Recently I was faced with the task of choosing possibilities for my upcoming eight week field placement. What seems like a very simple task, ended up being a stressful one instead. I found myself looking ahead to my career. What sector do I want to be in? Where will I be most stable? Am I likely to get a job when it’s all said and done? After chats with my teachers I realized I was jumping the gun. Assured that this was just the beginning for me, I took a gamble and made my top two choices.
Now I can’t help but think about what comes next. Interviews, internships, more interviews, and jobs.
In her article The Public Relations Career X Factor, Cori McKeever offers advice on how to make your mark when entering the PR world. This helps put all of these things into perspective for me.
Tip 1: Exude confidence, but not arrogance. I don’t think I would come across as arrogant. Mostly I think it will be difficult to appear confident in a new environment. I think it’s possible to voice your opinions, showing your enthusiasm and dedication, without being arrogant. For me, it’s more of a challenge to speak up, be assertive, and make my “mark.”
Tip 2: Identify a mentor. She suggests finding someone in the business who understands your goals and objectives. This is made easier through mentorship programs through organizations such as IABC Student Mentoring Program, which now offer official programs.
Tip 3: Realize that mistakes will be made, but do not make the same ones twice. I guess this is just another way of saying learn from your mistakes. Mistakes seem like an inevitable part of starting a new job in a new place with new people. It’s nice to be reassured that one mistake won’t steer you right for the door.
Tip 4: Burn the midnight oil. This tip did not surprise me at all. Starting off I expect to work a lot. I know I have to put my time in since I’m just starting out. To me, this means offering to take on extra projects. Not only does it help out the business, but it enriches my own experience.
Tip 6: Commit to being a student of the industry. Being in school reminds me of this. PR homework is never done. Social media is constantly updating. There is always a lot to read and keep up on. But in the simple time spent surfing the net a lot of this can be done!!
Tip 7: Recognize there is much to learn. I think tip 6 and 7 go hand-in-hand. Being a student of the industry means there is always more to learn. Conferences, meetings, simple surfing the internet will all help me be the best PR professional I can be.
Maybe it isn’t as easy as following a list of 7 steps, but I think they start a lot of us off on the right track.
-Jen Burkholder
