Graduates - Become an Associate Member in PRSA!

As a college student, we don’t always realize the value of activating our network.  I’m here to tell you – get involved and stay involved! Being genuinely interested in forming relationships can go a long way. Through my PRSSA membership at Colorado State University, I have had the opportunity to meet numerous PR professionals in Colorado and beyond. PRSSA and PRSA Colorado have played an important role in my professional, leadership and networking experience.

Being presented with the opportunity to attend PRSA Colorado’s 2015 Gold Pick Awards Ceremony opened my eyes to how beneficial it could be for me to get involved. PRSA Colorado members were all willing to get to know me, whether it be the CEO of a big agency or an entry level account associate.

My experience with CSU PRSSA and PRSA Colorado grew from that point. PR Pros in PRSA Colorado took me under their wing and my relationships bloomed from there. From attending small networking events to large workshops with amazing speakers, my role in the PRSA Colorado network had drastically changed since I began my PR journey.

Throughout college I continued attending events, workshops and happy hours.

In my senior year, I knew I wanted to move to Dallas, Texas. Although I felt confident after my internship experience and PRSSA leadership, I was nervous for the transition as well as how to find opportunities in such a large city.

I contacted my professional mentor Jane Dvorak, APR, Fellow PRSA. Jane is amazing. She introduced me via email to several PRSA professionals from her network who own agencies in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. I set up informational interviews in January to dip my feet into the Dallas industry.

Before my interviews, PRSA Colorado members went above and beyond to ensure I was interview-ready. I shared my materials with various PR professionals within PRSA Colorado and received constructive criticism and feedback.

After six interviews with different agencies in the Dallas metroplex, I accepted an offer with a large agency in Downtown Dallas. I couldn’t be more excited for this opportunity and can’t wait to get involved with PRSA Dallas through the associate membership.

Although my involvement started in college, it’s never too late to get a jump-start on your professional career. PR professionals want to see you succeed, and they want to help. All you have to do is ask.

With graduation coming up, it’s important to ask yourself, what’s the next step for me? Get your associate membership in PRSA Colorado. Establish yourself as an individual that is committed to the profession. Form relationships with professionals who love the same work as you! PRSA can help in the development of relationships to help you move forward in your career.

By: Jessica Hayes, 2015-2016 CSU PRSSA President