How to Write Press Releases for the Media

How to Write Press Releases for the MediaHow to Write Press Releases for the MediaPress releases are an essential tool for getting the word out about either your own business or your clients. And the good news is, you dont need to be a PR pro to write one. When youremanaging your own public relations campaign, writing press releases should quickly become very natural to you. If youve got news about your product, service or company, then youre ready to experience the power of press releases.And best of all? Its free But first, lets look into the press release itself. So, just what is a press release? Its simple. A press release is a one to two page document used to call attention to your company and its products/services. They are written in very formulaic ways, and with good reason. Hundreds, if not thousands, of these press releases, come onto the scene every day. If they all took different formats, it would be a nightmare for the press to handle. By making them simple to read, with simple formatting and expected places for dates, times, headlines and so forth, you make the journalists job much easier. And when you make their lives easier, you are more likely to get coverage in the newspaper, magazine, website, or news broadcast. For those reasons, its imperative to learn the building blocks of how to write a press release before you start submitting your releases to the media. Otherwise, youll start getting a reputation that youre an amateur and your press releases will be ignored. Sending out press releases - The basics When youre ready for free media coverage, you send press releases to editors and TV stations. This isnt a guarantee that youll get free publicity, though. There are many differences between advertising and public relations and in PR, the media is not required to cover your story. You send your press releases hoping they will pick it up for their magazine, newspaper or local newscast. But you have to be patient. Some publications may t ake several months to publish your press release. And then there are other publications that will print your release in a few days. It all depends on your news and their schedule. And television stations are a different story entirely. If youre trying to get airtime for an event, send out your press release to your local TV stations at least two days beforehand.Since news varies from day-to-day, a car crash can prevent stations from covering your event. But your chances are even lower if they receive your press release the saatkorn day. The press release must be newsworthy Press releases are also known as news releases. Back to basics, it means just that news.If youve been marketing the same heating pad for 20 years and nothings changed, theres no reason to write a press release. Editors will snub their nose and then line the bottom of their trash can. Say your heating pad now has an automatic timer built in for convenience. Theres your newsThere are several types of press relea ses you can write. Starting a business. Having new employees joining your team. Your company wins awards. Youre working with a charity. Or anything new or different about your business and its product line constitutes a newsworthy press release. Theres a trick to writing press releases, though. Your message has to be newsworthy without sounding like a blatant advertisement. The release is written in an unbiased format so the reader trusts the information to be accurate. However, theres a clear distinction between advertising and public relations. But if theyre written correctly, press releases can be even more effective than advertising.

Lack of #8220;Corporate Recruiting#8221; Majors Hinders Colleges and Universities

Lack of 8220Corporate Recruiting8221 Majors Hinders Colleges and Universities Lack of 8220Corporate Recruiting8221 Majors Hinders Colleges and Universities And yet it is a distinctive career track that is not offered as an area of concentrated study at the collegiate level.That geschftliches miteinander is the staffing industry, and the career track is corporate recruiting, in which, according to Staffing Industry Analysts, revenues will jump to $134.4 billion at the conclusion of 2013. That number represents a vast fortune, one derived from areas as diverse as transportation, workforce management, IT, healthcare, governmental contracting, finance and accounting, to name just six of a plethora of dozens.When you think about it, the skills recruiters and account executives in the staffing industry must have in order to achieve success could easily be taught as part of a stand-alone concentration for someone pursuing a baccalaureate degree within the framework of liberal arts/busin ess education.Below are eight1. Sales skills2. An ability to build a strong network of personal and professional relationships3. A dogged determination and unwillingness to take no for an answer4. A competitive spirit5. Strong analytical skills6. A willingness to embrace technology and technological change, particularly as it relates to how people use technology in their day to day lives7. Effective communication skills8. An ability to discern the psychology of the candidateWhile there are over 260 Human Resources-related undergraduate programs in the country, the courses offered that are specific to corporate recruiting are limited. At most, students enrolled in HR for a major will take courses called Attraction, Selection and Development, and/or Talent Management.And that is where the academic introduction into corporate recruiting generally concludes. That preliminary exposure does not constitute a major in corporate recruiting.For example, lets say students were interested in le arning all they could to become