning the status quo. Just because they've "done it that way forever" doesn't mean it's the most effective or efficient way.

Experiment on your own time with your own concept of how something could be done more quickly or easily. Once you've proven to yourself that it can be done your new-and-improved way, propose it to your supervisor...or try it out on a colleague to get his or her feedback.

Bottom line...change truly is good, as long as it's done with thought and consideration for the results. "It's okay to change things!"

"God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things which should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other."
Reinhold Neibuhr, "The Serenity Prayer" [1934]

Your Career and You: "Connecting the Dots"

It occurred to me this morning as I was checking in with my Curry College PR Student Association executive board members that there is a step missing in the communication of information between those of us on the professional side of the equation and those on the hoping-to-become-professionals side.

I asked a simple question: "Does anyone plan to go to the Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Candidate Forum that's being held at Curry College on Monday?"

To put it mildly, the silence has been deafening.

Apparently no one has given even the slightest thought to...as a member of the student-run pre-professional public relations organization's leadership team...going to a FREE, once-in-a-blue-moon major public relations-driven opportunity...right there on their campus!!

Now those who have known me for more than 20 seconds know full well that I can go off in a heartbeat when it comes to taking advantage of opportunities to see and be seen...and to learn something outside the classroom.

It's all about "connecting the dots."

It's all about asking yourself and then answering the question: "If I do this, how might it help me in my ongoing efforts to learn all that there is to know about becoming a public relations professional?"

This is where the process apparently breaks down. Unless someone stands in front of you holding a ginormous poster with a message written in big block letters that clearly tells you why doing something is going to be good for you, you're not going to do it.

Will some of my "Principles of Public Relations" students be at this event? Yes...because I offered them the chance for a good grade if they attend (or watch it on our campus television channel) and write me a short paper outlining the candidates' main themes and how public opinion played a role in the candidates' responses.

My hope in doing this...and offering this bribe...is that at least one or two of them will get it...will see the huge role that public relations plays in government, in business, in everything.

And, by making this connection, they will get as excited about going into the public relations career field as I have been for the past 40-plus years first as a practitioner and now as a professor.

To repeat...it's all about "connecting the dots."

"The people may be made to follow a path of action, but they may not be made to understand it."
Confucius, "The Confucius Analects," bk. 8:9

Your Career and You..."What Will YOUR Legacy Be?"

We had a special orientation last week for first-year Communication majors and COM majors who have transferred to Curry College from elsewhere. Members of the Curry College PR Student Association executive board were conveniently on hand in case someone had an interest in Public Relations as a concentration.

Nearly 70 young men and women had a chance to meet Communication Department faculty members and learn about the many opportunities that are available to them while at Curry and in the future.

The program wrapped up with this question: "What will be your legacy when your time is up here at Curry College?"

I suspect that most of the young men and women in the audience were stunned to have been asked this. After all, they haven't even really figured out where the bathrooms are in the academic buildings yet!

That's a pretty heavy thing to think about when you're just getting a foothold on what it is you want to be doing for the rest of your life. But it's a fair question to ask: "When all is said and done, what will you have accomplished for which you will be remembered?"

I rarely bring personal personal stuff into these conversations, but I think I can offer an example from my own life that can help you get a sense of what "legacy" is all about.

My stepfather, Judge William Malcolm Towson (ret.), is, to me, the personification of a "good" man. "Bill," as I have presumptuously called him from Day One, is a genuinely kind, caring, giving human being. And he does it without fanfare, expecting nothing in return and always willing to do more.

He has stuck by me and endured my shenanigans through the good times and the not-so-good. And he has firmly established himself in my mind as a role model...someone who I would very much like to resemble when I grow up.

That, to me, is what a legacy is all about...setting an example and living your life in such a way that others say "That is a good person. I want to be like him(her)."

So let's bring this back to you and your own legacy.

First off, don't obsess about this. A legacy isn't a commodity to be bought and sold. It's a natural occurrence that will come over time as you "find yourself" and learn what it is that makes you feel good to do.

But you have to be comfortable with who you are and what you represent. And that's what life is all about. It is, to use one of the old banalities, a "voyage of discovery" during which you will encounter challenges, opportunities, disappointments, and moments of absolute, unbounded joy.

Use all these experiences to shape your persona and begin making your mark. And in the end, when all is said and done, when you've seen all there is to see and done all there is to do, you will have left a "legacy."

People...friends as well as those who you've never met...will say "Yeah, I knew XYZ. He(she) really made a difference because of [fill in the blank]."

Your legacy will define who you are, what you did and believed in, and how you traveled through this world. It will be the real you.

