PRSSA Interview Etiquette

Calendar of meetings:

January 26, 2010: Interview Etiquette

February 9, 2010: Whizbang Ideas

February 23, 2010: Charlotte Rinaldi/resume building

Mary Verdin: President, Verdin Marketing, Inc.
•    Full-service marketing and communications agency
•    Diverse list of clients including the Wineman Hotel, French Hospital, Advanced Hearing Center
•    Verdin Marketing has stayed strong in the economy ☺

Background
•    Psychology major in college
•    Diversify your education, take classes outside of your major
•    Advertising, marketing, public relations are great outlets for any liberal arts majors
•    Paid internship for Macy’s – great experience because it was exposure to how a full-service (in-house) marketing department works.
•    Mentors are other entrepreneurs like her father
•    Find the balance between flexibility and meticulous planning

Advice
•    1,000 non-profit organizations in San Luis Obispo: Great way to get experience and build your resume is to volunteer your time and expertise to one of them
•    Find an internship!
•    PRSSA involvement is impressive, as are service clubs
•    Social networking – be aware of technological innovations and demonstrate to an employer how to apply them to the business
•    Keep your college mentality
•    Writing skills are AWESOME! Demonstrate a range of writing styles
•    Push your comfort zone
•    Integrated marketing is the most successful
•    “Fake it until you make it!”

Resume
•    “Objective” portion is outdated
•    Find marketable experience in past employment/experiences
•    Study abroad, volunteer work, and community service make resumes standout
•    Look at the website of the company you want to work for – employers want employees who want to work for THEIR company
•    During an interview, always have questions at the end!
•    Demonstrate how you are a valuable employee once you have been hired (i.e. show your employer why they should keep you if the company has to downsize)