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June 7, 2016

The Five Things I Wish I Knew As A PR Grad

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While Memorial Day has come and gone, the humidity, tourists and recent college grads are set to stay in Washington this summer. This time of year brings a slew of changes for D.C., including a wave of fresh talent looking to jump-start their careers in the city. Five years ago, I was among the countless hopefuls who flocked to the District in search of a job that justified the $50,000 I dropped on a liberal arts degree.

I was luckily launched into world of PR by way of Washingtonian events, galas and fundraisers and was later scooped up by Delucchi Plus. Those first few years after school were some of the most challenging, as the learning curve was the steepest. However, hindsight is 20/20 and with that, here are some of the things I wish I knew as a recent grad:

  1. Dig Before You Are Thirsty. Relationships are the lifeblood of public relations. Cultivate and nurture your network by reaching out and engaging early in the game.

Pro tip: Pick up the phone first and follow up with an email later. Your future self & clients will thank you.

  1. Act “As If.” Dress for the job you want, Take a seat at the table, have a point of view,etc. All roads point to taking the action, not “figuring it out.”

Pro tip: In my experience, acting “as if,” has often meant simply asking for help. If you’re lucky enough to a.) work in the field you studied and b.) love what you do, there’s a good chance you stand on the shoulders of giants in your industry who are the ultimate “how to” resources.

  1. Critical Thinking > Check The Box. “Getting Stuff Done” is not the end all be all in client services. At the end of the day, both clients and the media want to know “so what?”

Pro tip:  Come prepared with research and evidence to support your pitch. Do your homework to answer the global “why” question rather than focus on the tactical “how.”

  1. Get Into Gratitude | Be thankful for the character-building moments. The mindless tasks, the extra hours at the office, a tough manager and yes, even the mistakes made early in a career are guiding mentors that often matter the most.

Pro tip: Try writing a daily, weekly or monthly list of what you are thankful for. Gratitude lists help change a mindset from “I have to do X,Y and Z” to “I get to do X,Y and Z.”

  1. Variables Change, The Formula Does Not. Digital or traditional, converged or emerged – it doesn’t matter. Tools, systems, processes and even best practices will change as technology continues to evolve the marketing and PR model. But the formula for good business does not.

Pro tip: In a recent Forbes article, Keenan Beasley, founder of BLKBOX, outlined the very simple solution for how ad agencies can avoid the Madison Avenue Manslaughter — “Be an expert, provide value, measure your results and continually improve.”