Twitter Tutorial

Hi guys,
It's not long now until the end of semester which is why stress levels have risen due to the mountains of work I'm sure everyone has had. However, i have breathed a sigh of relief after finally finishing my internship report. Apart from doing a final edit and putting my blog posts in, it is all done and dusted which I couldn't be more excited about. The reason why I had a time frame to finish the report was so that I could send it off to my intern mentor, Sandra, for her to have a look over the report in order to fill out the appraisal form.

As part of the recommendations section in the report, I suggested that Savvy Creations could better utilise social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter and Facebook in order to promote their services. This is because setting up an account is cost effective for the company and social media is becoming such a huge component of Public Relations due to peoples dependency on the internet to stay connected 24/7. As a response to this, Sandra asked me during a meeting to construct a Twitter handbook as she wasn't too familiar with the platform. The handbook will be written as a step by step guide on how best to use Twitter in a business sense using layman's terms, outlining the benefits which will be received by Savvy Creations through using it. A lot of people seem to not understand how Twitter works and are a little put off to use it, preferring the convenience of Facebook or Instagram which are more straight forward, however, the benefits of using it in a business sense are immeasurable. I myself don't use Twitter on a regular basis, but I do have a strong understanding of how it works, its features and benefits through studying Web Communications and often having to use Twitter for assignments. This handbook will then be used for future interns at Savvy Creations to assist with social media monitoring tasks and building an online presence for both Savvy Creations and clients.

I'm excited to undertake this task as my knowledge in social media is being put to good use so that hopefully future interns won't be daunted by using Twitter through following my handbook.

Happy report writing!
Tahlia

The countdown to Curtin Open Day begins!

Hi everyone! I’m Lucy Quaggin.

As last semester drew to a close and I began to prepare for my final semester at university I knew it was time to start looking for a placement for PR 393. Over the years I had engaged in work experience from a variety of areas from fashion and event companies to boutique consultancies and I wanted to try my luck at something new.

I inquired about doing my placement at a university, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to surround myself with like minded individuals and work for an institution that I truly believe in.

Out of nowhere on the same day an opportunity for a position as Open Day intern arose, I thought it must be fate. I applied and had an interview and the next week I was delivered the news I would be spending the next few weeks at part of the team for Curtin Open Day 2014.

My first day lay ahead and I was both nervous and excited for the weeks that lay ahead.

As I arrived at the Future Students office at Curtin University I was greeted with a sea of friendly faces and introductions.  Each staff member seemed to assure me that on this internship I would be having a lot of fun, the office seemed scattered with past graduates who to had once been in my role.

Asha Selvendra, the project manager had interviewed me two weeks ago and today when I arrived I was keen to get stuck into the planning that lay ahead for Curtin’s largest recruitment event. First off I was set up as a staff member at Curtin; I had my own Open Day email and desk. After previous internships of coffee chasing and data entry, I was excited to have gained a hands on role for PR 393 as it already felt as if I was part of the organisation.

I was given a list of a variety of tasks which I was to organise on an online project management site called Trello. I set up this website and organised the tasks which I would be working on over the next few weeks I was interested to find out more about “Markets under the pines” and the Fun Zone.

Asha soon explained to me that one of my main tasks would be to organise the Fun Zone, I would have liaise with Andi Kelly from Spirit events to choose and book entertainment for Curtin Open Day – the Fun Zone is an area located on Alcoa Court which has previously had a petting zoo, bouncy castles and sumo suits. I spent the morning researching acts, games and activities which would put my own touch on the events at the Fun Zone.

Asha then detailed me on the meetings for the rest of the day; this would be an opportunity for me to network and learn about the workings of Curtin University and what goes in to planning an event such as Open Day. Already I can speculate that the department at Curtin seem to be quite like the bits of a puzzle they cross over and connect to make up a bigger picture. 

Organising of event of such scale is a massive job, it takes more than just the PR element. As I looked at the meetings that lay ahead I could see that the team came from across all departments from course advisors, to the marketing department, events and sponsorship management, site services and faculty heads.

By the end of the day I had a taster of the weeks that lay ahead and I looked forward to the tasks I would complete, the people I would meet and to see this event through from start to finish.

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Lucy Quaggin

16 years straight of formal education has boiled down to this moment.

When you're going through your degree, you spend a lot of time procrastinating, a lot of time juggling work, study, volunteer work and work experience, and a lot of time trying to imagine what it will be like once you finally have that piece of paper which formally boasts your ability to communicate effectively with a chosen audience (Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Journalism and Public Relations anyone?)

You run and rush and race to get through your degree and then you hit:

                                          the end. 

The only thing left is a void; a giant leap between the stability of the somewhat solid ground (University) and the next closest stable surface (Employment).

Well, that's how I felt before beginning my Internship this year.

Completing an Internship with JumpClimb - Music Management and Events has taught me so much in such a little space of time. I no longer feel like the jump into full-time employment in the Public Relations industry is a large one. In fact, I can't wait to start full time work.

These are the two fantastic individuals who have been such wonderful mentors to me:

I began this degree with my sights set on Journalism. However, with each semester that passed, I learned more about the PR profession and the ability and the PR practitioners have to influence opinion, develop relationships, write creatively and think broadly on a daily basis, and I have certainly come to the dark side.

There is so much Public Relations has to offer within a company, from Crisis Management to dealing with all Stakeholders in an effective and engaging way, to dealing with the press and helping to effectively run major events like The Beaufort Street Festival.

So what did I learn during my time with the small, but incredibly effective JumpClimb team?

1. Offer a smile and the opportunity for others to talk and you will go far
I think this goes without saying in the PR field, but nevertheless. Sometimes all people need is a chance to communicate their ideas first and get things off their chest before you come storming in with big ideas and a corporate mindset. A smile can make someone's day, too. It's one of the most welcoming tools you have at your disposal.

2. Approach EVERYTHING with a can-do attitude, or not at all
No one wants to work with someone who constantly doubts their abilities or their suitability for a particular job. If you give everything your best and you fail, you can at least say that you gave it a go. Everyone makes mistakes and everything is a learning opportunity.

3. Things can go wrong at any second, so issues and crisis management plans are VITAL
Re: The floor collapse at Beaufort Street Festival launch.
Need I say more?

4. The "one in, all in" approach
In a small company, every event requires all hands on deck. Whether you are directly working on an event or not, once it comes to event day, everyone ends up pitching in - not because they are just expected to, but everyone is working for the greater good of the company.


5. Love what you do and things will come naturally
Learn to love what you do. We are in Public Relations because we like writing and being creative, because we are innovative and because we love a challenge. If you learn to love all of these things and love the process, doing things on a day to day business is a breeze.


So as I sit here on the last day of my University degree and the last formal day of my Internship, I can't help but be thankful for the experience JumpClimb has provided me and the opportunity Curtin has provided all PR students by forcing us to undertake Internships as part of our degree.

I have met so many amazing, passionate, committed individuals during my Internship. It really is hard to not be inspired by all the hard work that not only JumpClimb, but everyone involved has put into the amazing events that have occurred over the past four months. From PRIDE to The Aviary Rooftop Sessions to Rottofest and now The Beaufort Street Festival.

I'm going to keep working with the JumpClimb team until The Beaufort Street Festival, which is 8 days away. After that, the team are looking at doing a big debrief and chatting about the future of the Company, which will probably involve the implementation of a formal PR plan! Woohooo.

Also, feel free to pop by The Beaufort Street Festival and poke your head into the JumpClimb office, where I, among some other great people, will be running all the Comms for the day.

Take care and kick butt in the 'real world',
Renee