I had some nifty jobs while still in college and I will circle back to these. My first real job out of college was as a salesman for a printing company in Nashville. I learned a lot there. I learned to respect salespeople … they have a tough job. I learned this was not a good career path for me. How did this lesson hit me? I got fired! Best thing that ever happened. That’s when I learned to fall back on my real passion as a career path.
While at the University of Cincinnati, I was fortunate to get a job in the Athletic Department, working as the Assistant Sports Information Director. That was when the Bearcats won back-to-back NCAA basketball championships and narrowly missed the third. And, yes, I even got an NCAA watch as a momento of being part of the team.
This led to positions as a sports reporter and as Weekend Night Sports Editor for The Cincinnati Post. I loved writing, but did not see it as a career that would meet my financial goals. So I went to work as a printing salesman after graduating.
When I got fired, it forced me back to what I did best and what I enjoyed most — writing. I also made a very important decision: I would take build my career by working for people who could help me get better. I chose my positions over the next decade based on working for the best mentors I could find.
 I went to work in the sales promotion department for Union Central Life, and worked for Myron Jones, an old pro in life insurance marketing. He taught me how to write so that my work would help sales reps win business.
Then I took a position as editor of a global trade magazine. I thought I had another mentor — this time back in journalism, but I soon learned that even at that young age, I knew more about writing than the management. So I left to join KDI Corporation.
The big attraction for me at KDI is that the company committed to hire Gordon Lippincott (founder of Lippincott & Margulies, now Lippincott Mercer). Gordon was the most renowned expert in the world on branding and he was my personal consultant. He flew into Cincinnati every other week to teach me about branding. I’d probably still be at KDI except that it went into a spectacular bankruptcy that sent us all scurrying for jobs.
That led to my next incredible teacher — Mark Wiederschein. Mark was founder of a sales promotion agency in Toledo, OH. From this sleepy town, he had attracted some major clients. For me, this was initially a terribly draining job. Mark put me through an experience that was as tough as the Marines’ Leatherneck Island training. He taught me in the end the difference between writing and communicating. He taught me to write so that my words delivered a business strategy.
I was now ready to stand on my own legs with the full confidence that IÂ was a marketer.
I left Wiederschein to lead a marketing team at NuTone, where we were industry leaders in built-in appliances for homes. I learned how to work with distribution channels and how to make those channels more successful by creating programs to build business.Â
After six years at NuTone, I was ready to start my own marketing consultancy — I had the experience, the skills and the confidence to take this leap. Within a year, we landed business from Procter & Gamble. This client relationship lasted for 20 years, until I sold the business. P&G turned out to be my most instrumental teacher … they are such a great company … more than anything else they taught me process to deliver value to their trade customers and to their consumers.
So, for me, it was not so much what I learned at my first job, but what I have learned at every turn in my career.
What can you learn from my experience?
First, determine your goals. Expand your concept of the possibilities. Create a vision for your career. And then set off to follow your dreams.Â
Second, absorb everything possible while you are in school. Take every opportunity to practice what you are learning by participating in career-related extra-curricular activities.
Third, work for great role models. Study these role models for the clues for improving your skills, for gaining a reality-based sense of how a business works to create value for customers. Keep yourself on the cutting edge of change. Keep reading business media like Fortune and participate in the blogosphere that is most relevant to your dreams.
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24 comments
2/28/2006 at 5:36 pm
Pingback from Coffee with a sprinkle of intellect… thoughts from Emily Melton » Public Relations, Shumblic Relations: Where things always this complicated?
2/25/2006 at 3:57 pm
LC
It seems like your career path has included a little bit of everything. With graduation closing in soon, I keep wondering where I want to be the rest of my life. It is so interesting to hear your perspective on career choices. I don’t think I would have thought to choose jobs based on the mentors available. But it makes sense- In the early years of my career, I could use all of the advice I can get.
