Sneak Peak! Strategies for the College Graduate

Last week, I was surprisingly asked by the Women in Communication's Austin chapter to speak to their counterparts at the UT chapter on my long path to getting a job in public relations.

I won't bore you with the details surrounding my long and tortured (and quite humorous at times) path, but I will share with you what I plan to tell these to-be college graduates. Welcome any feedback/gripes ;)

Strategies for the Recent College Graduate

1. Pimp yourself. Develop a portfolio that includes your resume, references and writing/planning samples. Do the hard work for the employer by providing this information before they ask you to – and while you’re at it, showcase your presentation skills by putting it in something other than a plain white folder. It speaks volumes about your preparation skills – key to any communications job. If you can’t sell yourself, the company won’t think you’ll be able to sell them.

2. Consider the dreaded “unpaid position.” Are you passionate about non-profit work? If you are, and have the monetary situation that affords this, work as an unpaid professional with a non-profit organization that needs assistance with their communication plans. These positions are ripe with experience you most likely wouldn’t be able to get at other jobs. Other options include doing freelance work and interning at government agencies, who usually pay zero to minimum wage.

3. Never sacrifice your morals for a job. There are plenty of jobs out there that prey on recent graduates. They’ll advertise that you’ll move up quickly into management positions, have the potential to make $120K a year – only to find out that it is a pyramid scheme or something more unethical. The wise saying that if it’s too good to be true, it definitely is. If you find yourself in a job or interview that makes you feel uncomfortable, don’t worry about burning bridges – save yourself the headache and potential fallout from the shady behavior of others by walking away.

4. If possible, be willing to move. Austin is an awesome town and full of opportunity – along with a strong workforce coming out of the University of Texas and surrounding universities. Unfortunately, there are only around three Fortune 500 companies based in Austin, which means the majority of communications support for corporations and the agencies that support these companies staff relatively small offices or are based in other areas. If you are willing to be flexible with your geographic location, do it. And remember, you can always move back after you get some experience under your belt.

5. Intern is the new entry level position. Unfortunately, many agencies rely on their internship programs as a source of recruiting. If you are looking to work at an agency, and don’t have experience under your belt, you aren’t going to get hired as an account coordinator. Be willing to accept that intern position, even if you’ve already graduated, because in the long run, it is a foot in the door.

6. Look at agency headquarters. If you are willing to move, first start out by looking where the bigger agencies are based out of, and where they have the largest number of their employees. WaggEd has substantial offices in the Pacific Northwest, Fleishman-Hillard has its headquarters in St. Louis, and GCI has much of its staff out of Austin. If you are in advertising or marketing, look at places that have large offices, as they hire more often.

7. Make yourself an expert. What are you passionate about? And can it correlate back to public relations – absolutely! Do you have a passion for medicine or healthcare, do you follow politics religiously, or are you constantly checking Engadget or Gizmodo for the latest technology news? Use your interests to position yourself as an expert with an agency.

8. Research! Look for companies and agencies that fit the direction you want to take in your career. If you are interested in technology PR – look at WaggEd or Porter Novelli. Are you fascinated by public affairs – there are multiple agencies with a presence in D.C. This will require some deep soul searching on your part, and some research on which companies bet fit your career goals.

9. Be an active participant in a professional organization. Many professional organizations, such as AWC, PRSA and AMA, offer reduced pricing for recent college grads. These professional organizations are a great way to meet people and network. But warning – don’t just show up with to a meeting expecting a job, you still have to earn it. (and many people avoid meetings just because they get bombarded with resumes) Take “card-carrying member” a step further by joining a committee within the organization where you have the ability to showcase your skills and talents. It gives people a reason to hire you and is a great resume builder.

10. Learn to accept failure. The hardest part about looking for a job, especially in economically uncertain times, is that you’re told “no” – a lot. And most likely, you’re not used to it. Have faith in yourself and your abilities and don’t give up, even when others (or parents) are telling you to. You may have to stray from your path to make ends meet at the beginning, but that perfect job will come soon enough.