Year: 2021

Superhero Interns Wanted!

Dana PhelpsBlog, Professional Development, The Clairemont Team, , , , 2 Comments on Superhero Interns Wanted!

What’s your PR superhero power? We want it! 

Clairemont is seeking a creative, highly motivated candidate for an internship with its award-winning public relations team. The candidate will work with team members to create and implement public relations strategy and creative campaigns for Clairemont’s clients.

Responsibilities might include:

  • Crafting creative messages and blog posts
  • Drafting key documents (news releases and media alerts) and distributing as appropriate
  • Contributing to team and client meetings
  • Creating formative research for the agency and clients
  • Developing and maintaining necessary client database information, including media contact lists and online/digital communicators
  • Reading and tracking key coverage and crafting reports for clients
  • Drafting and implementing social media strategy
  • Managing on-site events as needed
  • Attend industry and networking events

…and much more!

Qualifications:

  • Completed at least two years of college, preferably in journalism, PR or communication/marketing
  • Strong skills in creative and professional writing, critical thinking and effective teamwork
  • Proficiency in social media platforms, networking sites and trends
  • Experience in design, photography and videography highly preferred
  • Ability to work a minimum of 10 hours per week
  • Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite including Word, Excel and PowerPoint
  • A previous internship in PR is preferred
  • A zany sense of fun and creativity

Compensation: This is an hourly paid position with course credit offered if applicable.
Terms: Clairemont typically offers spring, summer and fall semester internship terms.

To Apply: Send your cover letter, resume and writing samples to Dana Phelps at d@clairemontcommunications.com.

 

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Dressing for the office: post-pandemic

Olivia NolesBlog, Fashion, ,

When I first heard we were coming back to the office, it immediately sparked the question, “what am I going to wear?” Dressing for the office is intimidating for any recent college graduate, but when you tack on working full-time for the first time straight out of a pandemic, there’s an entirely new level of excitement (and a fear) that comes with it. On one hand, I’ve missed the creative process of styling new outfits every day, but on the other hand, having never experienced an office dress code I was completely lost. Black yoga pants and slacks are basically the same thing… right?

Return to business casual post-pandemic 

Working from home, it’s easy to go from looking like you just rolled out of bed (because you probably did) to office-ready by throwing a sweater on and brushing your hair. After over a year of just dressing from the waist up, the concept of a head-to-toe outfit is daunting. Especially considering there has been no need for professional pants or shoes in anyone’s wardrobe for over a year. 

I gave my wardrobe a bit of a refresh to come back to the office, and it was more difficult than I thought. It turns out I no longer know my size after more than a year of not wearing pants. I would order work pants only to have them not fit, and the pants that did fit didn’t go with any of my tops. I thought I needed a whole new wardrobe, but it got easier.

When all you’re ever looking for is a one-off “perfect outfit,” you have nothing to wear. But when you’re living in your wardrobe daily, it comes to life. You realize that the pieces you own aren’t bad, they just need to be reimagined. Coming up with new looks by styling the same pieces in new ways becomes a fun challenge. You realize that the top you wish you had returned pairs perfectly with the pair of pants you bought in March 2020 and suddenly you’ve got a brand new outfit.

Why you should be excited about dressing for the office

Over the past few weeks, I’ve realized that getting dressed every day does make a difference in how you feel. It prepares you for anything the day throws at you and actually increases productivity. Feeling confident in an outfit improves your mental health and helps you feel more inspired and empowered. 

5 tips for dressing for the office post-pandemic

If you’re struggling with your back to work wardrobe, here are 5 tips for dressing for the office post-pandemic:

  • Try on the clothes you already own and figure out what to keep and what to replace.
  • Style several outfits in advance and take pictures so you don’t have to think of outfits the morning of. 
  • If you find your wardrobe is lacking, purchase workwear that makes you excited to get dressed in the morning. 
  • Think about proportions when styling. If your top is flowy, slim-fit pants pair better. If your pants are a looser or straight leg, tighter tops pair better.
  • Find comfortable work pants and work shoes that are easy to style with a lot of your tops. Invest in multiple colors of each.

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In the News: Wendell Falls in Triangle Business Journal

Olivia NolesBlog, Clairemont Client News, , , , , ,

Clairemont client Wendell Falls is a master-planned community in Wendell, North Carolina, just 15 miles from Raleigh. As part of the growing community, Wendell Falls welcomes American Family Care Urgent Care. AFC will be a part of Treelight Square, a retail destination that includes shops, businesses, restaurants and more.