So far the internships and classes that have been most beneficial to me are those where I get practical, hands-on training. When people take the time to invest their time and knowledge into me, I eat it up. Real world experience can’t be replaced by books- I am sure you know that.
Your first piece of advice was to create goals and a vision. I know this is sound advice. However, I don’t have a vision of my future yet. I hope to find one soon because graduation won’t wait.
In that spirit, I have a few questions: Do you feel like you chose the direction or that it just happened this way? The opportunity of one job seemed to lead to another. Also, how did you choose your mentors? Was it through reading trade publications or meeting them personally?
2/25/2006 at 4:32 pm
DaleWolf
Good questions.
First, as the old saying goes, when someone is ready to learn, a teacher will appear.
There is always happenstance in a career. Your career is among the two or three most important things that will make you who you are. It will consume more time than anything else. And yet we are less in control of our careers than almost any other factor. We choose who and where to worship. We choose our spouse. We choose our friends.
Without a vision, our career will choose itself.
I still say figure out first what you are passionate about and what you dream of doing, and then set out to do it. I wanted to be a writer. Forty years later, I am a writer, and I love it more today than yesterday, and I will love it more tomorrow than today. I experimented with different kinds of writing in the jobs I had. I did not mention that I have also been very active in volunteer work all my career, and have used my writing to help others. I chose the volunteer work based on who would teach me … if I was not learning, I moved on to another social agency.
To specifically answer your question: I chose the direction but clearly there were things that I was not in charge of. That part is happenstance.
When a career altering event hit me, I did my best to interview at as many opportunities as possible. It was my interview. I was trying to understand who the best mentor was at each of these gateways. There had to be a teacher, or I would pass on to the next interview.
I was looking for mentors who had a passion for what they did, and who recognized their job as one of teaching instead of managing. I put the teacher ahead of compensation. I was quite deliberate in this. When I learned enough, I moved on.
The first 10 years of your career are the most important for learning. In essence, like a medical student, you are in your residency.
Keep evaluating what you need to learn to achieve your dream and then find opportunities — inside a company or inside a volunteer agency. Look for places to practice the new edges of your skills.
I was short on global experience. I volunteered for the Red Cross and joined their International Committee. Eventually I chaired the committee and was able to put together a program that helped Japanese internationals living in our city to access the local healthcare system. The lessons from this experience were invaluable the first time my agency went after a global account.
Yes, I agree that there is happenstance. I did not anticipate the company I worked for going bankrupt, but when it did, I took two months and interviewed a lot of companies. Early on, I had offers from a company that wanted to fill a position, but there was nothing to learn from what I perceived to be an autocratic boss and a company with no training budget.
At the time, the best teacher around was up in Toledo. When I probed him about the things he was most proud of during his career, he made it clear that it was the people who had gone through his shop with skills to be more successful. I wanted to work for that kind of person. My wife and I did not want to live in Toledo, but the teacher was there.
We need to keep focus on the dream. We have to be honest about our shortcomings … the things we need to learn. Then get teachers to help us get better.
When you interview for a job, make it your interview … find the teachers.
2/26/2006 at 1:49 pm
lance
I feel like I don’t have much of a “sure” direction on where I want to go, what I want to do, and even what I want to be. You say “determine your goals. Expand your concept of the possibilities. Create a vision for your career. And then set off to follow your dreams.” How much of a “vision” do we need to have for our future plans? After all, it seems like I have enough on my plate right now just to finish up on the right foot and just find ANY job - much less a job that I really want. I love your philosophy of making every interview your interview. This could be one of the best pieces of advice I have heard since being in the PR department. This is a perfect way to come away with knowledge in every field, even if you DONT get the job. This whole philosophy of making everything a learning experience can only benefit. And I am sure you would agree that employers love to see knowlege-hungry employees who are willing to follow and learn so that they can succeed in the future. It all comes down to humility. Humility in your career only enhances your future.
2/26/2006 at 6:00 pm
Wes
I would like to admit that I do know what I want to do the rest of my life. I want to be a college professor. I have recently been looking at where I should get my graduate degrees. I have asked many of my professors where they would suggest. I have also looked online to see whatever most schools offer…..
