WordWrite Senior Account Executive Deanna Ferrari presented this to the Clarion University of Pennsylvania PRSSA chapter, where she serves as professional advisor.

1. How NOT To Get a Job After
Graduation
(and how to use social media to help you get one)
Presented to Clarion University Students
October 25, 2010
By Deanna Ferrari

2. About me
• Graduate of Slippery Rock University (B.S., Public
Relations)
• Senior Account Executive, WordWrite Communications
• Blogger, PRetty in Pittsburgh
• Director-At-Large, Communications, PRSA Pittsburgh
• Award-winning social media specialist

3. Tweeting During This Presentation?
Use the hashtag #CUPRSSA

4. My Job Search Story
•No PR internships in college but stayed involved
•Started at Highmark, Inc. with a job not in my field
•Networked through e-mails and informational
interviews
•Attended PRSA events
•Constant searching and applying for jobs
•Finally landed a PR apprenticeship through MARC USA

5. How NOT to Get a Job

6. Example 1: Not Spending Enough
Time
Takeaway Tweet:
Searching for a job is a job itself. Set
aside a certain amount of time each
day/week to job search #CUPRSSA
• A job search is a job within itself
• Don’t expect to just apply online and get a call the next
day
•Set aside a certain amount of time each day/week to
job search, write cover letters and make connections

7. Example 2: Not Being Detailed
Enough
•DON’T send the same resume and cover letter to each
place; tailor your content for the specific company and
job requirements
•Say WHAT you are applying for
•Say WHO you are applying to -- no one at the company
is named “To whom it may concern”
•Website not specific enough? CALL and ask
Takeaway Tweet:
Tailor each e-mail, resume and
cover letter. And remember: no
one’s name is “to whom it may
concern” #CUPRSSA

8. Example 3: Not Responding
•Check e-mail and voicemail often and reply
•Say THANK YOU…even if it’s not the answer you wanted
•Even if it’s not worth a thank you, say it, and confirm you
received the information
•Did someone connect you to another person? Keep
person #1 in the loop and again, THANK THEM for
connecting you (even if nothing came out of it)
Takeaway Tweet:
Always say thank you and close the
loop on things - never leave anyone
hanging that connected you
#CUPRSSA

9. Example 4: Spamming
Whatever you do, DON’T mass e-mail your job search list
and BCC the recipients -- it’s unprofessional, tacky, and
makes it look like you don’t care
Takeaway Tweet:
Spamming is BAD! Don’t stalk or
annoy, and whatever you do, don’t
mass e-mail your job search list at
once #CUPRSSA

10. Example 5: Getting An Attitude
Just as tacky and unprofessional as spamming is getting
an attitude -- if someone rejects you or ignores you,
DON’T get an attitude/talk back. You might just be
blacklisted from your entire industry
Takeaway Tweet:
Attitude problem? Don’t expect a
job
http://gawker.com/5525490/the-potential-intern-from-hell
#CUPRSSA

11. HOW TO:
Get a Job Using Social Media &
Traditional Tactics

12. Tip 1: Start Early
•Start researching companies you’d like to work for during
college
•Get an internship with one of those companies, or a
company/organization similar to them
Takeaway Tweet:
Looking for a job? It’s never too
early to start looking while still in
school #CUPRSSA

13. Tip 2: Develop a targeted list
In addition to your company list, make a list of people at those
companies you’d like to meet, or would like their jobs
Takeaway Tweet:
Know a place you’d like to work?
Find someone there who has a job
you’d love #CUPRSSA

14. Tip 3: Reach out to your list,
respond, and follow up
Takeaway Tweet:
Make a connection with your list -
either via e-mail, in person or at an
event. Then, keep in touch - who
knows where it’ll lead? #CUPRSSA
•Connect with each person on the list -- either via e-mail
conversation, an information interview, at a networking
event -- make it a point to talk to each of them
•Let them know you’re looking for work, but also ask them
for advice on how they got to where they are now
•Ask who they know and get to know them, too
•Stay in touch - it could lead to something months or years
down the road

15. Tip 4: Use social media
•Twitter
Accounts (@socialmediajobs, @HAPPO)
Hashtags (#happo, #happopgh, #jobs)
Chats (#PRStudChat, #u30pro)
Follow people/companies you want to work for on
Twitter and get to know them first
•LinkedIn Groups (YoungPRPros, PR and
Communications Professionals)
•Facebook Pages/Groups (Careers at American Eagle
Outfitters, Local PRSA Chapters) Takeaway Tweet:
Use social media to find a job: Jump
in a Twitter chat, ask questions via
LinkedIn groups, etc. #CUPRSSA

16. Tip 5: Bridge online
connections to “IRL”
•Developed connections via LinkedIn and Twitter? Find out what
events they’re attending and meet them there “in real life” (tweetups,
professional events, etc.)
•Nothing beats a face-to-face connection
•Those people can introduce you to new people who may just be hiring
Takeaway Tweet:
Attend a tweetup or networking
event your online connections are
attending; meet face-to-face, get
introduced to new connections
#CUPRSSA

17. Tip 6: Don’t “Lose It” Once You
Land a Job
Takeaway Tweet:
Just bc you landed a job doesn’t
mean you should stop talking w/
connections. Keep in touch: you
may need them again down the
road #CUPRSSA
•Keep in touch with people even after you’ve landed a job - you
may need them, or they may want to hire you down the road
•It’s important to have a strong network of people even if you
don’t need them
•It’s nice to give back to those who once helped you (pay it
forward)

18. Things to Remember
Takeaway Tweet:
Start your job search early, take the
time and use social media for
success! #CUPRSSA
•Start early
•Never say “To Whom It May Concern”
•Don’t use emoticons or extensive exclamation points
•Check your grammar
•Follow up
•Say thank you
•Keep in touch
•Use social media to your advantage

19. Important Links
•http://search.twitter.com/
•http://helpaprproout.com/
•http://www.linkedin.com/
•http://jobs.mashable.com/a/jbb/find-jobs
•http://twitter.com/socialmediajobs
•http://www.prsa.org/jobcenter/
If all else fails -- Google it!

20. Questions? Comments?
Twitter:
@dferrari / @wordwritepr
Online:
deannaferrari.com / wordwritepr.com
Thank You!