recruiters in the field of life sciences.What a college or university would have to do would be to define what that term means, and how it would go about providing a foundational background in that area to its students who wanted to become recruiters in that space.The general definition for life sciences is that it consists of the fields of science that involve the scientific study of living organisms such as plants, animals, and menschenfreundlich beings, as well as related considerations like bioethics. And while biology remains the centerpiece of the life sciences, advances in molecular biology and biotechnology have led to an increase of specializations and interdisciplinary fields.Some of which are biomedical science, biochemistry, biocomputers, immunology, medical devices, computational neuroscience, genetics, genomics, medical imaging, computational neuroscience, environmental science and biomechanics, to name just 12 potential areas for study within the discipline.What would an HR majors schedule look like though? Well, a college could do is have its students take a quarter of their courses within the life sciences discipline. The courses selected, obviously, would depend on what the university offered within the life sciences field of study.A second quarter of the students course load would be devoted to communication skills. The students would take a variety of writing classes to enhance their communication abilities. They would also take those classes that would help them become expert in the use of the different platforms that define social media.The third quarter of classes recruiting majors would take would be business related, so they would graduate with an understanding of how corporations work. Classes taken in this block would focus in the areas of finance, accounting and statistics.The last quarter of classes would be the core requirements all colleges and universities require for graduation with a baccalaurea te degree.The hypothetical scenario we just sketched for college students interested in earning an undergraduate degree in recruiting, with a specialization in life sciences, holds for any other academic concentration.Colleges and universities, which are after all businesses, could reap a sizable financial windfall if they offered corporate recruiting as a standalone major.More importantly, however, they would be contributing to a vital sector of the economy that impacts every facet of the world of work.

Skills for a Resume Employers Will Actually Read (With Examples!)

Skills for a Resume Employers Will Actually Read (With Examples)Skills for a Resume Employers Will Actually Read (With Examples)Salaries are rising, and competition for skilled talent is heating up as companies expand their teams. Although that means it may be easier to find a job, you still need a top-notch resume to land the sttte you want most. Here are tips to help you highlight skills on yur resume to stand out from the competition.This post will show youHow citing soft and hard skills can set you apart from other candidatesHow using keygenaus matching those in the job description can help you make it past applicant scanning softwareHow to create a skills section and showcase your skills throughout your resumeExamples of skills to target for different rolesDos and donts to check before submitting your resumeSkills to highlight on a resumeThere are two main types of job-related skills for your resume hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills, or technical skills, are those require d to do the job and are acquired through practice, education or training. Soft skills, also sometimes referred to as interpersonal skills or emotional intelligence, include traits such as communicating effectively and maintaining a positive attitude to achieve your goals. Soft skills are transferrable - you can take them from one task, job or industry to another.When the hard skills and experience level are equal between candidates, soft skills can tip the balance.SEARCH JOB OPENINGS20 examples of soft skills for a resumeTo help you narrow down the soft skills to put on your resume, review the various duties of the position and determine which of your personal strengths will help you successfully complete those tasks.Consider unterstellung 20 examplesAdaptability - Companies appreciate employees who can quickly acclimate to different environments and are open to new processes and technologies.Attention to detail - Mistakes are expensive in terms of time and money. Show prospectiv e employers that you are careful and deliberate in all you do.Collaboration - Give examples of how well you get along with others and work with those within and outside of your company or department.Communication - This is the ability to tailor your written and verbal messaging to different audiences, from interns to the C-suite, without resorting to jargon.Creativity - Businesses cannot grow without a regular infusion of fresh ideas and new approaches to old problems.Curiosity - Inquisitive minds thrive on experimentation, which can lead to the next big thing for a company.Customer service - An organization prospers when its people are dedicated to delighting both internal stakeholders and external clients.Daring - Top performers are the ones who take calculated risks, push boundaries on what is possible and are comfortable with driving innovation.Decision making - Employers appreciate team members who can quickly assess a situation and determine the next steps to take.Empat hy - To communicate effectively and get along with diverse personalities, you should have a sense for how others feel and tailor your approach accordingly.Leadership - This encompasses the many positive traits of a great manager, such as