But the problem I am having is that no one school comes up in every answer. There are a few that come up in most conversations, but not every conversation. This is bothering me. It seems that there is no clear-cut number one school. But I want to try to go to the number one school to learn. I will eventually find the school that is most fitting for me, but probably not for a couple of months. But it helps me to know that I am almost on the right path. It may be only a matter of time.
2/26/2006 at 7:19 pm
Tiffany
Not only is this great advice, it shows us that things may take time to fall into place. The first job we get might not be the job we ideally want, but it takes time to get your feet wet and figure out exactly what you want to spend your life doing.
I have already discovered this through my experiences interning. I felt certain I wanted to handle community affairs for an athletic team, and thus I interned in this department. Throughout the time I was interning I found that I would like to stay in the PR area, but in business communications or media relations. Had I not tried out community relations first I wouldn’t have discovered this until later.
As far as gaining as much experience as possible, I am finding that is the most beneficial thing to do. We are required to complete an internship of our choice as part of our curriculum. At times I thought that maybe I should just take something local, continue to take classes and graduate early…basically just get the internship out of the way. I ended up taking a semester off from classes and interning twelve hours away from school, but it was the best thing I could have done. Sure any internship would have given me hands on experience, but the career relevancy factor plays a part too. The experience and knowledge I gained from my internship was well worth the inconveniences that came with it…..and I think in the long run it will prove to be more beneficial than any local opportunity I considered.
2/26/2006 at 8:23 pm
Sarah
It is evident that you have worked hard to get where you are today. I looked up Gordon Lippincott, and he too had to start somewhere before he launched five businesses. He played the sax for a ship’s orchestra, surveyed bridges for The Saw Mill River Parkway and practiced and taught industrial design.
It seems like every job you’ve had taught you skills that you could use in your next job. Although your job working for Mark Wiederschein was tough, you learned a new writing style. I have had several jobs that weren’t my favorite, but each one had something to offer me.
Since I’m about to graduate, it’s important I understand that my first job will not be my last job. It’s not something to stress over because most likely, I won’t be at my first job for very long. I look at my first job as a place to build a foundation for my future endeavors. I think that experience helps me learn more about who I am, what I like, what I desire, and what skills and life lessons I can carry with me in my career.
I think it’s a great idea to be proactive in my career search and get as much mentoring as possible. You proved your determination by interviewing people to see who would be a suitable mentor for you. It is obvious that you have a hunger for knowledge and don’t settle for second best. I believe that doing what you love and learning as much as you can in that area is more important than settling for a mediocre job that pays better.
2/26/2006 at 11:40 pm
Crista
I really enjoyed your post. Not only because of the great advice, but I can truly relate to what you are saying. I am most of all intrigued by the fact you worked in the Athletic Department at the University of Cincinnati. I would love to work in sports! I am currently looking for an internship with a sports team for the fall semester. I love sports and the excitement that career path could offer. I can see it was extremely exciting for you considering that was the year they won back-to-back NCAA championships! I also have discovered a love for writing. I used to hate to write and thought it was such a chore, but after getting into my major and writing more and more for classes, I love it now. I enjoy creating stories and things with words and anytime I can use my imagination is a plus. I appreciate your advice, because my mother always told me you have to love what you do and respect those you work with.
2/27/2006 at 10:08 am
Emily
I think we’ve all got so much to learn about learning. That’s why I loved your post so much.
Although I am still very young, I’m one of those kids that’s held a job as soon as I could. My first job was in sales, lemonade that is. (FYI: not very profitable if you live at the end of a cul-de-sac, but I did have some regulars.) Sometime in middle school, I decided that I wanted to have as many random jobs as I could while I was young. I’ve gone from cleaning horse stables to caring for a deaf, Down Syndrome child to waiting tables at Johnny Rockets.