"'If I should die,' I said to myself, 'I have left no immortal work behind me - nothing to make my friends proud of my memory - but I have lov'd the principle of beauty in all things, and if I had had time, I would have made myself remember'd.'" John Keats, "To Fanny Brawne" [c. February 1820]

Your Career and You..."Be All You Can Be...and More!"

...with a nod to the US Army Recruiting Command for whom I worked for a few years.

Once again, young up-and-coming professionals with whom I have had the honor and pleasure of studying are amazing me with their ambition, their abilities, and their determination to succeed. Here are a couple of examples.

I heard recently from a former student now working at a university in Texas. We chat occasionally on Facebook, and she updated me on her plans for the future, which include graduate school. She wants to remain in higher education and...get this...her goal is to eventually become Dean of Students at a college or university!

How cool is that? She has found her place...working with college students. She knows what she ultimately wants to be...Dean. And she knows how to get there...continued studies and hard work.

I have absolutely no doubt that Catie will reach this target, and I plan to be around to celebrate the occasion!!

Yet another friend, starting her senior year now at Curry College, never ceases to amaze me with her abilities as a communicator. When I first met her, I wasn't sure which way she wanted to go as a Communication major. But she ultimately focused on Public Relations, and she has surpassed my wildest dreams as a budding professional.

Three internships under her belt as of this fall, stellar grades from the beginning, active involvement in the Curry College Public Relations Student Association...you name it, she either has done it or will do it as part of her professional development.

Where will she go from here? Who knows? But I can guarantee you that wherever Donna goes she will blow them away. How can I say this? Here's an excerpt from a speech she gave today to the incoming freshman class at Curry College about her evolution: "I am a stronger and more motivated person than I thought I was during my first few weeks in college."

I could go on forever, but the lesson here is that you can do just about anything you set your mind to. Your own inherent abilities, skills, interests, desires and passion will guide you along the way.

And, at the right time...in the right place, you will find that you are capable of exceeding your expectations...that you truly can "be all you can be"...and more.

"I want, by understanding myself, to understand others. I want to be all that I am capable of becoming...This all sounds very strenuous and serious. But now that I have wrestled with it, it's no longer. I feel happy -- deep down. All is well."
Katherine Mansfield, "Journal" [1922], last entry

Your Career and You..."Patience and Perseverance"

I saw a status update on Facebook last night from my friend Bobby that reminded me once again of the value of positive thinking.

Bobby's one of my Curry College superstar grads who, like a lot of us, took a couple of tries to find his passion as an up-and-coming public relations professional. He did all the right things...two valuable internships, active involvement in the Curry College Public Relations Student Association (he actually was the driving force and founder of CCPRSA), soaking up anything and everything he could about public relations.

His first permanent job after graduation was a great learning experience. Not only did he zero in on what he liked about public relations; he also got a strong sense of what, for him, wasn't the perfect environment to be in. Nothing wrong with it; it just wasn't him. We've all been there. I know I have!

Bobby then took a risk with a start-up company immediately after this and, to his and my surprise and delight, he found his passion. He was able to wrap his arms around the company's vision, and he was allowed to stretch himself to what he thought were his limits only to find that, lo and behold, he was capable of even more!

Unfortunately, when the vagaries of the economy took a toll on the company and it was forced to close its doors (temporarily, we all hope), Bobby found himself a victim of the aftermath.

And here's where the word "perseverance" comes into play. Bobby never missed a beat in his own professional growth. He looked at this turn of events as (a) something he had absolutely no part in causing...a good thing to learn as some of us know all too well!...and (b) a chance to stretch himself again and explore other industries where he might have similar opportunities to build on his ever-increasing kitbag of skills and abilities as a public relations professional.

It took a few months, but it appears that he has succeeded. Not only does his new job afford him the opportunity to use his rapidly-developing public relations and promotional skills, but it also gives him a chance to fine-tune his sales ability...a valuable and often-overlooked differentiator in our profession. Like it or not, and there are some who don't, public relations is about selling.

Bobby's adventure is a great lesson for us all, whether we be newly-minted entry-level public relations practitioners or seasoned-and-scarred veterans of the profession.

You can't allow yourself to settle into a funk muttering incoherently about the "unfairness of the 'system.'" You have to keep at it, exploring every nook and cranny of the market in which you want to work, and being willing to stretch yourself beyond what you think are your limits as a professional.

Not only do you become much more knowledgeable about that market; you grow exponentially as a professional capable of taking on ever-increasing challenges.

Bobby has reinforced my confidence in the next generation of public relations professionals. They are totally capable of rising to and mastering the challenges that "tomorrow" will bring. They will make themselves...and those of us who have had the honor of playing a small part in their professional evolution...proud.

