Public relations can be a tricky path to navigate. It’s all about creating and maintaining personal relationship between a client and their publics, you and a client, or any other friend within your network. However, there is still a level of professionalism that one must have when working in PR.

As it continues to snow in West Michigan, us young professionals are looking forward to more than just warmer weather. We are looking for learning and networking opportunities. Whether you have an eye on summer internships, a professional’s opinion, or a good conversation, networking events are a great way to put yourself out there and practice your communication skills. Here is a list of networking opportunities in the Grand Rapids area from now until April.

It’s no secret that public relations and the media work hand in hand. PR professionals rely on media outlets to be heard and the media relies on public relations for shareable content. But that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a bit of tension between the two. 

At the start of the month, New Year’s resolutions having been set, you probably felt like you were ready to take on winter semester. Now four weeks into the semester, before trying to put too much on your plate, it is important to realize when your stress level gets out of hand. So what do you do when your stress level is at an all-time high and you’re on the verge of burning out?

As a Grand Rapidian during the school year but proud metro-Detroiter at heart, I have some PR experience in both cities. The Motor City, along with its bustling suburbs, offers numerous PR opportunities for young professionals. From sports, media, healthcare, and nonprofits to—of course—automobiles, the metro-Detroit area has it all. Below, I will list some industries that are unique to the Detroit area and that provide opportunities for PR professionals. I will also list some updates from some of our alumni working in the Detroit area.

The expansion of the internet has allowed people to connect with others from all over the globe. With the ability to reach more people, challenges can arise when communicating with those who have a culture that is different from yours. 

As college students and professionals, our days are insanely busy. Between classes, homework, work, clubs, extracurriculars, and an attempt at a social life, it seems like we never have a minute in the day to relax. In fact, if we do find a minute in the day where we aren’t doing something or thinking about the next assignment, we spend that whole minute freaking out that we are forgetting about something we were supposed to do. It may seem impossible to manage your time during the semester, but I am going to give you a few tips that will hopefully help you relieve a little bit of stress and guide your day-to-day schedule. 

Advertising and Public Relations students are always thinking of ways to build up their resumes, gain more experience in the field, and set themselves apart for other people they will compete against for jobs. Job shadowing is one of the ways students can accomplish all those things. Following a professional around his or her day to day tasks at work is also a fast way for students to find out if they like the job. Job shadowing can range from one day to weeks, and it also unpaid. Here are some tips to help you have a successful job shadow.

GrandPR is an opportunity that few students at Grand Valley receive. The opportunity to work in a student run PR firm nationally affiliated with PRSA is one of the rarest experiences in any college career (there are only twenty-nine in the country). With GrandPR come many unmatched experiences that will make you stand out from peers. Being a part of this firm has given me so many indispensable lessons.

We all reach a pivotal point in the semester when the tests, homework, and projects build up and it feels like there will never be an end to the constant chaos. For example, I was supposed to write this blog a few weeks ago, but I felt like I was drowning and couldn’t catch a break. But I’m still here writing this to you; I promise, it does get better! Here are just a few ways to regain your Boss Lady/Man status and bust out the last part of the semester! You can do it!

On Friday, September 22, a mix of Advertising Club students and PRSSA students made the trip out to the lovely city of Holland to gain some insight on the everyday work that happens inside agencies.

Jaclyn Ermoyan graduated from Grand Valley in the Spring of 2017 after being the CEO of GrandPR for the year. Hopping into the professional world, she interned at Quicken Loans where she assisted them in their social media efforts.

No matter what business you are in, it is important to be prepared for a crisis. We like to think that nothing bad will happen but it is better to be prepared for all the what ifs. Identify all the potential crises and create individual plans to deal with each. Think about what keeps your CEO up at night and be prepared to handle these types of situations.

Diving into the world of freelancing is one of the most daunting ventures available in the communications industry, and mainly for one reason: it’s all on you. Getting clients, delivering results, meeting deadlines—it all falls on your shoulders. But, for this precise reason, it can be some of the most rewarding work you’ll do in your career. 

Most people have heard the terms introvert and extrovert. Just in case you aren’t interested in the social sciences or don’t regularly take personality tests, almost everyone believes that one is “shy” and the other is “outgoing.” Being labeled as an introvert or extrovert ascribes a person with certain social habits or characteristics in the mind of others. An introvert’s peers may think that they are reclusive or socially inept. On the other hand, an extrovert might be labeled as sociable or approachable. However, that isn’t how it works. Let’s look at an introvert to understand what the label means and how to survive as an introvert in public relations.

With classes starting and students flooding campus again, getting involved becomes a topic on students’ minds. How do I get ahead in my career? Where can I meet new people? How can I land an internship for my major? 

One word: volunteering. 

Freshman year is full of so many emotions. From excitement about meeting new friends and joy about freedom from your parents oppression, to being nervous about challenging college courses and maybe even a little intimidated from being away from home for the first time in your life. With all of these emotions running through your head as you begin your first year of college, I have a few tips to help you get through the year.

Most people don’t realize that design can make or break a PR campaign. They may focus more on the campaign than the visuals, branding, and design aspects that go with it. The goal in Public Relations is to make a brand that is visible, easily accessible for the public, and eye catching. All three of these things go hand in hand with the design of the product or company because that is what the public will see and recognize as part of a campaign. Here are three tips on how to successfully incorporate good design into PR.

Truth be told, I’m still coming down from the high that was GrandPR 2016-2017. Being my first year in GrandPR, I had no idea how much work, time, and fun would fill my days as an account associate. My team worked like a well-oiled communications machine solving PR problems for nonprofits, small businesses, and organized events.