PR job advice for new grads

By on May 12th, 2009 In Professional Development

It’s that time again — not time to contemplate Obama(R) brand of Hope(TM) or to wear sunscreen . After this week, it is time for the majority of new grads to fret over getting a job.

Last year, I posted the PR Job Hunt Secrets series for now-former PR students.

At first, I was chagrinned when it received no comments. But then, as I heard things anecdotally, I realized the comments simply went underground. Recent grads came up to me when I spoke and thanked me (and so did employers!). I was also interviewed for a paper by a student at Southern Methodist University, who forwarded the posts to her PR class. I also heard that some local agencies discussed some of the topics in staff meetings. And a couple of the series posts were our blog’s most read for the year. Wow!

I’ve also had several requests to re-post it this year. So, here it is again.

Good luck Class of ’09!

Comments

Angelo Fernando Says:
May 13th, 2009 at 8:56 am

I lve that last bullet. Not just “PR pros you’ve met” but everyone seems to be doing the juggling/multi-tasking. It’s not just about getting attention, since there’s only so much left, but about creating that niche where no-one else can compete. Tough, but I’ve met many students who have done it, and so can you.

Catherine Spear Says:
May 13th, 2009 at 11:17 am

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, this was a great series!! I still send it out to friends who are looking for jobs and used many of the tips to find my job :-)

Good luck to all of the new grads — if you follow this advice, you should be in great shape!

Rebecca Armendariz Says:
May 13th, 2009 at 12:01 pm

Great advice! I feel for comm grads. During tough times, marketing yourself well is 10x more important than when jobs are plentiful.

Some of my advice (as a recent grad/job-seeker):
-Write, write, write. Having a colorful portfolio to talk about at an interview is a great resource. Take advantage of The Republic’s News by You and other freelance-heavy pubs.
-Engage in social media. I’ve met many comm students who don’t know much about sites like Twitter. Really? They’ve got to get in the game. Be your own case study.
-Prepare elevator speech. You WILL be asked, “Tell me about yourself.” Totally stumped me the first five times!
-Volunteer (especially with orgs like IABC, PRSA, AMA, etc.). Networking is all well and good, but it doesn’t make your comm skills shine like “you” in action. Volunteering is a great way to get people to notice you and get on your reference list.

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