I consider myself lucky to have a long list of past jobs because they have molded me into the person that I am today. I have taken some wisdom from every work and volunteer experience. Last week I worked as a production assistant. The producer couldn’t believe that I was so young, and all I could say was that I’d worked more than most people my age. For example I can remember negotiating with my agent in Miami at the age of 15. (side note: I had a brief run-in with modeling, another random job.)
What I’m getting at is the value of experience is the knowledge you can derive from it. I don’t think that I’m an expert by any means, but I do believe that the only way to get there is to embrace EVERYTHING you do and learn from it. This trait will hopefully separate me from a crowd of mediocrity one day.
2/27/2006 at 11:50 am
Jess
I love your post. All of it is so pertinent to what a lot of the Auburn students in Robert’s classes are going through right now. There is a career fair tomorrow for Auburn students, so I have been looking at the descriptions of all of the companies and what they are looking for. Unfortunately, most of the companies coming tomorrow are looking for engineering, architecture and SOME business majors. I feel like the Public Relations opportunities are a lot more scarce than I assumed. It kind of scares me. Did you have trouble finding jobs? I know that you had a lot of experience and several different jobs, but how did you go about finding them?
Speaking of “experience,” I have a question for you. My parents have not made me work during the school year because I am SUPER involved on campus and they said as long as I am getting experience for when I graduate and making good grades, they won’t make me work. I did have to work in the summer, though. However, I have found that most companies look more at your work experience than your involvement on campus. I am very disappointed because I have been involved in so many organizations on campus, have been president of several organizations, have been in numerous honor societies and have won several leadership awards. Are those worth anything to employers? Did you consider college resumes and involvement when you were hiring employees? Do you have any suggestions to how I can accentuate my college involvement and make it appealing to employers?
2/27/2006 at 3:08 pm
Amanda Freind
Dale,
Your post is reassuring. Thanks for all of the stories and advice.
As graduation is rapidly approaching (very rapidly), I have found myself becoming consumed with the idea of finding the perfect job. However, I have constanly had to remind myself that the perfect job probably won’t be the first one I get, and it probably won’t be the second one either. What I have to tell myself is that each job is an opportunity to discover and develop skills that will benefit me in the long run.
It is important to appreciate each opportunity that you receive and make the most of it.
I know that my coursework and internship have prepared me to perform many of the duties that could possibly be required of me. I also know that my experiences with extra-curricular activities at college have given me important, non-classroom related knowledge. For example, currently I am serving as a War Eagle Girl at Auburn. We are the official hostesses for the university. Maybe I haven’t learned how to write press releases and pitch lettes, but I’ve learned how to communicate with all types of people, make them feel comfortable and respond to interesting challenges.
I hope that my experiences outside of the classroom at Auburn will help to set me apart when I am interviewing for jobs!
Again, thanks for sharing with us Dale! That was incredibly helpful and reassuring!
2/27/2006 at 3:10 pm
Melanie
Hi Dale,
Thanks for the career post. I’m sure that you seasoned pros feel sometimes like all of your past experience was just that… in the past. But I for one (and I know there are others) am obsessing about my future right now. It’s great to hear how other, successful, people have gotten to where they are today.
I especially like to hear about other professionals’ job histories because they give me faith in the idea that I do not have to stick with one awful job my entire young life to eventually make it to a successful stage. Listening to pros at a recent PR conference in Atlanta made me wonder if the only way I could ever get anywhere in the field was by schlepping for years in an agency.
I’ve always joked that my worst fear was ending up in a job like the guy from Office Space. Simply by being a PR major, I know that my work will be dynamic, that I will be communicating and interacting with others even if I am in a cubicle, so that eases my mind a little. I still like hearing from people like you that there are other ways to get where you want to go, and that sometimes job changes and having different experiences from the norm are what gives you an edge in the job market and the confidence to start something of your own like you have.
Posts like this one are slowly giving me the confidence to accept work that I want to do, and then let a body of related experiences in the field pave the way to better jobs with more responsibility. There’s more than one way to succeed!
