4 Essential Tips for Finding a PR Job After College

By Caroline Basdakis

​​Job hunting got you down? Finding a job after college can be stressful, especially during a pandemic. However, being proactive while still in school can set you up for success and make job hunting a whole lot easier. Below are four essential tips to make landing a job after college a lot less stressful!

1. Informational Interviews are Important! 
Setting up informational interviews is very important for getting ahead of your peers and get your foot in the door to your desired job. Setting up an informational interview with a PR professional in your field shows your interest in their work, gives you more knowledge of what their job is like, and can give insider scoop on how to land a job at their company. On top of the many benefits of conducting an informational interview, your interviewee is more likely to remember your face when you apply for a position down the road. Don’t worry if someone turns down an interview request, just keep pushing!

2. Showcase your Stuff!
Your online presence is more than likely the first thing an employer looks at when considering you for a position. Having a unique and strong online presence shows that you know how to brand yourself as a PR professional. Start by making sure your social media presence is clean and professional. Look at your online presence from the eyes of your future employer and polish accordingly. Not only is having a professional social media presence good for job hunting, but building a professional website to showcase your passion and skills makes you stand out from the rest. Your website should contain at least an updated resume, your portfolio, an about page and a contact page so employers know where to reach you. Keep this up and you’ll be hired in no time!

3. Be Connecting Constantly!
Getting a job may be about what you know, but don’t forget that it’s also about who you know. According to NPR, about 80% of jobs aren’t advertised! While it’s attainable to land a job from just applying, taking that extra step to connect with someone from the company will grow your network and make it easier to get hired. Constantly connecting while in school can slowly grow your network and set you up for success after graduation. LinkedIn is a great tool to use to stay professionally connected with peers, classmates, professors and even guest speakers at school events, like ones hosted by PRSSA!

4. Stay Smart! 
Between graduation and landing a job, the waiting period can be long. During this in-between time, it’s important to stay educated and keep learning as much as possible. However, staying educated doesn’t always mean staying in school. Keeping up with current events and news in the public relations field is essential when applying for that field. Employers are more likely to hire you if you are well seasoned about what’s happening in your field, as well as their company news. Be proactive when waiting for a job to get back to you by educating yourself constantly so there isn’t any wasted time. Stay woke!

College can be stressful on its own, but following these tips can make a PR student’s life a whole lot easier. Make sure to always stay positive when applying for jobs and keeping pushing toward your goal! Remember the opportunity for jobs are endless, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t land the first one. Do you have an essential job-hunting tip? Leave a comment below!