The Six Simple Things I Learned At My First Regional Conference

MoState PRSSA recently sent two of our members to Regional Conference 5 in Nashville, Tn., at Belmont University. The theme was "Southern Hospitality." Katie Brady shares what she learned at her first regional conference. If you are interested in learning more about PRSSA's regional conferences, click here.

Katie in front of the iconic Bell Tower on Belmont's campus.

1. Branding is not just a logo.

Being a young PR student I have never really looked at branding past the graphic logo. The conference made me realize that a brand is more of a persona for a PR professional and goes beyond the graphic. A blog can describe a person’s hobbies or personal beliefs. For instance, as a self-assessment, I believe my brand would be some angled towards children because when I first arrived at college I wanted to be a pediatric nurse. A persona could also be about personal traits like integrity, honesty, etc.

2. Community Relations are important.

Ashley Capps, a coordinator for Bonnaroo, spoke about community relations and how it is key to entertainment PR survival. I had never realized how much research goes into planning an event such as Bonnaroo. He explained the search for a proper location for the weekend concert. They spoke to leaders in the community and surrounding area that would be impacted. The truth is, without the community’s support, the concert would not have been such a success for the last nearly 12 years. It is inspiring to see what stereotypically a take no prisoners industry be concerned about impacting small town life and negotiating for the greater good.

PR Pros Panel. L to R: Julie Davis, Cracker Barrel PR; Tressa Robbins,BurrellesLuce Media Outreach; Gary McCormick, HGTV; and, Brandi Boatner, IBM External Relations.

3. Networking, Networking, Networking!!

Getting your first job as a PR professional is all about networking. It is important to know your stuff, but knowing other professionals in the industry are what stand you apart from the rest.

4. Public Persona makes an impact.

I know it may seem like a broken record that you should closely monitor your social media because employers will, but it’s not all about the pictures. Several of the speakers mentioned different approaches but the one that I never really realized was the pages you like. If you like a page that goes against your potential company’s values they may consider another candidate.

5. Portfolio gone digital!

Printing is going out of style! Most employers will not want your portfolio in print version but instead online. Most of the time, it will be the assistants assessing your works and telling the hiring manager what they think. An example was given of possibly using a QR code on the back that links to a webpage where your works are displayed. It is also important to have a wide variety of sources of writing.

6. Professional email and phone.

Something I never considered was what if a company calls you while you are down town clubbing. Answering at that moment would deter all hope of getting an interview. Consider getting a pay as you go phone and cite that number on your resume. Employers want to see if you can "turn on" business voice at any given moment. Also, do not use your .edu address on your resume. Most colleges will not let you keep that address forever. Therefore, if an employer pulls your application six months down the road and your address has already expired, you lose the opportunity. 

This post was submitted by Katie Brady. Katie is a junior Public Relations Student. She is currently the Social Media Chair of the MoState Chapter. You can follow Katie on Twitter at @kcbrady9.