2/27/2006 at 3:31 pm
Amy
I am in total agreement with you. It is a common practice among college students to complain about their mundane, minimum wage job that they go to everyday in order to cover the many expenses that college life requires. One of the most common comments I have heard during one of these pity parties is, “I just wish I could be doing something that will prepare me for what I want to do as a career.” The truth is, all of these part-time and minimum wage jobs will prepare us for the future if we just pay attention. I have worked in retail as every position from a stockroom girl all the way up to management and I cannot tell you how many things that I learned from those jobs that I have used for public relations. First of all, these jobs helped me to really refine my people and conversational skills. In retail you learn very quickly that if you don’t handle a difficult person in the right manner, then there is going to be considerable trouble for everyone. I have also been in charge of creating window dressings at these jobs and this has helped me to develop creativity that I use toward creating brochures and visual aids. Some other skills that I learned in these jobs are delegating responsibility, working with a team, multitasking, how to sell yourself and a product, and thinking on my toes, just to name a few. So, there is a lot to be said for these little jobs we have just to pay the bills. There is much to be learned from even the simplest of jobs if we keep our eyes and ears open.
2/27/2006 at 3:41 pm
Katie
Your three steps are great points to keep in mind as we all soon graduate and are entering the workforce. I have known what field I wanted to be in since before I chose my major. I actually picked what I wanted to study to fit that chosen career. But many of my friends, both in and out of PR, don’t know what they want to do when they graduate even though they have spent the last four years studying a particular field. The key to success is having a target and doing everything within your power to reach that target. I once read a quote that said success comes to those who are too busy looking for it, and based on the information you provided, you are the embodiment of that quotation. We all need to be busy gaining experience and information with each job we hold to improve us as professionals and make us stronger workers.
I have been involved with several organizations on campus, and while they might not have all been directly career related, I feel that I have gained skills that will apply in PR by being apart of them. I have coordinated several events, written press releases and organized interviews and training sessions. But if you put those activities in coordination with any campus activities like AUPRCA and The Plainsman newspaper, then an amazing combo has been created.
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with us. By doing so, you in turn become your third point for us–learning from professionals. Even though we are communicating with us through the blog, you are mentoring us as are the other Marcomblog contributors.
2/27/2006 at 4:22 pm
Christina
I would like to think that your path to finding the “perfect job” was worth the trip. So many times as college students we feel that we must settle on something that will pay the bills. As a soon to be graduate in six months (gulp!) I know how important that aspect is.
Is the utopia idea to believe that there is a job out there for a recent graduate that will pay the bills and that I will also enjoy too much to believe? I understand that it is required in this competitive world that we know as a career that experience is key. The conundrum comes about that people want to hire those with experience, but how do we gain experience if no one will hire us? Of course internships come into play. An internship will allow me to see a part of PR that I will soon find out if it is right for me or not. Internships are key for that experience, but they only last for so long.
When I venture out into the great unknown of career searching I will use the advice that you so willingly gave. I know that my goal is to find that job that will be something that I want to wake up for in the morning and can sleep well at night because it will pay the bills. While I have these six months left in school I will listen to my teachers, even Robert, for all the advice and knowledge that they can give me. Finally, while I have not had the mentors you speak of in the PR field, I have had those wonderful people that have taught me good work ethic and a glimpse into what kind of passion I desire to have for myself in the working world. Thank you for your advice and guidance.
2/27/2006 at 5:07 pm
Lindsey
I feel that having a mentor and people to learn from is very important in accepting a job. I recently accepted an internship that isn’t exactly well paid. I am perfectly fine with this; however my father is not so pleased.
The reason that the little money I will be paid does not bother me is because I am excited to be working for this company. But more importantly, I feel that I will learn a lot and have to work very hard. This doesn’t bother me because I am young and I am not certain about what I want to do. I will be doing a lot of event planning in my internship.
