WTH Is HAPPO?
Help A Public Relations Professional Out (HAPPO), a North American networking group that connects PR professionals with job opportunities, launched in February 2010, including a regional presence here in Florida. The volunteer organization helps match employers with talented PR professionals seeking employment, including internships through senior-level positions. On Friday, February 19, between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., job seekers and employers will network with colleagues around the country via social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook for the first-ever HAPPO day.
HAPPO merges traditional networking with today’s more technology-infused social networking to help spread the word about available PR jobs. Using social networking Web sites like Twitter and Facebook, employers and other PR professionals throughout North America post communications and marketing job openings allowing candidates a better chance at finding employment. On Twitter, the use of a “hashtag” (#HAPPO) groups all related “tweets” so employers and job seekers may communicate in one place.
We’ve taken things a step farther in the Sunshine State and have created this Web site as a clearinghouse for job candidates and job openings. After all, Florida is a GINORMOUS state! Besides – we’ve never been known to play by the rules anyway.
COME ON GET HAPPO!
Professionals can apply for jobs they learn about or leverage real-world networking by meeting others at events coordinated throughout the country, through online communications or this Web site. Twenty nine professionals designated as “local champions” in 16 different regions will serve as information liaisons for the group, posting local job opportunities for PR professionals seeking employment. In Florida, the HAPPO Champions are John Sternal (@sternalpr), Jamie Floer (@jamiefloer) and Bonnie Upright (@prville and @bonnieupright). PR organizations including the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) will also link into the jobs bank via regional chapters.
HAPPO was co-founded by PR professionals Arik Hanson of Minneapolis and Valerie Simon of New York. “As leading communicators with knowledge of social media, it makes great sense to bridge the gap between traditional and social networking to help people find employment,” said Hanson. “The initial response has been extremely positive throughout North America, and we’re hopeful this will lead to more people making connections and finding rewarding jobs.”
SO HOW DO YOU HAPPO?
First and foremost, use the hashtag #HAPPO if looking for or posting a job on Twitter. This way you can follow the full HAPPO convo and learn about jobs both in and out of your current market. Second, post your links (candidates and employers) on this Web site. Last, but not least, PR professionals can use the HAPPO Facebook page to post messages and share background information or details of a specific job opening.
The key to HAPPO success is sharing this job board, the HAPPO Web site, and HAPPO Facebook page with your colleagues and peers throughout Florida, so please share the link via your social media sites, email, smoke signals – whatever you use to share information. Be a shiny, HAPPO person – you know you want to!
And by all means, if you have any questions, comments, complaints, etc., please let us know. Our contact information is below.
Jamie Floer, APR (jfloer@wraggcasas.com)
John Sternal (jsternal@understandingmarketing.c0m)
Bonnie Upright, APR (bonnie@uprightpr.com)
