Considering a Career in Public Relations? Set Yourself Up for Success With These 5 Tips

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• October 17, 2014
• By Jason Mollica
• No Comments

School is back in session and many of you may be thinking about what your career will be. For freshmen, you may feel like it’s too early to consider the future. It’s not.

The earlier you can get yourself on a career path, the better off you’ll be. (Click here to tweet this quote.) While I didn’t start off in public relations, I’m glad I made the switch. A career in public relations is rewarding and filled with tons of hard work. I’ve never felt more fulfilled in life and career than I have while in public relations.

Are you now considering a career in PR? Good! Here’s what you should know.

1. Be smart

Do your research on the proper courses to take. Pretty much every college and university has a course catalogue online. Review it, then ask questions of an advisor or trusted professor.

Don’t have one of those? Reach out and ask to talk to a student majoring in PR and/or marketing. They’ll give you honest insight into the coursework. Talking to students in your (potential) major is a huge plus. They aren’t going to sugar coat anything. And that’s good.

It’s also not a bad idea to hop onto social media to research what other students and pros are doing. Follow PRSSA National, your school’s PRSSA chapter (if there is one) and professionals like Deirdre Breakenridge and Kirk Hazlett That leads us to…

2. Create, or improve on, a social media account

Social media is huge part of what PR pros use in today’s world. Using these networks properly is absolutely integral to future and current success. According to PR Newser, 93 percent of marketers and PR professionals use social media for business.

News flash: That’s a ton of pros. Here’s a tip: Before diving into social media (if you haven’t already), take a few minutes to understand what these networks can do for you.

A few years back, the advice was to just dive in. That’s changed. Now, more than ever, employers, educators and fellow professionals look at your social accounts closely. They want to know who you are, what you post and whether you’re worth a follow. Don’t give anyone a reason to question you… ever.

3. Find a mentor

Plenty of PR pros are willing to help you. They can sometimes be the best sounding board. While you shouldn’t just tweet at a pro and say, “Can you mentor me?” you can start a conversation by introducing yourself.

This can be done during a chat like #PRStudChat or by using the #PRSSA hashtag. Many students follow these and are more than willing to say hi and see how they can help.

Since #PRStudChat is a student/professional collaborative chat, you’ll get a great introduction to pros more than happy to offer advice. As trust develops, you can ask about what you should expect from internships, the job market and whether agency life is the way to go. You can also expect us to offer honest opinions, which you should listen carefully to.

4. Join PRSSA

This is the organization to join if you want to take your PR career to the next level. Most colleges and universities have a PRSSA chapter on campus. You would do yourself a huge favor by taking in a meeting and joining.

Having experience with many PRSSA chapters around the country, I can tell you the knowledge they share is invaluable. Being a part of a campus chapter also gives you the chance to have shared experiences with your fellow students.

Another bonus is the opportunity to attend PRSSA’s annual national conference. This is where students can learn from other chapters around the country, as well as professionals. I’ve had the opportunity to present and I can tell you that it’s educational for pros as much as it is for students.

5. Don’t doubt yourself

This sounds easy, but it isn’t always the case. You’re the one who knows your skills best; believe in yourself and know that even though you may not know it all, you can still be a success.

You can’t and won’t be an overnight success in PR. It takes years of experience, hard work and dedication. You’re going to stumble at times, but understand that with these “hiccups” comes a better understanding of the field.

There isn’t a pro today who hasn’t made a mistake. But they believed in their skills and work ethic and became successful. You will too.

Jason Mollica is the president of JRM Comm and a frequent speaker at conferences and at colleges and universities around the country. He blogs at One Guy’s Journey and can be found on Facebook and Twitter.

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