Clairemont secured coverage of the new business addition in Triangle Business Journal. In the article, local entrepreneurs and longtime friends Aaron Zucker and Aaron Fields detail the plans for the new AFC. This will be AFC’s second location, a year after its first opened in Fuquay-Varina. 

“We are excited to marry up our philosophy of helping as many people as possible, as fast as possible, in the safest way possible to the Wendell Falls community,” Fields said. “Our Wendell Falls location will not only provide the care you need at a fraction of the cost of an emergency room visit, but our incredible team will be obsessed with making sure you have as pleasant of an experience possible while at AFC.”

Read the full article in Triangle Business Journal.

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5 benefits of working in the office

Clairemont InternBlog, Public Relations, The Clairemont Team, , , ,

During the pandemic, working from home became the norm. We are excited to report that in the past few weeks, the Clairemont team officially transitioned back to working at The Clairemont House for the first time since March 2020. Being together in person has made us realize how valuable onsite work can be. Keep reading to learn our top 5 forgotten benefits of working in the office.

1. Collaborative work environment

To start, being in person at an office with your team creates a collaborative work environment. Now instead of exchanging ideas through never-ending email chains or logging onto yet another Zoom call, you can schedule meetings in person, stop by a coworker’s desk to ask a question or pop down the hall, depending on your office set-up. 

2. Adds structure to your schedule

Another benefit of working in the office is that it creates structure and encourages a healthy work-life balance. Working in the same space you relax in can make it harder to turn off your brain when it is time to rest. Physically being in a new environment will separate your work life from your home life. Commuting to work also allows the time to take a break and to reflect or just let your brain rest between activities.

3. Easier to build professional relationships

This next benefit is especially important for young, entry-level professionals or employees new to the organization. It is that working in an office makes it easier to build professional relationships. There are simply more opportunities to share experiences and develop connections with coworkers when you are in person. Being in a conference room or taking a lunch break together gives you an opportunity to connect that sitting on mute with your camera off doesn’t. 

4. Eliminates outside distractions

Another benefit of working in the office is that it eliminates outside distractions. We can all admit that home offices come with their own set of distractions. Whether it’s the dog barking, the doorbell ringing or balancing a partner’s home workspace with your own, working from home can be distracting. Having the option to go to work creates space from your home life and can make it easier to focus on your work. 

5. Improves efficiency

Working in the office improves efficiency by eliminating distractions, reducing screen fatigue and improving communication amongst the team. Explaining ideas or asking a question virtually can take up more time than you would imagine. Typing every detail in an email and waiting for a response often creates a lag time that working in the office eliminates.

We are excited to be back together and collaborate as a team to best serve our clients. Let us know if you agree with our 5 benefits of working in the office or if you have any other benefits. See you in the office!

By Clairemont intern Anna Beth McCormick, a senior at N.C. State.

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This Raleigh PR Agency is in (The Office)

Dana PhelpsBlog, Raleigh PR Agency, The Clairemont Team

It was 10:15 a.m. when I surrendered. It was the first day for this Raleigh PR agency to be back in the office. After being barefoot 80 percent of the time since early 2020, how could I possibly make it through an entire workday in heels? Fortunately, no one seemed to mind that I walked around the rest of the day without shoes. Nothing like a nasty plague to relax a slightly stuffy dress code.

In fact, I realized what people really care about in the office has changed drastically. That wasn’t until after planning Clairemont’s return to the office. I had fretted if our new team members would like the location of their desks. New artwork was added to freshen our space. I fussed over details such as having colorful pens in the supply cabinet. I even pondered buying a fancy espresso machine.

One Sunday afternoon before our return to the office, I stood in The Clairemont House by myself. And it felt really lonely. That’s when it hit me. As much as I love tweaking the decor in this beautiful old home in downtown Raleigh that serves as the office of our PR agency, buying snacks and supplies and planning surprises isn’t the most important thing about Clairemont, it is the people.

As I unlocked the door our first morning back in the office, I was giddy with anticipation. I couldn’t wait to see my colleagues walking up the steps and through the front door. I couldn’t wait to gather around the kitchen island and brainstorm creative solutions to a client challenge or simply talk about a cute puppy pic on social media. And I couldn’t wait to invite clients back into our office for face-to-face collaboration that no video conferencing software can replace.

We’ll be writing more about our return to the office journey in the weeks ahead! Follow along and share your own observations about how and where you are working as we round out 2021. In the meantime, check out our return to work fun on Clairemont’s Instagram!

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