PRSA Helps Job Seekers at Urban League
Posted on Apr. 25, 2022 / Subscribe 0
By Joseph Priest, APR
Sometimes, PR professionals can do their best public relations work when they’re not directly doing public relations. Our chapter’s recent participation in a résumé and business skills workshop at the Pinellas County Urban League was one of these times.
On March 29, the Public Service Committee organized our participation in this workshop for disadvantaged job seekers as part of the Urban League’s Career Connection initiative. The program provides a range of life-management and career-building services to help people in economic need. Our team took part in one of these efforts to share our public relations and business expertise with about 25 economically disadvantaged job seekers who were looking to rebuild their job-search, interviewing and personal communication skills in order to restart their careers.
Five of our members participated:
- Melanie Formentin, APR.
- Bart Graham, co-chair, Membership Committee.
- Britney Guertin.
- Kaley Infield, APR, 2022 president, PRSA Tampa Bay.
- Joseph Priest, APR, chair, Public Service Committee.
The workshop in session, with Melanie Formentin (center), Bart Graham (upper right), Britney Guertin (upper right), Kaley Infield (center left) and Joseph Priest (center top).
The workshop included short presentations by each of us, followed by questions and answers at the end. We presented sections on résumé-writing tips, job-search best practices, interview pointers, networking considerations and relationship-building recommendations.
Although we just had a few hours to contribute, our team had an amazingly rewarding experience. We were able to offer high-level communication advice to job seekers who don’t normally have access to this kind of counsel.
The way our team came together to apply our skills to address these different challenges and give personal counsel to the candidates truly exemplified both the professional value and community benefit of what our profession offers.
Here are some team members’ impressions of their experience:
Kaley Infield, APR
“Participating in PRSA Tampa Bay’s workshop with the Urban League through our Public Service Committee was such a rewarding experience. I was able to share résumé advice I have collected throughout my career, and, in addition, I learned the insightful tips my fellow PRSA colleagues offered up to the group. At the end of the workshop, the attendees stayed to share what advice was most helpful to them. They were all so appreciative of our chapter for giving back.”
Kaley (center right) presents her section, on résumé tips.
Melanie Formentin, APR
“I really appreciated getting to take part in an event that allowed me to give back to the community directly. This was a fun and meaningful way to consider how we can share our experience and insight with others. My hope is that we supported them in an actionable way and gave them tools they can use as they seek jobs.”
Joseph Priest, APR
“After two long years of COVID lockdowns, it was energizing to be able to return to a live group setting. Even though this session was held via Zoom, it was nonetheless exhilarating, because many of these career and life skills workshops for economically disadvantaged people had been on pause during COVID. In two hours, our group was able to share practical job-search, interview, and personal-communication insights, directly apply our professional experience and public relations knowledge, and give hope and inspiration to people who may be in a tough spot in their lives. It was rewarding as a professional, and as a member of PRSA Tampa Bay.”
The Public Service Committee is planning to build on this session with similar events later this year. Stay tuned for more details on those here on the PRSA Tampa Bay website.
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