Advice for new graduates

By on June 2nd, 2010 In Advice

LBV-1984Thought I’d poll Valley PR Blog readers and ask them what advice they’d offer new PR graduates these days.   Here’s a list from me to get you started:

  • Don’t worry about buying a complete new wardrobe right away.   Focus on doing good work first.  The clothes will come later.
  • If you haven’t already, start a blog, just so you know how they work.   Check out this post by David Meerman Scott on what some of your peers are doing – pretty impressive.
  • You’ll go a lot farther in the interview and on the job if you learn some humility.   People are living to 100 and beyond now, so being 20-something isn’t quite as impressive as it was when the Pilgrims were around and kicking the bucket by their late 30s.
  • Remember that it’s a marathon, not a sprint.   Keep balance in your life and don’t work 24×7.
  • Volunteer for committees.  You get to meet a lot of people and maybe will find a new passion.
  • There are many ways to find a job, and one of the best is through personal referrals.   Now’s the time to tap your parents’ friends – wish I had done that more when I was young.
  • Send handwritten thank you notes.   You’ll amaze and stun the recipient.
  • Don’t buy furniture or digital equipment on installment plans.   The interest rate will kill you.
  • If you DO spend money, spend it on a decent haircut.  Clearly, I could have used that advice.

Comments

Liam Says:
June 2nd, 2010 at 8:31 pm

1. Always have a pad of paper and pen, whether attending a luncheon panel, Webinar, industry mixers (at least in the car for taking notes later).

2. Invest in one of those folders with plastic sleeves for business cards and keep a folder for any materials you receive at lunches, conferences, etc. Who knows, you may be able to be a referral or help a friend with such gathered information. Keep these in your work bag at all times with the aforementioned notepad from #1 above.

3. Whenever possible, negotiate some kind of budget for association memberships and/or professional development luncheons. These activities not only bring you out of your comfort zone (breaks up the day and puts you into different circles) but participation or volunteering in a different capacity than your daily functions will prove very satisfying.

4. Go back to school when you are 25-27, whether full-time or evening, whichever you can pull off.

5. Don’t stay in the same role for more than 3 years, which may very often mean the same company depending on circumstances.

6. Read more business/entrepreneur magazines than sports and entertainment publications.

7. Even if you are having fun and doing great things and like your job after a couple years, if you start to feel pigeonholed or aren’t getting exposed to other disciplines or roles, prepare for #5 above. Don’t let anyone box you in.

8. Sign up for all the free e-newsletters and daily alerts from local and national media outlets in industries you are in and ones that are totally foreign to your experience.

9. Even if you are forced to pay your own way, attend a major conference in your market and/or field.

10. Keep your resume, easily customizable cover letter and ongoing portfolio materials on a flash drive with you at all times. You never know when or where you’ll need them for a hand off or a quick stop at Kinko’s.

11. But trust me on the sunscreen…

David Meerman Scott Says:
June 3rd, 2010 at 7:37 am

Good ideas all. But I rather like that 70s – 80s look.

David

lily chung Says:
June 3rd, 2010 at 8:30 am

Try to get some insight from I Ching in order to stand out from your competitors.It has all the natural laws catogrized into different themes for insight on various issues. A natural law helps you make a naturally correct decision.

Very few can make sense out of this great classic. If you do, you will be ahead. Start with a simple version:SUCCEED NATURALLY, THE I CHING WAY!

Shailesh Ghimire Says:
June 3rd, 2010 at 3:52 pm

Best advice I could give a new college graduate is to find a mentor. Find a very successful person 20 years ahead of you in your field and ask them to mentor you. Have lunch with them once a month and LISTEN to what they have to say.

Linda VandeVrede Says:
June 3rd, 2010 at 4:18 pm

Great tips for grads, Liam and Shailesh.

As for the photo, I was fresh out of grad school and working at Data General. I guess there weren’t any good hairdressers for miles around there….

Jim Veihdeffer Says:
June 3rd, 2010 at 11:28 pm

12. Be prepared to do anything (anything legal that is).

13. Eschew exclamation points.

Deb Krol Says:
June 4th, 2010 at 11:06 am

I would say: Remember that even though you may be a social media guru, know all the latest technological PR toys and believe that the Web is the be-all, end-all of PR, never forget that PR is people. It’s knowing that people’s hearts, minds and motivations don’t really change no matter what techie toys they use or don’t use, and use that knowledge to your and your firm’s benefit.

Shelby Unruh Says:
October 3rd, 2010 at 6:03 pm

As a student majoring in public relations, I am very appreciative of the advice you all have given. It is always helpful to hear from professionals who have been in the same situations we will soon encounter as we enter the working world. I especially enjoy Deb’s comment about technological advances in the PR world. I completely agree public relations has always been about the people and will continue to be about the people, regardless of the technology. At the end of the day when your piece of technology malfunctions or breaks down, there will be person waiting patiently to help you fix it.

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