integrity, fairness and a strategic mindset.Multitasking - In an ideal world, everyone would focus on one thing at a time. But we dont live in that world, so show off your ability to juggle several projects.Passion - Do you love what you do? Are you excited about emerging technologies and the industrys future? If so, dont curb your enthusiasmPositivity - The goal here is not to be excessively cheerful or optimistic, but to approach difficulties with a can-do attitude.Presentation - More than just communication, this soft skill is about connecting with an audience and delivering your message with confidence.Problem solving - This is the ability to resolve conflicts and come up with creative resolutions to challenges big and small.Self-motivati on - No babo wants to keep lighting a fire under their workers. Give instances of how youve taken initiative to solve problems and get the job done.Teamwork - Whether within a small group or a large crowd, you know how to work well with others and deliver tangible results.Time management - People with this soft skill have the necessary discipline to tune out distractions, meet deadlines and get the most out of their workday.Work ethic - Honesty, punctuality, responsibility and reliability are all integral to a strong work ethic.How do soft skills apply if youre pursuing a job as a systems engineer? You might note on your resume how your ability to collaborate with coworkers has helped you design software to improve workflow. For a receptionist, empathy allows you to de-escalate tense situations and deliver excellent customer service.15 examples of hard skills for a resumeHard skills vary from job to job. When listing hard skills on your resume, include specific proficiencies whe rever possible. Rather than just mentioning technology, for instance, a front-end web developer might use terms such as HTML, CSS and JavaScript expertise, while a financial controller might refer to a strong foundation in GAAP or SEC reporting.Here are examples of 15 hard skills and explanations for why hiring managers look for them in resumesAccounting or bookkeeping - Basic abilities include invoicing, collections, payments, account reconciliation and proficiency in software such as QuickBooks, FreshBooks and Xero.Data analysis - This is the ability to find meaning and gain business intelligence from large data sets.Data privacy - Cybersecurity is top of mind for any organization that connects to the cloud for software and data storage. This hard skill is key for anyone who deals with sensitive or proprietary client information.Enterprise resource planning - ERP systems such as Oracle, NetSuite and SAP help employers manage their business and automate functions.Human resource s - Companies rely on HR specialists to not only recruit and hire new employees, but also to onboard and retain them afterward.Mathematics - Many jobs, and not just those in accounting, require workers to figure percentages, calculate margins and/or create accurate data charts.Multilingualism - Sought-after second languages depend on the industry and city, but some of the top ones are Spanish, Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese) and Tagalog.Process automation - Businesses can save resources and improve accuracy by using smart software and artificial intelligence to take over rote tasks. At the same time, companies rely on humans to set up and oversee those systems.Product design - Form and function are rolled into one in this hard skill, which optimizes both user friendliness and visual appeal.Project management - Office professionals should be familiar with the software and best practices required for seeing a project through from beginning to end.Research skills - The informati on is out there. Whether for eDiscovery or competitor intelligence, the trick is knowing how to use the right tools and methodologies.Software proficiency - Almost all office jobs today require at least a baseline knowledge of Microsoft Office and G Suite apps for word processing, spreadsheets, email, presentations and collaboration.Search engine optimization - SEO and its cousin, search engine marketing (SEM), are key aspects of any role that deals with online content - from writers and editors to publicists and HR professionals.Typing skills - Medical coders, transcribers, schedulers, clerks, data entry specialists and administrative professionals should have fast and accurate keyboarding abilities.Writing and editing - Essential for clear communication regardless of field, this hard skill encompasses a thorough understanding of grammar, word choice, sentence structure, organization, persuasion and readers points of view.Keep in mind that your resume should provide examples o f how youve used the hard skills that are most relevant to the job youre seeking.Use skills and phrasing from the job descriptionMany companies scan resumes and cover letters for keywords theyve used in their job postings. Some use an applicant tracking system, which is an electronic filter used to collect, sort and rank resumes in an effort to narrow applicant pools to the most qualified candidates. Thats why you need to write a resume with words and phrases that match the job listing - as long as you actually possess the skills youre listing, of course.If an employer is looking for a graphic designer, and mastery in Adobe Creative Suite is required, dont just include experience with software for creative professionals. Likewise, if an employer is searching for an accountant with experience processing daily invoices and credit, use similar language in your resume, rather than gathering receipts.Because every job description is different, tailor the skills and keywords on your resu me and cover letter for each position