I am proud...of Bobby...and of all the young men and women who I have gotten to know in my years both at Curry College where I oversee continuing development of and teach many of the undergraduate public relations concentration courses and at Regis College where I teach graduate communications courses.

"The necessity of the times, more than ever, calls for our utmost circumspection, deliberation, fortitude and perseverance." - Samuel Adams, Speech (1771)

Your Career and You: Professional or Practitioner?

I just watched a video generously shared by Mark Ragan, CEO of Ragan Communications, in which public relations pro Fraser Seitel discusses the attributes that are the mark of a true public relations professional.

The attributes that Fraser highlights are exactly what I emphasize to each and every one of my public relations students at Curry College each and every day of the week... ethical and honest actions, understanding of management's needs and expectations, and a broad knowledge of current events...don't all come naturally or easily.

If you are a Communication major at Curry College, you certainly will get an introduction to the public relations profession, especially if you choose to concentrate in that area (I get a good mix of other majors and concentrations in my courses as well!), but you need to take it one step further by continuing to learn as you move out into professional life.

All this came full circle this past week as I found myself involved up to my eyebrows in three back-to-back public relations programs, two on the Curry campus, and one in Boston for the PRSA Boston chapter.

The first program was the monthly meeting of the Curry College PR Student Association, a wonderful group of young future professionals who take advantage of every possible opportunity to learn from the experts. This week's program featured P.J. Foster, senior account executive at Rasky Baerlein Strategic Communications, who discussed her work in crisis communications at Rasky...and the path she took to get where she is today. For the students, this was a mind-boggling glimpse into the future.

Then, the next night, I served as moderator for a PRSA Boston/PRSSA regional event, "Your Career in Public Relations: An Insider's Guide to Preparing for...and Finding...Your First Job." Nearly 50 public relations students from five Boston-area colleges and universities came to Curry for a panel discussion featuring five highly-respected PR pros followed by break-out sessions in which the students could meet one-on-one with someone from their area of interest for more questioning...and learning.

Finally, on the third night, I was moderator for a PRSA Boston chapter program entitled "PR+CSR=Respect: An Insider's Guide to Effective CSR Campaigns." The speakers represented some of Boston's most highly-respected companies and consulting firms involved in the Corporate Social Responsibility space. Attendees represented healthcare, consulting, publishing, technology, investor relations, financial services...a wide range of industry areas.

The point of all this is, simply, as Fraser says so eloquently in the video, if you want to win a seat at the management table, you must build a solid knowledge base through college studies, by taking courses to increase your expertise in a particular area, by interacting with and learning from subject-matter experts in your organization's specialty...by participating regularly and diligently in opportunities that will increase your understanding of and ability to represent your client's or employer's business.

So what is the difference between a "professional" and a "practitioner," you ask? Well, I would argue simply that the professional can be found participating in all or many of the activities I describe above...enhancing his or her knowledge base.

The professional is that individual on whom senior management relies to guide the company through difficult times and to maintain ongoing, supportive relationships with key stakeholders.

The practitioner writes the newsletters, crafts the media releases, and organizes the events.

Which are you???

Your Career and You: Building Your "Street Creds" as a Volunteer

I've noticed over the years that there are two types of job seekers: those who are focused and intent on finding the best possible opportunity, and those who, for whatever reason, think that the job will come to them on the ol' silver platter.

Got some news for those of you in the latter group...not going to happen.

If you want me, your potential employer, to be interested in you, you have to show me that you're committed...that you want to succeed and have been building your credibility in that area.

Logical question: "How do I do that?" Simple answer: "Go above and beyond. Do more than asked. Push yourself. Take chances and find out what it is that you really like to do."

For students, or for anyone, for that matter, it's relatively easy. Nonprofit organizations are perpetually in need of volunteer support. Maybe they need help with writing and producing a newsletter. Or perhaps some assistance with a fundraising campaign. Or they are looking for younger members for their board of directors to bring in a fresh point of view.

If you're in college, there are any number of student-run organizations where you could get involved. At Curry College, for example, there are more than two dozen such groups including the Curry College Public Relations Student Association.

To get the most out of your membership, though, start out as a general member and get a feel for the organization. Then step forward and volunteer for committee work or, if possible, run for an elected board position. However you do it, you're adding one more level of credibility to your profile. And, once you're involved, show you've got what it takes... volunteer for projects that interest you, and step up to the plate as the leader who can make things happen!

Out of college? If you have warm feelings for your alma mater,  get involved on the alumni council. Look around in your neighborhood for nonprofits that focus on causes you believe in and reach out to them as a volunteer. I once got involved with a start-up organization in Boston known as "Boston Harborfest." I was intrigued with their mission and felt that I, and my employer at the time (US Army Boston District Recruiting Command), might be able to help.

