I have been applying for every PR job I can get my hands on for the last several weeks. With graduation growing nearer, I want to make sure I have options on the table. I sent my first application out, eager and feeling like I had a great shot. When I didn’t even land an interview (the company even sent me a generic email saying “We are not considering your application at this time. Due to the large influx of applicants, we cannot provide you with individual feedback”), I was crushed. Ouch.
First lesson in humility: don’t let the “no’s” get you down!
I started to consider the reasons I didn’t get the interview. I had new sets of eyes read over my resume and offer feedback. I updated my profiles and web presence. I was sure that the next position I would apply for would be “the one.”
Nope.
I’ve always been told that in most fields, applying for jobs as a fresh college graduate is the most tedious, heart-breaking and rewarding experience. I’m learning that firsthand now, and I promise it’s true.
With each application I’ve learned something- how to tailor my resume to a specific position, what to put in a cover letter. Even though I may very well have been qualified for a position, there was someone else out there who was better. Perhaps s/he had a better resume or more experience. It doesn’t matter! The truth is that there is always someone better than you, and sometimes the stars just don’t align in your favor. The best you can do is keep trying.
Today I got a call from a company I’ve been applying for (I submitted an application and then was given follow-up questions via an email survey) and was offered the chance for a pre-interview! All of the rejections made this one victory so rewarding.
I made sure to be very professional on the phone, and I followed up with a “thank you” email soon after. I believe that my persistence, timeliness in filling out the application/questions and reworking of my resume to match this company’s specific needs were all reasons that landed me this interview.
Granted, there are still likely more steps after this initial interview, and I may not get the job after all. Regardless, this is going to be a great opportunity to practice my interview skills (take every chance you get to do mock interviews; they really do help!), learn more about the “real world” market needs and grow my network of connections.
My interview is this Friday, and I’ll be sure to keep everyone posted on how it goes and with any advice I may offer along the way!
If you’re anything like me, you believe PR was the ideal career suited for your gift of gab.
I love talking. I love public speaking, writing long blog posts, leaving 3-minute-long voice-mails. You get the idea. Sometimes my skill to keep a conversation is very beneficial in PR. I would highly recommend developing good interpersonal communication, in fact, if you are going into this field.
However...
sometimes this ‘skill’ can be to my detriment. My director in Mary Kay has told me for some time to learn when to shut my mouth, and I didn’t quite understand why until last night. During the meeting, I continually wanted to answer questions for guests. I was so excited about my guests, and I wanted them to have every bit of information that possibly exists about the company right then and there! You see the problem?
My constant talking overwhelmed them. What had been a relaxing, enjoyable evening became stressful and long-winded because I was saying too much.
In design, white space is so important. In PR, quite space is so important. Had I shut my mouth and let my director, just ONE person handle the answering, things might have gone a lot smoother.
In addition, leaving some silence allows people to think. They can gather their thoughts and words instead of feeling pressured to blurt something out. A PR firm might not want you to reveal so many facts right off the back. They want people to come back, ask more questions, revisit the website and people- not to cram everything into one intense session.
This goes for general PR conversation as well. As PR professionals, we know our ultimate goal is to represent our company and be able to speak on their behalf. To accomplish that, we must allow time to listen to others.
For this lesson, my advice: BE QUITE. Trust in a little bit of silence. I promise, it’ll do you wonders.
I am in my first week of class (Public Relations) and I am not sure how to find an internship. Tumblr is a requirement for my course but I am at a loss as to how to use it as well.
Congrats on taking your first PR class! There are lots of ways to get internships, so don’t worry. Start at your university or college- wherever you’re taking classes. Often times these internships are unpaid, but you’ll get real-world experience without having to venture far. Plus, you’ll get to stay up-to-date with things going on around campus! Reach out to local businesses. They don’t have to be PR firms. I work for a local bounce house provider, and I got the job by simply asking if they needed someone to write for them and run their social media. You really have to think outside of the box. Don’t rule anything out. Pick some places that you’re a fan of, talk with people, and always have your business card handy! Read some of my older posts about LinkedIn and networking for some additional tips.
As far as Tumblr being a requirement, that is very interesting! I’ve never used Tumblr as a course requirement, and I’m still familiarizing myself with the platform for this blog, so I’m not sure how much advice I can offer you on how to utilize Tumblr for internship research; however, I can suggest searching hashtags that relate to the kinds of jobs you want (ie. #PRInternship, #PublicRelations). You can do this on LinkedIn as well (which might lend you to some better opportunities).
Y'all, I have over 100 followers on my public relations blog. I am SO excited right now. I feel so proud and accomplished! I created the blog on my own (not as an assignment or request), simply because I am passionate about PR. Now I have people from all over the world asking ME questions about the field and my experience!
I am so blessed to have found my calling in professionalism at this point in my life. I've always loved writing and public speaking and communication, but I never knew how I wanted to piece it all together until I found PR. I'm just so excited right now! Ahh!
