Comments on: What Advice Would You Share with These College Students? http://www.davidwmullen.com/2009/01/23/what-advice-would-you-share-with-these-college-students/ David Mullen on PR, Integrated Communications and Social Media Mon, 06 Jun 2011 03:58:50 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: I’m a hustla, baby. : Tehama Group Communications http://www.davidwmullen.com/2009/01/23/what-advice-would-you-share-with-these-college-students/#comment-4313 I’m a hustla, baby. : Tehama Group Communications Tue, 09 Feb 2010 05:09:16 +0000 http://davidwmullen.com/?p=922#comment-4313 [...] came across a very insightful blog post by David Mullen about tips for graduating college students. The post is great, but make sure to read the comments. They’re golden tips from PR [...] [...] came across a very insightful blog post by David Mullen about tips for graduating college students. The post is great, but make sure to read the comments. They’re golden tips from PR [...]

]]> By: Leo Bottary http://www.davidwmullen.com/2009/01/23/what-advice-would-you-share-with-these-college-students/#comment-567 Leo Bottary Wed, 04 Feb 2009 22:57:41 +0000 http://davidwmullen.com/?p=922#comment-567 David - Pardon my tardy response. I see that your meeting has come and gone, but you'll undoubtedly be invited to other such engagements soon. I actually wrote a post today about the importance of learning as much as you can - not so you can offer answers - but so you can ask better questions. I received a comment that the post was not only helpful to practitioners, but also interviewees as well. Have a look when you get a chance and let me know what you think. Again, sorry for getting back to you so late! Leo David -

Pardon my tardy response. I see that your meeting has come and gone, but you’ll undoubtedly be invited to other such engagements soon. I actually wrote a post today about the importance of learning as much as you can – not so you can offer answers – but so you can ask better questions. I received a comment that the post was not only helpful to practitioners, but also interviewees as well. Have a look when you get a chance and let me know what you think. Again, sorry for getting back to you so late! Leo

]]> By: Melanie Thompson http://www.davidwmullen.com/2009/01/23/what-advice-would-you-share-with-these-college-students/#comment-566 Melanie Thompson Mon, 26 Jan 2009 17:10:31 +0000 http://davidwmullen.com/?p=922#comment-566 Craft your writing abilities. I've been participating in a few new hire interviews lately, and I cannot stress the importance of being able to write well. And I'm not just talking about press releases. A well-crafted semester term paper will likely impress me more than a standard press release. It shows your style, creativity and sentence structure. Craft your writing abilities. I’ve been participating in a few new hire interviews lately, and I cannot stress the importance of being able to write well. And I’m not just talking about press releases. A well-crafted semester term paper will likely impress me more than a standard press release. It shows your style, creativity and sentence structure.

]]> By: Andrea http://www.davidwmullen.com/2009/01/23/what-advice-would-you-share-with-these-college-students/#comment-565 Andrea Mon, 26 Jan 2009 15:01:03 +0000 http://davidwmullen.com/?p=922#comment-565 The best thing I can recommend is to try, try, try again. It's hard to get your foot in the door, especially at larger internships. It may require starting out at a smaller firm first or thinking somewhat outside the box a bit, but there are opportunities out there. It is a small field, but I really thing that you just keep pursuing leads. Even if they all don't work out favorably, you still can meet some great contacts that may provide opportunities down the road. The best thing I can recommend is to try, try, try again. It’s hard to get your foot in the door, especially at larger internships. It may require starting out at a smaller firm first or thinking somewhat outside the box a bit, but there are opportunities out there.

It is a small field, but I really thing that you just keep pursuing leads. Even if they all don’t work out favorably, you still can meet some great contacts that may provide opportunities down the road.

]]> By: Matt Batt http://www.davidwmullen.com/2009/01/23/what-advice-would-you-share-with-these-college-students/#comment-564 Matt Batt Mon, 26 Jan 2009 14:28:16 +0000 http://davidwmullen.com/?p=922#comment-564 David - Best of luck for your talk at Iowa State! In addition to all of the great advice already mentioned in your post and comments, I would reinforce Amber's comments about engaging with as many mentors as possible. Within PR, I would strongly advise anyone getting into this profession to practice "Commonsense PR." The PR industry and in particluar traditional media relations practices are incredibly backwards and fail to use logic when approaching the media. Remember that by putting the media's needs first...it will be a win, win, win for all (your media contact, your company/client & yourself). Again, good luck with your talk...you'll do great! Matt David – Best of luck for your talk at Iowa State!

In addition to all of the great advice already mentioned in your post and comments, I would reinforce Amber’s comments about engaging with as many mentors as possible.

Within PR, I would strongly advise anyone getting into this profession to practice “Commonsense PR.” The PR industry and in particluar traditional media relations practices are incredibly backwards and fail to use logic when approaching the media. Remember that by putting the media’s needs first…it will be a win, win, win for all (your media contact, your company/client & yourself).

Again, good luck with your talk…you’ll do great!

