1. Tailor your resume to the position- remove any experience that is not relevant
2. Include a customized cover letter that explains how your prior experience makes you a good fit for the position
3. Do your research! Learn as much as you can about the organization and the individuals that you will be interviewing with
4. Arrive early to all interviews
5. Bring a notepad, extra resumes and a list of references
6. Dress professionally and conservatively
7. Prepare three-five talking points that highlight your experience and explain why you are a good fit for the position
8. Be yourself. Show your personality and give interviewers an idea of the person behind the resume
9. Avoid asking about compensation until an offer has been extended
10. Always follow up with a personalized “thank you” note to reiterate your interest in the position

If you haven’t had a chance yet, check out the newest player on the social media scene: Pinterest. Pinterest allows users to create collections of images by linking to content on the web. Still in its early stages, Pinterest is becoming a popular spot to share content and exchange ideas. Many creative and consumer based businesses are already beginning to tap into ways to use Pinterest as a vehicle to drill down into their target markets and grow their businesses.

Keep your eye on this up-and-comer– you never know what kind of potential it may have to help you grow your business down the road.

The public relations industry is built on relationships. It’s about building relationships with clients, vendors, media, businesses, and the community, and using those relationships to help connect others. Now that email, text messaging and social media allow us to communicate and exchange information instantaneously, taking the time to send a handwritten card or letter adds a personal touch that can leave a lasting impression. Think about how many emails you send and receive every day… would you be more excited about opening another e-card, or tearing open a REAL envelope and reading a handwritten note?

Always be on the lookout for opportunities to keep in touch with people in your network, even if it’s not business related. Send a thank you card after a meeting or interview, a card of congratulations if you read about someone in the paper, send condolences if you hear someone you know has fallen on tough times, send birthday cards, the list goes on. For example, every year at Heying & Associates we send out 300+ holiday cards to clients and friends, just to say hello, and spread some holiday cheer.

Sending a thoughtful handwritten note is a great way to strengthen and maintain relationships by making others feel special and appreciated. It shows people you care, and that you are willing to put in that extra effort, when it really takes very little time on your part. When it comes to business, people prefer to work with people they like. If you are able to brand yourself as a likeable person, a passionate person, a dependable person, a person who cares about their clients, and a person who is willing to put in the extra effort to help their clients succeed, chances are, people will like you. The more people like you, the more they will want to work with you.

Last week we posted about the challenge of setting yourself apart from the pack, and gaining a competitive edge in the business world. Here’s one more tip to add to the list: put your pen to the paper, and keep in touch!

Steve Jobs said that “…innovation comes from people meeting up in the hallways or calling each other at 10:30 at night with a new idea, or because they realized something that shoots holes in how we’ve been thinking about a problem.” This creative mentality is what set Jobs and Apple apart from the competition.

Challenge yourself to think differently and explore ideas and solutions beyond what seems obvious. Keep in mind that routines can limit your thought process. If you feel stuck and out of ideas, try shaking things up. Here’s five ways to shake up your routine and get the creative juices flowing:

1) Get organized and reduce clutter. It’s a great way to reduce stress and help you think more efficiently.

2) Get an early start on your day. Less time rushing around means more time to relax and think. Try coming into the office a few minutes early. You will be amazed at how much you can accomplish before your inbox is flooded and the phone starts ringing!

3) Read whatever you can get your hands on- newspapers, blogs, books, magazines, etc. It’s a great way to gain fresh perspective.

4) Take on a challenging and interesting new project. It will keep you on your toes, and help you keep your critical and creative thinking skills sharp.

5) Get involved in an organization outside the office, and attend their events and meetings regularly. Take an active role in helping them solve problems and make improvements. It’s a great opportunity to give your brain some “problem solving” exercise outside the office.

Everyone copes with stress in different ways. In our office, laughter is often the best medicine. We make sure to have a good laugh as often as possible. It helps us keep our cool, and work at our best. Here’s some proof that we can all stand to laugh more, both in and out of the office: Laughing may help ease blood pressure, boost mood, and enrich health in other ways.

As a follow up to my post ‘The REAL Grinch who Stole Christmas – And all my holiday cards, too!!!‘ I wanted to share this story with you from the U-T.

