In The Spirit of HAPPO: Get The Scoop on Tom O’Keefe

What is HAPPO? Co-founded by Arik Hanson and Valerie Simon, Help A PR Pro Out [HAPPO] started in February 2010 and developed into a social media movement to help connect out-of-work PR pros (or soon to be job seekers) with employers to build relationships and network. Use the hashtag #HAPPO or follow @HelpAPRProOut on Twitter, or check out their Facebook fan page or LinkedIn group. Today, I am happy to let my friend, Tom O’Keefe, take over my blog in the spirit of HAPPO.  He holds a B.S. in Communications with a Business minor from Villanova University and is currently teaching through the Jesuit Voluneteer Corps until August 2010.  In the short time I’ve known Tom, I can tell you that he will be an incredible asset to any Public Relations agency.  Don’t believe me?  See for yourselves below.

The Bare Bones

Name: Tom O’Keefe
PR Experience: Buchanan Public Relations Intern (September 2008 to April 2009). Brodeur Partners Business to Business Team Intern (May 2008 to August 2008).
Position Sought: Entry-level public relations, marketing, and/or social media.
Where: Baltimore, Boston, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, New York.
When: September 2010.
Education: Villanova University. B.S., Communication. General Business Minor.
E-mail: TomOKeefe1 [at] gmail.com
Twitter: @TomOKeefe1
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/tomokeefe1

The Meat and Potatoes

Hello! My name is Tom O’Keefe and I would be a great addition to your public relations team. I am a diligent, reliable, and outgoing recent graduate with internship experience in business-to-business, law, health care, technology, and financial public relations. I am a critical thinker and a problem solver who enjoys interacting with others to reach common goals.

Since October of 2008, when I first joined Twitter, I have gained a solid understanding of social media through direct participation and client monitoring. In the changing world of public relations, I am constantly reading, learning, and exploring in order to attain a better understanding of the many tools available to help clients. I am eager to capitalize on these tools in my first full-time public relations job.

I have had two fantastic public relations internships. Most recently, at Buchanan Public Relations, a small agency in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, I was able to write press materials, help plan events, and explore social media for client implementation. With Buchanan, I gained the valuable hands-on experience needed to enter into the public relations field, while working with a dynamic team of professionals and executives.

Previous to working with Buchanan Public Relations, I interned with the Business-to-Business Team at Brooder Partners. There, I learned the “ropes” of public relations. I analyzed editorial opportunities, created media lists and clip books, and pitched media members for clients. It was my internship with Brodeur Partners that exposed me to the world of public relations and convinced me that it was the right profession for me.

Currently, and ending in August, I am completing a year of post-graduate service with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps as a teaching assistant for a high school in Baltimore, Maryland. As a teacher, I have been able to work on relevant public relations skills such as clear and effective communication, speaking to groups, facilitating conversation, handling crisis situations, thinking on my feet, and, most of all, patience and flexibity. After teaching for a year, I am confident that I can handle most any situation thrown my way.

Now, I am hoping to gain employment with a dynamic and fun public relations team with room for growth beginning in September 2010. Though I am open to other places, I am actively searching in Baltimore, Boston, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City.

With my various experiences, always-positive attitude, and passion for public relations and social media, I can be a valuable part of your public relations team, helping your clients to achieve the results they need.

I welcome you to e-mail me (TomOKeefe1 [at] gmail.com), follow me on Twitter (@TomOKeefe1), connect with me on LinkedIn, or read my volunteer blog. I look forward to hearing from you!

[A special thanks to Christa for offering her blog as a space for this. It means a lot, Christa! Thank you!]

Social media junkie? There’s a phone for that.

Thanks to my iPhone, I am a certified news (of all kinds) junkie.  In all seriousness, I don’t know what I did before I got this thing a year and a half ago.  I think I should be in rehab because I am so addicted to it.

It's snowing in my office, thanks to Ogilvy's new iPhone app

This phone has its definite advantages.  It allows me to stay up-to-date on current events- from national politics, what my friends doing, social media news with the touch of a button (literally, I love the touch screen!).  Editing my blog posts on the go isn’t a problem either, thanks to the WordPress application.  And today, I just discovered a new FREE app created by Ogilvy UK called “White Xmas” that will magically add snow to any picture you take on the iPhone (sorry Blackberry/other smartphone users…).  I am truly amazed at how far technology has come.  (I highly recommend this app to anyone with an iPhone, it’s so fun!)

Having this kind of phone made me realize what kind of “frontier” there is out there in the way of mobile marketing and media.  My good friend writes blog posts for a mobile marketing company called Vesta Mobile in Baltimore, MD and has touched on some very important and insightful topics, ranging from music iPhone applications to the new frontier of mobile marketing.  And it’s true.  E-marketer.com reported that the average number of mobile internet sessions per month (in October 2009) was 20, up from 10 just a year before.

My iPhone use is also helping me grow as an aspiring professional in the Advertising/Public Relations industry.  Familiarity with various social media outlets, iPhone applications, etc. will only increase my knowledge and credibility in this industry.

“I spend a lot of time networking and increasing social media presence, but it’s only for my own good and advancement!” is a general idea of what I say to my mother when she complains about how much I’m on my phone, computer, etc. haha.  I know you all understand what I’m saying.

Even for those not in the Communications industy.  When I returned to Loyola College for my senior year in September 2008, I SWEAR everyone had new Blackberries or iPhones that they bought over the summer.  It simply amazes me.  Everyone wants to be connected to everything else 100% of the time.

For all you smart phone users out there, how has your phone increased your use of social media, if any?  Does it help you stay on top of new media?  Would you rather drop the phone and stick to “traditional” uses of social media?