Getting Involved with Public Relations at Texas Tech

By: Dalton Baker

As a senior, there are some things I wish I knew when I first began delving into PR that I know now. If it was possible, I would go back in time and tell myself about some key information on how best to take advantage of the opportunities offered to me. I am writing this so that you don’t have to look back and wish you had heard about this or that and you can focus on being prepared and ready to accept a position at the company you want.

PRSSA is an organization that I have been a part of for three years and has helped me greatly with linking with industry professionals and my peers. In PRSSA, I got the chance to take a trip to Dallas with my classmates and tour 5 different PR firms to ask them questions and network. Not only is this a fulfilling experience, it also is an attractive addition to anyone’s resume.

LinkedIn is your best friend and one of your most valuable tools for securing a job for companies you are interested in working for. I graduate in December and have been sending messages to prospective employers expressing my interest in their company. It has led to me striking conversations and networking with the hiring managers at some big companies. This gives me a leg up over recruits that don’t attempt to form a relationship and just submit their information!

Buy an AP style Book! One of the most important things for a PR professional to know is how to write effectively. AP style is something that most students don’t know about until you get to college and start learning about it from your classes. However, it is the industry standard for curating messages and documents, so I highly recommend buying an AP book to learn the different nuances and methods.