Now that’s what I’m talking about! You Go Baker Family!!

I’m a Christmas/holiday nut. My decorations in the office and home are up the day after Thanksgiving. I start planning our office party in October, and set a special calendar of friend’s and client’s holiday events the second I get invited so I don’t forget or double book.

Ever since I was little, my favorite part has been sending and receiving holiday cards. Even now, I still get excited when the mailman announces his arrival in our office by shouting, “Mail is here!” I get a smile on my face as I skip from my office to the lobby each day, quickly culling through the bills and stuffers to find that almighty Holy Grail….the holiday cards! It’s fun guessing who has sent it, if there might be a photo and what personal note and sharing of information might be inside.

In addition to the cards we send out here, I personally send out nearly 100 cards from home. I enjoy having a glass of egg nog, turning on the holiday radio channel and writing notes on each one, especially to friends who I don’t see frequently or sometimes, not at all, during the past year. It’s a way to remember all the memories of the year and the people who made it special.

But if you’re like me, you’re noticing an alarming trend — a lot less cards coming your way this year.

I’m sure there are a lot of good excuses why people aren’t sending cards.

Maybe it’s because they’re too busy. I mean, heck, what busier time of year is there than the holidays? All that shopping, overeating at company parties, watching college and pro football games on TV, not to mention planning the big Christmas dinner with the entire family. It’s exhausting just thinking about it all.

And, sending cards is expensive. When Hallmark, who started making cards more than 100 years ago, first starting selling them, I’ll bet a single card wasn’t more than a few pennies. Today, a nice box of 20 Hallmark cards can run you upwards of $10 (unless you get them the day after Christmas like I do for half off for the following year). Add in the stamp and you’re at almost $1 per recipient. Wow! But, I’ve noticed those electronic cards are even down this year (and frankly, I’m glad to see them go! Poor excuse for a personal contact if you ask me).

I’m afraid the real excuse is something a bit more sinister. It’s more like a new really bad holiday-excuse Grinch……It’s the TECHNOLOGY GRINCH!

Facebook, texting, Tweeting and emailing has put everyone in such constant contact, I’m afraid people are now thinking that a “like” or a “tweet” is good enough for communicating on a really personal level at such a special time of the year.

I’ve got news. It doesn’t because it can’t.

And I can prove it.

I’ll bet you can tell me right now who has sent you an actual card in the mail this year. But can you tell me who tweeted you or emailed you a greeting??

Sure it takes time, and costs a little bit. Don’t let the technology Grinch take away your best way of saying “Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and I’m Thinking about YOU!!!” to someone special this holiday season. They’ll be glad you did.

Outside the office I spend most of my time on the soccer field coaching 11 and 12 year old girls. The best advice I have to offer other youth coaches is this: Write up a detailed plan for every practice and every game… then plan on nothing going according to plan. Time for a Back-Up-Plan.

The same rules apply in public relations.

In an industry where the situation is constantly changing as the day unfolds, your client’s needs and goals may change on a daily, or sometimes hourly basis. Things aren’t always going to go according to plan- so when they don’t- how will you respond?

Earlier this year one of our clients was invited to participate in an event here in San Diego. It was a huge branding opportunity for them, which made it critical that we deliver a great event and promote the client’s participation in a creative way. We came up with a few ideas, presented our favorite to the client, and they loved it.

We all agreed it was sure to be a success— until two weeks later. The client decided that while it was a good idea, it wasn’t exactly what they wanted, which sent us back to drawing board with a lot less time to work with. Fortunately, we had a “WHAT IF” plan from our original brainstorming session.

Sure, we loved the original idea and were sad to see it dropped, and sure, we didn’t have a lot of time to shift gears, but in the end, the event was a success. We were able to take things in a different direction and help the client represent their brand the way they had envisioned.

When things don’t go as planned, beyond just doing damage control, you may even have an opportunity to IMPROVE the original plan, learn something new and create something better than you had imagined.

So whether you’re making plans for a client, or just planning your day – after you’ve thought of everything and the ONE thing you didn’t think of occurs – stay calm, stay focused, and embrace the opportunity to be a problem solver. Keep that Back-Up-Plan in your pocket…..you might need it.