On a daily basis, I use my blackberry to check up on emails, sign in to Twitter to see what’s happening in the social sphere, occasionally blog about an interesting topic, connect with friends on Facebook, all the while balancing good grades in school, interning at a PR agency, maintaining a social life, and developing the NYU PRSSA chapter for success. This can be called “multitasking,” or really just a normal day in the life of a college student. Keeping in touch with my surroundings and contributing my own knowledge online is not a job anymore, it’s a way of life.

At NYU, the PRSSA chapter encourages students interested in public relations to learn more about the field by networking, learning from guest speakers at meetings, and taking advantage of the internships that come up. Interning from the start of college has become such a competitive activity that teens are already preparing for their career five years in advance. The ability to work in a professional setting at such a young age is no longer considered out of the ordinary, but something that is rewarded to those who are motivated to succeed. Smartphones promote the ability to adapt to rapidly-changing environments, and using multiple apps while studying, eating, or talking have become second nature to the tech-savvy generation. 

While sites have been unveiling the power of Twitter lately, many are still unaware of this useful resource in building connections. A few months back, I jokingly tweeted the CEO of Foursquare, Dennis Crowley to set up an NYU badge on campus. I was shocked and excited when I received a tweet back from him and Anna Frenkel, Marketing Manager, instantly saying they would love to make it happen. Soon enough, we were happy to have Anna as a guest speaker for our Communications Club at NYU.

Creating connections as instant as the one above may seem minor at first, but they can make a huge difference in the long term. NYU’s progressive program offers courses like “Social Media Networking,” and promotes blogging by assigning homework to prepare students for the types of things they can contribute to a work atmosphere. Companies like General Electric and Ogilvy have become aware of this phenomenon and started taking measures to initiate a Reverse Mentoring program, where interns can teach the CEO’s and top-level executives about the new apps and gadgets on the market. M Booth has also promoted the initiative of training upper-level staff members through the social media mentor program and the 12 Days of Social Media. The future of business models that do not include social media may be uncertain, as social media is second nature to the new generation entering the work force.

-Shira 

1. jerriann liked this
2. mbooth posted this