2012 PRSSA Pro Day Key Takeaways

    The UCM Public Relations Student Society of America hosted its annual PR Pro Day from 2-4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30 in the Elliott Union Ballroom.  Public relations students were joined by students in other communication programs, as well as from DECA and AMA.

    Professionals on the panel brought years of valuable experience and advice to UCM students.  Of the nine pros featured, six were UCM graduates.   These professionals included:

•    Cara Mahon, a UCM graduate and director of social media for Ameristar Casinos
•    Renee Nagle, promotions director for Radio Disney in Kansas City
•    Shawn Arni, a UCM graduate and director of marketing and PR for Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics
•    Angela Brees, a UCM graduate and public affairs officer for U.S. General Services Administration
•    Terry Oehrke, a UCM graduate and president of Ontarget, an online marketing company in Kansas City
•    Gina Seibel, director of communications for the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce
•    Leah Bradshaw, a UCM graduate and eCommunications specialist for The Salvation Army
•    Julie Turnipseed, executive director of Warrensburg Mainstreet
•    Danielle Ripley-Burgess, a UCM graduate and founder of Semicolon Communications in Lee’s Summit

For the first hour, the panelists answered questions about their experiences in the field, and afterward each pro participated in individual roundtable discussions, giving students the chance to network with those who do things that really interest them.

Key takeaways from this year’s pro day are listed below:

•    Make sure your resume is error free.  You could be involved in numerous groups or have numerous accolades.  If your resume isn’t spotless, it can show carelessness.
•    Internships can open a lot of doors, not just because you’re building skills, but also because your supervisors will speak highly of you when you’re out on the job hunt.
•    Find ways to continuously network.  You may have a great job, but something better can always come along.  Keep your eyes and ears open, and your business card on hand.
•    Take business classes.  Sometimes PR majors feel limited to the communication function of public relations.  Business and marketing classes give a great insight into the corporate world, and go hand-in-hand with PR.
•    If you cannot write effectively, you’re going to struggle.  Practice writing every single day in whatever way you can.
•    If you’re a member of PRSSA, networking through various PRSA chapters can be very beneficial.
•    If you’re looking for a job, stopping by to talk to an employer after you send in your resume goes a long way and keeps you top-of-mind.
•    Find your passion and research it.  If it isn’t what you thought it was, don’t panic.  You’re going to find your niche.
•    GPA’s are not as important to employers as you may think.  A good GPA is never a bad thing, but it’s more important that you show off what skills you have by participating in clubs and volunteering.
•    PR is hectic.  Enjoy taking naps in college while you can.

This isn’t all the great advice that was given during Pro Day, but it stood out to students, and for good reasons.  These are great tips for anyone.

Overall, Pro Day was a huge success for PRSSA with more than 100 students who attended.  The future for this event gets brighter every year, as more pros in different capacities become part of the panel.  Look forward to another excellent panel next year.