Karen Wiessen has joined New York PR firm The Door, working in the music and entertainment group. Wiessen is the former publicist for Island Def Jam. Alicia Keys and Sean Kingston are among The Door’s clients. [via Hollywood Reporter]

Samantha Allen is stepping down from her role as MD of Ogilvy PR‘s global consumer marketing group. Allen has been with the firm for nine years and told PRWeek that she’s looking for “a more entrepreneurial path.” She has worked with clients including Guinness and the London Olympic Games.

Syd Steinhardt has been named PR director for the NYU School of Continuing and Professional Studies. He was previously associate director of comms for Fordham University.

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Social media can be just as important to a job search as face-to-face meetings.

Social media has not only become a key part of PR campaigns, it’s an important part of finding a job in the PR industry.

Renee Harris, the academic director for marketing, PR, and other programs at New York University‘s School of Continuing and Professional Studies, says, “Most of our students are those that are looking to move into a career or looking for a job. They may have been displaced or let go and they’re looking to acquire the skills that will make them competitive in the job market.”

These students have a wide range of skills they’re looking to build, but there has been a noticeable increase in interest in social media and digital coursework, particularly in the past two to three years, Harris told us.

Last Thursday, New York Women in Communications hosted a “Night of Coaches,” where career advisers and others in the industry shared information about networking and career advancement. Social media is not only useful during the job search, but in many ways, required.

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