Wanna go ta Michigan?

(If only I could convey my Sarah Palin accent through this post…)

I would like to take the time to promote the General Motors (GM) internship opportunity whose submission deadline is NEXT Friday, October 17.

If you “wanna go ta Michigan” for a while, an opportunity is at your doorstep!

The GM internship will last from May to August (12 weeks), and you’ll be living in Detroit, Mich. doing some grassroots marketing (ooh, aah).

Check out what you’ll be doing!

Grassroots Communications

Location: Detroit, MI

Key assignments and responsibilities

Help plan senior leader grassroots visits to key markets, and assist with speakers bureau, plant city tours and VIP influencer tours.

Assist with grassroots planning activities, including:

• Participate in event planning from concept to execution
• Prepare briefing books for senior leaders, including determining the appropriate content, gathering information, and proofreading
• Write executive remarks, introductions and other documents as needed for grassroots trips
• Organize schedules, calls and timelines
• Ensure each event meets measurement criteria

Travel as needed to prepare for grassroots visits:

• Site visits and preparation may be needed for event support
• Work with regional communications teams

Specific skills preferred

• Strong team player
• Highly organized and ability to multi-task
• Creativity – willingness to bring new ideas to grassroots program
• Can adapt to changes quickly and can work well under deadline pressure
• Strong writing ability

Benefits to the intern’s development

Working with the grassroots team will give the intern the ability to see the “big picture” at General Motors, learning both our product and business messaging as he/she helps prepare senior leaders to communicate with key constituencies across the country. The intern will be able to think creatively about how to tell GM’s story, and see firsthand how messaging is shaped. He/she will learn how to work cross-functionally, and see how messaging is received differently in various regions of the U.S.

This is an opportunity to understand GM’s overall communications strategy for its senior-most leaders and be part of a dynamic team. He/she will also be able to improve writing skills, time management ability and measurement capability.

What skills do you expect the student to develop?

• Strategic Communication Planning
• Event Planning
• Communication Measurement
• Writing skills

Other considerations such as travel for events, etc.

• Occasional travel within the U.S. is required

In other words, this looks like a great opportunity.  Let’s have some Grady representation!  To find out the details, check out the internship listings for this week.

Guest post: Jill Krugman, Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin’s Communication Leadership Development Program

When I joined Lockheed Martin three years ago, I had only a vague idea of what was in store for me. I knew it would be a good place to apply my PR coursework and internship experience. I knew that the pay and benefits were good. I knew I would be moving to New York (so cold!!). What I didn’t know, was the program I joined – the Communications Leadership Development Program (CLDP) – was going to open doors I’d never imagined.

By the end of my first year I had landed the cover of a trade publication, directed video and photo shoots and had numerous crash courses in engineering and technology. This was all during my first CLDP rotation, which focused in Media and Marketing.

In my second year, I moved to New Jersey where I took over the Community Relations program for our business in Moorestown. This included setting the strategy, managing our philanthropy budget and coordinating volunteer programs. Being the facing of Lockheed Martin in our community was extremely rewarding.

When I graduated the program, I moved to Marietta, Ga. where I accepted a position of Communications Generalist (or as I like to call it, jack-of-all-trades). I worked across all disciplines including media, employee and community relations. After a few months, our team was restructured and I was asked to take over Employee Communications for the business in Marietta. My current role is managing Employee Communications handing everything from the Intranet, to all-hands meetings, to multi-media projects.

CLDP is open to PR undergraduate and graduate students graduating this December or May. To apply, email Donna Leblond at dleblond@uga.edu. If you want more information feel free to call or email me at 770-494-3847 or jill.krugman@lmco.com. Also, here are some links that you might find interesting:

• Presentation on CLDP
• F-22 on Good Morning America

2008 PRSSA National Conference

 

What: National PRSSA Conference (over 3,000 people to network with and learn from)

 

When: Oct. 24-28 (registration deadline is Sept. 22)

 

Why: The following post was written by former UGA Grady grad, Brandi Littlejohn. Brandi is now working for Floyd Medical Center in Rome, GA. She recieved her MBA a few years ago, and is a member of the Georgia Chapter of PRSA.

 

I proudly served as the Communication Director for the PRSSA National Conference held in Atlanta in 2001 (serving as UGA’s representative on the committee) and served as PRSSA Vice President of Internship and Job Services for 2002-2003. I can honestly say the relationships and friendships I established during these times are still alive and healthy today. I’m in my best friend’s wedding next month–all because we met at a conference, served on the National Committee together and have stayed friends ever since (even though she has always lived in the Midwest).

 

Below are some reasons I think attending the National Conference are beneficial and a few notes on how it benefitted me:

 

1. Networking with Professionals: Whether it’s attending a professional development session or going to a PRSA Networking function, PR professionals are always willing to share stories and advice they wish they would have known as a college students. It truly helped me gain insight into their personal experiences so that I could be spared from making the same mistakes as they did. Most of the professionals remember what it was like being a college student so they will invite you to events and sometimes even pay for your meals.

 

2. Networking with Peers: Our world has shrunk and continues to. PR students across the United States could potentially be your professional peer one day. It is great to find others who understand exactly what you are currently going thru in college. Also, you may meet others you can call on later when you are both sitting at your first job–still wondering if you made the right career decision. Not to mention, some of the peers you meet could be your life-long friends.

 

3. PR jobs typically come down to who you know and your past involvement: I wish I could say that our world is fair and absolutely based on merit. Graduating from an excellent PR program like UGA will already give you a leg up on some peers, but the more professionals you know the more job interviews you’ll probably get and possibly the more offers you will have–both in Georgia and across the US. I know I made the decision to move back to my hometown for personal reasons, but I assure you that I got some really nice offers from some other places. By seeing a variety of options, it ultimately helped me make the best decision for me. Also, your past involvement is a predictor of your future. Savvy organizations are looking for the best and brightest employees and showing initiative to do items beyond just obtaining a degree in the field will only go to differentiate you more from your peers and help you in obtaining your first job.

 

4. Advancing the Profession: It is through professional activities and conferences such as these that promote public relations as a career choice and continues to help PR professionals to be seen as valuable to executives…ultimately so there will be jobs for you and future PR grads. I’m currently in healthcare, and how a profession is perceived can promote its growth or harm it. It is imperative to have knowledge and examples of how public relations professionals have contributed to organizations’ financial success or diversion of a crisis to help support the reason why an employer needs you.

 

5. The Experience: At what time can you go to one event and experience an agency tour, be inspired by some of the greatest PR professionals, be motivated by other peers and their works throughout the year at the Awards Banquet, have your resume critiqued and meet future employers at a Career Expo. The conference will provide a mixture of growth, opportunities and fun! I am so thankful that I took advantage of these opportunities while I was in college.

 

Please contact Stephanie Perrett at stephanie.perrett@gmail.com for more information!