Lex and Learn

The Barefoot Contessa. Giada De Laurentiis. Bobby Flay. Unfortunately, none of them are my private chef (this will change when I win the lotto). Therefore, from time to time I have to pretend that cooking isn’t one of the most stressful tasks in the world and attempt to tackle a new recipe that looks fairly impossible to ruin.

For those of you who like the look of Le Creuset more than actually cooking with it, I highly encourage you to try this amazing recipe from Real Simple.  I passed with flying colors last night and gasp, my temporary roomies cleaned their plates!

Chicken and Sweet Potatoes with Shallots

Cooking tips:

• Get one of those screens for blocking the oil–it helps on cleanup and saves your hands and arms from getting splattered with hot oil
• Add just a hint of butter or a butter-like spread to the sweet potatoes to give them a bit more creaminess. A few extra calories never killed anyone (well, maybe that’s not entirely true)
• Be sure to use fresh rosemary. The fragrance mixed with the shallots is divine 
• Always, ALWAYS cook with a healthy glass of your favorite wine–a Gascon Malbec paired nicely with this dish last night 

Food Network here I come! “Lunching with Lex.” I like the sound of that! 

Got another recipe for me to try? 

#HAPPO is buzzing with the resumes and qualifications of some of the best minds in this business.  So as a job seeker, I realize that I have to work even harder to differentiate myself from my peers in order to prove why I am the next great team member that you just cannot ignore.

Why add Alexis Anzalone to your organization?

Quick Stats:
Former Account Supervisor at Formula, responsible for day-to-day client counsel and national media relations outreach across consumer, hospitality, B2B and technology accounts

Began my PR career at The Blaze Company, assisting with research, media outreach and database development

Graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder where I majored in broadcast journalism and minored in political science

Now for the good stuff…
Tireless Work Ethic: I only know how to exceed expectations, merely “meeting” them is not for me. Whether a project is going straight to a client or to my superior, I work tirelessly to ensure that my work is strategic, creative and aligned with the overarching goals of the program at hand. I ask the tough questions ahead of time so that my work is comprehensive, and more importantly, so that clients view my team as a complete extension of their brand.

National PR Chops: National launches for Kashi Company and Stretch Island Fruit Company at editor events in New York City.  Been there! Differentiating Avid Technology from its competitor, Apple, during NAB—the largest tradeshow for the audio and video production industry. Check! Re-launching the historic Kendall Motor Oil brand to promote an exclusive formulation enchancement. That’s me! In my nearly six
years of boutique agency PR experience, I have worked almost exclusively on national brands.  I have secured top tier media, counseled clients, and mentored junior staff along the way—exceeding client expectations at every turn.

Accountable: Unfortunately, no one is perfect (although I try really hard).  As a team member I always take responsibility for when something could have been done better, or faster. I am the person you want talking to a client when they are unhappy because I never approach a problem without having at least one solution to present. Most importantly, I learn from each and every situation so that I can be a better colleague and
counselor for my firm.

More than an Employee: In this difficult job market it is easy to forget about the importance of finding a “cultural fit” for an organization.  Between product launches, new business proposals and endless writing projects, it’s imperative that you enjoy the people on the PR roller coaster with you!  I love to make people laugh, and can always be counted on to instigate a snack break when the going gets tough. I cannot function
without a great cup of coffee and am usually the first person in the office to get the pot brewing.  I strive to be a PR professional that makes a company tick—the heart and soul of an agency.

That’s me in a nutshell!

Thank you for considering my qualifications as I search for my next great PR position. A more detailed background can be found on LinkedIn, and I can also be reached at alexisanzalone@gmail.com or @aanzalone for a copy of my resume.  Happy #HAPPO hunting! 

It wasn’t until I joined the job hunting masses that I truly understood the power of networking. Don’t get me wrong…a formal interview for an open position is still, in my opinion, the Holy Grail.  However, the purpose of today’s post is to stress how important it is to meet informally with both peers and potential mentors in your field in order to obtain fresh perspectives and much-needed advice.

Networking, done well, should have a splintering effect.  Coffee with one person will hopefully lead to additional introductions in the future. I believe it is especially important for young professionals to capitalize on networking opportunities, as we are often overlooked as being “too young” or “inexperienced.”  The most powerful way to overcome these sorts of misperceptions while in the midst of a job hunt is to meet with professionals who can offer interviewing tips and help push your resume to the top of a pile based on their networks.

Getting started is the hardest part, so I’ve compiled a few suggestions based on my experiences since hitting the coffee circuit this month.

Personal Rolodex–You know more people than you think you do. Dig through your address book, Twitter followers and LinkedIn contacts to remind yourself of who you already know, and then don’t be afraid to ask for a meeting

Come Prepared–Treat an informal networking meeting just like you would an interview. Dress for the job you want, prepare questions, and have plenty of examples on-hand for why that person should recommend you to others

Have Patience–Just like a job search, networking takes time and not every meeting will result in a myriad of new contacts or leads. What’s important is that you are getting your name out there, and you never know what opportunities may later surface from just one introduction

Mind Your Manners–No one has to meet with you, so remember that. Be extremely appreciative and respectful of everyone’s time and never push for information they are not comfortable sharing. Write thank you notes and stay in touch even when you don’t “need” something (like a job)

Finally, networking isn’t just about growing professionally. You can meet some incredibly nice and inspiring people this way too–so embrace it. Mentors and life-long friendships await you!

