Advice From A Recent Graduate

When you’re graduating from college, choosing a career path can be an extremely daunting task. Someone always seems to be asking “So, what are you going to do now?” And as much as you want to reply and let people think that you have it all figured out, it’s easy to feel confused and overwhelmed on the inside.

I graduated in the fall of 2007, and several months later began my career in public relations with Fineman PR. I had already completed an internship the summer before with the agency. For me, that summer had confirmed that this was a career path worth exploring but also confirmed where I wanted to be. Because of my internship, I was able to make an informed decision. Now, nearly a year later, I’m realizing that my internship experience not only offered insight and knowledge into how to survive during my first year in PR but also how to be successful as my career grows.

I suspect that many of my peers have some sort of expectation that a career in PR is full of glitz and glamour (who hasn’t envisioned themselves in the role of power PR pro, like Sex and the City’s Samantha Jones?). Well, don’t hold your breath too long! My experiences in PR have taught me that the industry is extremely fast-paced, and you absolutely need the ability to multi-task while working under pressure.

Here are a handful of pointers that have served me well during my first year in PR, along with things I would have done differently if I had known then what I know now.

#1 Have a solid PR internship (or two!) under your belt before entering the industry. When interviewing you for an entry level job, agencies want to know that you can hit the ground running. Internships will help familiarize you with industry lingo, best practices and help you develop your professional skills. As the youngest member of an agency team, you might be the lowest on the totem pole, but you’ll be relied upon heavily to maintain day-to-day aspects of client accounts. Internships will give you a better idea of what you’re in for—and they prove to your employer that you know what it’s like to work in the trenches.

#2 Write, Write, Write. Develop and keep working on your writing skills. While you’re still in school, take courses in the English department or journalism school—honing your skills will give you an edge and make PR much easier for you. Even though you might have studied communications in school, don’t forget that written communications will be essential on the job.

#3 Don’t be afraid to ask too many questions or shy away from taking on new projects, even when you are nervous or feel hesitant. This is how you learn and develop your skills and abilities. Don’t doubt yourself! Taking on new challenges in the workplace helps prove you’re a go-getter, and if you’re unsure of certain aspects of your project, be sure to ask lots of questions. Nothing shows that you’re interested—and helps you learn more about the agency and its clients—than asking questions.

#4 Sometimes, it’s not always a 9 to 5 job. It’s likely that your work might see you coming in early or staying late—sometimes even working weekends for special events. Know that your interest and dedication will be recognized.

#5 With the changing face of PR, it’s important to stay up to speed on social networking and social media tools, especially in the context of how they relate to the clients of the agency you’re working with. These days, it’s not enough to just “know” what Twitter is, or to “sometimes” use Facebook—you should know how marketers are using it.

#6 Stay client focused. Sometimes, it’s like being a PR therapist: listen to client needs and find creative solutions to solve their problems and help them realize their objectives.

And at the end of the day, it’s just like your mama told you: what matters most is knowing that you did the best job you could.