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Age is Just a Number: Advice for Young PR Professionals

Published on February 25, 2021, at 11:03 a.m.  
by Olivia Cooley.

Entering the bustling workforce of all things communications can be intimidating at a young age, especially fresh out of college. The pressure on young public relations professionals is put on them almost immediately after their first year of college. The dream of success in the Big Apple or the City of Angels is instilled at a young age, but may seem intimidating or unreachable for young professionals.

When jumping into the workforce immediately after college, the necessary steps for gaining a job and respect from peers in the PR world are different than most fields of study. While other people sometimes continue with school once graduated from college, most young PR professionals start working for major companies as young as 21.

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The demand for young, fresh faces is more prevalent than ever due to the effects of COVID-19. The pandemic forced most companies to switch from in-person work to technology-based work, which served as a challenge for most people. With this change, young PR professionals come in handy by knowing the current trends and how to work with almost all technology that can be used for brand growth.

University of Alabama Platform Magazine alumnae Whitney Blalock, media relations specialist at Walker Sands, and Kennedy Schwefler, research project coordinator at Lewis Communications, give insight into the realities of being young PR professionals fresh out of college and the steps to gain respect from co-workers and upper management.

 

Networking is key
Most importantly, making use of the connections made and networking

with others are “basic pillars” of the public relations field. Taking action on LinkedIn is one the best ways to achieve effective connections as a young PR professional. Small details such as adding a professional headshot, connecting with alumni, and detailing present and past work all are easy and manageable ways to navigate making connections on LinkedIn.

Large professional organizations, such as the Public Relations Society of America, provide other ways to achieve connections for emerging professionals by attending meetings and becoming members.

According to both Blalock and Schwefler, networking in college is one of the most important ways to obtain a job at a young age. Both women gave many credits to The University of Alabama’s Capstone Agency, explaining how it exposed them to real-world experience and lasting connections.

Blalock noted that even if a student is not in numerous organizations on campus, the connections made by everyday interactions are valuable. She explained how a person in a student’s group project could eventually own a business, and having that connection may lead to a job with that person in the future.

“The reason I got my internship and my job is from a connection in

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Capstone Agency. Expanding your networking truly is what can get you the furthest,” Blalock said. “Being involved in many organizations across campus, my network expanded a ton.”

Schwefler had a similar experience. “One of the older girls on my client team in Capstone Agency is my manager now. It’s crazy how things turn out,” Schwefler said.

Take initiative
COVID-19 spoiled everyone’s routine, especially those entering the workforce after college. Communication was harder, applying for jobs was harder, and knowing what to do with life was a challenge for everyone. On the bright side, fostering effective relationships with co-workers is still possible, even through Zoom.

Both Blalock and Schwefler explained that showing initiative reveals self-value and worth to the boss. Having a strong drive to do anything and everything in a timely manner is a great way to catch the boss’s eye.

Before interviewing, asking about company culture was important for Blalock, as she wanted to make long-lasting, effective relationships outside of the workforce.

“It can be awkward in the beginning but taking initiative to get to know others and attending work after-hour Zoom calls with co-workers can really help you to get settled,” said Blalock.

Be willing to learn and change
When asked for the biggest piece of advice for young college students pursuing a career in the public relations field, both UA alumnae explained that nothing is perfect in the workforce and being able to adapt to change is always going to be a priority. Expanding the concrete mindset from a perfect rubric in college to always wanting to learn and grow outside of the box is a lesson they both wish they understood sooner.

Schwefler explained that it is important to give yourself grace and know that learning co-exists with experiencing. She said that the one misleading thing about the transition from college life to the real world is that “there is no 100% on a project. You are constantly re-evaluating and improving.”

Blalock had the same thought, noting that “in college, I feel like everything is in a pressure cooker. You sweat the small stuff and overthink. During my first week of work, they told us to remember you are doing PR not ER, and it’s OK to mess up sometimes. It’s completely normal!”

All in all, knowing personal worth and being receptive to learning something new every day can help as a young PR professional in the workforce. Making small mistakes is not the end of the world and helps encourage growth as a professional. Knowing core values will drive passions, so get involved, create that LinkedIn profile and start those connections so the future will be easier to navigate.

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