Well, those things are all well and good…and they’re important. But, something someone said to me recently got me thinking: how often are those rules really followed? It’s like being taught best practices in the classroom, but learning that something is done completely different in the real world.

So, here are three things I’ve learned about Twitter. Hopefully, they can help you, too.

BE TRANSPARENT: OK, here’s a pet-peeve: you upload a very nice, professional picture on Twitter, you fill out an amazing bio about yourself…and then you make your Twitter private. Why?

You shouldn’t have anything to hide. If you’re being appropriate, relevant and professional, don’t make your Twitter private. In public relations, we must advise our clients to always, always, always be transparent. Why wouldn’t you do the same for yourself?

BE A RESEARCHER: Sometimes its hard to find interesting people to follow on Twitter, especially when you’re already following a ton of already interest people and want to learn something new.

Here’s something I do. I figure out who the most relevant and fun people are in an industry I’m interested in. For example – entertainment. I connected with this cool guy from MTV on Twitter and something I do to meet more cool people in the entertainment PR and social media industry is look through his followers and the people he follows.

No, this isn’t creepy. It isn’t Facebook; I’m not looking through someone’s friends to see who I can add from high school as a friend to “stalk.”

To be in PR, you need to know how to research. Research for yourself, too.

And, most importantly…

BE YOURSELF!: Just because you shouldn’t post about all those crazy parties you go to and not-so-appropriate other things you talk to your friends about, does not by any means you shouldn’t be yourself.

If you’re interested in travel – post about your adventures. If you love food – tell us about cool recipes you have tried or restaurants you have visited. If you’re a celebrity enthusiast, feel free to post about what your favorite celebrity is wearing or why their new tunes inspire you.

Tweeting about these things could make you a really awesome connection. I know my love for all things pop culture; music and celebrity have made me some very indispensable connections that I couldn’t be more thankful for.

As my favorite celebrity once said, “Be bold, be creative, be expressive, and be proud of who you are.”

Emily Vontom

Vice President

Now, as future professionals, we should find someone to do the same for our careers. I’m talking about a mentor – a professional in the field who can help guide and nurture you as your education and career progresses.

So, how do you find a mentor? It is actually a fairly simple task. You may even already know them, but you may have to look around, too.

Who do you know? Do you have a great relationship with a former internship advisor or professional in the field? Chances are, they’d make a great mentor for you. Try to set up a lunch or coffee meeting with them at least once a month and talk internships, resumes, job hunt, school related concerns, etc.

Alums are great resources! Every PRSSA chapter, and every school, has at least a dozen alumni who would make amazing mentors to you. Connect with your program’s coordinator to see who you could make a connection with or ask your PRSSA alumni coordinator (Here at Eastern, that is the Vice President of Professional Development – me!) to hook you up with someone they think might be a good match.

Network, network, network! Networking is so important. Without networking, you probably won’t get to make the connections you need for a job. Networking is also a great way to find a mentor. Ask a connection you have to introduce them to someone they know who shares the same interests as you – you never know what it may lead to.

As we grow up, different people influence our lives. Whether they are sports starts, pop stars or hometown heroes. Don’t let that stop when you’re a kid – find someone to influence your professional life, too. It is a relationship worth having.

Emily Vontom

Vice President

I know I do, especially when I have to work from home or have a huge assignment for class due.

I am easily distracted when I work from home because the ability to flip on the TV or get involved in a Netflix marathon is always at my fingertips.

But, I’ve discovered some places that help. And some tactics that help me, too. Hopefully, you’ll find them useful, too. Of course, sometimes working from home isn’t the best idea because of roommates, family or kids who are always interrupting.

So, where else can you work from?

When working from home…

have a to-do list. having a list of what you need to get done helps to keep me on track, especially when all I want to do is cuddle up with my blankets and read a book or watch some morning talk shows. staying on track is key to having a successful work day from home.

get ready. working from home should be just like working from the office, except for that part of being at home. with distractions. and a television. so, get up at your normal time. do your normal routine. get dressed, do your hair and makeup. keeping a professional mindset when working at home will help keep you focused and ready to work.

home office. having a space where you can work from home is just as important as having one at the office. you need to dedicate this space to work and only work. make it somewhere you can focus that won’t cause distractions. it can be anywhere you find calming and quiet. from the kitchen table to a picnic table in your yard, just make sure you can get what you need done.