to give yourself the best chance at landing an interview.Discover skills the company valuesIn plus-rechnen to using the job description as a guide, its useful to have an idea of the type of person the employer typically hires. How do you find that out? Research, research, research. If you know someone who works at the company or has in the past, reach out to ask what the employer considers important in its workers. Follow the companys social media feeds and visit the company website. Reading the About Us page is typically a good place to begin.For instance, IBM lists its values at work onlineDedication to every clients successInnovation that matters - for our company and for the worldTrust and responsibility in all relationshipsIf you were applying for a job at IBM, you might consider soft skills you possess that fit - attentive, detail-oriented, enterprising and loyal, perhaps? - and weave them into your resume.Here at Robert Half, we focus on and promote our four LEAD principles. They areLeadership by ExampleEthics FirstAn Openness to New IdeasDedication to ExcellenceIf youre applying for a job at Robert Half, you might punktlicht skills that speak to your leadership, drive and diligence, as well as your confidence and ability to collaborate.Think youd make a great fit at Robert Half? Search our corporate jobs or our open recruiting positions.Bottom line Pay close attention to the type of job candidates employers seek, and emphasize your most pertinent strengths.Create a skills section on your resumeThe general layout and formatting principles when you write a resume includeKeep it to one page in length (three pages maximum for senior positions).Write clear section headings.Use an easy-to-read font.Include sections for contact information, summary, professional title, work experience, skills and education.If youre applying for a position that requires specific technical skills, you can create a skills section near the top of your resume and above your professional experience. Another option is to add a side column, but the important thing is to make it the most visible, attention-grabbing part of your resume.Soft skills can also be highlighted in a Skills section, or even combined with technical skills in a more general Key Skills or Areas of Expertise section. If these skills are relevant to the job, make sure theyre prominent on your resume. But also sprinkle your work-related skills wherever you can.LET US HELP YOU FIND A JOBHighlight skills throughout your resumeWrite about your abilities in the main Work Experience or Experience section of your resume, too. And show, dont tell. Rather than simply saying that youre a good communicator, give concrete details.Here are some explanations of common skills that applicants put on a resume and examples of how to present themCommunication - Focus on your verbal and written communication skills or your sharp active listening abilities. Play up your t rack record of strong communication with your colleagues, manager, clients and customers, and offer tangible examplesWrote a monthly email newsletter to customers that increased leads by 35 percent.Multitasking - Handling several tasks simultaneously is the status quo for many employees today. Note on your resume the types of tasks and situations youve handled regularly - and how you did so calmly and efficientlyJuggled multiple projects and project deadlines, and served as the liaison between clients and colleagues, gathering and implementing feedback from both parties for projects with tight turnaround times.Leadership skills - Whether youre managing a team or positively influencing colleagues, employers often seek leadership skills in potential hiresLed a 10-person team from different areas of the firm that worked together to succeed in reducing operating expenses by 15 percent.Prioritizing - Employees are often tasked with tackling multiple projects at once, and many request s come in on the fly, which requires you to operate with grace under fire. Detail how you prioritize your projects and requests. The brde thing an employer wants is an easily flustered employeeSmoothly and calmly prioritized multiple web design projects for a team of 20 people in a fast-paced environment.Initiative and problem-solving abilities - Prove how essential youve been to past managers by spotlighting examples of ways you took the initiative to solve problems and take on special projects. Or perhaps you excel at looking at complicated business issues and bringing creative solutions to the tableImplemented new consolidation procedures for monthly and quarterly close, reducing closing time by 30 percent.Dependability - It doesnt matter what the job is, hiring managers want people on their team who do what they say theyre going to do. Dependability can be particularly important if youre working with outside clients. Missing a deadline can mean lost business and a damaged repu tationCompleted projects on time or before deadline, and always followed through on work commitments, leading to greater work responsibilities and an eventual promotion.Technical skills - As mentioned above, play up your technical knowledge specific to the job, whether youre an administrative assistant or UX designerDeveloped personas and usage scenarios for a variety of clients in fields including finance, entertainment and law.Depending on the position youre seeking, youll obviously have different skills you want to feature, as the following examples show.Skills to highlight for accounting jobsAccountants are expected to crunch numbers, but also to make data-driven conclusions and communicate them to people outside of their department. You should have aptitudes in these areasSoftware, such as Microsoft ExcelEnterprise resource