Georgia Southern University

PRCA 3711- Public Relations Practicum

Presentation by:Sam Dershowitz

Things a Public Relations Student

Should Know before entering the field…

Searching for a JobStart job searching at

least 6 months before you graduate!

Use job search engines and social networking sites

Visit your school’s career services center for tips

Do your research!- know basic facts about

the company

Making Your Resume Stand Out

•Make sure your resume is crafted to fit the job you are applying for.

-You may have several copies of a resume, each designed for a specific employment position

•Always start every bullet point with a strong action verb•If your GPA is lower than a 3.0, it is better to leave it off of your resume

Barbara Nixon's resume writing tips

Dressing for an Interview Ladies• wear a pant or skirt suit•Minimal jewelry•Light makeup•Closed-toe shoes

Gentleman•Wear a suit (black or dark colored)•Plain colored tie•Nice, clean dress shoes

Wear This

Not This

Wear This

Not This

Rocking an Interview•Show confidence!•Speak with proper grammar•Have a few questions prepared to ask the interviewer•Impress the interviewer by showing your knowledge of the company •Be sure to drop your voice at the end of sentences•Keep eye contact at all times•Be able to give examples from your experiences

Showing off Your Work: The PR

Portfolio•Include a broad variety of items to showcase your PR experience•When showing your portfolio to the interviewer, turn your portfolio towards the person•Bring a separate folder with leave-behind pieces that you are proud of and include a resume in the folder

Social Networking•There are so many social

networking sites that will allow you to get your name out there and create an opportunity for you to market yourself

•Staying current with these sites will help you boost your knowledge and gain experience in the PR field

•Some of your most valuable connections can be made through networking with people on the internet

Become a Member of LinkedInMore than 50 million users worldwide!It can then be used to find jobs, people and

business opportunities recommended by someone in one's contact network.

Employers can list jobs and search for potential candidates.

Job seekers can review the profile of hiring managers and discover which of their existing contacts can introduce them.

This book provides helpful tips and step-by-step instructions for planning public relations campaigns. I encourage anyone in the public relations field to reference this book while planning a campaign.Read the case studies to find information that relates to your situation.

No Week is TypicalAfter speaking with PR professional, and Georgia

Southern University Alumna Kempten Taylor, I quickly learned that life as a PR professional is hectic and ever-changing. You must be available at all times to assist clients and address issues.

“No week is ever typical. Since you’re not dealing with just one client, you have a variety of different things to do on any given day. Typically I have 10-15 meetings a week. Half of the meetings are with clients, where you review their plans and get approval for communication pieces such as press releases and email campaigns.”

- Kempten Taylor

Tips From Kempten Taylor

Q: What three tips would you offer someone just starting out in PR?

1. Think about what you really enjoy because when it comes down to it, you need to be interested in what you’re doing. You should decide if you want to work with an agency or a corporation because they are completely different.

2. Never stop writing. Now that I’m doing managerial things and not writing as much, I realize that it is very hard to get out of the groove. Although you may have other responsibilities, make sure you never stop writing.

3. Know your social media!

Good Luck!