Event planning is something I am very interested in but never thought I would actually do. I am excited to say that I think I will get my chance to decide if it is what I want to do completely.
But like I said, the reason I wanted this job is because I can see that I will learn a lot and I feel that the person I will be working for is someone to look up to and I want to soak up everything she can teach me!
Your post made me feel more confident in my choice, I think I will let my dad read it!
2/28/2006 at 12:39 pm
Lara
Thank you Dale for this post. It is always such a pleasure to read about things that we can do to make ourselves better. As we all are about to graduate, it is important that we absorb as much vital information as possible, so posts like these are extremely beneficial to all of us. Having a mentor is something that I believe is going to help shape the way each and every one of us perform. I believe it is important to have a mentor and to take advantage of the opportunities presented to us because we can do nothing but learn from others. Whether it is a positive or negative situation, experience leads to growth.
Before I decided to major in public relations, I decided to take a job that involved some aspects of PR to make sure that I was making the right career choice. I applied for a job as a student representative here at Auburn for the alumni association and was hired. I have been working as a representative for almost two years now, and it has helped to develop a lot of skills I will carry with me after graduation. The job entails me calling alumni from each diffferent college here at Auburn and updating them on the upcoming events, rankings, and news. Also, we encourage the alumni to make donations to help support the college that they graduated from. This job is not necessarily PR to the core, but it has helped me develop a lot of skills. It is hard to encourage someone who graduated in ‘70 to donate to their college after they haven’t done it for 26 years. I have developed a thick skin and it has helped me refine rebuttal skills.
Although, I don’t have a desired target of where I want to be in 10 years, I do have somewhat of an idea. It does worry me sometimes that I don’t know exactly what I want to do, but I think with time I will figure out exactly what is my “calling.” I will probably work in all different aspects of business much like you Dale before I land that job that is meant for me, but until then I will leave my eyes and ears open for experience and opportunities. So, thank you again Dale for this post.
2/28/2006 at 4:43 pm
Monica
Thanks Dale for your great advice! It seems that the closer and closer graduation gets, the more I seem to crave advice from seasoned professionals, like yourself. I have gotten a few books on breaking into the real world, good interviewing tips, what everyone should know, etc. We have all seen them, and while they offer great advice and help, nothing really compensates for advice straight from those that have been through it. I appreciate you and all the others who contribute to blog on MarCom and give advice to the upcoming graduates.
Having that said, after reading your blog, I get the impression that a lot of your jobs were able to happen because you were open to change and let opportunities find you. I think the biggest piece of advice I can take from your blog, is to follow your dreams, but to expand your concept of possibilities. A lot of times I fall victim to the through process of thinking that I have to land the perfect PR job out of college. In the back of my mind I know that this is silly, and I truly am open to anything, but I still feel such pressure to land that “it” job.
Unfortunately, along with many of the above respondents, I really am not sure what I want my exact career path to be, much less what I want to do right after school. I know I want to begin working in a large agency, but ask me what kind of PR I want to do in that large agency and I am clueless. But, I do have some great role models and will take your advice and study them.
3/2/2006 at 11:54 am
Ashley Imsand
I cannot believe how lucky we all are. I am sitting here reading all of these posts and comments and we are all so lost sometimes about how to jump into the real world. We have the luxury of reading personal stories of other PR professionals reassuring us that although it takes hard work and a bit of happenstance to get you to your goal, we’ll all turn out fine.
Also, Dale, you are telling us to find great teachers in all of our jobs in the future, and I think it is incredible that we are already getting to learn from these great teachers here at marcom before we even have to get out in the real world. For that we are REALLY appreciative.
I have to say I too am a bit confused about my direction. What if what you love is public relations in general? What if you love making things more efficient and effective? What if you love communications in general? It just seems to me that what I love just tells me I’m in the right major, not where I should go first out of college. But I think I will definitely take your advice and find where I can learn the most about the things I love, PR, marketing and communications. Thanks for your advice as always. You’re just adding to our lists of wonderful teachers!
