1. THE IMPRESSION
“It’s Impossible to Make a Mistake Before Age 30”
And nine more things to take away from PRSSA National Conference
By Aroushad Tahsini, USF PRSSA Vice President, and Stephanie Livaudais, Treasur-
er and Copy Editor
A flurry of live tweets, swapped business cards and lots of coffee marked the 2014 PRSSA National Confer-
ence, the world’s largest gathering of public relations students. The conference, titled “Intersections: The Meet-
ing Place of Communications and Culture,” took place in Washington D.C. this October. Eleven members of
USF PRSSA made the trip to learn from professionals in the field as well as fellow students.
Conference guest speakers included professionals from various industries such as entertainment, tech, sports,
fashion, non-profit and political public relations. Regardless of their industry, the professionals shared valuable
insight for students looking for jobs, internships and a foot in the door into their dream career.
Here are our top 10 pieces of advice learned at PRSSA National Conference:
 Don’t be afraid to make mistakes or work in a field you don’t love. Try everything while you’re young –
it’s impossible to make a mistake before age 30.
 The ideal public relations student needs to have three essential bones: a funny bone, a wishbone and a
backbone.
 Prepare for your dream job by taking any opportunity you can find such as volunteering or even an unpaid
internship.
 People tend to say, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” Incorrect. It’s what you know about who
you know.
 Also, there’s no such thing as being “in the right place at the right time.” You have to learn to make where
you are “the right place.”
 Make yourself stand out. For example, show potential employers a three-inch binder that contains all of
the projects you created. (continued on pg. 3)
University of South Florida November 2014
Upcoming
Events:
Professionals’
Night Out:
Wednesday, Novem-
ber 5 at 6:30 p.m.
USF PRSSA and
PRSA Tampa Bay
invite you to a mixer
aimed at helping stu-
dents expand their
network this
semester at Takara
Sushi Lounge in
Tampa.
Fee: $10 for students
General Body
Meetings:
Wednesday, 11/5 at 5
p.m. in MSC 3705
Wednesday, 11/ 19 at
5 p.m. in MSC 3705
Winter Tacky
Sweater Party:
Thursday, 11/20 at
6:30 p.m. in BSN multi-
purpose room
Come celebrate the
end of a successful
semester and kick off
the holiday season
with the members of
USF PRSSA as we
make cards for our
military.

2. Life After Graduation: Young
Professionals Share Stories and In-
sight
By Helen Bierko, Newsletter Editor
Do you wonder what life is going to be like once you’ve graduated? Three public
relations professionals spoke at “Young Alumni,” USF PRSSA’s once a semester
meeting where recent graduates are invited to share their post-graduation experi-
ences.
Emily Bonvini, Integrated Marketing and Special Events Director for CBS Radio and
Miguel de la Rosa and Ishaan Vadhera, digital marketing managers at Orlando-
based agency Your Brand Voice explained to students what it takes to succeed
after college.
After graduating from the University of Central Florida in 2012, Bonvini moved from
Orlando to Tampa to pursue a career in radio. At the age of 24, Bonvini is responsible for promoting six different radio stations and coordi-
nating about 35 events each year.
“Confidence is so important,” said Bonvini, who described herself as an event diva. “You have to prove yourself beyond your age.”
Along with her professional portfolio, Bonvini keeps a “victory file.” In this file, she records any notes of praise from coworkers, feedback
from supervisors and customer reviews. She uses this to showcase the people who believe in her.
Bonvini’s best piece of advice for college graduates: the best way to ace an interview is to prove that you can help drive revenue to the busi-
ness. She explained that many employers are concerned with whether or not you will financially benefit their company.
Miguel de la Rosa and Ishaan Vadhera shared a different perspective.
They discussed their path from interning at Your Brand Voice, an Orlando
-based start-up firm, to managing social media, video production, and
digital media marketing.
Founded only four years ago, Your Brand Voice has expanded into a suc-
cessful agency, boasting clients like Disney, Marriott Hotels & Resorts,
and the Detroit Pistons.
“As a public relations or marketing professional, you can go into any industry,” Miguel de la Rosa said. He encouraged students to work for
a start-up company because of the flexibility they would experience in the workplace.
The two digital marketing managers also discussed their hiring process, which was very different from traditional interviewing. They de-
scribed a process of what is called “social auditing.” In this process, they view po-
tential employees’ LinkedIn profiles, Twitter feeds and overall online presence.
“We don’t want to see you complaining about work every day,” de la Rosa said.
“Your personal online presence generally reflects the work you will do for our com-
pany.” Employees and interns have been hired via social auditing, sometimes with-
out even having to send in a résumé.
One thing that all three of the presenters agreed on: the power of networking. It is
critical to begin expanding social and professional networks in college. You never
know which connection is going to help you get your foot in the door or get you an
interview at your dream job.
“Confidence is so important. You have to
prove yourself beyond your age.”
-Emily Bonvini, CBS Radio Tampa
University of South Florida November 2014
Public Relations Society of America Scholarships
To find out more about how to apply for PR scholarships, visit www.prsafoundation.org/scholarships.html.