Working from home, not at home…

library. libraries are always quiet and always a good place to work. from my experience, local public libraries are a lot more quiet than libraries at school. university libraries always have a lot more foot traffic and are a lot bigger. I like my own little library in my hometown. it’s small and quiet, making it the perfect spot for me to get work done.

local cafes. I like working from cafes when the mood hits. the mood in these little businesses is mellow and relaxing. i like locally owned coffee shops that are a lot more quiet than Starbucks. I also like working at Panera Bread, especially on the weekends or during non-peak business hours. these places provide a great, motivating atmosphere.

outside. not at the beach, not at a busy park. but outside in your yard, or on your deck. even a quiet park in spring when kids are still in school. the perfect spring weather is relaxing and helps me get a lot done. one of my favorite things to do in the spring is take a day away from the office to spend outside and take in the fresh air and sunshine.

internships. internships: they aren’t just for college students! get as much as experience as possible and as early as possible. chances are, the earlier you get the experience the cooler the internship opportunities you’ll get in college. if you want an internship with the White House, get a summer internship with your hometown’s city council or mayor’s office. if you want to work for Sony Music, get a summer internship with a local music venue in your hometown. even working on your high school newspaper or yearbook is great experience.

social media. you’re going to hear it eventually, so you may as well hear it now: be careful with social media. people are watching. and when you put something out there into cyber space, it can be really hard to get rid of…if you can get rid of it at all. as an aunt to a handful of teenagers, seeing what they put out onto the Internet can be alarming sometimes (and they’re really not that much younger than me!) because I know that in a few short years, they’re going to regret it when it’s time to find an internship. you have to keep it clean – even private accounts. don’t post about drinking (especially underage drinking!), don’t post pictures of drinking or of yourself in precarious situations, and stop cursing. it’s OK to talk about the things you love and to your friends, but be safe and be smart. use resources like Twitter to network. join LinkedIn once you have a little bit of experience and some connections you value.

clubs. there were so many amazing school clubs in my high school, so I know that by now most high schools probably have at least as many cool ones, if not more. you need to join them and you need to get leadership experience. the experience will help groom you into a leader sooner rather than later and you’ll be able to take on leadership roles with student organizations in college. Some cool leadership clubs to join: Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), Future Career & Community Leaders of America (FCCLA or FLA), 4-H, National Honor Society (NHS), Boys/Girls State, Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts of America, debate/forensics, Key Club, Model United Nations, newspaper/yearbook, Women in Science, and student council. being a high school athlete is also a great way to get leadership experience, so if you loved soccer as a kid, try out for the team!

volunteer. there can’t be enough said for volunteering. and a great way to do it is through clubs! groups like FLA, NHS and Key Club allow for you to get tons of volunteer experience during your high school years. volunteering on your own at a homeless shelter, soup kitchen or local hospital is great, too. you can also find great volunteer opportunities through your church’s youth group.

network. do it early, do it often. networking is the best way to get connections in the field you’re interested in. if you’re interested in politics, schedule a meeting with your hometown’s mayor or anther local politician and learn about their job. start researching colleges early if you know what field you’re interested, get to know the professors and advisors for your first choice university and stay connected to them. connect with successful alumni from your high school, especially if they do something you’re interested in. and talk to your parent’s successful friends and connections, they’re a great resource!

And then I tried the Couch to 5K
program and fell in love…with more than just running! I fell in love with endorphins, being flexible and being less stressed during the day.

You can do it, too. Honestly!

Running. Running is probably my favorite way to unwind after a long day. I can focus on so much when I’m running. Whether at the gym or on a running trail, I can clear my head and focus on the things that truly matter and not the artificial stuff I’m stressing out over. Chances are, my stressors probably are not as big of a deal as I’m making them out to be. Plus, endorphins rock.

Swimming. Being in the water is such an out of this world feeling to me. I love it. I swim when I just want to shut my brain off and focus on breathing and the strokes. Swimming is my yoga. Swimming can get intense, though, but I think that’s what I love about it. Just remember: just keep swimming.

Zumba. I’ve never actually done Zumba, but I hear from friends and coworkers that it is a-maz-ing. It looks super fun, but I’m not a very good dancer. For me, I don’t think Zumba would be a good stress relieving tactic, but I know for some people it is. I’d totally be willing to try it, especially if it did help relieve that awful stress from the day. Wouldn’t you?

