Tips for Graduating College Students

1. Career Tips from a PR Students Point of View 10 Things I learned from my Public Relations Practicum Course Photo by: www.rougarai.com/career.html By: Emily Byrne

2. Perfect Your Resume Package 1 Customize every cover letter and resume to fit the advertised job description Have a uniform heading for all your submitted pieces (cover letter, resume, reference page) Include anything relevant (not the kitchen sink) Keep resume to one page Have you resume package critiqued by a professional, teacher, or your university’s career services department Proofread, Proofread, Proofread! Photo by: www.ngu.edu For good resume advice checkout http://www.prssa.org/jobcenter/resources.aspx

3. How to Interview 2 Practice – A lot Research the company you are interviewing with Always have questions for them Relax, the more nervous you are the less confident you look For more information about interviewing check out http://www.rileyguide.com/interview.html#intv Photo by: www.ngu.edu

4. Job Search Early and Efficiently 3 Use the resources offered by your university (Mock interviews, Career website, Resume critique and Interview opportunities) Network with sites like (LinkedIn, Twitter, PROpenMic, and even Facebook) Attend conventions and Career Fairs For a list of career fairs near you visit http://www.nationalcareerfairs.com/ Join career websites Career Builder Monster Beyond.com The 20 Best Job Search Websites From: PCMag.com Photo by: BC.edu

5. Create A LinkedinProfile Go to Linkedin.com and create a profile Connect with as many of your peers and professors as possible Include everything from your resume and more on your profile page Use a professional picture for your profile Include links to your blog, Twitter account, or webpage 4 Photo by: Ynpn.org

6. Compile an Attractive Portfolio 5 Quality not Quantity Use a professional binder (Walmart or Office Max- around $20) Be enthusiastic about your work Include: Resume, Letters of recommendation, Award Certificates Writing examples Internship Pieces (Any work you completed during an Internship Design Pieces Special Event overview and Key pieces (Media, Fliers, Goals and Objectives) Social Media Pieces (Blog posts, Online profiles) Use screen shots and arrange on one to two pages Photo by: BC.edu

7. Interview a Pro Interview a Professional to get an inside point of view on the PR world I interviewed Patrick Osterman, Georgia Southern University’s Director of Athletic Media Relations, and learned a lot about sports public relations. Visit my blog to read the whole interview EmByrne’s Blog Conduct the interview face-to-face, over the phone, or over the internet using Skype Find a Professional using Twitter, PROpenMic, or look in your local area 6 Photo by: hourlycareers.com

8. Read a PR Book 7 Get insight from a public relations trade book I have read Groundswell by Charlene Li & The New Rules of Marketing and PR by David MeermanScott Both focus on social media and explain how to effectively use blogs, websites, and twitter to reach potential publics. I recommend them both. For a full list go to http://amzn.com/l/R3DDTOCUHUOVVJ (Compiled by Barbara Nixon)

9. Get a Second Opinion 8 Here is a list of websites and books I have used and found helpful Knock ‘em Dead by Martin Yate The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Perfect Resume by Susan Ireland The PRSSA website The Riley Guide CollegeGrad.com

10. Create a Leave Behind Leave something for the interviewer to look over later Include Resume, Reference list, and Three writing samples Place them in a professional looking folder Put them on a disk Upload them to a website and leave a business card including the web address 9

11. Dress For Success Dress for the job you want Always where a jacket Don’t over due the jewelry or perfume/cologne For more tips go to CollegeGrad.com 10