AWC Blog Posts
February 5, 2020
PR in Politics
The government bans “Public Relations” but that’s what politics really is, at least, according to Dr. Diana Zulli, the assistant of public relations and political communication here at Purdue.
Political communication is becoming increasingly popular amongst scholars, may it be due to personal interest or the recent changes occurring in the field due to new technology. With constant political headlines splayed by the media, it is more important now than ever before to understand what political communications is and perhaps to even consider it as a future career.
A Career in Political Communication
Generally speaking, a career in Political Communication isn’t too different from a typical Public Relations job; it’s just politically focused. The skillset necessary is nearly identical, but the results look more like campaign speeches to rally a crowd, social media content to attract followers, and memorable campaign slogans that lead to a victory. And yes, you’ll get to play with the data analysis side of things too; you’ll need to know your market and interpret public opinion, not just about you but about others too!
Technology in Political Communication
It’s no surprise that technology has touched and altered nearly everything in existence with politics being no different. We’ve moved in such a direction that has allowed the public to interact with politicians on a more personal level, increasing involvement within the realm of politics. But like everything else, technology always has a downside. Guess what? People like seeing things they agree with, selective exposure has proven to be human nature. Unfortunately, this also means technology has taken advantage of this phenomenon and now “narrowcasting” is quite common. On the bright side, big data is helping politicians know what we as the people want and how we want to receive their message efficiently and effectively.
Women in Political Communication
It has been noted that more and more women are joining the ties of Political Communication, maybe you are thinking of doing so too! As of right now, the filed is primarily still considered to be a masculine field. However, don’t let this deter you. Just like any other field, you are sure to find success through confidence and your personal support group. No one else can say otherwise.
More About Dr. Zulli
Saying that Dr. Zulli is passionate about her work is an understatement. Her research is primarily focused on the construction and sending of the message: what is actually being said, how is technology changing the way we say it, and what does this mean for political discourse. She is currently researching political scandal (who could forget the recent Iowa debacle) and how technology is playing a large part in it. Ever the optimist, she believes that the recent developments of political communication remain to be positive.
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February 12, 2020
Pass GO: Board Game Night
There’s nothing like making or breaking the relationships we have here at AWC. Just kidding, a little competition is healthy so we’ve heard. Sure, we love our academics and our workshops, but we realize the importance of friendship and fun too.
Don’t worry, we’re still responsible young ladies. We’ll be back at it in BRNG 1232 on February 19 for the first of our four-part Career Fair Preparation Series with an elevator pitch workshop. If you haven’t already, click here to sign up for our annual AWC Speed Pitch Event. Slots are on a first-come, first-served basis so sign up now!
Note: We’re also excited to announce that Executive Board Shadows are officially instated and are active in their assigned roles. We’re all so excited to have you work with us!
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February 19, 2020
Elevating Yourself to the Next Level with These Great Elevator Pitch Tips
Delivering an elevator pitch is probably the most frightening part of going to the career fair. You’re standing in line forever, your hands are getting sweating, and you don’t know what to say. This article can help you become more confident in yourself and your elevator pitch so that you can secure the bag.
Tip #1 - Your elevator pitch should only be between 30 seconds to 1 minute. You don’t want to bore them with too much information, but you also want to make sure that you give the employer enough information to have a grasp on who you are.
Tip #2 - Now the hardest part. The content.
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Strong introduction - Introduce yourself with confidence. Tell the employer your name, your year, your area of study, and maybe a fun fact about why you chose your major.
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Work experience - Not all experience will be from working in an office, you can gain experience anywhere! Tell the employer about any leadership positions or involvement in clubs on campus. Relate these experiences back to how you can benefit the company.
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Strengths and weaknesses - Now I know some people think they are Wonder Woman and do not have any weaknesses, but we are human and we all do, let’s be honest about it! It is important to highlight your strengths to demonstrate to the employer the type of person you are and how you can benefit their company, but it is also wise to show them your weaknesses. By displaying your weaknesses, you are showing the employer that you are able to recognize faults in yourself and work proactively to counteract them.
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Why are you interested? What can you do for the company? - Based on the strengths you possess and your prior research on the company, tell the employer why you want to be a part of their team. This is the time to relate your strengths to the job description, showing them why you are right for the job and what you can do for them.
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Conclusion - Hard part is over! Now shake their hand (firmly but not too firm), give them a smile, and exchange business cards or ask how you can follow-up with the company.
Tip #3 - The most important part. Non-verbal cues.
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Eye contact - Walk the hard line of not too much and not too little. Maintain eye contact without making the employer feel like they are engaged in a staring contest. But, at the same time, no eye contact makes you look less confident. Do not make them search for your eyes.
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Handshake- Don’t be a “limp” fish, be confident and firm in your handshake as this reflects confidence.
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Smile- A warm smile brightens your face and makes the employer believe you are friendly and inviting.
Tip #4 - Verbal cues
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When you are nervous it is very easy to use filler words such as um, uh, like etc. which can distract the employer from the content of your pitch.
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Remember you are having a conversation with someone, your pitch should flow naturally.
Now that we have armed you with all these tips and tricks you are ready to deliver a killer elevator pitch! Practice on a friend and go secure that bag.
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