By Joan Coyle
Washington Women in Public Relations’ (WWPR) professional development event armed participants with all of the information they need for job hunting in the Public Relations arena here in Washington, DC.
Titled, A Communicator’s Guide to Robust Resumes, Hiring Hints and Interview Insights, the brown-bag luncheon featured Kate Perrin, CEO of PRofessional Solutions, LLC,; Ken O’Quinn, a professional writing coach who conducts on-site workshops and one-on-one coaching for global PR firms; and Eron Shosteck, founder and CEO of ResumeRevision.com, a full-service resume rewriting, executive coaching, and strategic career counseling firm. Former Washington PR Woman of the Year, Pat Wheeler, Cultural Tourism DC, moderated the session.
There are as many old rules that are relevant as there are new ones. For example, personal connections are still key and social media is an excellent means of making those connections. Adapt each resume and cover letter to the specifics of the job and think about everything you post online.
All of the panelists stressed that when writing resumes and cover letters and when interviewing, remember:
- It is not about you. It is about what you can do for your potential employer
- Do not put your objective on your resume
- Do not discuss your career goals
- Tell them how you can solve their problems and detail your accomplishments
Interestingly, some of the advice paralleled advice given at WWPR’s Media Roundtable. Just like when pitching a reporter, make sure you know the exact name and spelling of the person you are contacting and get the title right.