Matt

]]> By: Gus Rojo http://www.davidwmullen.com/2009/01/23/what-advice-would-you-share-with-these-college-students/#comment-563 Gus Rojo Mon, 26 Jan 2009 14:26:29 +0000 http://davidwmullen.com/?p=922#comment-563 1. Being remarkable is a choice. If the marketplace isn't talking about you, there's a reason, you're boring (your product, service, industry, etc). Like Notorious B.I.G. once said, be, "sicka than your average". 2. Don't confuse activity with action. You can Twitter, Facebook, and Myspace for 8 hours a day and create a 1000+ following, but what is it really accomplishing besides making you a social media king/queen? Ask yourself, is the online work you're doing actually leading you where you want to go, or merely keeping you busy? 3. Don't have goals. Have more fun and spend time doing what matters right now, which is, after all, the moment in which you are living. But, if you'd like to get things done and make an impact, create goals like there's no tomorrow. What gets measured gets done, plain and simple. -- Advice from a 23 year old Gen Y serial entrepreneur who recently graduated from The University of Texas 07 with degrees in public pelations, corp. comm., and business. CEO - Your Marque: Web Design & Marketing. Chief Growth Officer - Greatest Minds: Change How You Think. President - West Campus Living: Texas real estate brokerage. 1. Being remarkable is a choice.
If the marketplace isn’t talking about you, there’s a reason, you’re boring (your product, service, industry, etc). Like Notorious B.I.G. once said, be, “sicka than your average”.

2. Don’t confuse activity with action.
You can Twitter, Facebook, and Myspace for 8 hours a day and create a 1000+ following, but what is it really accomplishing besides making you a social media king/queen? Ask yourself, is the online work you’re doing actually leading you where you want to go, or merely keeping you busy?

3. Don’t have goals.
Have more fun and spend time doing what matters right now, which is, after all, the moment in which you are living. But, if you’d like to get things done and make an impact, create goals like there’s no tomorrow. What gets measured gets done, plain and simple.

–
Advice from a 23 year old Gen Y serial entrepreneur who recently graduated from The University of Texas 07 with degrees in public pelations, corp. comm., and business.

CEO – Your Marque: Web Design & Marketing.

Chief Growth Officer – Greatest Minds: Change How You Think.

President – West Campus Living: Texas real estate brokerage.

]]> By: jason_elephant http://www.davidwmullen.com/2009/01/23/what-advice-would-you-share-with-these-college-students/#comment-562 jason_elephant Mon, 26 Jan 2009 14:26:23 +0000 http://davidwmullen.com/?p=922#comment-562 Beyond al the great stategic advive above (and agreeing with Mark Tosczak in particular on "writing"), practice your writing. Try different voices, styles. Be able to quickly adapt to new voices. Think of it as method acting. Keep a journal, text doc on your laptop, whatever; keep writing. Also READ current items (press, magazines, etc.) and practice how you'd change the spin on a story, take a different angle. Beyond al the great stategic advive above (and agreeing with Mark Tosczak in particular on “writing”), practice your writing. Try different voices, styles. Be able to quickly adapt to new voices. Think of it as method acting. Keep a journal, text doc on your laptop, whatever; keep writing. Also READ current items (press, magazines, etc.) and practice how you’d change the spin on a story, take a different angle.

]]> By: Jason Sprenger http://www.davidwmullen.com/2009/01/23/what-advice-would-you-share-with-these-college-students/#comment-561 Jason Sprenger Mon, 26 Jan 2009 14:23:12 +0000 http://davidwmullen.com/?p=922#comment-561 The other thing I don't see as much on here - but I think is just as important - is to bring something else to the table other than PR skills. I think some of the best PR pros are not the ones with a straight PR education and background; they have degrees or work/extra-curricular experience in business, or political science, or journalism, or just about anything else. All of the comments here are very good - you can't get a job without a network, and you need to hustle and set yourself apart from your peers. But one of the best ways you can do that is to identify what you know and are passionate about and then look for a job where you can add that unique value to your organization immediately. Chances are you'll be that much happier as well if you're doing the kind of work you're really passionate about. The other thing I don’t see as much on here – but I think is just as important – is to bring something else to the table other than PR skills. I think some of the best PR pros are not the ones with a straight PR education and background; they have degrees or work/extra-curricular experience in business, or political science, or journalism, or just about anything else.

All of the comments here are very good – you can’t get a job without a network, and you need to hustle and set yourself apart from your peers. But one of the best ways you can do that is to identify what you know and are passionate about and then look for a job where you can add that unique value to your organization immediately. Chances are you’ll be that much happier as well if you’re doing the kind of work you’re really passionate about.

]]> By: Colleen S. http://www.davidwmullen.com/2009/01/23/what-advice-would-you-share-with-these-college-students/#comment-560 Colleen S. Mon, 26 Jan 2009 04:03:46 +0000 http://davidwmullen.com/?p=922#comment-560 My advice to college students is to know the right people. Build strategic relationships with the people who hire. Do internships, join groups, volunteer and make these connections early. Getting a job these days is all about knowing the right people. Keeping that job, however, is about having the right skills sets and the ability to make your boss look good. My advice to college students is to know the right people. Build strategic relationships with the people who hire. Do internships, join groups, volunteer and make these connections early.

Getting a job these days is all about knowing the right people. Keeping that job, however, is about having the right skills sets and the ability to make your boss look good.

]]> By: Beth Haag http://www.davidwmullen.com/2009/01/23/what-advice-would-you-share-with-these-college-students/#comment-559 Beth Haag Mon, 26 Jan 2009 02:19:27 +0000 http://davidwmullen.com/?p=922#comment-559 On behalf of the Iowa State students who David will be talking to this week, THANK YOU for all your wisdom. It's great to have your input! On behalf of the Iowa State students who David will be talking to this week, THANK YOU for all your wisdom. It’s great to have your input!

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