I know that there are many Universities that will teach you how to have a career in public relations and marketing. I think taking these courses are a waste of time except for the marketing courses are the ones that teach you how to do research.
The knowledge that you need comes from within you so that means you either have it or you don’t.
If you aren’t friendly, nice, willing to listen and be willing to help then public relations isn’t for you.
One summer I took a course at Disneyland in California. This was the same class that everyone who works there has to take.
WHEN I WAS PRESIDENT OF MANY CHARITY ORGANIZATIONS:
I took a Dale Carnegie course on public speaking. It helped me get the P.R job with the large company that hired me.
This course gave me the confidence I needed to speak to people face to face, at a conference table or in front of a large crowd.
WHEN I WORKED FOR WEST EDMONTON MALL:
The first thing I learned is that a large company is like the’food chain’. That means the CEO of the company is the highest and the cleaners or the people who water plants are the lowest.
If a visitor is looking for help they don’t go to find the CEO but they ask the first person they see. Often that is the cleaners, the secretary at the front desk or a hotel check-in person.
That means every one in a company should learn to listen, help with the problem and if they can’t promise they will help and keep that promise.
The second thing I learned was that everyone should be dressed properly and keep their hair tidy and nails clean. First impressions are lasting ones.
The third thing I learned was to’do your homework’. That means that you need to do research into the people you will be meeting and their company.
You should memorize the names of the people and what their Company makes. If they are not from North America what are the things you should know that will make them comfortable.
FOR EXAMPLE:
For example if you are meeting people from Japan find out who is the head of the people you are meeting and you bow the lowest to that person. Never shake hands when you meet someone from Japan. Smiling and laughing out loud are considered rude as well.
Have a business card, (for everyone you are meeting), in your pocket. When you are handed one of their cards you accept it with your right hand and then put your other hand on it and look at it. bow and then tuck it away. You then give your card to the person holding it out in both of your hands.
Be prepared to have small gifts given to you and to have some gifts ready for each person you will be meeting. The amount your company spends on a gift should be the most expensive for the head of the group and less expensive for the others.
Your gift should be wrapped tightly and attached with one piece of tape. You receive and give the gifts by holding them in both your hands.
If you are having a meal with a person from Japan then you should make sure that toothpicks are on the table. After the meal you will be expected to use one to clean your teeth, (don’t do this with your hand over your mouth). If the meal was very good a person from Japan will belch out loud, (you don’t have to do this if you don’t want to).
The Japanese will have an interpreter with them but don’t be fooled by this. Most of them will speak English very well so remember not to say anything that will embarrass you.
MY JOB:
As Director of Tourism I was part of the MarketingDepartment.
After I was hired I had to learn how to use all the machines and how to make graphics for my presentations to other companies.
I made a fact sheet about the company. They employed over 200 people so the staff changed quite often. Once a month I met with the new staff, (for a few hours), to explain about the company and give them a fact sheet.
I also had to issue press releases and meet with the press.
Tips for Conducting and Attending Meetings:
Always have an agenda Without it, you will achieve nothing. With it, you will achieve at least an agenda
Circulate the information, (objectives, agenda, location,
date, time, background information and assigned preparation items), to all participants beforehand.
Start the meeting on time.
Always carry a note pad and lots of loose sheets of papers to meetings.
Look like you are interested, stimulated and that learning something.
Use your nervous energy and change it into show that you are exciting, funny and are happy to be there.
Have someone record the meeting and following it they should type up the discussion and give a copy to everyone who attended.
The Types of Meetings:
- Brainstorming:
This is how you make everyone involved in the project feel that their ideas are important.
Everyone is asked to give you any idea that pops into their head. You write it down on a blackboard.
When no one has any more ideas you begin to discuss each one. The good ones are kept and the others are wiped out.
Then you begin again and discuss the ideas some more. This continues until you have the concept that you want.
This is when you make a’critical path’. This is a plan of how you will accomplish what you want to do. Everyone in your Group has one. Every morning you meet to see how well you are doing on your’path’.
- Presentations:
These will require a dark room, a laptop computer, a person who knows how to operate the PowerPoint, Laser Pen and the Projector.
I use different background colour for my screens and slides. I use a pie-chart and a bar diagram that depends on the format I have decided to use.
I use an easel that I put a large blank pad of paper on it and use coloured pens so we can write down the points.
MARKETING AND RESEARCH:
There are a lot of doors into the Mall and there was a machine that counted everyone who came in.
We had Information Booths in four corners of the Mall. If someone came up to the Booth there was a quick form that we filled out. The form told us where the People came from, how many People were in their Group and we found out where they had heard about the Mall, (Ads, word of mouth.etc.)
Every morning the first thing we did is make a report of the past days information.
This is the way we could target our advertizing and what Trade Shows we would go to.
CONCLUSION:
So in the end to be able to work in Marketing or PR you have to learn it while your on the job.
As Director of Tourism I worked both at the Mall and was sent to many Conventions. I left when my Mother to sick.
I enjoyed the 3 years I worked there.
The west Edmonton Mall interactive site is:
https://westedmall.com
Comments are always welcome and ratings don’t mater.
©LL2003