Long story short and more than 25 years later, I am Clerk of the Board of Directors and a "drank the Koolaid" believer in the ability of visionary organizations to make a difference. More important, I am able to point to my long-term commitment and the amazing amount of experience that I have gained through my involvement when I am talking with potential employers...in addition to having a whole raft of "lessons learned" that I can share with my Communication students at Curry.

So, build your street creds...get out there, on campus or off, and get involved. Not only will you gain some invaluable experience in the process; you will add an extra level of professionalism to your portfolio... and have a heck of a good time in the process!

Your Job Search: The Chance of a Lifetime

I attended a meeting earlier this week of the Curry College Public Relations Student Association, a pre-professional association for students who have an interest in public relations. The guest speaker was Steve Binder, Vice President, Publishing Director and Sales, ESPN Publishing Division, a Curry College graduate (COM '84 cum laude).

Steve spent the bulk of the afternoon with us, talking with a Sales & Marketing class and then, in the evening, talking to an audience of nearly 75 students and faculty members. In both instances, he talked about his rise in the publishing industry.

But, more important, he talked about what, from his perspective as a leading communication industry executive, young people should think about as they prepare to venture into the "real world."

Much of what Steve said, I'm delighted to report, I have covered in previous posts. But one thing in particular that he emphasized was "take chances."

How incredibly true! Stepping outside your comfort zone and taking a chance on a new job opportunity, a new job location, a new set of job skills can pay big dividends. At the very least, you will say, "I tried it. It didn't work out...but I tried it." But you just might surprise yourself and find yourself doing something totally cool, unexpected, exciting, and exactly what you wanted to be doing!

I did this once myself. I had been laid off from a PR/Advertising firm in Boston back in the early 90s and, as luck would have it, my wife's company declared bankruptcy shortly after. After conducting a very serious job search and coming up empty-handed, I (or I should say we) decided that, if we were going to starve to death, better to do it in a warmer climate than offered in Boston. So we moved to Hawaii.

I didn't know a living soul in the state. But I reached out to a group of folks who were members of the Public Relations Society of America and asked for their advice. Note I didn't ask for a job...I asked for advice, something that didn't cost anyone a cent.

Long story short, after an intensive round of informational interviews and attendance at every communication-related meeting I could find, I was referred by a newly-minted friend to the Blood Bank of Hawaii where I was offered the position of Director of Marketing and was later promoted to Director of Communication Services. It was hands-down the best professional job I've had in my 40-plus years' experience.

But I never would have gotten this amazing opportunity had I stuck with the safe...the tried and proven...the same-old/same-old. I packed up and moved 10,000 miles away to start all over again. And it worked.

The one thing I really emphasize as I work with Communication students to sort out their future after Curry College is the value that can lie in venturing outside their familiar (and comfortable) nest.

Especially in today's world where mergers are reducing available job opportunities, and colleges are cranking out more and more young people armed with a diploma, internship experience, and mind-blowing college loans to be paid off, you have to be willing to take a chance.

Or is it really a "chance"??

"There's no such thing as chance;
And what to us seems merest accident
Springs from the deepest source of destiny."
(The Death of Wallenstein, Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller)

Networking - Part 2: Going Public

I'm probably going to be accused of going on a rant this morning, but I read a very disturbing article in The Boston Globe about some parents who are encouraging/allowing their children to become immersed in online games and other Internet-based activity.

As a public relations professor in Curry College's Communication Department faced with the daily challenges of introducing young people to the many wonderful ways in which they can use their own skills, I have a serious problem with this.

Why? Because I, myself, am by nature an introvert. I am incredibly uncomfortable in group interactions. I would rather sit in my room with my teddy bear and a good book than go out into the "world" and be with "people."

But I do go out...and I do this because I have learned that human, face-to-face interaction is vital for successful communication. Nothing can replace the insights that you derive from looking someone in the eyes while discussing, negotiating, debating...communicating.

I am constantly urging my students to join campus organizations and get involved, to attend on-campus as well as off-campus meetings to meet and mingle with others, to start developing their social interaction skills.

At Curry, we have the Curry College Public Relations Student Association (CCPRSA) with monthly chapter meetings bringing in communication professionals from the area to talk about their own careers and offer tips and advice for making that move into the "real world." More importantly, it is an on-campus opportunity for students to meet and mingle with others and further refine their one-on-one communication skills.

The Boston Chapter, Public Relations Society of America and the Publicity Club of New England also both offer excellent programming. Both also welcome student attendees and offer special pricing to encourage students to attend.

So, for my own students and for others who can identify with a veteran PR professional's own fear of crowds...do as I did oh-so-many-years-ago..."go public."