PR: On the Hiring Horizon - Soft Skills That Matter

In this episode of PR Explored, host Michelle Garrett interviews Kristina Markos, an associate professor and co-founder of GenSpark Solutions. 

They discuss the significance of soft skills such as listening, presenting, collaboration, and curiosity in public relations. Kristina shares her varied background in agency work and academia, emphasizing the transition needs between generations in the workplace. 

They address the importance of effective presentation skills, the need to ask questions, and the impact of AI on communication roles. 

The episode highlights the evolving PR landscape and the exciting opportunities for emerging professionals in the field.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:50 Guest Background and Experience

02:03 Importance of Soft Skills in PR

03:28 Predictions and Essential Skills

05:04 Teaching Communication Skills

09:42 Presentation Skills and Their Importance

15:38 Collaboration and Intergenerational Communication

30:37 The Impact of Short Attention Spans

31:15 The Importance of Asking Questions

32:36 PR Professionals and Journalism Training

36:32 Understanding Organizational Dynamics

43:08 The Role of Writing in PR

49:52 Listening and Perspective Taking

53:47 The Exciting Future of PR

58:06 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Show notes:

Kristina Markos on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinamarkos/

GenSpark Solutions: https://www.thinknovl.com/genspark

PR Club Prediction Post with Kristina's thoughts that sparked the idea for the topic: https://prclub.org/tips-from-the-board-its-prediction-time

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Website: www.michellegarrett.com

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About the host: Michelle Garrett is a B2B PR consultant, media relations consultant, writer and author of B2B PR That Gets Results, an Amazon Best Seller. She helps companies create content, earn media coverage, and position themselves as thought leaders in their industry. Michelle’s articles have been featured by Entrepreneur, Content Marketing Institute, Muck Rack, and Ragan’s PR Daily, among others. She’s a frequent speaker and podcast guest on public relations and content. Michelle has been repeatedly ranked among the top ten most influential PR professionals.