It's not really worth your time to avoid an issue.
It’s been a few years since I entered the PR world (well, more than a few) and I had forgotten what it is like to be new to the field. I was speaking to a former intern the other day and she asked what advice do I have for a budding PR professional. I pondered this for a bit, but off the top of my head, here are a few nuggets:
- Be a sponge – read up on your employer’s business and the industry so that you can get a good foot hold on what you will be up against in the competitive landscape.
- Get to know the product or service inside and out – spend time with product managers, the sales team and any executive that will talk to you about the product or service. Find out why they were developed in the first place and where they want to take them.
- Write, write and then write some more – everyone is going to have his or her materials edited. Don’t take it personally. One of the best assets a PR professional can have is his or her writing skills.
- Pay attention to detail – you may think this is just in writing, but it is not. You are now in a professional world and much like your professors there are protocols to what you develop and deliver to your supervisor. Don’t be sloppy. Everyone at the company is a client and you need to present your research, writing, strategies, ideas, etc. in a clear and concise manner that is formatted professionally.
- Make sure your enthusiasm for new media stays in line with corporate philosophy – you may be very excited to assist with social media or mobile public relations, but keep your passion in check if your employer is skittish about it. Rome was not built in a day and if you take the right approach, in time, you will get to expand your company’s presences.
- Never stop learning – keep filling your toolkit with new skills and teach others too.
Landing your first public relations position is very exciting. Remember, that the classroom is not a clone of how the real business world operates. It is like an incubator, preparing your for the next chapter in your career. Have fun and stay inquisitive!