Experience vs. GPA

A few weeks ago was the UCM Public Relations Student Society of America Pro-day where nine professionals came to UCM to share their experiences with students. One question that many students ask is does GPA matter when looking for a job? After asking the panel of professionals the common answer was no. The majority said that when looking at a resume they don’t look at the GPA but the activities and experiences students receive from being involved.

There are three opportunities that I have taken that will help me stand out when it comes to job seeking.

            HYDRO (Higginsville Youth Directing Realistic Opportunities)

·         Youth Chairman for the Taste of Higginsville fundraising event

·         Raised $5700 dollars for the local community over three year annual event

·         One event that made me realize that my passion for volunteering could fit with a public relations major

Internship with Warrensburg Main Street Inc.  

·         Learned that non-profit public relation professionals do everything

·         Had the opportunity to produce the weekly newsletter

·         There are local opportunities to build your experiences

IPR (Innovative Public Relations)

·         True to the real world public relations agency

·         Learned that working with several different clients can be difficult at times

·         Teamwork is an important aspect to understand

 

Looking back at the opportunities I have personally taken it shows that I am one step closer to being ready for the public relations work field. I encourage anyone who is interested in being the best candidate for any job to get out into the world and intern or volunteer. You are never too young to start finding your passion.