SEARCHING FOR A JOB IN COMMUNICATIONS
“You cannot win if you do not play.”
•
Do all the homework
. Find copies of PRWeek (www.prweek.com
), so you can learn what isgoing on in the industry on a consistent basis. Advertising Age magazine (www.adage.com
)is another excellent news source for communications news. Check out books like MichaelSitrick’s “Spin!” which really gives you a flavor for what goes on behind the scenes in publicity crises. Seek out meetings of the local professional clubs and societies. Visit the websites of communications companies and see how they position themselves, what their capabilities are, and who their clients are.
•
Internships
: Go out of your way to get
any
communications field internship and see what it’slike from the inside. If you’re still in college, do everything you can to get an internship before you graduate. Use your holiday breaks to secure an internship for the future. Even if you’ve graduated and you’re finding it tough to get a job, take an internship. It’s still avaluable foot in the door, you’ll learn on the job, and it looks good on your resume. Whoknows? You may be asked to come aboard permanently.
•
Networking
: While Facebook is more socializing, invest the time in LinkedIn too, which isall about jobs. Get connected to as many people as possible because you never know who canhelp you. Ask people to introduce you to connections you see they have who you think may be worth speaking with. Position yourself as a “do-er.” Subscribe to HARO (Help A Reporter Out) -- http://www.helpareporter.com/-- they post PR job specific ads at least a few times a
month. Join social media networks like www.propenmic.organd actively participate.
Introduce yourself to your friends’ parents or alumni, and ask them about what they do andhow they do it. Ask them to introduce you to other people in the field you’re targeting.
•
Show that you really read the ad.
Companies get thousands of resumes and cover lettersevery year. 98% of them are terrible and immediately discarded because of boring writing,lack of care, not reading the ad, irrelevant experience or a combination of those traits. So personalize your letter, connect your cover letter with what they say in the ad.
•
Write a killer cover letter
. If you start your letter with anything resembling, “I am writing toyou regarding the position you have posted…” or “I am a senior and will be graduating fromUB in May,”
you’re out
. B-O-R-I-N-G. Everybody starts their letter like that and it says
nothing
.The person who opens your letter has 3 -5 seconds to decide whether they will keep readingyour letter or throw it in the trash. So you had better grab them from
the very first words
. Think of the biggest communications-related accomplishment you’ve done so far in your career. Startwith that. If you interned somewhere and helped with a campaign, start your letter off with: “Ihelped Joe Blow’s PR firm launch the new brand of Fuzzbucket toothpaste by calling reporters,organizing a press conference, and writing the media alert for the event.” Elaborate a little. Tellthem very quickly about other accomplishments followed by what you can do for them, how youcan help their business.
Drew Kerr212-849-8250
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Searching for a Job in Communications - By Drew Kerr of Four Corners Communications
A succinct and effective two page guide to improve your odds searching for a job in communications (like public relations, advertising, marketing, and promotions). This could be the most valuable career advice you'll get if you're searching for a job in the field.
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