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Colleen Kebles receives ‘Litwin Family — Rowan University Gold Medallion’

[To comment: larry@larrylitwin.com]

On May 6, I was honored to present Rowan University Senior Colleen Kebles with the “Litwin Family Gold Medallion for Outstanding Strategic Writing.”  Here is my introduction:

Before making the presentation, I would like to recognize a previous medallion recipient and past PRSSA president, Rosie Braude. In fact, Rosie is our ONLY

two-time medallion winner…one as an undergraduate and one as a graduate student. Rosie chaired National Conference in 2007 and was Outstanding Chapter president in 2008 – truly my right arm in every way.

Nancy, my sisters Janice and Eileen…and I are thrilled to present this year’s Litwin Family Medallion for “Outstanding Strategic Writing” to a student who not only meets all of the criteria but far exceeds them…

Grade Point Average = 3.9

  • She has extensive Community, College and

University service and…

  • “Outstanding, persuasive, strategic and

objective-oriented writing that drives audiences to the desired “Call to Action.”

In a nut graph, this medallion recognizes THEeee “Outstanding Strategic Writer” among all seniors.

It’s worth noting…I did not judge. Those who did…pointed out that while all those considered had excellent credentials, our recipient…to quote the judges…blew everyone else away.

Our recipient…among her other contributions…has been serving as the Disney internship campus rep for the past two years. I have been honored to work with her. So, this is truly a magical moment in her life.

Please join me in congratulating the 2012… Litwin Family Medallion Recipient…Colleen Kebles.

[To comment: larry@larrylitwin.com]

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Social media sites and applying for jobs — Beware

To comment: larry@larrylitwin.com

CareerBuilder’s Debra Auerbach gets into social media in Sunday’s (May 6, 2012) Courier-Post. She says, “Social media have changed the way we connect, learn and interact with one another.”

A new CareerBuilder study finds that 37 percent of companies surveyed use social networking sites to reserach job prospects. When asked which sites they visit most frequently to research employees, companies gave these sites:

  • Facebook = 65 percent
  • Linkedin = 63 percent
  • Twitter = 16 percent

Twelve percent of hiring managers – now called “talent acquisition strategist” say they are using social media to uncover reasons not to hire a candidate. Most say they’re “trying to dig deeper than the traditional interview to find out:

  • Whether the candidate presents him/herself profesionally = 65 percent
  • Whether the candidate is a good fit for the company culture = 51 percent
  • More about the candidate’s qualifications = 45 percent
  • Whether the candidate is well rounded = 35 percent

To comment: larry@larrylitwin.com

 



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10 jobs with above average salaries

To comment: larry@larrylitwin.com. Look below for public relations.

For more, go to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (my former employer) and/or CareerBuilder.com. Also, check out Debra Auerback at TheWorkBuzz.com.

Here is a list of jobs that pay for than the mean average of $46,200. Each occupation listed is projected to grow by 29 percent or more between 2012 and 2020.

1.  Audiologists = $71,000

2. Cash estimator = 62,670

3. Database administrators = $77,350

4. Dental hygienists = $69,760

5. Geographers = $74,170

6. Heating, air consitioning and refrigerator mechanics and installers = $48,540

7.  Interpretors and translators = $50,610

8. Market research analysts = $67,130

9. Medical equipment repairers = $47,010

10. Meeting, convention and event planners = $49,840

If you are wondering — public relations/strategic communicators = $125,305 (with 10 years experience). Straight public relations = $52,000. Entry level would range from $28,000 – $36,000. Those who are good at what they do and are ambitious are looking at the $50,000 range withing three to five years.

To comment: larry@larrylitwin.com.

 

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Action Verbs

[To comment: larry@larrylitwin.com]

From time to time, professionals and students ask for a list of strategic action verbs. This link takes you to a “play” contained in The Public Relations Practitioner’s Playbook 

available on www.larrylitwin.com along with many other tips and techniques under Student Resources. Enjoy!

http://www.larrylitwin.com/documents/ActionVerbs.pdf

[To comment: larry@larrylitwin.com]

.

 

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Much more on resumes and cover letters

(To comment: larry@larrylitwin.com)

As you you know, I am bullish on perfection when it comes to resumes and especially cover letters. Number 70 under Student Resources>Handouts on my website contains many excellent examples. Below is a link to Cherry Hill Public Library blog that says it all. It is really good stuff. Absorb it. It reinforces everything I preach when I get going — and you know when I get going I just go on and on and on.

Enjoy! Here’s the link…(thanks to Katie Hardesty, Rowan class of ’02 for this. Katie is editor of both “The Public Relations Practitioner’s Playbook” and “The ABCs of Strategic Communication” which just happens to now be included in PRSA’s definition of public relations. Way to go Katie H.)

www.chpljobresources.wordpress.com

(To comment: larry@larrylitwin.com)

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PRSA unveils new Public Relations definition

[To comment: larry@larrylitwin.com]

First, here are former “official” definitions for the term public relations. Please note, for years, Professor Richard Earl, counselor Jim Lukaszewski and I have been promoting a change — or at kleast the inclusion of — to strategic communication. Now, here are former definitions and the new one from PRSA:

Former:

A management function that helps organizations and their publics mutually adapt to one another.

Former:

•“Public relations helps an organization and its publics adapt mutually to each other.”
PRSA’s NEW definition:
•“Public relations is a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their publics.”
Larry’s NEW defintion:
•“Public relations is a [two-way] strategic communication process [management function] that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their publics.”

[To comment: larry@larrylitwin.com]

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The 7 words you should never use in an email subject line

From Ragan’s PR Daily: [To comment: larry@larrylitwin.com]

By Michael Sebastian | Posted: February 14, 2012

Are you sending emails after lunch?

Bad idea, says a new study.

The best time to send an email—if you want someone to, you know, open and read it—is around 6 a.m., according to research from Baydin, which makes the email plugin Boomerang.

The company analyzed its database of more than 5 million messages and came up with some useful insights about email communication, among them the words that you should—and should not—include in your subject lines.

The best words to provoke a response are:

1. Apply
2. Opportunity
3. Demo
4. Connect
5. Payments
6. Conference
7. Cancellation

And the words that likely won’t get you a response:

1. Confirm
2. Join
3. Assistance
4. Speaker
5. Press
6. Social
7. Invite

I wouldn’t recommend eliminating these words from your subject lines if they’re working for you.  [To comment: larry@larrylitwin.com]