Public Relations

7 Tips for PR students

By July 8, 2015 No Comments

As I approach my senior year of college, I must say that I am very proud. Considering that I will be the first person to receive a Bachelor’s Degree in my immediate family, this will be an incredible accomplishment for my family and I. In my early years of college, I spent most of my time in the books and hanging out with my same friends that I’ve known since elementary and middle school. I was the student that was so caught up in making good grades that I forgot to enjoy my college experience.

Yes, grades matter but they aren’t the most important aspect of your college life. It took me a while to realize this. There are many other things that are just as important, such as meeting new people, attending events and joining different groups, actually retaining the information you’re learning in the classroom, and finding solid internships to equip yourself with the skills necessary for your future career. I’ve learned that building relationship and improving your skills are absolutely vital during this period of your life.

As a freshman I was very unsure of what I wanted to do. One day, I discovered public relations (PR). PR is a great major, but there were many times when I was unsure if it was the right fit for me. I mainly felt this way because for a long time I was unable to find an internship. This made me feel uneasy because I knew that it was necessary to have experience outside of the classroom in order to enhance my skills and qualify for jobs after graduation. After many let downs in my process of finding internships, this summer I was FINALLY given the opportunity to intern here at Denor Brands and Public Relations. After my first month of being here, I must admit that it has helped change my perspective and made me feel 100% confident in my decision in PR. I now feel that I am capable of succeeding in this field through hard work and dedication.

Through trial and error, I’ve finally made it to my senior year and I must say I am satisfied and looking forward to my future. I’ve had personal experience and made the mistakes so you won’t have to. Here are 7 things I wish I knew as an incoming PR student.

  1. Have fun.

College should be one of the best experiences of your life. Enjoy it but not at the expense of your education. Work hard play hard!

  1. Get involved.

Joining groups and organizations on campus amplify the college experience. The experience and relationships you’ll build will come in handy for your future career and resume.

  1. Don’t forget to learn.

Take advantage of your education and pay attention. Pay attention, do your assignments on time and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Professors value students who communicate and show interest. Remember you can’t get your time back so don’t waste it!

  1. Intern. 

Depending on the city you’re in finding internships can be difficult but don’t give up. There are so many businesses that are feening for interns. Our director here at Denor Brands and Public Relations has been very vocal about this issue and is always on the lookout for hardworking interns to join our team. Internships allow you to get a practice run with the career you’ll be going into after school. Internships lead to jobs and connections. Also, remember that it’s never too early to get an internship, the earlier the better!

  1. Perfect your writing skills.

Writing is a very important aspect of Public Relations. Being able to write well is one of the most important skills to have in this field. Blogging is a great way to perfect your writing skills and also allows you to learn different platforms and build your social media following, which is all beneficial for PR students. Practice makes perfect!

  1. Build a portfolio.

A portfolio is basically where you store all of your writing samples. Most employers will ask for writing samples that you’ve created in the past. Although talking about your past work experiences is great, showing what you’ve done is much more effective.

  1. Stay up to date.

What I’ve learned over time is that most employers rely on us when it comes to social media and hot new trends. Keeping up with the newest of the new is very important. Whether it’s apps or new social media outlets, stay on top of it. Learn these platforms in and out!

 

 

 

 

DENOR Brands + Public Relations has the distinct honor of being recognized as both the best public relations firm and the best marketing firm in Nashville.

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