Paving A Career Path Takes Smart Planning and a Smidgen of Serendipity
Posted on Apr. 24, 2023 / Subscribe 0
When I was in college Olivia Pope didn’t exist, so I had no idea what public relations was. As a journalism student at Michigan State who aspired to be a sports broadcaster, I was tapped by a professor to apply for an internship with the Michigan Department of Agriculture’s Press & Public Affairs department. That opportunity changed the course of my entire career—and I couldn’t be more grateful, as I’ve enjoyed 33 years in this exhilarating, ever-changing, often stressful profession we call PR.
I’m always curious how others in our field ended up here. So, when I recently spoke to a group of students taking an Intro to PR class, I opened the discussion by asking what prompted them to take this class.
The myriad of diverse responses fascinated me. One student shared that her best friend’s older sister begged her to join PRSSA and she became intrigued by what she learned. Another young adult boldly admitted that all his classes were dropped because of a late payment and Intro to PR was one of the few left that fit in his schedule. Ironically, he’s enjoying the content and intends to pursue more PR classes.
Everyone has an interesting story about how they chose their career – or how their career selected them. Even those individuals who knew from an early age what they wanted to be when they grew up and had a timeline for how and when they would get there certainly experienced a few surprises along the way.
This Spring, many hard-working young adults will earn their college degrees and venture into the professional world.
Whether you’re newly graduated, about to walk across that stage and collect your diploma or still have a couple of years left, here’s my advice to help you find your first job AND make sure it’s a good fit for you.
- Don't hesitate to take a post-graduation internship, especially if it pays. More and more PR agencies and companies, in general, are offering three and even six-month internships to ensure a strong culture fit for both parties.
- If you’re still in school, pursue as many different internship experiences as you can.
- If you haven’t already, join an industry organization (or the student version) and get involved. Joining a committee is the easiest way to begin networking with others.
- We’re happy to talk to you about PRSA Detroit or PRSSA if you’d like, as we have many relationships with chapters all around the state!
- Plus, if you join PRSA after being a PRSSA member, there’s a financial discount!
- Continue to build and maintain professional connections. Find genuine reasons to connect with people. You never know what amazing job opportunity may come your way through a former professor, guidance counselor, manager or even fellow student.
- Persevere. Finding your first job is hard. According to the University of Washington, it takes the average college grad three to six months to secure employment after graduation. Don’t give up. Take a break if you have to (and be kind to yourself, you can do this)!
- Find a mentor who can help you navigate this new, unfamiliar terrain you’re embarking on. One of the best ways to find a mentor is to look within your existing network. Of course, joining a professional organization will help you build your network.
Michelle Gilbert is vice president of public relations for Comcast’s Heartland Region. She is a current executive board member of PRSA Detroit and the immediate past president (2022).
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