Do you network often? What other tips or resources can you share?

Last night I attended my first Ignite Boulder event.  As a “newbie” in Colorado, I was thrilled to finally check out the event I have read so much about on Twitter, Facebook, etc. It did not disappoint.

Walking into the Boulder Theatre I wasn’t really sure what to expect.  Would it be about social media? Perhaps PR and communications? Even after attending I cannot entirely put the experience into words, except to say that for a few hours, I laughed my ass off at some of the smartest (and sarcastic) commentary I’ve heard in a long time.

Getting up in front of more than 800 people is daunting enough. Standing up in front of 830 smart, accomplished peers and making them laugh and pause for reflection seems terrifying. I have incredible respect for the men and women who stood on that stage and spoke about love, beer festivals, orphans and spinal cord injuries…and of course, Stark Trek.

Today I had the good fortune of quickly introducing myself to Ignite Boulder coordinator @pugofwar (in-person) and he asked me if I could do it–get up and be an Ignite presenter. I honestly could not answer the question in a straightforward manner, but not because I do not want to be one of those people. I would KILL to have the guts to do that, but I would accept nothing less than bringing the house down if I became brave enough to do so–and I just don’t know if I have it in me, yet.

If you have Ignite in your area I urge you to check out an event in the near future. Go with no expectations and an open mind. Then, after you go, tell me if you could do it…I dare you!

In the past year my online habits have shifted dramatically. Instead of checking e-mail right when I wake up each morning, I check my Twitter stream.  When I arrive somewhere new, I cannot wait to see if it’s listed on Foursquare. LinkedIn has gone from a site I check a few times per month to a site I check daily via the iPhone LinkedIn app.

The majority of my friends and family literally have no clue why I am so interested in these outlets, so I rely on my online networks to mentor me in the power of social media. On Twitter, the musings of pros like @dbreakenridge @alextanPR and @PRtini make me want to be a better PR professional–a pro who is much more involved in the industry beyond the little bubble I operate in daily.

Why am I blogging about this today?  Well, this morning I stumbled upon “Help a PR Pro Out Day.” I was immediately blown away with the brilliance of the idea and generosity of PR pros from across the country who will donate their time next Friday, Feb. 19, to help us job seekers–yep, I am a “seeker” as of three weeks ago–connect with potential employers in our area.

THANK YOU to @ValerieSimon and @arikhanson for dreaming up this incredible effort. #HAPPO truly demonstrates the power and goodness of social media within the PR community, so I urge anyone and everyone to discover how social media can positively impact their professional and personal world.  I am confident that you will be pleasantly surprised, and might even have some fun meeting really interesting and inspiring people along the way!

If you know me, you know that I can be a little (or a lot) tightly wound at times. I blame it on my passion for perfection in everything I do, personally and professionally. However, now that I am in my third week of not working, I am actually re-learning how to take a moment, a deep breath, and calm myself down so that I can enjoy the moment instead of always worrying about what is around the next corner.

Don’t get me wrong. It’s extremely stressful to be unemployed (by choice) with no clue where your next paycheck is coming from.  One side of my brain says that I should be in panic mode, but I am finding ways to talk that side of my brain off the ledge and truly enjoy what my life is about right now–finding my next great professional adventure, and rediscovering ‘me.’

What is ‘me’ into these days?  Well, I have learned that I REALLY enjoy spending time on social media sites like Twitter, participating in interesting conversations and getting turned on to prolific bloggers and thinkers. I have learned that even with nearly 24 free hours in my day, I am still capable of finding fantastic excuses to skip the gym.  I want to volunteer but don’t know where to start, and I am hopelessly addicted to The Today Show…but Oprah, not so much.

Moving to CO without a job may or may not end up to be a huge mistake, but for the first time in nearly six years, the thought of potential ‘failure’ does not turn my stomach or force me to break out into hives. This was my decision and I am enjoying every moment of the journey…

Colorado was taken by storm this past weekend as Mike and I rolled into Denver with an overstuffed U-haul and a Mazda filled to the brim with god knows what. How and when did we already accumulate so much stuff?

“Do we really have to unpack this?” 

Mike’s sister Kelly, and her husband Nate, are amazing–they have opened their very busy home to us while I job hunt and we get on our feet. Our new roomies also include our two precious nieces, Caroline and Sophia. Quiet nights watching Cake Boss on TLC have been replaced with “I’m a little pony” duets and the magic “Coach” purse. And you know what? I honestly couldn’t be more thrilled, and feel more blessed, than I do right now–they will only be this age for a moment so it’s incredibly special for Mike and me to see them each and every day.

I plan to spend the coming weeks job hunting and trying to enjoy my free time (aka, not freak out over being unemployed by choice) by kicking my own butt at the gym and reconnecting with some fantastic friends. Maybe I will even blog more than once a month!

Stay tuned for more CO adventures…god help me the first time I have to drive in snow.