Words of wisdom for PR newbies

As a young PR and strategic communications professional, I’ve had the opportunity to live and learn in the sports and nonprofit industries, as well as the agency world. The resident newbie at Vehr Communications, I felt the need to pass along some words of wisdom that I’ve been living by during my tenure. For those about to graduate from college or those who, like me, began their careers in another industry before gravitating to PR and strategic communications, listen up!

Self-educate daily. You will be constantly researching, studying and applying what you learn, whether it’s via internal professional development, partnership outings or the many e-newsletters and articles that find their way into your inbox. Set aside time each day to stay on top of trends in the industry.

Learn to fend for yourself. At some point, you will be thrown into the fire…it’s going to happen. Rely on your strengths and be confident in your abilities. Demonstrate that you can lead, manage and organize, but know when to lean on your mentors in the moments when you need clarity and understanding.

Keep it in perspective. Sometimes young professionals feel a sense of entitlement to work on complex client projects the minute they walk in the door. There are certain things a textbook can never teach you about this industry – pay your dues, do the extra work to get ahead and the good stuff will come.

Be resilient. At some point in your search for PR gold, you’re going to fail. Mistakes are going to happen, however, there will always be a chance to rebound. Own up to your mistakes and always try to find the positive in every situation. It will make the time pass quicker until your next victory.

Two words: time management. Staying organized while you juggle multiple clients with multiple projects is of utmost importance. Make sure you create efficient habits for tracking billable time, updating weekly calendars and following action plans.

What would you add to the list?