If you or someone you know is majoring in public relations in college, there are many opportunities out there. You should do your research on the different types of PR and how broad the industry can be. If you play your cards right, you will know what sort of career you are interested in before you graduate. Continue reading for tips on how you can be successful as a student.
Learn about media
It is vital that before, during, and after you complete college that you make it a priority to understand everything there is to know about media. You should understand how television stations work and who it is that you need to talk to in order to get news coverage for different events.
Do your due diligence to realize how a newspaper editor assigns stories to different writers. Why do they pursue the stories they do and title them the way they do? You need to know these things. You could even choose to obtain an internship in different types of media while you are in school and during the summers.
Be social media savvy
In the public relations world and especially in this day in age, you have got to be very smart when it comes to social media. You probably know that there are ups and downs and negatives and positives that come with using social media platforms, but if you are smart about it you will use it to your benefit.
Learn how to effectively use social media tools to get your message out in a very effective way. At the same time, make sure that you pay attention to what you post and share on your personal social media accounts. Future and potential employers are likely to Google you and research your history to get a feel for how you operate.
Gain experience
Even if not all of the public relations work opportunities are paid, you should find a way to gain as much experience and knowledge as you can. This is a career field that is a wide profession and the more experiences you gain, the better off you will be.
You need to have mentors that you can shadow and ask many questions of. Observe the way they handle business and build their business relationships. You will need to have a personality that draws people in and that people can trust. Your career will be most successful if you can build strong connections with everyone you do business with.
Limit your debt
No matter what kind of degree you are pursuing, you have to be smart about how you pay for your classes. There are scholarships that you can attain and are available for many different things such as good grades, first-generation college students, gender, and more.
You should also take the time to apply for state and federal grants that you may qualify for depending on the income of your household and your family situation. Do not be afraid to take out student loans if you need to, they generally have low-interest rates and it is worth it in order to achieve your life goals in the long run.
Get to networking
You cannot take the classes you attend or the people that you meet lightly. You never know who you will run into in the future or who’s help you may need one day. Look people in the eye and shake their hands. Be sure to ask for people’s contact information and give yours out as well.
You definitely should become a member of the PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America) on your campus. This will offer you built-in opportunities and even expose you to public relations internships and job opportunities in your area. Follow the right people online and meet people that way as well. Do not hesitate to message people with questions about their techniques if their company is hiring.
