{"id":10540,"date":"2020-06-17T08:00:21","date_gmt":"2020-06-17T12:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/progressions.prsa.org\/?p=10540"},"modified":"2020-06-14T13:12:50","modified_gmt":"2020-06-14T17:12:50","slug":"how-to-move-forward-while-staying-in-place","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/progressions.prsa.org\/index.php\/2020\/06\/17\/how-to-move-forward-while-staying-in-place\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Move Forward While Staying in Place"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"How<\/a><\/p>\n

First and foremost, breathe<\/strong>. We\u2019re living during a time in which the world, in many ways, has turned upside down. As a young professional and recent college graduate, I am overwhelmed by case numbers and a career that has not started off the way that I planned. But what I\u2019ve learned during this time can be expressed in a quote from Emily Blunt in her role as Mary Poppins, \u201cwhen the world turns upside down, the best thing to do is to turn right along with it.\u201d Here are five tips that I\u2019ve curated along the way from some of my own experiences and mentors at PRSA Nashville about how to make the most out of your time at home.<\/p>\n

Call On Your Best Friend\u2026Technology<\/strong><\/h3>\n

At a time when we\u2019re living six feet apart, technology allows us to connect more than ever before. Instead of a meeting at your local caf\u00e9, try a coffee Zoom call with your mentor, peers, or a professional that you want to learn more about. Also, don\u2019t underestimate the significance of a LinkedIn or email check-in with a professional during this time. Register for\u00a0PRSSA\/PRSA webinars<\/a> or attend a local Chapter\u2019s virtual meeting (I tuned in for a PRSA Young Professionals online meeting and it was great!). By creating these virtual connections, young professionals will not only attain valuable insight into the public relations industry but gain insight to help navigate this new world.<\/p>\n

Add Some Apps to Your PR Phone <\/strong><\/h3>\n

Are you interested in learning more about design, social media, analytics, media relations? Right now is a great time to take a deep dive into skills that you want to develop or get certified in. These are the courses I would recommend: \u2018The All-in-one Adobe Creative Cloud Suite Certification Course Bundle.\u2019<\/a>, \u2018Hootsuite Platform Training\u2019<\/a>, \u2018Google Analytics\u2019<\/a>, \u2018Muck Rack\u2019s Fundamentals of Media Relations.\u2019<\/a> Adding these new \u2018apps\u2019 to your PR phone will help to set you up for the career you want to move towards.<\/p>\n

Build That Brand<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Right now is an amazing time to develop a professional brand that reflects who you are and who you\u2019re aspiring to be. During this season, take some time to really think about what makes you unique and then create branding for yourself based on those qualities. What does that look like? Create a logo with a signature color and design that is consistent throughout your professional documents. If purple is your color, then go for it. Incorporate it within your professional materials so that when a potential employer sees it, they already have a taste of who you are and what you\u2019re going to bring to their company. From there, build a website and LinkedIn with that visual branding as well as language that clearly represents who you are as a professional.<\/p>\n

Channel Your Inner Walt Disney<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When the world changes, new opportunities for innovation and creativity come to light. This is a great time to channel the entrepreneurial spirit of Walt Disney and try out some freelance work or even start your own business. Reach out to local businesses and offer your services or connect with nonprofits in your area. Do you have a passion for the music industry, travel and tourism, or mentorship? Start a blog, write articles, create a YouTube channel, or even design a social media account. Wherever that creative spark leads you\u2026follow it.<\/p>\n

Reflect & Celebrate<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This is a challenging season, so most importantly create the space that you need to unplug and take a break. Spend some time reflecting on where you\u2019ve been and strategize where you want to go. Also, don\u2019t forget to celebrate all that you have accomplished! If you graduated from college then celebrate. You had a great conversation with a mentor? Celebrate it. You discovered a new passion? Celebrate it.<\/p>\n

I hope these tips will allow you to see your time at home from a new perspective. I know that all of you have bright futures and careers coming your way and I can\u2019t wait to see you out in the field!<\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/a>Chelsea Lomartire<\/a> is a December 2019 graduate of Belmont University (Nashville, TN) with two Bachelor of Science degrees in public relations and entertainment industry studies. During her time in college, Lomartire served as the executive director of Belmont\u2019s PRSSA Nationally-Affiliated Student-run Firm, Tower Creative Communications<\/a>. She was also the recipient of the PRSA 2019 Nashville Scholarship and PRSSA 2019 Gold Key Award. Today Lomartire is a PRSA Associate Member and continues to cultivate her passion for creativity and innovation within the public relations industry through exploring new ways to bring stories to life. Connect with her via email at chelsea.lomartire@gmail.com<\/a> or on LinkedIn<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

First and foremost, breathe. We\u2019re living during a time in which the world, in many ways, has turned upside down. As a young professional and recent college graduate, I am overwhelmed by case numbers and a career that has not started off the way that I planned. But what I\u2019ve learned during this time can be expressed in a quote […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2892],"tags":[3143,548,104,3132,188,301],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t