The semester may have just begun, but public relation industry hopefuls are already preparing to land that coveted first job or internship.
The UT chapter of the Public Relations Students Society of America, or PRSSA, held a young professionals panel Thursday in the Scripps Convergence Lab where students had an opportunity to speak to industry professionals, most of whom were UT alumni.
“What we were wanting to do was connect PRSSA members with industry professionals in our area,” Cassidy Duckett, PRSSA president and senior in art history, said. “Usually professionals who have gone to UT have gone through this program and are now successful out in the field. I know that transition is a scary period between college and the professional world, so we want to kind of make that a little easier.”
Panelists included Taylor Griffin, public relations and social media specialist for The Tombras Group; Amanda Shell, account executive for Moxley Carmichael; Christie Elwin, project manager for UT’s Communication and Marketing Department, Tyler Lewelling, project assistant for Piper Communications; and Chris Martin, public relations coordinator for Fletcher PR.
The event began with Duckett asking the panelists to name the most influential lessons regarding PR in college. Many panelists listed networking while in school as a top priority.
“That’s how everyone I know has gotten a job,” Griffin said. “Take every opportunity you can to network.”
With many of the students in attendance being current seniors, most questions were focused on how to appear attractive to potential employers. Many students wanted to land jobs in major cities, such as New York and Boston, which panelists noted would take ambition and patience.
But even if a full-time job doesn’t fall into students’ laps upon graduation, panelists said students should be open to internships, even if they are unpaid.
Between applying for jobs and internships, panelists noted one factor that will help make the process easier.
“Find a mentor,” Lewelling said. “Find someone that you think you can trust in the field.”