3/5/2006 at 10:44 pm
Tricia
I like this post because it provided some interesting perspective. I have always heard that when job hunting you should find a job that you like, one that challenges you and that is a good fit. While Mr. Wolf’s advice fits into all of these, it also gives something new. I never thought about taking a job because of who you get to work with. Which is unusual since it has obvious benefits. Movie stars take roles that will allow them to work with Al Pacino or Meryl Streep. Musicians do the same thing. Why shouldn’t PR Practitioners?
I have also had several jobs throughout the years. All of them allowed me to work with people who had something to offer, something I could learn. Many times I think that we get so caught up in getting to our destination that we forget to enjoy the trip. I realize this is an over used cliche, but it is what I got from this post. I am guilty of this. I focus so much on trying to pass my classes and get the degree that I forget that I am trying to learn something, not simply memorize it for a test. The same is true for a part-time job. Even though I may not be doing PR work yet, doesn’t mean there aren’t things to learn.
I appreciate Dale taking the time to write this post for us. Writing in this blog is an easy way for us to learn from working PR pratitioners and communicators. As students about to be entering the job-hunting phase, we need all the advice we can get. I know that I do. I have read this post several times and I hope that I got what I should have from it.
3/14/2006 at 5:28 pm
Heather
Thanks Dale for all of your experience and background advice. You have had plenty of experience in the pr field and marketing. I enjoyed your advice for others about what we can learn from you. I think that information is beneficial and can be applied into our careers and work ethic.
I have known since my senior year in high school that public relations was what I wanted to do. I entered college as a pr major and still am. I love it and can not imagine myself in a different major. I have learned vital and key lessons that will help me later in my career and in life. I just got my internship finalized for this summer and I can’t wait to apply the things we learn in the classroom to the real world.
My teachers have been the biggest influences on me to this day. I had a journalism professor last semester that I learned so much from. She taught us key points that we would need to know if we were going to work for a newspaper, but she also taught us other aspects that use writing in their career. Half of our class was public relations majors so she taught us a lot of information about writing in pr and how to get your message across in an efficient way.
I appreciate your advice and time you took to tell us about your past work experience. It never hurts to hear from others who have been where we are going. Thanks Dale!
3/24/2006 at 3:36 am
courtney
Your advice is so lofty, Dale. It reminds me of times when I was little and I would tell my parents that I wanted to be an astronaut or the president. They would always respond with, “you can be whatever you want to be.” Over the past 5 years, that has turned into “Courtney, find a job that will pay you.”
Your advice is actually feasible if we resist the mindset of those coming out of college. Our salaries are only part of the payment we would receive. The advice from mentors will be worth far more than that, because it will carry us through the rest of our careers.
Career changes are scary, but as you have mentioned, they can all be learning experiences. With your insight, it could be considered settling by taking the higher paying job. The bottom line consists of many different points to consider
4/26/2006 at 12:14 am
Hillary Hearn
I wish I had read this blog three years ago when I chose public relations as my major. As I read one of your suggestions, the one about getting involved in career-related extra-curricular activities, I had a sense of regret. I had a couple of elected positions in my sorority and volunteered on some committees that are relevant but I wish I did more.
I wish I found an internship every semester so that I could learn more. Not only would it help my resume become more attractive to potential employers but I would be a lot more comfortable with the job hunt.
I am beginning my first internship this summer and I am not going to lie, I am very nervous. I can not wait to learn more but I don’t know why I did not know all of this earlier. Great advice!
11/7/2007 at 1:39 pm
sarahL
Reading this post now, as a senior, I agree with Hilary that I wish I had stumbled across this concept earlier. As scary as the real world is to me, I would rather be better prepared than be lazy in college and have a lot of free time. I’m working at a radio station, but I’m not getting any of the writing practice that I know I’ll need when I graduate. I will get many scrunched eyebrows and confused looks for this, but now I think it’s worth doing a second internship. How unfortunate it would be if I was unprepared for the work world…yuck.