By Kelsey Fox
As I get closer to graduating, I want to make sure I am prepared and gain good experience before entering into the public relations field. I made of checklist for myself that includes tips and things to do–I’m sharing it here today. I’ve completed all of the tasks and hope that my list helps you become better prepared and successful in the PR field.
Join a PR organization to get more experience and further develop your skills. Get involved in a student run club and try to get a leadership role. Not only will it help you apply the skills you’ve learned, but it’s also a good addition to your resume.
Network with as many people as you can. Meet with your peers or leaders in the organizations you’re involved in to hear about other people’s internship experiences or any advice they have. Reach out to family to see if they have any friends who are PR professionals who can meet with you to tell you about their background, industry trends, look over your resume or share tips. This will help you put you ahead of other people because you’re gaining more knowledge about your field and know what to expect. The people you network with will be able to open doors for you.
Update your resume. While you are looking for future internships or jobs, you want to make sure before you apply that your resume is up to date and looks sharp. Revise it so that it best displays your achievements and experiences. Make sure the format and grammar is correct. Depending on the job you’re applying for, you may want to do your resume in Illustrator and add designs and color to it. Make sure you get other people to look it over for you and give you feedback.
Attend workshops, agency tours and career fairs. Ball State does a great job providing Professionals in Residence sessions and other professional workshops where you can learn from experts. Take full advantage of this free opportunity to learn from them. Try to go on agency tours so you are exposed to different kinds of PR firms to see where you can see yourself working and learning about what kind of work they do. Attend career fairs to put yourself in the job market, gain network and interview experience, and find out what kind of company you want to work for.
Show appreciation. Always thank people who are helping you get ahead. Write a hand written thank you note to professors, leaders in your organizations you’re involved in, interviewers and people who take time to meet and network with you. They have shared their best advice and will guide you to be successful. Make sure they know how grateful you are for that. A simple act of gratitude will go a long way.
By accomplishing these tasks, you will be more knowledgeable about the public relations field and industries within the field. It will make you more prepared and help you stand out because you are going above and beyond just learning in the classroom.
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