Some DO's and DON'TS about Communications

So from Uni to my Internship to my Role in NFW to general everyday life activities, the list of DO'S and DONT'S are never ending.

Today I will share two things that I have picked up along the way as a PR student.

If you want to write as a profession: DO

CHECK YOUR FACTS. This sounds like common sense but the amount of people that fail to get their facts right is astranomical. For example, if you're working for a magazine/newspaper etc and you recieve information from a client detailing the following things such as: a new PRODUCT, PRODUCT NAME, PRODUCT IMAGE NAME/NUMBER, CONTACT DETAILS, PRICE etc. (the usual things a Press Release may have). It is usually a good idea to:

1. Separate these facts from the rest of the email/press release and bold/highlight them so you know you have all the info you need. (That way if anything is missing, you can follow up on this asap).
2. Print or save a copy for future reference/proof.
3. If they have a website, print/online catalog etc. double check that these facts match the press material they have already sent out.
4. Email/call the client to confirm the right information was sent.

THEN AND ONLY THEN should you begin writing about the product and this will limit the amount of "screw-up's" if you, the sub-editor and the editor fail to miss these mistakes. It will also eliminate angry phonecalls from clients who call after your publication has gone to print and there are major/minor errors in the description of the client's products.

If you want to work in Event Management: DO NOT

• Assume you are better than someone else. It's a team effort, the workload is shared.
• If there are people put in charge, there is a reason why they were chosen to lead. Showing you can follow orders/direction doesn't mean you're a sheep or a kiss-arse. It shows you are: Dedicated, Responsible, Driven, a Team Player, have Initiative. My view is: do the work well, get noticed and one day you'll get to call the shots.

More to come, please feel free to comment, especially if you have some classic DO'S and DONT'S to share.

MORE ABOUT NFW 2010

Newcastle Fashion Week is turning TWO! Due to huge success last year, Newcastle Fashion Week is on again from the 12th-18th September 2010. This is more than just catwalks, stunning outfits and glamour, NFW is an important event that provides the opportunity for:

• Designers from around Australia and of coarse right here in Newcastle, to showcase their latest collections and provide them with a platform to launch themselves as the next big thing.
• Newcastle to become a staple location in its own right for Fashion Events in Australia.
• A considerable donation to be made to the NSW Cancer Council which will be used for funds towards the fight against cancer.
• Different people from all backgrounds to come together for a week's worth of fun, fashion and to show their support for an amazing event.

FOR TICKET SALES AND MORE INFORMATION, head to: http://newcastlefashionweek.net.au

WHAT HAPPENS IN A FASHION (RETAIL) INTERVIEW PT. 2

DURING THE INTERVIEW


1. This is your time to shine! You will be forced to show yourself and this is not a one-on-one situation. You should be trying to demonstrate your best qualities and using them to your advantage.

For example: When the interviewer asks the group to tell me about yourself, you should try to incorporate the following.

- A little background knowledge such as Name, Age/Hometown (optional),what industry/study background are you from, why you want to work in Fashion, what stores you personally shop at. This will give the interviewer an idea of what retail outlet might suit you best e.g. Teen Fashion, High-end, children's wear etc.

2. There WILL BE group activities! The interviewer is looking to see how well you communicate with others, are you a leader, follower or wall-flower? Do you contribute and include everyone equally? Team-work is vital in every occupation and these group activities offer you the chance to show how well you work with others, if you're approachable and open to ideas or constructive criticism. Are you a high-achiever or do you let others do the work for you?

3. Make sure you get your questions answered if they haven't already been covered during the interview. By this I mean, at the end of the interview you may have the opportunity to ask the interviewer for more details about the job you're applying for.

Questions might be ones such as:

a) When will we be notified if we are successful?
b) Will we have sufficient time to notify our current employee that we have obtained new employment?
c) If the store has not opened yet, when is the main launch and will the retailers look straight away for new staff or wait till after opening?

Hope all this is useful to you in some way! Till next time!!!!

WHAT'S COMING UP IN SEPTEMBER - NFW

From 12-18th September 2010, Newcastle's THE STORE is playing host again to the highly-anticipated NEWCASTLE FASHION WEEK. Organised by Louise Mackay, this show-stopping event is set to headline your favourite local designers, modelling talent and all things fashion!

