Public relations students are going to be the wave of the PR profession for the future. We have to make sure as professors that we are giving our students the knowledge, experiences, and tools that they will need to get their first position and be prepared for the ever changing business environment. This means having them take the appropriate courses in Public Relations such as Case Studies, Campaigns, International PR, Law and Ethics, to name a few – but this also means giving them advice on what they need to know about the latest technologies and how to use them professionally in managing their online reputation.
I have discussed this in many of the guest lectures that I have done while I have been at the University of Tennessee – and it is important for students to understand that what they post online can be seen by many – including future employers. So, what steps do PR students today need to take in order to manage their online reputation professionally? Well, Mashable recently posted a great article on how to use Facebook (one of many social media platforms) professionally. From setting up your friends lists with professional contacts to connecting with other professionals via Facebook groups and fan pages – there are many opportunities for PR students to manage their professional reputation online.
iPressroom, Digital Readiness Report (from Marketing Charts, August 2009)
Also, more employers are expecting their future hires to not only be online, but to understand how it can be used strategically and effectively for campaign implementations. According to a survey that was conducted by iPressroom, the top social media skills that employers are looking at future candidates to have includes social networking, blogging, and tweeting. This is definitely interesting, and it is important for PR professors to make sure that they communicate this to their students about what PR firms and agencies are expecting their students to know once they graduate from school and enter the workplace.
In many ways, the advancement and evolution of social media in the public relations field has not only transformed the workplace, but also the academic community as well – PR professors have to stay on top of the latest technologies and see what are the current trends so they can pass along this to their students. But, the best way to do this is to be active online – and this means having their own web site, blog, social media profile on Facebook, be active on Twitter – basically to have a strong online presence. This is what professors in the 21st century will have to do. 🙂
Hope you all are having a great day!
Best Wishes,
Karen
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