By: Rachael Jones
On Tuesday, Nov. 5 in Studio 100, communications professionals from The Home Depot spoke to PRSSA members regarding how to pave the way to a Fortune 50 Company. PRSSA welcomed Jasmine Gurley, senior specialist of product innovation; Yanique Griffin-Woodall, senior director of brand communications; and Allie Vlk, paid media operations analyst.
Gurley spoke about the importance of establishing both hard and soft skill sets. She stated, “These skills are going to be the ones that set you apart from other candidates.” Each of them shared their own experience with honing these valuable skills to hook employers. They emphasized the importance of using certain skills during a pitch and encouraged members to exhibit success through data and numbers. “Editors love data. They don’t want to hear what your opinion is; they want to hear what the facts are,” said Gurley.
In regards to sharpening each individual member’s business acumen, The Home Depot representatives offered several key pieces of advice. Griffin-Woodall stressed the importance of staying up-to-date on the trends within your respective industry. She suggested doing this by regularly reading credible news sources and plugging into professional organizations such as PRSA. They emphasized the importance of time management and attention to details. These skills are crucial to practitioners in the communications field. “No one is going to complain about you being too organized,” said Gurley.
To conclude the meeting, each professional offered key advice. Gurley stated her mantra: “Do what you have to do now, so you can do what you want to do later.” Similarly, Griffin-Woodall left members with the advice she had repeated several times throughout the meeting, “The devil is in the details.” Small details can make or break something, both in your professional and personal life. Lastly, Vlk offered encouraging advice as a recent college graduate herself. She assured members not to fear finding a job, because it is really just about making meaningful connections and putting oneself out there.
Our agency vs. corporate meeting with Moxie and Delta is on Nov. 19 at 6:30 p.m. in Studio 100.