3. University of South Florida November 2014
The Benefits of PRSSA National Membership
By Stephanie Livaudais, Treasurer and Copy Editor
As a chapter, USF PRSSA does not charge dues - all of our general body meetings, tours, and socials are free and open to all USF stu-
dents. However, in order to become a nationally affiliated PRSSA member and take full advantage of PRSSA member benefits, there is a
$50 annual fee, which is due on Nov. 15.
Here are a few reasons to renew or begin your membership:
 The Society is growing: We are up to more than 11,570 members nationwide and
counting. With just $50, your network could expand over night.
 Support from PRSA: Each PRSSA Chapter has a sponsor PRSA Chapter - ours is
PRSA Tampa Bay. If you want mentors, job leads and career advice; look no further
than the PRSSA network.
 Employers look for PRSSA experience: It’s not enough just to be in PRSSA. You also
need to take advantage the member benefits and get involved on a Chapter level or
nationally. Only current members can do this.
 Instant access to the PRSSA Internship Center, PRSA Job Center and eligibility in more
than $20,000 in merit scholarships.
If you’re ready to take your public relations education to the next level, pay your annual PRSSA dues — and convince your friends to do the
same.
Impossible to Make Mistakes Before 30 continued from pg. 1
 When an interviewer asks you where you want to be in five years,
respond with, “I want your job.”
 Don’t just take the required courses. Challenge yourself to take
classes that will help with your career such as business law, visu-
al communications and social media marketing.
 Study abroad, learn a new language - public relations is an in-
creasingly global field and cultural awareness is a valuable skill.
 Network. Reach out to the people who can help you, and don’t
forget to follow up.
Attending PRSSA National Conference is an unforgettable and valua-
ble experience. We hope you join USF PRSSA next year at the 2015
Conference in Atlanta!
“When an interviewer asks where you want to be in five
years, respond with, ‘I want your job.’”

4. Contact Us
Find us on social media
or contact our executive
board members for
more information.
Facebook
USF PRSSA
Twitter
@USFPRSSA
#ItsYourFuture
Instagram
@USFPRSSA
#ItsYourFuture
USF PRSSA Office
4202 E Fowler Ave
CIS 3003
Tampa, FL 33620
Editor-in-Chief:
Helen Bierko
helenbierko
@mail.usf.edu
Copy Editor:
Stephanie Livaudais
slivaudais
@mail.usf.edu
Five Skills To
Develop Before
You Graduate
By Sarah Avery, USF PRSSA President
So many of us bright-eyed and bushy-tailed college
seniors are ready to take on the world in just a few
short weeks. We remain optimistic despite the reports
telling us that college grads are struggling finding jobs, and we are confident that we have the skillset
to stand out among the crowd. Although positive attitudes are fantastic, outlooks alone will not get us
far. There are a few crucial skills that will assist us in ensuring our survival in the transition to the
professional world:
1. Time management.
I hear at least twice a day from other students/classmates about how incredibly “busy” they are. Not
to undermine anyone’s schedule, but any accomplishments we achieve are a result of what we
choose to prioritize. If we do not learn to effectively organize, schedule and execute the tasks we
create for ourselves, we’re as good as toast in the professional world. Use agenda planners, elec-
tronic calendars, and to-do lists to get a head start on this.
2. Persistence.
Nothing will come to us easily – we have to be persistent and consistent to see our efforts come to
fruition. It can be as simple as checking in with a follow-up email to a fellow colleague regarding a
deliverable you’re awaiting, or it can be contacting every media outlet in the community to ensure
publicity for your client. Giving up (or just trying once) is never an option.
3. Communication.
We can have the best of intentions, but if we do not take the time to verbalize them clearly & effec-
tively to the appropriate sources, they may as well not exist. As public relations professionals, we
must learn that communication – be it verbal, print or web – is the beating heart of our field. We must
be proficient wordsmiths, and learn to be the first one to release information, as well as gain infor-
mation in these avenues.
4. Adaptability.
We come into the field of communications at an exciting (and scary) time. With the advent of social
and digital media, there are countless opportunities for us to make a name for our clients virtually
overnight. This growth is not for the weak of heart. All wishing to be successful in this field must be
quick-witted, fast learners, and able to switch viewpoints at a moment’s notice.
5. Teamwork.
Although communications professionals have plenty of opportunities to work independently, we must
remember that we are “people persons.” This means that we, inadvertently, surround ourselves with
others, and often end up working with colleagues on a team level. This requires patience, tolerance,
and dedication to the underlying task at hand.
With these five skills mastered, any soon-to-be grad can have confidence that an employer will con-
sider them a valuable addition to the team.
Happy job hunting!
University of South Florida November 2014