For recent graduates, it’s hard to see the landing at the top of the stairs when it comes to “climbing to the top”. When I was in college, I did all that I could to secure a future in Public Relations. I volunteered for different organizations and committees, worked with the city and their PIO, became a member of PRSSA and eventually became the PRSSA President as a Senior. An internship was a given, although unpaid, I knew it was the right direction, the next step to my dream job. Graduation came and went, and the job search continued. This is the case for many people right now, and I can’t speak for everyone but for me it was very frustrating. I felt as though I could not have done more in my career at that point to be a step above all other candidates. Then I met someone working in PR at a large communications company with an unrelated degree ”because her Aunt plays bridge with the Vice President”.
Shock. Anger. More frustration. (Why did they not warn me about this in college?)
I know now what I wish I had known then, sometimes it may be all about “who you know”, but I really don’t hold faith in that theory. I think rather, it is all about who you meet, being at the right place at any time (right or wrong), and maintaining relationships that take work. Being willing to maintain those relationships is a huge step, out of your comfort zone.
It isn’t a comfortable thing to step out of your comfort zone, but it is something that everyone should try. Speaking from experience, it gets easier every time, just like speaking in public. What do I mean by this? Taking steps to secure the important contacts, continuing your conversation with them over time to establish a network, and maintaining a presence in your field even when you may not be in it at the time.
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Ask for more. At my internship with a well known magazine, I was an intern under the marketing and circulation team. I was interested in editorial as well, so I asked to write for them. I also asked for more work when I finished mine early. I got to know the editor by working on a project for her in my free time. I went in early and stayed late. I helped people on projects that weren’t “my job”. Realize that “your job” is not just in the description and to gain the needed hour credits for college; your job is to learn all that you can, gain all the experience that you can, and network all that you can for your future. This goes for any job in your future too.
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Ask for informational interviews. I stopped longing for a position in Communications to open and started emailing the PR Directors or Communications team to ask for their advice and time. Time is precious, but most people are willing to share it with someone who is humble enough to ask for it, to learn, and to work hard. I asked for a coffee interview, during which I could ask their advice and direction on how to make it in PR. They were always helpful, willing to make calls for me, and encouraging if nothing else.
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Always take advantage of a professional opportunity. Even if it means you work on a saturday, even if it means going to a networking event when you would rather stay home, even if you are doing it for free, even if you don’t know anyone there, and even if you aren’t sure it will amount to anything. There are opportunities that I took advantage of that did not seem to matter until after I came to be in my current PR position, and they actually did in a big way. End of story.
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Acknowledge the relationships you have now. My college advisor was technically finished with me the day that I graduated. However, I maintained contact with her, calling for advice in my job search, calling with questions in my job, and sometimes just calling. The importance of this is I always feel like I have someone on my team, above me in the climb. I would not trade that line of communication for anything as it has helped me make professional decisions, become a member of referral based organizations, and has been an encouragement that all that work in college will pay off. (It really will.)
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Assume a professional role. When you can’t find a PR job and you end up being a nanny (yes, been there), spend your free time working on your PR presence. Blog, Tweet, Facebook in a way that will have an impact on your professional career you hope for in the future. Assume the people that you meet are professional contacts, even when you are out with your friends, introduce yourself to new people and maintain your friendships wisely. Have an online resume, include your professional information within your social media profiles, and work on press releases and pitches in your spare time. When you do have the opportunity for an interview, you will be ready to assume a PR position as a career because you won’t be rusty in your skills. Your resume may say that you were a nanny after college, but your online presence and your examples of work will show that you continued to work in PR during that time.
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Ask for referrals. The minute I applied to my current PR position, I emailed a couple of people in my network. The editor of the magazine, my advisor, and friends in the company. I told them I had applied for the position and asked if they would be willing to be a referral source for me. It was as simple as that and out of my hands. In my interview, I was told that a call and an email from the editor of the magazine spoke so highly to my interviewer that my resume was pulled and reviewed again. They had worked together for ten years, and she valued the editor’s opinion. When offered the job, I was so grateful to her. Yes, my experience and qualifications landed me the job in the end, but her referral allowed me to even have the opportunity. Two words: Thankyou Note.
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Always, always, always say THANK YOU. Writing letters and cards is a lost art. Writing thank you notes will speak volumes of your character to any business, interviewer, or friend for that matter. I write physical thank you notes after interviews, after favors, after gifts, after referrals and more. I mail them with a stamp through the postal service. Most people only get bills or junk in the mail. Even receiving a letter at all is a treat, especially when it contains a gracious thank you note that lets them know that you appreciate and recognize what they did offering their time, opportunity, word for you, or whatever it may have been. It will position you in the minds of others in a positive light, and being seen like that is always a step to success.
Thank you for reading.