This year lucky me gets to become a part of this week long extravaganza and will be blogging as much as I can over the following weeks leading up to NFW to let you know all about:

1. Why this is such a great cause to be involved in and how you can help!

2. What pop-up events are coming up and where you can check them out!

3. Why you should come and celebrate our local talent and see their latest collections on the catwalk!

I will also try to blog during NFW, giving you a little taste of life off the runway and (fingers crossed) behind the scenes interviews with production, designers, models and media supporters.

Keep checking this space in the coming weeks, post a comment or head to: http://newcastlefashionweek.net.au/ for the latest updates, event times, ticket enquires or information about the genius behind it all Louise Mackay!

THIS IS ALL FOR AN AMAZING CAUSE AND YOUR SUPPORT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED!

What happens in a Fashion (Retail) Group Interview PT. 1

Yesterday I went for a Group Interview for a major Shopping Centre who is about to open their remodelled complex with over 110 specialty stores and loads more for the budding shopper.

The position was for a Part-time/Casual Sales Assistant/2IC/Store Manager position in one of the centre's new Fashion labels. This was my third group interview. When I went for my first two last year, each one was slightly different and at the first one I went to for David Jones, I remember how much I did not know such as: what to expect, what I should wear, what I should bring etc.

This time round I was more than prepared. The following I hope will help others wishing to enter the Fashion Industry through Retail and how to be prepared for a group style interview.

BEFORE THE INTERVIEW

1. Do your research. I cannot stress the importance of knowing who you want to work for, a brief history of the company, what they sell, how the sell, through what avenues are their products available e.g. in store, online etc.

2. Based on your research, you can do a little recon as well if you like. Go online, go in store and see if this environment is one you see yourself working in, would you shop here yourself (unless you're like me and know the store inside and out, due to countless spending) and most importantly, can you deliver the same if not better first impression/sales techniques than the sales assistants already working there?

3. So after the research and the recon, you should have a fairly good idea of what's expected of you. I found that it is helpful to "Google" what you should wear to an interview. You can get industry advice, fellow interviewee's advice and recruitment agency advice on what the do's and don’ts are on clothing and making that great first impression.

For Fashion, I found that the following blogs/posts were very helpful:

• http://www.39thandbroadway.com/wtf-wear-fashion-interview/

This blog is devoted to fashion insiders who work in New York’s garment centre and the fashion industry and need a place to gossip, vent and network. This article even has images to assist your decision on what you should wear, depending on the position you are applying for e.g. Designer, Sales Assistant, Merchandiser etc.

• http://womens-work-wear.suite101.com/article.cfm/what_to_wear_to_an_interview_in_fashion

This blog answers the questions that first come to find for any interview. Do you wear a suit? Are Jeans to informal? Are labels the key?

4. Finally, make sure you arrive 10-15 minutes early and know exactly where you are required to attend the interview, be it an office, in store, centre management etc. No one is sympathetic if you cannot park your car on time. and arrive 15 minutes late and plus it looks un-professional and they may assume you are unreliable.

**As a given, I assume you will bring the following documentation to your interview**

1) Birth Certificate (Original) and one other form of ID such as a Drivers License, Student Card. A passport will cover both these forms of ID as well.

2) A copy of your resume, regardless of whether or not the interviewer has a copy. It doesn't hurt.

3) Any references, qualifications you may have that are relevant to this position.

4) Pen and Paper. For any information you might gather during the interview or if you're required to complete a writing task.

Where to find some great PR blogs and Internship Opportunities

Good Evening Blog Readers!

So psyched to be sharing today's find with you. If you have an interesting site you think I should visit on PR and/or Internships - please comment!

Youtern.com: When I want to travel overseas to America or Canada, this is the website I will be visiting when I apply for a working Visa!

Pick an Industry...state where you want to work in the country, do you wish to be paid or will you work off your own back? On Youtern you can state your preferences or be general and find some awesome internship opportunities with the click of a button. Find your dream job now at: http://www.youtern.com/

PRINKS: As a newcomer to wordpress.com myself, I am in awe of how many interesting things you can read about and learn more about. PRINKS is  for those interested in Journalism, Advertising, Public Relations, Marketing, Digital and other Communication fields. I found this site through my University. What I'm reading on this blog right now is: "The Blackboard – The dos and don’ts when applying for an internship" Check it out at: http://prinksblog.wordpress.com/2010/07/20/the-blackboard-the-dos-and-donts-when-applying-for-an-internship/

I hope someone else out there has more to add to this list. I'll be adding to it when I can and any suggestions are always welcome!