By Jillian Wilschke
Nikki Pirucki, Assistant Account Executive at Edelman Chicago, shared her experiences and wisdom with PRSSA during our chapter meeting on March 16.
Her background
Nikki graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in journalism and a focus in public relations. She interned with a local school district and a small marketing and public relations boutique agency during her time at University of Oregon. After graduation, Nikki traveled through Europe for a year before hunting for and obtaining a job. Now she works as an Account Executive at Edelman Chicago where she works in the brand marketing sector. Work with SC Johnson as a client has led her to work on Windex, Glade, Scrubbing Bubbles and other household products produced by SC Johnson. She’s also worked on the Kimberly-Clark account and therefore with the Huggies brand. She’ll be moving to the Bay area in a few months thanks to her Adobe products client.
Nicki shared some advice with our PRSSA members about traveling, owning yourself and your accomplishments, setting goals and getting acclimated to a new job and city. Here’s what she shared:
Take the trip
Recent graduates should use the time after graduation, before starting their first job, to travel. This is the only time in one’s life that they’ll get a month or two months to travel. Nikki started applying for jobs after she returned home from her trip and advised students to apply for your future job when you are ready to do so. If you’re eager for the workforce, do it, but take the time to travel and relax after graduation.
Be your own advocate
In an interview, don’t be afraid to brag about yourself and say what you’ve done. It shows confidence. If you don’t, nobody else will. As soon as you get there, highlight all of your strengths. Don’t just say I’m a hardworking, explain what you’ve done and have the ammo to back up your bragging. Spend an hour the day before going through pretend questions and writing them down. Half the time she never gets the questions she prepares for, but they help her brainstorm in the moment.
Make experiences your goal
Let supervisors know your goals – they can help you along the way. She focuses her goals more on experiences rather than levels that she wants to reach. There are so many parts of Edelman that Nikki wants to touch, and she values the importance of getting as much experience as possible instead of specializing in one thing.
Sanity in a new city
Work-life balance has been a big struggle for her Nikki. When you’re fresh out of college, you are eager to prove yourself. Prove yourself and give the job your all, but set limits. Don’t answer emails at midnight or be in the office from 6 a.m.- 8 p.m. Get yourself in the gym (even if you’re not the gym type). If you’re moving to a new city, give it at least two years. Within two years, you’ll meet people and start to feel at home. Also, she started making a bucket list for things she wants to do in Chicago, and wishes she would’ve done that right when she got to Chicago rather than when she is about to leave the city.
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