planning (ERP)Business and leadershipVerbal and written communicationData analyticsRevenue recognitionRisk and complianceGenerally accepted accounting prin ciples (GAAP)Send us your resume for roles in accounting, from clerks to accountants to controllers.Important skills on your resume for customer service jobsWhen customers have issues or concerns about a company, they often turn first to customer service departments to provide service or solve problems. Dealing with the public in these roles often requires skills in these areasData entryAttentive listeningTroubleshooting and researchPatienceSpeed and efficiencyPositive attitudeDiplomacySearch customer service jobs to see job descriptions for various roles in customer service, from representatives to managers.Skills to list in a business analyst resumeA business analyst wears the hats of data specialist, finance professional and problem solver. Highlight your well-rounded skill set, includingBusiness acumenData miningClient relationsStrategic thinkingExcellent written and verbal communication skills, including presentationProject managementChange managementCollaboration with IT, sale s, marketing, payroll and other departmentsCritical thinking and problem solvingCheck out all our business analyst jobsMarketing jobs and desired skillsA resume for a marketing role should show stellar communication skills and various levels of experience with the hard and soft skills related to the position, such as theseContent creationMarket researchAnalytics and search engine optimizationCritical thinkingCreative mindsetProject managementDigital tools and platforms, such as content management systemsSocial media channelsJob hunting for marketing positions? Check out our available marketing and creative jobs nowWhats important for web developer jobsThe tech requirements for aspiring web developers might be specific enough to require experience with ASP.NET, CSS, MySQL and MS Access. But its often the softer side that helps you stand out. Heres a mix of what you need in terms of experience and expertiseTroubleshootingCodingOperating systemsApplications and databasesProgramming and designSearch engine optimizationUsabilityWeb content managementProject managementSearch our open web developer jobsGraphic design jobs and the skills to highlightThe field of graphic design is equal parts creative flair and technical mastery. You should be a pro in not just Adobe Creative Cloud, but also Word, WordPress, PowerPoint and Prezi. In addition to curating a digital portfolio that wows, mention these hard and soft skillsWriting and editingUser experienceStorytellingAttention to brand consistencyEye for photography and imagesCollaboration with users and clientsDesign principles (typography, color theory, composition, scale, cropping)Brand and logo developmentExperience in multiple formats direct mailers, signage, infographics, presentations, annual reports, etc.Strong project management skillsCommitment to deadlinesTime management and multitaskingAbility to work independently and in a team settingBrowse all our graphic designer jobsHave you compiled your skills on your res ume? Before you submit your final version, check over these dos and dontsDONT exaggerate or lie about your skillsIt can be tempting to include an inflated job title, a certification you dont have, a college accolade you never earned or an employment history that didnt last as long as you say it did. But just dont do it. Making false claims or stretching the truth isnt worth the risk.Most companies conduct background checks and call references. In todays digital world, the truth about your background is bound to surface, so keep your resume clean.DO spell it out with numbers and factsYou dont have to work in finance or manage a budget to make a few points using numbers in your resume. No matter what position youre applying for, you can quantify your value rather than being ambiguous.Did you successfully implement several projects in a short time? Did you reduce expenses for your company, increase sales or reach target markets? Were you responsible for the performance of team members? Did you respond to customer inquiries or process orders? All of those accomplishments involve numbers that you can play up.DONT clutter your resume with clichsCertain resume words and phrases have become so ubiquitous they do little more than lead employers to yawn and roll their eyes. Hiring managers are so used to hearing from gurus who facilitate outside-the-box thinking that those hollow descriptions are now essentially meaningless.Here are some power action verbs to use in your resumeInnovatedInitiatedAchievedImprovedEnhancedLaunchedReducedSavedCoordinatedSupervisedTrainedSolvedDO proofread your resumeDont email your resume until youve gone over it with a fine-toothed comb for spelling, grammar and formatting mistakes. Then ask someone who understands your job-search goals to look it over. Review a printed copy. Sometimes its easier to catch errors on paper than on a computer screen.Check for wordiness (owing to the fact that is not even close to being as good as because), inc onsistent tense (past then present then past again) and personal pronouns (I, you, me, our, us).DONT submit a generic resumeIt takes time to create a unique, targeted resume for each job opportunity that showcases your hard and soft skills, but the effort is well worth it. For one, youll have a much better chance at making it through the applicant tracking software. In addition, youll be well-prepared when you get called to interview.The process of truly thinking about what skills you have that best apply to the opportunity will help you make a stronger case for yourself in the job interview.Its time to put your skills to work for you