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Resources & Tips
Act, sound, write as through you are a
professional.
This means wear appropriate business attire on interviews. No matter
what the environment, wearing a suit is recommended. It is better to
error on the conservative side. I advise collared shirts and closed
toes shoes for ladies, and ties for the men. Remember: in e-mails, use
proper grammar, spell check, and never sound too familiar. Again,
maintain that level of professionalism.
Internships
Intern with a number of organizations/firms as possible and try
out different job positions. Not only will you get an idea of what you
do and do not like, but you will also gain insightful knowledge of the
industry and different perspectives to tackling projects.
Create a Portfolio
While it is advised that you bring writing samples with you to
interviews, it may also be a good idea to create a portfolio of
writing samples, work you’ve done at your internships, and any
certificates you’ve earned (through clubs, associations, or awards).
You can show this portfolio to interviewers to illustrate your
experience. It is very important that before you use any documents
that you have created during an internship for your portfolio that you
check with your supervisor for approval. Some company materials are
proprietary and/or privileged and asking for use permission is
extremely important.
Informational Interviews
Informational interviews allow you to get your foot in the door of
any company. An informational interview is a chance for you to ask an
established public relations professional questions about how he or
she got started in the business, with the company, or even ask advice
about how you can go about doing the same. Informational interviews
give you valuable face time with executives and employees of the
company who can recommend you later for hiring.
Network
A majority of jobs are found by those who network. Join a
professional organization like SPRA to connect with local members of
the industry you are interested in joining. Professional organizations
are a great way to learn about job opportunities. Regularly attending
networking events to meet others employed in the organizations and
firms you are interested in applying for employment is a valuable
tool, which may lead to key personal references that increase your
chances of being hired.
Create a Professional E-mail
When submitting a resume for any sort of professional position – be it
an internship or a paying job – it is vital that you give a perception
of professionalism. This starts with your e-mail address. Just as you
would dress the part by wearing a suit to an interview, dress the part
with your e-mail address. Create a simple Yahoo or Hotmail account
using your full name, or first name and last name. It’s simple and
professional.
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