At a PRSSA event last spring, I met several students who were planning to attend this year’s international conference in Anaheim. When I asked if they were all juniors and seniors, most nodded yes while one said she was a freshman. I asked how she got so involved that she was already on the chapter’s e-board. “I simply attended the student organization fair at the beginning of the school year and thought it might be fun way get involved and meet others.”
I told her she will be hugely successful if she sticks with it and lets the experience help build her resume. I cited agency recruiters and hiring managers who say campus involvement beyond great grades often is the differentiator in who is selected for internships and entry-level positions. I added that when I was making hiring decisions in corporate and agency jobs I often put PRSSA-member resumes (especially those with leadership roles) in the “first-to-consider stack.”
As students return to campus or begin their college careers, plan on making the most of your experience by becoming involved in resume-enhancing organizations. Most universities have student organizations that complement career choices. Find them on university websites such as the DePaul College of Communication site. If you’re a PR major, join PRSSA. If you are majoring in journalism, definitely join Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ).