By Morgan Suder, senior, public relations
It's not like high school, when "senior fever" meant kicking back and not caring about school or work. In college, especially during these dire economic times, being a senior can be a heavy burden.
With news of the economy worsening by the day, and ideal jobs getting even harder to find, public relations majors are doing whatever it takes to boost their chances of landing a good job.
But not all the news is grim, especially if students have been active working as interns, participating in campus organizations, passing out resumes, attending the Communications Career Fair and otherwise getting ready for the real world. Success stories of many recent graduates prove that experience and communication skills can lead to a good job.
Recent graduates say that what they learned in the public relations program and their internships can open a variety of doors in any business in any city around the world.
With a background in public relations and advertising, recent graduate Natalie Bond says a communications degree can lead you in any desired direction. From placing Nintendo's Wii on the hit television show "Grey's Anatomy" to getting singer Rihanna to drink Grey Goose in front of the press, Bond has used her public relations skills to promote brands among the rich and famous.
The stories of Richmond and Bond show the importance of traveling outside of your comfort zone, whether that means going to Los Angeles or London, or trying out a new line of work.
Bond currently works in celebrity relations at Harrison and Shriftman in Los Angeles. She acknowledges the benefits of having a public relations degree, which gave her an understanding of how to contribute to her company's marketing campaigns with their clients.
Bond attributes the ease of securing a job at a prominent company to previous internship experiences. After interning at Brilliant Magazine in Austin, Texas, Bond says she gained knowledge of the public relations field and formed professional and long-lasting friendships with her coworkers and bosses. The owner of the magazine recommended her to Lara Shriftman from Harrison and Shriftman, who in turn interviewed Bond for her current job in Los Angeles.
"I felt gratified after my past internship experiences and now in my current job," Bond says. "It feels good knowing that I did my best and therefore contributed to the greater whole. I also learned about myself, which was empowering."
The importance of having contacts and forming positive relationships is reflected in Bond's career path. While most students hope to get ahead on their own, connections are always helpful.
The paths of other recent alumni show that a public relations degree can lead in other directions. Liz Richmond, a public relations alumna, is now an insurance broker at Arthur J. Gallagher in London.
While her current line of work is not centered on public relations, she falls back on her public relations training on a daily basis. "I use [public relations] when I am broking a deal to an underwriter," Richmond says. "I know how to focus on the good side of anything."
Richmond acknowledges the benefits of attending a school like the University of Texas at Austin, with its emphasis on students taking ownership of their educations and the community of educators and alumni who want to help students succeed.
Richmond also credits her current success to internship experiences, which she says, provided insight into what an "organized and accomplished company is like and how to contribute in a professional setting."
The stories of Richmond and Bond show the importance of traveling outside of your comfort zone, whether that means going to Los Angeles or London, or trying out a new line of work.
They also reinforce the importance of the fundamentals: communication skills and a strong work ethic. Public relations alumna Taylor Luskey, who now works for Devon Energy, headquartered in Oklahoma City, credits those core principles for her success.
"Many of the general skills that were taught in the program at UT have been beneficial, such as how to write letters, create a resume and … act professional in any situation," Luskey says.
Luskey is now the public affairs coordinator of the largest independent oil and gas producer in the U.S. She is given her own projects and responsibilities as well as opportunities to go out in the field to learn more about where the future of energy is headed.
Lusky echoes many other alumni in stressing how instrumental internships are in giving students a "better idea" of what you can do with your degree.
Success stories of recent graduates suggest that taking chances, interning in different lines of work, making and maintaining contacts, and most importantly, staying flexible, are effective ways for graduates-to-be to temper their anxiety and prepare for a tough job market.
"Jobs do not always seem as they appear, so remember to follow your instincts," Richmond says with encouragement. “If the path you are on does not seem like the right one at the time, it will eventually lead you to where you are supposed to be."