Kickboxing. I. LOVE. KICKBOXING. I was first introduced to kickboxing my senior year of high school during an aerobics class. I was hooked (also to Pilates). It just makes me feel so powerful and in control. It’s a great way to let off some steam.

Are there any awesome workouts that you love to do to help you unwind? How about other stress relieving tactics that you use?

This happened to me. Actually, it’s how I discovered my love for PR. You see, I have an undergraduate degree in history and political science. My final year of grad school, I took an intro to news writing course and fell in love. Then, I took intro to public relations as an elective the next semester and fell even more in love. And now, I’m nearly done with my master’s degree in communications.

Chances are you’ve already discovered your love for PR so you don’t have to take a PR class to find that love.

But, there are some other classes that can help with your development as a future professional. As many of us prepare for a new semester, chances are you’ll need to schedule an elective. Why not one these?

Graphic design. Knowing Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign is very important as a PR professional. You may be volunteered to offer your graphic design skills to the company if they need you – especially in a nonprofit setting. Plus, knowing these tools can really help with creativity and make you more marketable in the job hunt.

Photography. Never underestimate the value of taking a good picture. You never no when you’ll need to snap photographs for a blog, newsletter or even to hang on the office wall.

Creative writing. Creative writing is a great way to get the creative juices flowing.

Copy editing. You may have taken this as a requirement for your major, but if not, knowing how to edit is a great thing to know. This will help a lot when it comes to writing press releases, stories for newsletters and pitching.

Regardless, I’ve spend the past week of my writer’s block trying to get out of this rut. And I’ve come to the conclusion that you just need to get your head in the game and weather shouldn’t have anything to do with inspiration, especially if you can find inspiration in other places.

Here are some ways I’ve found to cure my writers block:

Workout. I love going to the gym and running. It’s “me” time and I can get my mind focused on something when I run. I’ve come up with so many ideas for blog topics, homework and more on runs. It really helps. Plus, it gets your endorphins going and makes you feel good. And there’s that added benefit of working out being good for your health, too…

Read. I read blogs and news sites daily and I’ve come up with a lot of great ideas recently for my own blog posts this way. The more I read, the more inspired I get. Plus, it’s a good way to get your imagination flowing…

Music. Music is a must-do. I’ve found that music helps me distress and the less stressed I am, the more creative and inspired I become. It’s really a great thing.

Talk it out. My writer’s block ended this time after talking to some of my favorite PR friends via Twitter. They helped me come up with ideas and helped me figure out ways to beat my writer’s block. Talking it out, for more than just writer’s block, is a great way to stop stressing and start writing.

Social media. Social media is a never ending inspiration machine! I see posts others write, I see things they’re doing and it inspires me! Take ten minutes to just scroll through your Twitter or Facebook and read what others are doing. Don’t comment, don’t “like” anything…just read…

Sadly, I don’t live in New York, LA or Nashville where the music industry has a huge presence. So, if you’re like me and want to do entertainment PR, you’re left wondering: “how am I supposed to do this?”

Well, here are some ways to get entertainment industry experience in an industry that, unless you know someone, will keep you out without experience.

1. Intern at local music venues, music festivals…

I live in Ann Arbor, Mich. where small music venues are all over the place. Chances are an internship at one of these places will be unpaid, but the experience will be priceless. There’s also this cool music/entertainment festival in Ann Arbor called “Top of the Park,” where I’m in the process of learning about internship opportunities. These small opportunities can add up to a lot!

2. Write, write, write!

One of my favorite ways to talk entertainment is through my writing. Freelancing for local arts magazines or writing for the entertainment section of your school’s newspaper is a great way to get your name out into the industry and to meet people within the industry, too.

3. Work with local bands or musicians

Working with a local band is a great way to get experience. While this will probably be a volunteer position, you’ll learn a LOT! Plus, you’ll get experience working directly with an artist, which is invaluable.

4. Become a radio star!

Never rule out radio stations! Radio stations offer a lot of indirect music industry experience, plus it’s a great way to network and meet the pros that are responsible for the big parts of the music industry.

5. Think outside the box

There are so many other great ways to get entertainment industry experience. Volunteer to do social media for a theater or plan an on campus battle of the bands event. The more you do now, the more you’ll be rewarded in the future! Also, check out professional organizations like PRSA or IABC – chances are you’ll be able to meet someone who works in the entertainment industry in some way, or at least knows someone in the entertainment industry.