Networking, networking, networking. One of the first things you hear when you begin taking classes in public relations is the importance of, what else, relationships. After attending PRSA's Real World 2007 on February 16 at the Loudermilk Center in downtown Atlanta, I found out that my professors and career counselors really knew what they were talking about!
Prior to attending the conference, I created a simple business card with my contact information and a picture. I then attached the business cards to my resumes so that after the long day, potential employers could put a face with a name. Since my post-graduation goal is to work in the competitive field of agency PR, I made it a point to speak with every agency who attended the Career Expo at the end of the day. Companies included, Edelman, Kleber & Associates, Jackson Spalding, Hope-Beckham, communications21, Williams Mills Agency and more. After the conference I sent a thank you e-mail to every person I spoke with and requested an informational interview.
So far, I have had two informational interviews, been invited to an open house for an agency internship program and had a phone interview with another large agency, all based on the contacts I made at Real World. I would recommend that any aspiring PR professional attend PRSA events. And, don't forget the importance of networking!
Showing posts with label new career. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new career. Show all posts
Saturday, March 3, 2007
Thursday, February 1, 2007
The Illusive "Foot-in-the-Door"
They say the key to finding a good PR job lies in who you know and where you've interned. I'm still working on the who you know part and I hope that my internships will prove to be useful in helping me to find my dream job.
My first internship was with Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, a non-profit organization based here in Athens dedicated to providing educational reading materials to students who are blind, dyslexic or otherwise unable to read in a traditional manner. While I enjoyed the experience, the internship was little more than administrative work. My major PR effort included drafting letters and compiling a database of media outlets and legislators in the state. During my internship, I was also able to have a feature story on a RFB&D success story published in the Athens Parent Magazine and in the Northeast Georgian newspaper.
Last summer I interned with the Retail Solutions Division of NCR Corporation in Duluth, Ga. This internship was very different than the first because I was able to gain experience in corporate PR and I was given a much higher level of responsibility. I researched and developed a crisis communications plan for the Georgia division of the organization, which I was shocked to discover did not previously exist. My most important project was writing the NCR RealPartner Newsletter which goes out to all of the NCR partners around the world. This involved writing several pieces from our division of NCR and also editing (um, translating) pieces from retail solutions branches in Asia and Europe. It really was a great experience for me.
One thing I have learned from both of my internships is that you get what you put into it, seriously. I had to prove to NCR that I was independent and that I could handle large projects with a low level of support, but now I have a potential job with the company.
My first internship was with Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, a non-profit organization based here in Athens dedicated to providing educational reading materials to students who are blind, dyslexic or otherwise unable to read in a traditional manner. While I enjoyed the experience, the internship was little more than administrative work. My major PR effort included drafting letters and compiling a database of media outlets and legislators in the state. During my internship, I was also able to have a feature story on a RFB&D success story published in the Athens Parent Magazine and in the Northeast Georgian newspaper.
Last summer I interned with the Retail Solutions Division of NCR Corporation in Duluth, Ga. This internship was very different than the first because I was able to gain experience in corporate PR and I was given a much higher level of responsibility. I researched and developed a crisis communications plan for the Georgia division of the organization, which I was shocked to discover did not previously exist. My most important project was writing the NCR RealPartner Newsletter which goes out to all of the NCR partners around the world. This involved writing several pieces from our division of NCR and also editing (um, translating) pieces from retail solutions branches in Asia and Europe. It really was a great experience for me.
One thing I have learned from both of my internships is that you get what you put into it, seriously. I had to prove to NCR that I was independent and that I could handle large projects with a low level of support, but now I have a potential job with the company.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
I can't believe I'm graduating...
I am a public relations and Spanish major at the University of Georgia in Athens. For my public relations campaigns class, the capstone course for the major, we have been asked to write a blog. Since I am graduating this May, I'll be using this blog to share my job-searching adventures and to let you in on everything I learn along the way.
Although I am nervous about finding a job, especially finding the right job, I could not be more excited about working in public relations. I started college as a broadcast news major, but became frustrated with the virtually non-existent job security and the likelihood of having to move all over the country to keep up. After deciding to change my major, I had a great deal of trouble choosing a replacement. My mom had always suggested that I go in to public relations, but at that point, I was unsure about what public relations really entailed. After doing some research, I realized that PR was the exact major I had been looking for.
My dream is to work in a PR agency in Atlanta, but with some strong competition and no prior agency experience, I definitely have my work cut out for me.
Although I am nervous about finding a job, especially finding the right job, I could not be more excited about working in public relations. I started college as a broadcast news major, but became frustrated with the virtually non-existent job security and the likelihood of having to move all over the country to keep up. After deciding to change my major, I had a great deal of trouble choosing a replacement. My mom had always suggested that I go in to public relations, but at that point, I was unsure about what public relations really entailed. After doing some research, I realized that PR was the exact major I had been looking for.
My dream is to work in a PR agency in Atlanta, but with some strong competition and no prior agency experience, I definitely have my work cut out for me.
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