It’s that time of the year. Spring is on its way out (unless you’re in Maine, that is!) and summer is on its way in. In a few short months, a new class of college seniors will be preparing to enter their final year of school. If you recently said farewell to your older classmates, you may be looking to the year ahead and thinking about what’s to come after you put on your own gown and toss your cap into the air. For communications and PR majors, if you’re looking to break into the public relations industry after graduation, there are a few things you can do now that will help you in the future. We’ve put together a to-do list for you to accomplish this summer:
1. Gain experience through internships (as many as possible!)
Most college communications departments require the completion at least one internship before you graduate. We suggest more than one, if possible. Hopefully you’ve already secured a summer internship, but if your schedule allows, try to fit in another one during the school year. When it comes to experience, the more the better. At Broadreach, we love to give young professionals the opportunity to learn the ropes, which is why we offer summer internships and year-long apprenticeship programs.
2. Network!
Find a conference, workshop, or meetup geared toward professionals in the industry. You never know who you could meet at these events, and attending them can lead to making connections, and connections lead to opportunities.
3. Hone your skills
If you possess a love for writing, start a blog. Have a knack for taking photos? Take a photoshop class to improve your photo editing. Explore different software, such as social media management platforms like Hootsuite. Familiarize yourself with newsletter generators like Constant Contact. If you haven’t used Google Analytics, do some research to learn more. These are just a few things you can do to build your resume.
4. Stay up to date on current news and trends
Grab a newspaper, turn on public radio, or take a few minutes each day to sit down and check the news channels. If you’re on the go, there are some great outlets that will break down current events in the form of daily newsletters. Our personal favorite is The Skimm.
By taking advantage of this brief window of free time you may have, you’re setting yourself up for future success. Trust us, your postgrad self will thank you.
