Job Searching Tips

A question that I keep hearing is, "When should I start applying for jobs?" I can tell you from experience the sooner the better. However, I wouldn't start before senior year, but it's good to start researching potential careers freshman year. The more you know about your industry the better. Research your career like it's a final that is 100 percent of your grade!

Job searching tips:

1. Look up reviews on the company.
Companies spend a lot of time making their website look good but do they spend enough time making sure their employees are happy? Do companies take the time to develop their employees? Is there a lot of opportunities for upward mobility? These are just some things you should be researching. The Glassdoor is a website where you can look up employee reviews for companies.

2. What's the future of the industry?
U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics is a fact finding agency for the government. If you want to know industry trends, average salary, nature of work and many other things this is the perfect website for you.

3. Don't fool yourself.
Can you really execute the responsibilities that they're expecting you to do? If the employer wants someone with strong analytical skills and you know you cant do math, don't apply. Don't get wrapped up in the job itself, but focus on the job they will require you to do. Know your strengths and weaknesses.

4. Be Persistent!!!
Job searching is not easy. It takes a lot of time and research. Job search until you find a job that you just have to have. It is easy to apply for a job that you will not like but finding a job that you will like isn't always easy. If you already know exactly what your looking for then that's great!

5. Start Early!
The job selection process can take months for some big companies. You want to graduate with a job in your hand. I have applied for at least ten jobs and I graduate in May! It's better to be safe than sorry. Also, don't limit yourself. If you can move across the country to work, go for it!

Good luck with your job search! E-mail me and let me know how it's going.

God Bless!

Best Places to Launch A Career

If you're like me and have been researching job positions then you know it can be frustrating. Sometimes it seems like entry-level jobs just aren't out there. I found a BusinessWeek article listing the best places to launch a career, which turned out to be very helpful.

The companies listed aren't pr firms but most of them have pr positions available. The type of company varies but it gives you an idea of all the possible areas you can work. I hope you find this article as beneficial as I did!

God Bless

Graduate School... Yay or nay?

Many public relations seniors are wondering what's the next step? Graduate school or job. I have been researching many public relations jobs and graduate programs for a few months now.

I found that many pr jobs do not require a Master's degree in public relations. However, some positions want candidates to have a MBA or a Master's degree in political science in addition to 2-3 years of experience in that field. These just are some of the common requirements I came across.

It's is possible that if you go straight to grad school you may be over qualified for as entry-level pr position. Although it is great to have a graduate degree, work experience is more relevant in the pr industry.

When searching for jobs i found that it is easier to go individual companies' website to see if they are hiring rather than using a search engine. Search engines are crowded and can cause an overwhelming feeling. I searched for pr firms and individually went to its career page. Here is a list to help you get started with your search.

Here are lists of websites that might help you as well:
All About Public Relations
Career In Marketing
O'Dwyer's Public Relations

I hope this helps!
God Bless.

My first blog post! YAY!

Hello Everyone!

Thank you so much for visiting my blog! Your probably wondering the purpose behind the title "PRofessional Student". Well I have been thinking a lot about how to make myself marketable to employers in spite of the stiff competition, and the quality that I keep landing on is the ability to learn. If you master the art of learning then you will be ANY employers dream candidate.

Many people have a fantastic resume and have accomplished many wonderful things but it's important to be able to use those skills in a variety of situations. One thing to remember: you never stop learning! So get use to it. Employers want candidates who can learn and adapt quickly.

What should you learn?

Learn about your prospective field.
- Make sure the field is a good fit for you. If you love what you do then it's not work! With that being said, it's a recession (Contrary to statistical data)and a job is a job, so most likely there will be a period of time where you will have to work somewhere you don't want to work. Research to see what type of jobs are in your field. Are there any jobs in that field? Can you start your own business with that?

Learn about the pros and cons.
-No matter what you choose to do in your future there are good aspects and negative aspects. It's a matter of whether you are willing to deal with it or not. Talk to someone with experience in that area. They can tell you better than any website. Look at popular blogs and see what's being discussed.

Learn about yourself.
- How do you learn best? Can you just read something and pick it up immediately? Or are you a hands-on learner? We took these types of tests through-out middle school. If you don't know by now then... good luck! Knowing your learning style is important because it prepares you for taking on new tasks and gaining new knowledge.

Learning is the foundation for the rest of your life.

God Bless