The end of May means Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial beginning of summer and, of course – graduation. With thousands of job seekers flooding the market in a matter of weeks, I wanted to offer a little bit of advice to the newest PR and communications professionals out there.
It wasn’t long ago I was in your shoes. Just three years ago, I graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in public relations. With three internships under my belt, I was ready to conquer the world – just like Samantha Jones from “Sex and the City.” Then, reality hit.
One of the first and most important lessons a new graduate must learn is humility. Your 4.0 GPA, that award-winning project you worked on and those few press releases you wrote in school don’t add up to much in the real world, so approach your first job as the best learning experience you’ve ever had. Ask lots of questions, show your willingness to learn and give every assignment – even media lists and “boring” research projects” – your all. Only once you’ve proven yourself on the menial tasks will you be asked to do something higher-level. Remember: all (or most) of your coworkers have been in the game longer than you have – show some respect.
Here are some of my favorite tips on how to succeed as a young professional. Some were given to me by mentors, while others were learned the hard way:
· Communicate. You’re in communications – you should be good at this. Whether it’s asking questions, requesting feedback or communicating project status updates proactively, make sure you have a constant and ongoing dialogue with managers, supervisors and team members.
· Work Hard. REALLY Hard. The PR world is constantly busy and always changing – it’s no cakewalk. If you expect to come in every day at 9 a.m., take an hour lunch and then leave at 5 p.m. on the dot, PR and communications are probably not the career paths for you. The team is only as strong as its weakest link, and with the hyper-competitive client retention and acquisition environment inherent during a recession, we all have to be on our A-game all day, every day.
· Get Involved. There are countless professional development and community organizations that can strengthen your network, sharpen your skills and advance your career. When employers see that you’re working to better not just their organization, but also yourself, it’s a good thing. An added bonus? Most new business leads come from personal and professional contacts – and there is NOTHING more valuable than an employee who brings in new business. In the business world, those who sell, excel.
One final thing to keep in mind: yes, the job market is tough – but the truly standout graduates WILL find jobs. Highlight your strengths, acknowledge your weaknesses (and have a plan to overcome them) and be sure you can answer the age-old question: “So why should we hire YOU over all the others?” Check out Terry Hemeyer’s article on how to get a new job as young professional for more insight.
Good luck, and congratulations on graduation!