What immediately comes to mind when you see a picture of:

• Ryan Lochte?
• Nicki Minaj?
• Angelina Jolie?

Chances are, your immediate thoughts were something along these lines:

• Ryan Lochte – Olympic medalist, party boy, “ladies man,” hot body, not always articulate (JEAH!)
• Nicki Minaj – singer/songwriter, rapper, wild, over-the-top, colorful, crazy fashion sense
• Angelina Jolie – adoptions, philanthropic, global, actress, Brad Pitt

If you Google these people, the stories and pictures that come up in your search results will likely support these perceptions.  Am I a mind reader? No. Has Google started tapping into your brain waves to give you the results you expect? Maybe.

The perceptions we have about these people stem from the fact that they have – either purposely or accidentally – developed clear personal brands. Their actions, fashion choices, relationships and words have built what we see as their personal brand. Over time, this personal brand can easily evolve based on your actions, sometimes turning into a perception that is different from what you intended.  

Does Ryan Lochte want to be known as a not-always-articulate party boy? From where I stand it appears the answer is JEAH! But chances are he’d rather be known as an incredible swimmer and an Olympic champion instead. Sure, we know the boy can swim, but our immediate perception goes beyond that now (party boy, “ladies man,” etc.) and speaks more to what his brand has become.

If you’re like me, you aren’t famous (YET – we have to keep hoping, right?), and the masses likely wouldn’t be able to list off what comes to mind when they see your picture. But you still have a personal brand. If you haven’t already, think about what you want to be known for. You should know what you want your personal brand to be, so that you can embody it and so people begin recognizing your brand.

Don’t be shocked by your Google results!
Image courtesy of imagerymajestic / FreedigitalPhotos.net

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We work in a creative industry, so day-to-day office attire can be a little more casual than the norm. There are definitely some guidelines to follow, however, when you are coming into a PR agency to interview.

Suit Up!

• You should always wear a suit to an interview. Make sure nothing is too tight or too short. If you want to add a pop of color somewhere, you can wear a shirt in a pretty color.

Shoes

• Don’t wear anything that shows your toes; conservative heels are the way to go. If it’s cold outside, wear tights.

Hair

• If you have a tendency to play with your hair, you should probably pull it back. Playing with your hair during an interview would be very distracting to the people interviewing you and they wouldn’t be focusing on all of the wonderful things you have to say!

Once you land the internship or job of your dreams, you should take a couple of weeks to feel out how people dress in the office. Dress professionally and try to stay away from jeans until you know it is 100 percent OK to wear them. 

Just remember that your appearance does matter and it is the first impression you give. And, the better you look, the better you feel, so you’ll be that much more confident going into your interview!

-Mary Featherstone, Porter Novelli Atlanta

The fall 2010 interns have arrived.  We think it’s only necessary that we officially introduce ourselves before adopting this blog as our own.  We look forward to giving you a glimpse inside Porter Novelli and the life of a Public Relations intern!

Barbara Ann Luttrell:

I graduated from the wonderful Auburn University in May 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in French. 

Prior to my position at Porter Novelli, I interned with NASA’s Environmental Programs Branch and had the opportunity to study abroad at both Cambridge University and the University of Paris. 

I am now a member of Porter Novelli’s health and social marketing practice.  Since starting my internship, I have had the opportunity to provide assistance to various clients such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Piedmont Healthcare and the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals.

I am excited about the coming months and hope to provide you with some helpful insight!

Christin Clay:
 
Hello everyone! I hope you will join me and my fellow colleagues on our journey as Porter Novelli interns for the next few months. My name is Christin Clay. I’m originally from Houston, Texas but graduated from the University of Miami with degrees in Public Relations and Psychology.

Prior to my position at PN, I interned at ESPN, Inc. supporting the event marketing department on various hospitality programs. I also interned in the public relations department of Ideal Lifestyle Concierge, an on-demand personal assistance service for business professionals.

At Porter Novelli, I work in the technology practice, focusing on HP. I moved to Atlanta with the hope of finding a PR position that was both challenging and rewarding, and within a short amount of time this is what the Porter Novelli internship has already given me.  I’m excited for this opportunity, and I can’t wait to share it with you.

Kevin Goreham:
 
I joined Porter Novelli in September of 2010 as a member of the consumer and digital practice. I will have the pleasure of providing support across several varied accounts as well as the Jack and Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation.

Before coming to Porter Novelli, I hadn’t had any pure public relations experience. I have done quite a bit of public affairs work through internships at various elected officials offices both in Atlanta and Washington D.C. I am pretty sure it was those experiences as well as my past research and work with digital and social mediums which allowed PN to take a chance on me.

I majored in International Affairs and Spanish at the University of Georgia and finished a master’s degree in International Affairs at Georgia Tech this May. During my educational experience I was able to study in Cuba, Spain, Belgium, France, Germany, the Czech Republic and Poland.

As you can see I am operating a little out of my normal field. However I am excited to be able to try something new at this stage of my life and do some good work for Porter Novelli.

Mary Featherstone: 

I joined Porter Novelli Atlanta in September 2010 as an intern in the technology practice. I support a variety of clients, including HP, Manhattan Associates, Strategyn, the Consumer Electronics Association, SK C&C USA and Jack and Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation, our pro-bono client.

Prior to joining Porter Novelli, I served as a PR intern at Cox Communications and US Lacrosse. I was also an active member of PRSSA at the University of Georgia and the PR Chair for the UGA Women’s Lacrosse Team.

I am originally from Warrenton, Va., but attended UGA, where I graduated in May 2010 with degrees in Public Relations and Political Science. I love my friends and family, reality TV, Mexican food and my dog, Penny.