On August 19th, Public Relations professionals and PR Students gathered together on Twitter for a dynamic conversation about the profession. Deirdre Breakenridge, PR 2.O expert and author of Putting the Public Back in Public Relations. moderated the conversation which included topics such as "When should soon to be grads start the job search?" With nearly two hundred active participants tweeting and more than 900 tweets, #PRStudChat provided a wealth of information. .. so much so, that even if you were following closely you likely missed some valuable insights. Below is part 5 of a six part series, each highlighting some of the key takeaways from one of the topics discussed during the chat. To view the entire series, click here
To learn more about #PRStudChat and those who are participating, please visit the #PRStudChat LinkedIn Group; all public relations students and practitioners are welcome to join and participate. The next live #PRStudChat on Twitter will take place September 16th at noon EST.
Q5: When should soon to be grads start the job search?
It is never to early to start networking
nicklucido: There's a difference between networking and job searching -- networking should begin freshmen year
Marlin23: I would say network continuously and mention you are about to be a grad. I"m a senior and I am marketing myself constantly
kionsanders: One of the best networking moves you can make is joining a @PRSSANational chapter! I'm a little biased!
shwen: IMHO, always be searching, networking, engaging - never too early to start
CTMichaels: I network everywhere I go, from the train to the store, you NEVER know who yo will meet
TheCarawayGroup: The earlier the better. Research companies and firms in your area, read about their clients and NETWORK!
A job search is about more than sending out resumes
DougH: Job search starts while still in school. Internship? Part of that search. Social netw'g too. Get ahead of classmates
MichaelWillett: Yes, indeed! RT @KirkHazlett A lot of agencies do "intern-to-fulltime." Take a risk!
mikeschaffer: i was fortunate to turn my 2003 summer internship into a job, starting 2 wks after graduation
bluejayPR: Internships were the only reason I was able to get a good job out of University. So very valuable, a must do
tracybb: Sometimes an internship or summer gig will tell you what jobs you don't want, which is just as helpful. Why I'm not in law
crystallyn: Students should start interning by junior year--that's when job search begins.
sparklegem: It's not when you start searching, it's when you start building relationships. Attend industry events early jr. yr
CubanaLAF: Want to know how to get your name out there? Network and engage. Interviews are easier to obtain. Never stop connecting
tracybb: Also: students should look for good summer jobs and internships on their own. Don't rely on the yr school work the alums yrself
weesiesj: I think of finding a job like pitching the media- U may pitch ur story to a list of 100 and only get five to ten interested.
SternalPR: There is no timetable in relationship bldg. How long does it take to build a solid relationship?
There are many opinions about when to start an active job search
lisaatufunwa: (Student) I was always told 6 months in advance
CubanaLAF: Much of the time, PR entry level jobs are to start immediately. I started looking for a FT job 1 month before graduation.
KirkHazlett: @CubanaLAF My last hire as a PR director was three months before she graduated. Did part-time until.
chrisjoneslehi: Soon-to-be grads should have never STOPPED looking for a position. You want to do PR? Start with yourself.
samemac: ASAP! It's taking a lot longer to find a job these days, and the sooner you put yourself out there, the better.
wible: If you're looking in a specific area you should start sooner. I started 5 mo. b4 grad, & ended up working PT until grad
andybusam: bc of economy, took 3 months to nail an interview. there's alot of competition, so get your name out there first
CubanaLAF: See, I think I would be mad if I interviewed someone who couldn't start right away.... and I had to wait for them to graduate
nicklucido: Also, agencies hire when they need staff, don't hire consistently. Applying for an agency job eight months out won't help
jdlloyd: Agreed. Network ASAP. Application depends on the industry: higher ed has a huge lead time; agencies not so much
andybusam: @m_wible better to work part-time in school and have a job lined up after grad, than start late and have nothing.
keithp41: Start at least a semester B4 grad
peteraxtman: they should start at the beginning of 2ndQ sr yr. Should spend prev 3.5 yrs getting to know leads .
SternalPR: Be persistant. It's okay to call or email with a "hey I saw this in the paper and thought the company could benefit." etc
andybsam: all jobs aren't posted on the boards. If you want a job that's not there, make it yourself
chrisjoneslehi: If you're good at PR and you can prove it (even if you do so for free)EVERYONE is hiring
**Note to students, be sure to check out Heather Huhman's article "Your Final Semester Game Plan": http://bit.ly/1yvKWA
Next time… a breakdown of the final question from the first #PRStudChat: How closely should PR work with other areas of the company? Be sure to subscribe so that you don't miss future public relations columns from examiner.com (it's free!) For past columns, please click here
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Comments
This is a great article to remind students of the importance of starting early in your career development. My best piece of advice is to actually begin working in the industry BEFORE you graduate by getting a side volunteer job with a nonprofit. Many are happy to get the help and there are such a variety of charitable organizations out there that one can easily find one that aligns with the for-profit post-grad job of their dreams in some way. Nothing will get you hired faster than the experience, accomplishments, contacts, passion, and dedication that is proven through a long-term volunteer job while you’re in school!
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